Mentor: Hayden Bosworth
Kamalakanta Gahan is a first-generation graduate student from rural India pursuing a Master of Science in Population Health Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. He adopts a unique approach by integrating models, frameworks and Theories from epidemiology, health services research, implementation science, health policy, health equity, systems thinking, disease modeling, and artificial intelligence to study cancer and related health conditions. His research focuses on understanding cancer outcomes, access to care, molecular biomarkers, gene-environment interactions, diagnostics, and their impact on cancer progression, disease conditions, and patients' lives. By combining these approaches, Kamalakanta seeks to uncover causality and systemic mechanisms that contribute to disparities in cancer care and outcomes.
Kamalakanta holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Fakir Mohan University, an MA in Medical Anthropology from Pondicherry University, and a pre-doctoral (MPhil) degree in Public Health from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India. His academic journey across diverse disciplines enables him to approach complex population health challenges with a multidimensional perspective, connecting data, systems, and human experiences to develop actionable, evidence-based solutions.
At Duke, Kamalakanta explores disparities in cancer outcomes through epidemiological studies and health services research. By analyzing large-scale population data, he aims to inform equitable healthcare policies and improve access to cancer care. He enjoys applying the multidimensional lens from his diverse background to understand population research problems and translate complex ideas into evidence-based solutions.
Earlier in his career, Kamalakanta focused on analyzing qualitative data to understand the lived experiences of patients with hematological malignancies and their treatment-seeking pathways. He has contributed to research projects funded by the Ministry of Health, Government of India; the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); and the World Health Organization (WHO) in areas such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, health policy, disability, assistive health technology, and mixed-methods research. His work has been featured at national and international conferences, reflecting his commitment to advancing public health research and fostering meaningful collaboration.
Outside of his academic work, Kamalakanta enjoys reading non-fiction, vlogging, trekking in the mountains, and practicing meditation.