Dr.  Nilesh Kalyanaraman is a seasoned healthcare executive and physician leader with nearly two decades of experience advancing health outcomes and reducing disparities through data-driven strategies and population health management. Most recently, he served as Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services and State Health Officer at the Maryland Department of Health, where he oversaw a division of 5,000 staff, 24 local health departments, and an $850 million budget. Dr. Kalyanaraman has led statewide initiatives in maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, infectious disease control, and healthcare quality oversight, and played a pivotal role in Maryland’s COVID-19 response and public health data modernization.

Prior to his state-level leadership, Dr. Kalyanaraman was Health Officer for Anne Arundel County, Chief Health Officer at Health Care for the Homeless in Baltimore and held medical director roles at Federally Qualified Health Centers. He has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Public Health Accreditation Board and the Maryland Commission on Health Equity, and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Kalyanaraman completed his medical training at Emory University and SUNY Brooklyn, and his research and publications span topics such as COVID-19 response, diabetes care for vulnerable populations, and complementary medicine in chronic disease management.

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