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Public Engagement Prize Winner

bipin-adhikariAfter I completed my MBBS from Xinxiang Medical University in China in 2007, I returned to Nepal to complete my internship in 2008 and continued working in Nepal Army Hospital and community hospital in Kathmandu. During my work as a medical officer in Nepal that lasted until 2011, I developed interest in tropical diseases and sparked me to take a Diploma and Masters course in Tropical medicine at Mahidol University in 2011. Further interest in research prompted me to take another Masters in Public Health at Chulalongkorn University in 2012 where I focused my research in Leprosy and the stigma in Nepal.

Soon after completing MPH, I joined MSF to work as a TB/HIV physician in South Sudan. As a first missioner for MSF, my arrival in Juba, the capital of South Sudan coincided (December 15, 2013) with the political turmoil (the ethnic tension which later spread nationwide) and had to evacuate to Kenya. Subsequent deployment in upper Nile State of South Sudan was also turbulent due to growing ethnic tensions and had to evacuate again to Ethiopia. This was a compressed package of run and survive situation in such a short mission (5 months). I continued working with MSF for another 2 months before completing my first mission in 2014.

I joined Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in 2015 with determination to undertake social science research, inspired by the previous research and the experience with TB/HIV and leprosy patients at South Sudan and Nepal. My DPhil at Nuffield Department of Medicine is focused in Community engagement in targeted malaria elimination in Lao PDR (Laos). Current DPhil project involves social science work. Social science, particularly, social interpretation of diseases, translational medicine/research and public engagement are my subject of interest and this perfectly aligns with my current DPhil project and the department within MORU- "Bioethics and Public Engagement".

I am excited that I have been part of Nuffield Department of Medicine at MORU, and supported by excellent supervisors and colleagues. My current involvement in science and research translation activities such as through Café Scientifique (https://www.meetup.com/bkksci/events/238431536/), Pint of Science (https://www.pintofscienceth.com), and BMC Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines journal blog (https://blogs.biomedcentral.com/on-medicine/2016/06/15/clinical-challenges-new-developments-treatment-prevention-dengue-qa-dr-bipin-adhikari/) where I thoroughly enjoyed public engagement, has provided me a lot of insight into my field of interest. Recently, I was also awarded by Kellogg College for contribution in community engagement "Kellogg College Community Engagement and Academic Merit Award" http://www.kellogg.ox.ac.uk/study/scholarships-at-kellogg-college/awards/.

I am continuing my works (coordinating and organizing public engagement activities) in Bioethics and Public engagement at MORU and several such events are underway in 2017 and 2018 and I look forward to strengthening my career in social science, bioethics and public engagement. I sincerely thank my supervisors who have always supported and encouraged me and my colleagues whose support and motivation are critical to me.

Selected Publication

Adhikari B, Kaehler N, Chapman RS, Raut S, Roche P: Factors affecting perceived stigma in leprosy affected persons in western Nepal. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014, 8:e2940.

Kaehler N, Adhikari B, Raut S, Marahatta SB, Chapman RS: Perceived Stigma towards Leprosy among Community Members Living Close to Nonsomboon Leprosy Colony in Thailand. PLoS One 2015, 10:e0129086.

Phommasone K, Adhikari B, Henriques G, Pongvongsa T, Phongmany P, von Seidlein L, White NJ, Day NP, A MD, Newton PN, et al: Asymptomatic Plasmodium infections in 18 villages of southern Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR (Laos). Malar J 2016, 15:296.

Adhikari B, James N, Newby G, von Seidlein L, White NJ, Day NP, Dondorp AM, Pell C, Cheah PY: Community engagement and population coverage in mass anti-malarial administrations: a systematic literature review. Malar J 2016, 15:523.

Adhikari B, Pell C, Phommasone K, Soundala X, Kommarasy P, Pongvongsa T, Henriques G, Day NPJ, Mayxay M, Cheah PY: Elements of effective community engagement: lessons from a targeted malaria elimination study in Lao PDR (Laos). Glob Health Action 2017, 10:1366136.