Dr. Ashutosh Sachdeva's Global Health Journey of Building Capacity and Changing Lives

When asked to describe himself, Dr. Sachdeva's response was refreshingly humble. "Ash is kind. Ash loves to have fun... I'm a very collaborative person... I'm a builder at heart. I like to build things that have a long-term impact, and I'm a very low-ego person."

 Dr. Ashutosh Sachdeva is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Director of the Global Anesthesiology Program. His work focuses on sustainable capacity building in pulmonary and cancer care education across Kenya, India, and beyond.

Education That Creates Lasting Impact

Dr. Sachdeva’s philosophy is reflected throughout his career. Rather than focusing solely on clinical care, he has invested in developing educational programs, strengthening institutions, and mentoring the next generation of physician leaders. Dr. Sachdeva’s philosophy is reflected throughout his career.

As the global burden of lung disease and cancer continues to rise, Dr. Sachdeva believes that improving access to specialized pulmonary procedures requires more than technology—it requires people. His international work focuses on expanding education and procedural training in countries where demand is growing but access to specialized expertise remains limited.

He works with local teams to develop curricula that reflect regional disease patterns, available equipment, and cultural contexts. Workshops in Kenya and India have covered bronchoscopy technique, management of inhalational lung injury, and faculty development for local educators. The emphasis is always on creating self-sustaining programs: training trainers who can continue the work independently, developing written curricula that outlast any single visiting faculty member, and building institutional relationships that support ongoing exchange.

Addressing a Growing Global Burden

Lung disease and cancer represent a rapidly growing global burden, particularly in low-and middle-income countries where access to diagnostic tools and specialist training remains limited. Dr. Sachdeva's programs directly address this gap through hands-on clinical education and sustainable infrastructure development.

In Kenya, he has supported the bronchoscopy program at Kenyatta National Hospital, training pulmonologists to perform advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with locally available resources. In India, he has led workshops on inhalational lung injury, curriculum development, and procedural training adapted to regional needs.

His vision extends further: expansion is planned for Nigeria, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Botswana, building a network of trained specialists across the African continent and South Asia who can independently sustain high-quality respiratory care.

A Shared Mission

Dr. Sachdeva's commitment to advancing pulmonary health extends through his active engagement in international scientific dialogue and capacity building. Earlier this year, he participated as distinguished international faculty at a high-level respiratory health roundtable hosted by Vaayu Chest & Sleep Specialty Center in Bengaluru, India.

The meeting brought together leading pulmonologists from India and the United States to address the country's growing burden of respiratory disease, including the impact of occupational exposures, air pollution, biomass fuel use, tuberculosis, and post-COVID lung disease. The roundtable exemplified his passion for sharing expertise across borders while working collaboratively with international colleagues to strengthen respiratory care systems and build sustainable clinical capacity in regions facing an increasing burden of lung disease.

Dr. Sachdeva's work demonstrates his global health contributions that extend beyond research and mentorship to include international leadership, knowledge exchange, and collaborative efforts to improve pulmonary care worldwide.

His work embodies the mission of the University of Maryland Global Health Alliance of bringing together expertise, education, and international partnerships to improve health outcomes worldwide.