Team DIA

Meet the dedicated team behind Dementia India Alliance—professionals united by a shared commitment to advancing dementia awareness, care, support, and advocacy across India.

Ramani Sundaram

Executive Director

A dedicated neuroscience professional with 14 years of experience in dementia care and elder care, with expertise in neuropsychiatric assessments, care planning, and team leadership. Proven track record in designing and managing dementia care and active ageing projects, along with experience in proposal writing, grant management, and fundraising for dementia-related initiatives. Leads strategic development, advocacy efforts, and program execution while ensuring high-quality dementia care services across the country.

Roger Ephraim

Associate Director

With over two decades of experience in healthcare administration, event management, and program direction, Roger is deeply committed to advancing initiatives that enhance the lives of the elderly, especially persons with dementia and their caregivers. During his career, he has played a pivotal role in the development and set up of various care programs, including awareness campaigns, technology initiatives, and the establishment of dementia-friendly communities.

Chippy Sebastian

Senior Manager

Chippy Sebastian is an accomplished social work professional with over 12 years of experience in dementia and psychiatric care. With a strong background in dementia care, counselling, training, cognitive therapies, and psychosocial rehabilitation, Chippy has contributed to and led psychiatric and dementia care projects. Currently, Chippy serves as the Lead for Demclinic at Dementia India Alliance, working to enhance dementia screening, management and the continuum of care.

Anand - Lead for Marketing and Outreach at DIA

Anand Kumar

Lead - Outreach and Markting

Anand is a dynamic professional with extensive experience in team management, customer relationship management, and training. He is a skilled communicator with a talent for building strong relationships and fostering collaboration across teams. Known for his problem-solving abilities and organizational acumen, Anand consistently motivates and leads teams to meet and exceed organizational goals. His ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds makes him an asset in high-pressure environments, where he provides steady leadership and dependable support.

Dr Anu KN

Lead - DemClinic

Dr Anu is a psychosocial consultant trained at NIMHANS, specializing in dementia care, family therapy, and mental health interventions. With extensive experience in family therapy and dementia care, she specializes in creating meaningful interventions for families dealing with mental illness. She has extensive research experience in mental health and actively provides training in psychosocial interventions to professionals in academic and clinical settings.

Rachita Rao

Lead - Research

Rachita is a Psychiatric Social Worker and mental health communicator with a passion for storytelling, research, and community care. Her work explores the intersection of psychosocial well-being, inclusive design, and public health through collaborative projects, educational films, and narrative-driven visuals.

Asha - Lead TRainer at Dementia India Alliance

Asha D'Souza

Lead - Training & Development

Asha holds a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology. She has over 16 years of experience in the mental health field, including 12 years of exclusive clinical and psychosocial work with persons living with dementia in a residential dementia care facility in Bengaluru. She specializes in non-pharmacological interventions, BPSD management, Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, family counselling, and caregiver education. At DIA, she focuses on person-centred dementia care, empowering caregivers with practical skills to support quality of life, dignity, and independence for people living with dementia, while expanding awareness and capacity building across India.

Aarthy - Lead at Dementia India Alliance

Aarthy T

Lead - Digital Health & Programs

Aarthy is a physiotherapist with over 12 years of experience in geriatric care and more than 8 years of specialized experience in dementia care. She has led and managed projects across residential and day dementia care services, active ageing initiatives, workforce training, and digital health programs. Her expertise spans dementia screening, caregiver support, program development, service design, and capacity building. She has also contributed to the development of digital platforms and technology-enabled solutions to improve access to dementia care and support services. She is passionate about advancing person-centred, evidence-informed care and improving the quality of life of older adults and people living with dementia.

Paul Edward

Manager - HR & Admin

Paul brings with him over two decades of rich and diverse experience in human resources, administration, and compliance, having served in leadership roles at esteemed organizations. With a strong foundation in recruitment, policy development, training, and employee engagement, Paul’s compassionate and people-centric approach aligns seamlessly with DIA's values.

Neena Baby

Manager - Finance & Accounts

Neena Baby is an experienced finance and accounts professional with over two decades of expertise in financial management, budgeting, compliance, and administration. At Dementia India Alliance, she supports the organization's financial operations with accuracy, integrity, and a commitment to enabling our mission of improving dementia care across India.

Dr Priya Rose KJ

Trainer

Dr Priya Rose KJ, worked in various hospitals as Patient Counsellor and Patient Relationship Officer and in various schools as Life Skill Educator in Bangalore. She is experienced with conducting medical camps and training programs. She is conducted skills upliftment programs through different activities especially theatre activities.

