Versatile health innovator joins PATH to lead technology development and introduction efforts for low-income countries around the world
Dr. Praveen Raja brings passion, experience, and leadership in medical innovation, digital health, technology, pharmaceuticals, and entrepreneurship to new role
Kate Davidson | Media Relations | media@path.org
Seattle and San Francisco, August 7, 2017—Praveen Raja, PhD, has joined PATH in the newly created position of vice president of Technology Development and Introduction (TDI). Dr. Raja will oversee the work of the Devices & Tools, Diagnostics, and Global Innovation Hub teams in leveraging technology to improve health outcomes for underserved communities across the globe. He will split his time between PATH's Seattle headquarters and San Francisco office.
"Praveen's impressive background includes work as a health innovator, global business strategist, successful entrepreneur, and psychologist, underpinned by a commitment to create a more equitable world," said PATH President and CEO Steve Davis. "His skills, experience, and creativity will help PATH continue to lead partnerships that span sectors and borders to deliver sustainable and measurable impact."
Dr. Raja has extensive experience in the development and commercialization of innovative medical devices, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and digital health tools that have achieved clinical adoption and commercial success globally. He has developed and led high-performing teams focused on innovation in start-up environments as well as in multibillion-dollar global companies and franchises. His most recent position with Amgen focused on innovation across medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health.
"Throughout my career I've looked for ways that emerging technologies can be put to use in practice and truly benefit patients, providers, and health systems," said Dr. Raja. "When developed and deployed in a thoughtful way, innovations like digital health can have a profound transformational impact on health care in communities that face a wide variety of challenges."
"PATH has been tackling these challenges for decades, and I couldn't be more excited to join the team and help take this vital work forward," he added.
Prior to working with Amgen, Dr. Raja served as vice president of Medical Science and Solutions (Digital Medicines) at Proteus Digital Health, a company focused on developing and commercializing digital medicines for communicable and noncommunicable diseases. He also served as head of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices & Diagnostics and chief of Behavioral Medicine at Kaiser Permanente.
In 2001, Dr. Raja cofounded Brahmi Educational Trust, an NGO dedicated to building schools to educate rural, disadvantaged children in India. Brahmi's first school, Anjana, offers kindergarten through high school education to over 300 disadvantaged rural children near Bangalore, India. He continues to serve on the Trust's Board.
Dr. Raja holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. He also has entrepreneurial experience as cofounder of a cloud-based medical software company and serves as adviser to two global health technology accelerators.