
Dr. Krishnamurthy Jayanna
Professor & Dean
Dean — Office of Research & Innovation
Krishnamurthy Jayanna is a community health specialist, active in the public health and development space for around two decades. His program and research interests revolve around quality of care, quality of life and wellbeing. He has experience working in the context of reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health (RMNCH), infectious diseases, early childhood development (ECD), Primary Health Care, Non communicable diseases (NCD) and Nutrition through application of Implementation-Research and Program-Science methods and approaches.
Currently he works as Professor of Public Health and Dean of Faculty of Life and Allied Health Sciences at Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, India. Recently he has assumed additional responsibility as Dean of Office of Research and Innovation where he and his team are providing stewardship and support to strengthen multidisciplinary ecosystem across the thirteen institutions of the university. He is also the site coordinator for a Global Health Training Program, that trains PhD and postdoctoral fellows from across four countries, India, Canada, Kenya and Columbia. He is on the senior advisory team of Karnataka Health Promotion Trust supporting public health projects and initiatives related to Maternal and Child Health, and Primary Health Care.
In the past, he was a part of the global health team of University of Manitoba and India Health Action Trust, and was involved in their projects across India, Africa and Caribbean. He also held adjunct faculty positions with the department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Canada and Division of Epidemiology, St John’s Research Institute, Bangalore, India, and thus always integrated his academic and research interests in the space of public health.
In the last five years, he is focusing on interventions that impact lifestyles and quality of life through Integrative approaches. He founded Center for Integrative Health and Wellbeing where he guided and mentored a multidisciplinary team of Ayurveda physicians, Yoga and Meditation instructors as well as Health Educators to support clients in adopting an integrative approach to lifestyle change. He has published a book to inspire and support people in adopting an integrative health and wellbeing lifestyle (https://www.amazon.in/Science-Practice-Integrative-Wellbeing-Lifestyle/dp/1636400744/).
As research advisor (Hon) at Cognitive Skills Pvt Ltd, he has supported applied neurosciences research related to child development and learning; wellbeing and lifestyles that impact brain health and cognitive reserve in the middle aged and elderly. With this experience, he and his team are setting up a division of Integrative Health within the university to tap the best practices and evidence in both modern and traditional sciences to enhance community wellbeing.
He has published over 100 publications that includes journals, books, book chapters, reports and white papers; participated as key note speaker and an expert panellist in over 50 conferences and workshops of national and international repute. He has been a recipient of Karnataka Association of Community Health (KACH) young scientist award in 2010; National level Impact award and Best project award in wellness categories; and scholarships from NIH, USA and WHO. Recently he received Achanta Lakshmipati Oration award (2021−22) by National Academy of Medical Sciences for outstanding contribution in the field of Community Health, particularly in the space of Mother and Child Health.
He completed MBBS from J.S.S Medical college, Mysore; MD in Community Medicine from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute; received training in research methods at W.H.O, Geneva and also holds a post-doctoral research fellowship from Canada.