Srikanth Mahankali, MD

Founder & CEO at Shree Advisory & Consulting, LLC

Omaha, United States

Dr. Srikanth Mahankali, MD, is fundamentally a diagnostic radiologist by training and a multi-disciplinary physician-scientist leader with significant administrative, clinical, research, educational, extramural, and entrepreneurial experience, credentials, and accomplishments spanning academia and non-profits here in the United States (US) since 1997.

An “Einstein Visa” ("Alien of Extraordinary Ability” category) recipient (recipients are individuals recognized nationally or internationally for their extraordinary abilities and achievements in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics) previously, a Faculty Alumnus (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) of the Division of Diagnostic Imaging at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC)(Houston, Texas, USA)(Member: Clinical Research Committee, Institutional Review Board, Brain Tumor Center, and Brain Tumor Center Protocol Development Focus Group)(co-led one of the two largest pre-operative neurosurgical planning fMRI programs in the US, aimed at providing neurosurgeons brain activation maps of speech, sensory, and motor function, prior to surgery to reduce the risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality), and a 2021-2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Executive Branch Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Semifinalist Alternate, his background and expertise encompass Neuroradiology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuro-Oncology, Global Health Radiology, Global Health, and Science and Technology Policy. Dr. Mahankali was previously the beneficiary of a National Interest Waiver (only the top 1% applicants receive approval) with his pioneering imaging endeavors in the non-communicable diseases’ domains (cancer, diabetes, and obesity) deemed to be of significant national interest, and critical to advancing the welfare, economy, and healthcare of the US.

Dr. Mahankali began his foray into the global health sphere initially at the intersection of radiology and global health, via his involvement with RAD-AID International, a Maryland-based, nonprofit organization founded in 2008. RAD-AID concentrates its time and effort on implementing sustainable radiology services in underserved, impoverished, and resource-limited areas of the world. Learning that two-thirds of the world lacked access to even basic imaging resources like plain radiography and ultrasound (2015 WHO estimate) fostered within Dr. Mahankali, who was born in India, a deep-rooted desire to be an agent of change. The congruence of this goal with the mission and vision of RAD-AID led Dr. Mahankali to fully embrace this path and subsequently delve further into the field of global health. Getting affiliated with a premier institution like the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) was therefore a natural extension of this passion to contribute in a meaningful way towards alleviating some of the foremost issues in the global health domain.

CUGH, established in 2008 (with generous funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation), is a leading, academic centered, Washington DC-based, membership-oriented, nonprofit organization which stands as the world’s largest consortium addressing global health challenges. Boasting a membership of over 182 academic institutions and partners and 32,000 individuals across 39 countries worldwide, CUGH facilitates interdisciplinary collaborations between academia and non-governmental organizations (both domestic and international), governments, think tanks, the private sector and multilateral organizations to build capacity, share expertise, create partnerships and strengthen academic programs that will enhance the health and well-being of people around the globe - particularly the least advantaged - and the planet itself through a combination of advocacy, education, research, and service. Dedicated to reducing health disparities everywhere, CUGH is a knowledge hub for expertise, best practices, and educational material all while simultaneously promoting a broad base of understanding amongst the public and policymakers of the unique role global health can play to create health equity, and enhance security and prosperity.

