Career at glance

Prof. (Dr.) Nimesh G. Desai

1. Psychiatrist with 40 years of experience, and a trained and committed public health professional

2. Has served on the faculty of two of the best academic institutions

a. National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS),

Bangalore for 6 years, from 1982 to 1988

b. AIIMS, Delhi for 10 years from 1988 to 1998

3. Moved to IHBAS( Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences) in Delhi,

then, a new emerging academic institution in mental health and neuro

sciences, serving there for 23 years

a. for 12 years as Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry also as Medical Superintendent of the IHBAS Hospital for most of those years and then

b. as the Director of IHBAS for 11 years from 2010 to 2021.


4. His leadership for the growth and development of IHBAS is widely recognized, and despite many obstacles & difficulties, IHBAS has become

one of the best and top level hospital based academic institution in the country, being one of the Centres of Excellence of the Govt of India in the

field of mental health.


5. Under his leadership and guidance, IHBAS was one of the few Health Care Organizations ( HCOs) to have achieved Full Accreditation from NABH for

Patient Safety & Quality of Care- amongst a very few Govt Funded public sector hospitals, and the first mental health & neuro science hospitals across

all sectors.

6. The Research & Development field projects led by him individually, many funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) & the World

Health Organization (WHO) are considered exceptionally outstanding, leading to

  1. Formulation of a module/programme for Urban Mental Health Programme, based on Research project on Urban Mental Health & the service delivery experience of the national programme’s outreach activities in Delhi

  2. Formulation of the National Guidelines of the National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA) on the subject of the Mental Health & Psychosocial Services, and critical individual contribution as the Coordinator - based on research & service delivery experience in Gujarat Earthquake & Tsunami.

  3. Development of innovative programmes the outreach health services, including mental health services for the homeless populations

  4. Development of a Network of Tobacco Cessation Clinics in the country


7. He had been recepient of tbe International Visitor (IV) as part of a Programme of the Dept of State, Govt of USA in 1998

8. He had been awarded the prestigious Humphrey Fulbright Fellowship

at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA

9 . He obtained his Maters of Public Health(MPH) in 2001, from the School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltomire, USA

10. In 2003, he was awarded Fellowship of the National Academy of Medical Sciences(NAMS), India

11. In 2005, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK conferred on him the degree of MRCPsych

12. He has been elected to important positions, by his per group in the national professional body viz. Indian Psychiatric Society(IPS) as

a. Honorary General Secretary( 1997-99), and

b. Honorary Editor for the national journal( 2005-07)

13. He has 5 national level awards for original research, and one Oration Award

14. He has 100 research papers, 10 book chapters & 10 research monographs

15. Has been member of key working groups of national organizations, for policies and programmes

  1. National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC )

  2. National Knowledge Commission( NKC)

  3. National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA)

(d) Indian Council Of Medical Research ( ICMR)

(e) National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

16. Provides regular consultation to print media, radio & television

programmes on mental health & public health.

  • Has been subject expert for a 26 episode Television (Doordarshan) series on Psychological & Social Aspects of Hindi Cinema

( Cinema Dil Se)

  • Has been expert anchor Television Seial ( Doordarshan) for health information & empowerment (Kar Bhala Soch Bhala) for more than 2 years ( 100 episodes)