Leadership
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Dr. Moorthy is Chief of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology and Professor of Pediatrics, with over two decades of clinical and research experience in pediatric rheumatic diseases. She leads a highly regarded clinical program dedicated to the care of children with complex rheumatic diseases, working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care. The division specializes in the diagnosis and management of a broad spectrum of rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), vasculitis, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), spondyloarthropathies, and scleroderma.Her research interests center on patient-reported outcomes, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and physical function in pediatric rheumatic diseases. She developed and validated the Simple Measure of the Impact of Lupus Erythematosus in Youngsters (SMILEY©) through a multicenter study, providing a widely used instrument for assessing disease impact in affected children and their families. Her contributions to childhood SLE outcomes research are reflected in numerous peer-reviewed publications. Additionally, she has collaborated on studies related to vasculitis, JIA, and rare diseases.Dr. Moorthy has received multiple grants and awards spanning health disparities, disease awareness, and pandemic-era care of immunosuppressed children. Recent funded work includes a U.S. Office of Minority Health grant to advance lupus awareness and health literacy in underserved populations, an institutional grant examining the biopsychosocial determinants of health in immunosuppressed children during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a New Jersey Health Foundation grant on COVID-19 awareness among patients, parents, and caregivers. She is collaborating with Dr. Hatefi on a translational research project related to SLE. Within her institution, Dr. Moorthy is committed to the educational mission of the department, mentoring residents, medical students, and junior trainees.
Naveena Yanamala, PhD
Associate Director
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Dr. Naveena Yanamala, MS, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine, Section Chief of Clinical Research & AI Innovation, and Director of Data Science and Machine Learning Research in the Division of Cardiology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ. Additionally, she directs the Center for Innovation at RWJUH, serves as an Editorial Board Member for the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), and holds roles as Associate Editor for Translational Systems Biology and In Silico Trials.
She has held several leadership positions in occupational safety and health research governance, including serving as a steering committee member of the Center for Occupational Robotics Research (CORR) within the Division of Safety Research. Additionally, she has acted as a liaison for the Emerging Technologies Interest Group (ETIG), focusing on the integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence across CDC/NIOSH. She was recently appointed as a Special Government Employee on the Patient Engagement Advisory Committee for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) at the US FDA. She also holds academic affiliations as an Associate Member of the Biomedical Engineering (BME) Graduate Program at Rutgers University and as an Adjunct Faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University.
With over 15 years of interdisciplinary research experience, Dr. Yanamala has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed articles at the intersection of biology, health, and computation. Her current research focuses on advancing science and healthcare through applied ML/AI methodologies, with an emphasis on developing AI-driven solutions. This includes algorithms that leverage wearables and point-of-care technologies to emulate diagnostic medical imaging, enhancing accessibility and reducing costs. She is also pioneering efforts to improve healthcare accessibility through robotics and other innovative medical technologies, ensuring that advanced diagnostic tools reach diverse and underserved patient populations. By harnessing data-driven innovations, her work bridges gaps in health equity and public health, transforming the landscape of preventive and precision medicine.
Some of her notable recognitions include winning the NIH NHLBI Big Data Analysis Challenge in 2020 and multiple Alice Hamilton Awards, which honor exceptional scientific contributions to occupational and environmental health. Additionally, she has received nominations for the prestigious Charles C. Shepard Science Award, the CDC’s highest recognition for excellence in science and research.
Community Partners/ Advisors
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Rosy Thakkar is an international business executive, nonprofit leader, and community advocate dedicated to building partnerships that create meaningful impact across communities and cultures.
She serves as Vice President of Palace Tours, where she leads strategic partnerships, destination relations, and international business development for a global travel organization specializing in luxury rail journeys and cultural tourism experiences. Her work includes collaboration with international tourism stakeholders to advance cultural exchange and global engagement.
Rosy is also the Founder and President of United For Impact, a nonprofit organization focused on public health, mental health awareness, youth leadership development, STEM education, and community engagement. In addition, she is the host and executive producer of the Significantly Invisible podcast, featuring conversations with physicians, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders on issues affecting families and communities.
A former Chairwoman of the Montgomery Township Republican Organization, Rosy has a longstanding commitment to civic engagement and public service. She is honored to serve on the SAATHI Board and support its mission of improving health outcomes, advancing education, and strengthening communities through collaboration and service.
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