Advisors
Prof. Kumudu Wijewardene
Prof. Wijewardene is a consultant to the Faculty of Medicine at the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. She holds an MBBS from the University of Colombo, an MD (Community Medicine) from the Post-graduate Institute of Medicine, Colombo, and a Diploma in statistics and healthcare planning.
Prof. Kumudu has held numerous prominent academic positions as the professor of community medicine at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (1998 - 2019), dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (2003- 2009), co-chair of gender equality and equity committee in University Grants Commission (2015 - 2018), chief research coordinator of SIDA (Sweden) / SARREC - (2003 - 2010), and a member of National Committee for Women (1999-2006). Her research interests are in noncommunicable diseases and gender-based violence.
Prof. Labros S. Sidossis
Prof. Sidossis, Ph.D., FTOS, FAHA, FNAK is a Distinguished Professor at the Department of Kinesiology and Health and the Department of Medicine at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA, and President of the Mediterranean Lifestyle Medicine Institute. He holds a BS in Exercise Sciences, an MS in Exercise Physiology, an MA in Exercise Biochemistry and Nutrition, and a Ph.D. in Nutrition - Metabolic Biochemistry from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, TX USA.
Dr. Sidossis’ research over the past 30 years has focused on the role of lifestyle factors (nutrition and exercise) in the prevention and treatment of major cardiometabolic diseases. His studies have been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the American Diabetes Association, the Shriners Hospitals for Children, the European Union, and the industry. His 220+ papers in peer-reviewed journals have been cited > 21,000 times; h-index: 71, i10-index: 182.
Prof. Lawrence J. Cheskin
Prof. Lawrence J. Cheskin, M.D., FACP, FTOS, is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a tenured professor at George Mason University's College of Public Health, where he previously chaired the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. With a career spanning decades, Dr. Cheskin is a leader in obesity research, nutrition, and gastroenterology.
He founded and directed the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center and held numerous roles at Johns Hopkins University, including Associate Professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. His research includes over 25,000 citations and an h-index of 74, underscoring his impact on fields like obesity treatment and public health interventions. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and The Obesity Society and has been featured as a top doctor by U.S. News & World Report and Baltimore Magazine.
Prof. Fraser Birrell
Professor Birelle is a leading Consultant Rheumatologist at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Professor of Lifestyle Medicine & Innovation at Newcastle University. As Director of Science & Research for the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine and Engagement Lead for the MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing, he bridges clinical excellence with groundbreaking research.
With over 100 publications and an H-index of 39, his work spans osteoarthritis, healthy ageing, biomarkers, and lifestyle medicine, including pioneering group consultations in clinical practice. Recognized by awards such as the British Society for Rheumatology Young Investigator and Royal College of Physicians Excellence in Patient Care, his innovative contributions have garnered over £8m in research funding. Editor-in-Chief of Lifestyle Medicine, he remains a global advocate for evidence-based approaches to healthier living.
Prof. Nirmali Wickramaratne
Prof. Wickramaratne, Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Loyola University, Chicago, is a distinguished academic and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. With a foundation in Chemistry from the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Rajagiriya, she has made significant contributions to medical education and research. Her expertise and leadership continue to shape the next generation of healthcare professionals in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Emily C. Keats
Dr. Keats holds an Assistant Scientist faculty position within the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and she has consulted for various organizations such as the World Health Organization, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and The Asia Foundation. Dr. Keats has worked for 10+ years on research relating to maternal and child undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries with a specific interest in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the burdens of nutritional disorders, food insecurity, and climate-related challenges are high. She has extensive experience synthesizing evidence to inform policy and practice in the form of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, mixed-methods case studies, and other empirical studies using secondary data analysis. Dr. Keats has served as a member of several international nutrition forums and advisory groups and has published many peer-reviewed articles and chapters in high-impact journals. She was awarded the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (University of Toronto) Emerging Public Health Leader Award in 2022.
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Dr. Ozi Iyalomhe
Dr. Ozi Iyalomhe, MD, MPH is a physician-epidemiologist specializing in population health research and optimizing drug therapy to improve health outcomes in underserved populations. He is currently pursuing a PhD in epidemiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine as a Delta Omega Scholar from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
His research focuses on reducing health disparities through data-driven interventions, particularly among individuals with HIV and diabetes mellitus in minority communities. He has extensive experience in both domestic and international settings, including investigating HIV outcomes and non-fatal overdoses in the NA-ACCORD at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. In Nigeria, he played a pivotal role in outbreak response and clinical trials for Lassa fever which disproportionately affects underserved communities. Currently, he leverages healthcare records and administrative claims data to enhance diabetes care in vulnerable populations.