Hema Palakodeti

Trainer

Hema is a trained Clinical Social Worker with an M.Phil. in Psychiatric Social Work from NIMHANS. With hands-on experience in diverse mental health settings and a background in both biological sciences and social work, she brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and people management skills. Hema is passionate about psychosocial rehabilitation and capacity building in mental health, and approaches her work with empathy, patience, and professionalism.

Vaishnavi Karnik

Mental Health Professional

Vaishnavi Karnik is a Psychologist with an MSc in Counselling Psychology. She has an overall experience of 1.5 working with people from various age groups and backgrounds across mental health concerns.

KB Nandita

Mental Health Professional - Chennai

Nandita is a psychologist with a Master’s in Psychology [Clinical]. She has experience in neuro-cognitive rehabilitation and has worked largely with the adult population. She strives to provide a collaborative and culturally sensitive space for those she works with.

Sumith PT

Mental Health Professional - Kerala

Sumith is a trained medical social worker with a Master’s in Social Work from Mangalore University and over three years of experience in hospital and community-based settings. He has worked extensively in psychosocial counseling, patient support, family education, crisis intervention, and bereavement care. At DIA, he supports frontline outreach, memory screening programs, and dementia caregiver engagement, contributing meaningfully to dementia awareness and support initiatives across India.

Jemimah Tessy RV

Administrative Assistant

Tessy RV is a committed administrative professional with over four years of experience in office management and accounting. With a Master’s in Commerce and a strong foundation in financial systems, communication, and organizational coordination, Tessy ensures smooth day-to-day operations. Her proficiency in office tools and dedication to accuracy and professionalism make her an essential part of team DIA.

Christopher D - MHP at Dementia India Alliance

D Christopher

Mental Health Professional - Coimbatore

Christopher is a community development professional with a Master’s in Social Work and extensive experience in community health. He has led household surveys, health assessments, medical camps, and school health education, while contributing to public health research, including ICMR-supported studies. His work also spans de-addiction rehabilitation, self-help group empowerment, and child labour prevention, reflecting his commitment to community development and capacity building.

Bobby - MHP at Dementia India Alliance at Visakhapatnam

Bobby Deol Pujari

Mental Health Professional - Visakhapatnam

Ruman Taj

Trainer

Ruman Taj is a Mental Health Trainer at Dementia India Alliance with a postgraduate degree in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work from Mangalore University. She has one year of experience as a Psychiatric Social Worker in a dementia care centre, where she provided person-centred care and facilitated Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) and other therapeutic activities for individuals living with dementia. She is passionate about promoting dementia awareness and strengthening the knowledge and skills of caregivers and healthcare professionals through training and education.

Pramod Kumar - MHP at Dementia India Alliance at Visakhapatnam

Pramod Kumar B

Mental Health Professional - Davanagere

Pramod is a psychologist with an M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology and over two years of experience in mental health. He has worked with older adults, providing cognitive and dementia screenings, early identification of cognitive impairment, psychological assessments, and counselling for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. He also has prior experience in a psychiatric de-addiction centre. His practice is grounded in evidence-based, person-centred care, with a focus on promoting cognitive health, emotional well-being, and quality of life.

Swetha Srinivasan

Mental Health Professional - Chennai

Swetha is a Social Work graduate with a specialization in Medical & Psychiatry and over three years of experience working in medical settings. She is an empathetic and diligent social worker committed to ethical, person-centred dementia care. Her work focuses on dementia screening, caregiver support, community outreach, capacity building, and creating awareness through training and education, with the goal of improving the quality of life of people living with dementia and their families.

Santra Maria Roy

Mental Health Professional cum Communications Executive

Santra is a psychologist and communications executive at Dementia India Alliance. She holds a master's degree in Psychology with a clinical specialization and has training in UI/UX and instructional design. She contributes to the development of educational content, communication materials, and digital resources that promote dementia awareness and caregiver education.

Shaun Soans

Mental Health Professional - Davanagere

Shaun is a Mental Health Professional with an M.Sc. in Psychology and experience in supporting individuals with neuropsychiatric conditions, substance-use disorders, and persons with dementia. Trained in counselling techniques, psychometric assessments, cognitive screening, and the administration of psychological scales and questionnaires, Shaun is dedicated to promoting emotional well-being and psychological health. With a person-centred and empathetic approach, Shaun works closely with individuals and families to help them navigate emotional, behavioural, and psychological challenges.

Stuti Richharia

Mental Health Professional & Researcher

Stuti is a mental health professional and researcher with MSc in Clinical Psychology. She is passionate about advancing the understanding and care of dementia through meaningful research, and is committed to provide support to individuals with dementia, helping them live a dignified life, along with meaningful support for their caregivers.