At CUGH, Dr. Mahankali has been an exceptionally active, energetic, consistent, and significant contributor to the above mentioned four domains integral to the work, growth, and further success of the organization: advocacy (Member - Advocacy and Communications Committee; the Network of Academic Advisors; and the State Technical Advisory Team), education (Member, Global Health Operations Committee; Global Health Competency Subcommittee, Education Committee; Graduate Medical Education Working Group; and Reviewer of the Dr. Tom Hall Educational Grants), research (Advisor, Abstract Advising Program, 2021 and 2022 Annual CUGH Conferences), and service (Member, Scientific Planning Advisory Committee, 2021 and 2022 Annual CUGH Conferences). These varied roles, within a collaborative team framework, span a diverse range of responsibilities that include, for example, in the advocacy domain, informing the public and policymakers about the advocacy efforts of CUGH, and connecting and engaging with his state Senators and their staff - locally and in Washington - to serve as a source of expert advice, offer evidence-based solutions to inform and strengthen public policy development, and fundamentally bridge the gap between academia and policymakers to strengthen support for US investments and leadership in global health. On the education front, on the other hand, Dr. Mahankali, in conjunction with his working group and subcommittee colleagues, is working towards the creation of a basic curriculum for Graduate Medical Education programs covering fundamental topics in global health and on updating the Global Health Competencies Toolkit - a resource that defines competencies for global health education and professional development. While his contributions in the research and service arenas are progressively evolving, Dr. Mahankali also had the opportunity in 2020 to participate in the selection and ongoing mentorship of the next generation of Global Health Leaders, and was honored by both CUGH and the Public Health Institute/US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PHI/CDC) Global Health Fellowship Program in recognition of “his outstanding service on the Global Health Workforce Panel 2020”. Any election year (2020) is a particularly ripe time to assert and reinforce the value of global health, let alone one which saw a devastating pandemic like COVID-19. Considering this, CUGH held a “virtual” Global Health Day on Capitol Hill in October 2020. This completely online event allowed participants to focus on members from congressional committees that were responsible for funding, and to engage members of Congress on the value of US leadership and investments in global health. Dr. Mahankali was 1 of 2 participants selected from the state of Nebraska, and 1 of 91 nationwide, chosen to take part in this event following a formal application process. Of the three calls to Congressional offices that Dr. Mahankali was involved with, feedback suggested that he was very professionally researched and detail oriented and genuinely loved what he was doing as he went back and forth with policy advisors and legislative aides on policy details and then down his full list of “Congressional Global Health Day Asks” that included, among others, urging the administration to have the US join the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Initiative (COVAX), the provision of funding, infrastructure, and autonomy so the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could fulfill its mandate and properly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a request for full funding of the NIH, USAID, EPA, and the DHHS at 2019 levels with an annual future escalator. Allied to all the above efforts and accomplishments, Dr. Mahankali also participated in the “CUGH Virtual Communications Training Series” in September of 2020 to further enhance his ability to effectively communicate with members of Congress, the media, and the public, under the direct instruction of a 25-year Capitol Hill veteran. Dr. Mahankali increased his skills in effectively engaging with elected officials in the “Engaging with Congress” session, which provided updates on current policy issues, advice on researching legislators, best practices for developing a winning message, and strategies for successfully delivering it. In a second session aimed at “Communicating with the Public, Media and Stakeholders” and designed to strengthen participant understanding of how to effectively communicate complex ideas to the general public, Dr. Mahankali examined the core elements of what outside audiences need to understand as well as how to craft appealing messages, discussed specific venues for communicating messages, such as letters to the editor, social media, traditional media and more, and further honed his skills in community outreach.

His most recent involvements - as Accepted Founder, Founding Member, Expert, Editor, Reviewer, and Advocate - include entities like the Founder Institute (Launch Track; Health Tech Virtual 2022 Accelerator Program); a Leverage & Growth Accelerator for Physicians; SciLine (AAAS); the MOST Policy Initiative (Community Science Notes Editorial Board); the 2022 & 2023 AAAS Annual Meetings & the National Science Policy Network; and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (Connecting for Science Advocacy), Local Science Engagement Network (LSEN)(AAAS) & the Union of Concerned Scientists. Dr. Mahankali - who currently serves as an International Liaison for The American Board of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine - was an Invitee, 2021 US Global Leadership Coalition Inaugural Heartland Summit; the recipient of an Editor’s Certificate of Recognition, RadioGraphics; an “Excellence in Research Mentorship” (Department of Biomedical Engineering, UT Austin), and a “Best Protocol Review” (Clinical Research Committee; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston; TX)(2005) awardee. He was also previously an author and contributor to a textbook - J Randy Jinkins and Claudia da Costa Leite: Neurodiagnostic Imaging - Pattern Analysis and Differential Diagnosis (Lippincott-Raven)(1998), and additionally served as Member, Academic Affairs Committee, The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)(2005-2007); Chair, Foreign Medical Graduates Committee, The American Association of Radiologists of Indian Origin (AARI)(2005-2007); Regional Director, Southwest, The American Association of Radiologists of Indian Origin (AARI)(2004-2007); Member, Ninth Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting Education Day Committee (2004); and Member, Ninth Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee (2004).

Very recently, the California Council for Science & Technology also invited Dr. Mahankali to a workshop - as an expert participant - aimed at designing operable privacy standards for public health emergencies and producing actionable recommendations for California’s policymakers.

Dr. Mahankali additionally has completed a Master Class Direct from Silicon Valley, "Entrepreneurship for Life Sciences and Healthcare Startups" (The University of California San Francisco); holds a “Credential of Readiness” from Harvard Business School Online (featuring Business Analytics, Financial Accounting, & Economics for Managers); and a “Certificate of Proficiency Global Health Radiology" from RAD-AID International (pending).

He now resides in Omaha (Nebraska) with his physician wife; has current interests that revolve around artificial intelligence in healthcare (particularly education and innovation), data science, digital & connected health (working on a Digital Futures in Healthcare Diploma - Dell Technologies), medical imaging, intelligence-based precision global and public health, personalized medicine, science & technology policy, and innovation & entrepreneurship; and enjoys finance, investing, reading, and long walks. Dr. Mahankali is driven by an abiding passion to contribute his expertise and skills to develop and execute solutions to address societal challenges and thereby serve the US and citizens (particularly those in low- and middle-income countries) around the world.

Available For: Advising, Authoring, Consulting, Influencing, Speaking
Travels From: Omaha (Nebraska)(USA)
Speaking Topics: Healthcare; AI; Global Health; Entrepreneurship; Radiology; Neuroradiology; Cognitive Neuroscience; Neuro-Oncology