Dr. Rob Lawson
Dr. Rob Lawson, FRCGP, FBSLM, Dip IBLM, having retired from clinical practice after 42 years as a Family Doctor in Scotland, now pursues the application of Lifestyle Medicine in healthcare. In 2016, he co-founded the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM) to promote the principles of Lifestyle Medicine to healthcare professionals and the public. He served as the BSLM Chair from 2016 to 2024.
He currently serves as the International Director of BSLM, the President of the European Lifestyle Medicine Council, and the Vice President of the Mediterranean Lifestyle Medicine Institute. Additionally, he is a member of the Executive Committee of the World Lifestyle Medicine Organisation.
Board Members
Dr. Samandika Saparamadu, Founder and Board Member
Dr. Saparamadu, MBBS (Col), MPH (JHU), Health Policy Institute Fellow, is a physician and public health expert known for his leadership in lifestyle medicine and health policy. He was honored as a recipient of the 2024 "Twenty Under Forty" recognition by the American Journal of Health Promotion and is a Delta Omega - Alpha Chapter scholar from Johns Hopkins University. His work focuses on global health advocacy and research aimed at the prevention and reversal of non-communicable diseases in LMICs, while also promoting equitable healthcare models. He is a cofounder, president, and acting VP of Research of SLSLM.
Dr. Rukshanie Frances De Silva, Board Member
Dr. Rukshanie De Silva, MBBS (UoK), MD (Col), SCE in Endocrinology and Diabetes, and holder of a dipIBLM, is a board-certified consultant in General Internal Medicine originally from Sri Lanka and now based in Dubai. With over five years of experience as a specialist, she completed her postgraduate training in acute and general medicine at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, United Kingdom. Dr. De Silva holds a specialist registration in Internal Medicine from the Dubai Health Authority. Passionate about lifestyle interventions for chronic disease management, she specializes in personalized care for metabolic diseases. Currently, she serves as the Secretary of the SLSLM, where she has championed its vision and mission and served as the editor.
Dr. Madhubhashini Balasuriya, Coordinator and Board Member
Dr. Balasuriya. MBBS, MSc in Community Medicine, is a Lecturer in the Department of Community Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (SUSL). A graduate of the University of Ruhuna (1990), she brings over 30 years of experience from the Ministry of Health, including 15+ years as a Medical Officer of Health in rural, estate, and semi-urban communities like Balangoda, Elapatha and Embilipitiya. Her expertise in maternal and child health, nutrition, and environmental health drives her teaching and research, promoting healthier communities in Sri Lanka.
Email:
madhubhashini@researchalliance.org.lk
madhubhashini@med.sab.ac.lk
Dr. Udayanga Andadola, Project Manager and Board Member
Dr. A.M.S.U. Andadola is a qualified medical professional and an MBBS graduate from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. He currently serves as a lecturer at the Department of Primary Care and Family Medicine, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Additionally, he is an MD trainee at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo. With a keen interest in primary care management and medical humanities, Dr. Andadola is committed to enhancing first contact care, patient-centred care and promoting the integration of art and science in medical education.
Prof. Nirmali Wickramaratne, Board Member
Prof. Wickramaratne, Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Loyola University, Chicago, is a distinguished academic and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. With a foundation in Chemistry from the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Rajagiriya, she has made significant contributions to medical education and research. Her expertise and leadership continue to shape the next generation of healthcare professionals in Sri Lanka.
Email: nirmaliw@med.sab.ac.lk
Ms. Saduri Kadeepan, Project Manager and Board Member
Ms. Saduri Kandeepan, BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Wolverhampton, is currently a postgraduate student in Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. She has conducted extensive research in public health, focusing on child health, health-seeking behavior, and the social determinants of health. Ms. Saduri Kandeepan has actively participated in numerous national and international conferences, presenting her research and engaging with experts in the field. With a strong foundation in biomedical sciences, she aims to contribute to improving health systems and outcomes through her continued work in public health.
Advisory Panel to Enable Participatory and Translational Research
Collaborators
Dr. Udayanda Andadola
Dr. Damith Dileepa
Dr. Himal Kalambarachchi
Dr. Meneka Ranaweera