Meet Our Team

Lila K. Chamlagai, MPH

founder / Director

https://lchamlagai.github.io/

Bahadur Chaudhary

Co- founder / president

Pabitra Lamichhane

treasurer

Maan Prasad Bhattarai

Secretary

Lila K. Chamlagai, is currently a third-year doctoral student at Brown University School of Public Health. Born and raised in a Bhutanese refugee camp in eastern Nepal, Lila lived in the camp for nearly 17 years before resettling with his family in Springfield, MA, in 2011. He earned his MPH degree from the Brown University School of Public Health. Before attending Brown, Lila served as a Community Advisory Board (CAB) member in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) with Dr. Theresa Betancourt’s Research Program on Children and Adversity (RPCA) at the Boston College School of Social Work, where he assisted to investigate cultural norms and traditions related to family-strengthening interventions.

Lila's research interests focus on addressing the challenges faced by refugee communities and other marginalized populations. Specifically, he seeks to explore: (1) how socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and religion/faith influence mental health, depression, and suicidal ideation; (2) why marginalized populations and low-income communities experience significant health disparities; and (3) how to leverage resources to improve mental health service delivery. Ultimately, Lila aims to design and implement culturally congruent Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI-R) for refugee and immigrant populations in the U.S. and low- to middle-income nations.

Mr. Bhadur Chaudhary has worked in various professional roles in the health and nutrition services field in the Bhutanese Refugee Camp in Nepal. Mr. Chaudhary's extensive experience includes serving as the Health and Nutrition Services In-Charge under Save the Children funding from 1992 to 2000. His work with Save the Children (SC) focused on promoting children's rights and integrating disabled children into society through community-based rehabilitation in refugee camps.

Secondly, when Save the Children ( SC) stopped taking care of the Bhutanese Refugee population, Mr. Chaudhary immediately served as a Primary Care Health Prescriber under the organization entitled "Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA)" in the Bhutanese Refugee Camp from 2001 until 2022, making him the longest-serving worker in the camps. He held various roles during his tenure, including Acting Health Unit In-Charge, Senior Health Assistant, and Mental Health Prescribers in seven different refugee camps in eastern parts of Nepal. Mr. Chaudhary actively volunteered in the camp to create health awareness in his own capacity. He also actively communicates with the Bhutanese Refugee Camp Management Committee in Nepal to enhance the health and well-being of Bhutanese refugee populations in Eastern Nepal

Pabitra Lamichhane is a social worker and community leader residing in Urlabari-6, Morang, Nepal. She is a dedicated and a committed advocate for social development and women's empowerment in her community.

Pabitra is the founder of Surya SAKOS and is actively involved in several organizations, including the Organization for Rural Empowerment and Conservation (OREC) Nepal. She serves as a member of the District Human Rights Committee and the Women Development Forums, where she contributes to promoting human rights and advancing the status of women. Additionally, she holds the position of Assistant Secretary for the Dhrubatara Women Federation and acts as an advisor to the Maharudra Temple Committee.

Pabitra’s leadership is further demonstrated through her role as the Chairman of the Radha Krishna Prayer Forum, where she fosters spiritual growth and community engagement. Her extensive involvement in various organizations reflects her passion for social work and her dedication to improving the lives of those around her.

Mon Prasad Bhattarai is a former teacher and an active community member residing in Urlabari-6, Morang, Nepal. He dedicated towards contributing to various social and religious organizations.

Mon Prasad is a member of Surya SAKOS and has been actively involved in several committees, including the Temple Committee, the Former Staff Committee, and the Maharudra Temple Committee. He also plays a significant role in the Radha Krishna Prayer Committee, where he supports community spiritual activities and the preservation of cultural heritage.

With a strong background in education and a commitment to social service, Mon Prasad Bhattarai continues to make a meaningful impact in his community through his active participation in these organizations.