College of Science alumnus Dr. Ramesh Krishnamurthy leads the Information Systems and Framework team at Health Metrics Network (HMN), which is part of the World Health Organization, that uses data to improve health and save lives. The Switzerland-based organization was founded in 2005 on the premise that better information means better decision-making, which means better health for everyone. Krishnamurthy received both an MS and MA in Wildlife Biology and Anthropology from OSU.
Ramesh Krishnamurthy, College of Science alumnus (’00)
Dr. Krishnamurthy served as the keynote speaker for the OSU Career Development Center Conference for College of Science students.
Dr. Krishnamurthy had a lively and heartfelt lunch-time conversation with students about his career path in science followed by questions from students. The lunch was held January 22 at noon in Kearney Hall, room 311.
Krishnamurthy helps bring together users and producers of health data — countries, statistical and health experts, development partners, foundations, and global health initiatives — in a shared endeavor to increase the availability and use of timely, reliable health information through country-led plans to strengthen information systems.
HMN is the first global partnership dedicated to strengthening national health information systems by assessing health information systems and sustainably improving them. Partners collaborate to catalyze energies and resources in support of stronger health information systems in developing countries. Their goal is to reduce overlapping demands on fragile information systems in developing countries.
Previously, Krishnamurthy worked at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention in Atlanta, where he worked as a scientist and Senior Informatics Advisor with appointments in the Global AIDS Program and the Coordinating Office for Global Health. During his tenure at CDC, Dr. Krishnamurthy provided technical assistance in the coordination of information systems approaches across diverse global health areas and supported international partnerships with key global organizations. In addition, Krishnamurthy served as an independent radio producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Krishnamurthy specifically focused on helping governments in strengthening their public health information systems. He also provided informatics assistance to countries to establish national health information systems, routine and outbreak surveillance systems for infectious disease, national public health emergencies and disasters, and mass gathering events.
During 1989 and 1999, Dr. Krishnamurthy led efforts to digitize the scientific archives of two-time Nobel Laureate, Linus Carl Pauling. Recently, Dr. Krishnamurthy served as a member of the Health Management Information Systems to PEPFAR’s Health System Strengthening workgroup under the United States’ Global Health Initiative.
Krishnamurthy received a Ph.D. in Physical Anthropology from the University of Oregon and an MPH in Health Service Management from the University of California, Los Angeles.
He has co-authored and edited books and articles in his academic areas and has received international recognition and several citations for his work. Currently, Dr. Krishnamurthy serves on the editorial board of The Pan African Medical Journal.
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