User:Apurva.b.pandya

Mr. Apurvakumar Pandya, a Doctoral Candidate and a UGC Senior Research Fellow in the department of Human Development and Family Studies, M S University of Baroda, and Executive Director of the Maitri Trust, a non profit organization based in Vadodara. He was born on 1st August,1983 in Killa Pardi, District Valsad. He belongs to the small village, Paria, in the Valsad district, South Gujarat.He has completed schooling from the village. He moved to Vadodara to study Bachelor of Art (BA) in Psychology from The Maharaja University (M S) of Baroda, Gujarat in 2003.Then, he completed Master’s degree in Psychology (specialization in clinical Psychology) from the Department of Psychology, M S University of Baroda in 2005. At present, he is pursuing PhD from the same University.

Academic and Profeesional Experience: He has more than 9 years (as of April 2012) of experience in development sector including 5 years of work experience in Health sector. His academic and professional work includes providing psychological and mental health services, research, teaching, training, management of HIV programme at state level and providing consulting services to Gender Resource Center, Department of Women and Child Welfare, Government of Gujarat, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and various non-governmental organizations.

Doctoral Research: His doctoral research focuses on HIV counseling practices. Counseling is one of the significant components of HIV prevention program and most HIV counseling theories/models developed in the Western countries are uncritically adapted in India. Gender power differentials, sexuality, and cultural diversity create different risk context in India as do stigma & poverty. In-depth understanding of challenges of HIV counseling in cultural context, and relating counselors’ experiences, reflections with existing theories can be crucial and insightful to develop culturally appropriate counseling model or a theory. His doctoral research titled, HIV/AIDS Counseling Practices:Experiences and Perspectives of Counselors Working With Targeted Interventions In Gujarat." This grounded theory research explores HIV preventive counseling practices in targeted HIV prevention program in the State.It attempts to examine counselors’ personal experiences of providing HIV counseling and evolve culturally tailored working model or theory of HIV counseling.

Past Overseas Experience

Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral and Professional Research fellow, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York.

Local Ambassador and Application Reader, Atlas Service Corps, Inc., 1825 K St. NW, Suite 218, Washington, DC 20006, USA

Global Guide and Volunteer, One to World, 285, West Broadway, Suite 450, New York-10013.

Community Leader and Program Ambassador, Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Exchanges Connect, Department of State, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, USA.

Mentor, CL-LGBT APAGS, American Psychological Association (APA), Washington DC, USA.

Past National work experiences He has worked as a Research Officer in the Faculty of Social Work, M S University of Baroda. He managed research project titled “Paediatric ART counseling-An exploratory study,” funded by PR-GFATM R7, Tata Institute Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. He coordinated research team, trained the research staff, prepared data collection tool, facilitated actual data collection in stipulated timeline, analyzed data, and prepared final report. He was also associated with the Gujarat States AIDS Control Society (GSACS), Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Gujarat. He helped GSACS to manage Targeted Intervention (TIs) in the State. He coordinated Satellite Interactive Training Programme for TIs, first of its kind in the country; monitored TI performances quarterly and graded each TI in the state. Based on grading of TI, provided technical guidance to mentors’ team and TI Supervisors to improve implementation TIs in the state. He was also instrumental in assessment and selection of TI Learning Sites in the state. Further, he conceptualized and coordinated State Conference of TI staff and eight Regional Peer Panchayats; and successfully coordinated “Raod Shows” activities during Red Ribbon Express in the state. He also worked with Lakshya Trust, a community based organization (CBO) working with men who have sex with men (MSM), as a counselor. He coordinated HIV counseling and mental health services, conducted various researches in the area of HIV, counselling and sexuality, and actively involved in capacity building of the project staff. To mainstream issues of HIV and sexuality, he conducted seminar/workshops on the topic at various faculties and departments of the M S University of Baroda, Schools, and corporate agencies in Vadodara district.

All above experiences enriched his understanding of health theories, research methodology, and its applications in real life setting. He believes that Fulbright Fellowship helped him to relate theoretical orientation and grass-root level experiences to global health issues. Thus, overall experiences built his Local as well Global Health perspective.

Contributions in specific academic and professional domain:

Counseling and Psychotherapy Services He established and coordinated Mental Health Service at the Lakshya Trust for homosexual, bisexual men and their female partners under Targeted Intervention project in the year 2005. He received MANY FACES OF COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY AWARD at International Counseling Psychology Conference by American Psychological Association (APA) in Houston, Chicago, 6th to 9th March, 2008 for innovative, creative, and adaptive counseling and psychotherapeutic practice to bring a critical focus to strength-based preventive approaches to deal with psychosocial issues of MSM and their female partners. Moreover, he trained community members in counseling and introduced the concept of community counselors and continuous research with ongoing intervention. Lakshya Trust becomes first CBO in the country to introduce the concept of community counselor, expanding work with female partners of MSM and accomplishing researches on application of counseling and psychotherapy in TIs. He developed/designed culturally appropriate “Community out-reach Strategies,” and “Counseling Strategies.”

During his job with Lakshya Trust, he received Scholarship to participate in International Training institute on “HIV/AIDS Counselling and Psychosocial Intervention” organized by Cell for AIDS Research Action & Training (CARAT), Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai from Resource Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS (RCSHA) New Delhi, October, 2005 and Sponsorship from Lakshya Trust, October, 2006 to delegate International Conference on “Strength Based Strategies” at Hyderabad, India. Also, he was invited for various state level consultation meetings such as One day consultation meeting on “Counselor’s training” held by Gujarat State AIDS Control Society, Ahmedabad, and One-day consultation meeting on “Preparation of an action plan on HIV/AIDS in Gujarat organized by Action Aid International Gujarat chapter in Ahmedabad.”

Academic His dedication towards studies reflects in his consistently good academic performance and active associationship with academia through exchange of professional experiences in application of theories into practice. As a doctoral student, he conducted seminars/workshops on “Sex, Sexuality and Gender,” “Overview of HIV/AIDS in India,” and taught “Guidance and counseling” course and course on “Qualitative Research methodology” to post graduate students of the department of Human Development and Family Studies, M S University of Baroda. His sincere commitments and efforts in the field of HIV counseling and sexuality helped him receive an Award of Research Fellowship from University Grant Commission, Government of India, New Delhi, in October, 2007 to support my doctoral research, and Fulbright-Nehru doctoral and professional Research Fellowship by United States-India Education Foundation, New Delhi in August, 2009 to enhance doctoral research by visiting US University in the academic year 2010-11.

Research He is an active behavior change researcher that is reflected from (19+)researches that he had completed. He specifically worked on issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention, Women’s Mental Health, psychosocial issues, sexuality and masculinity, effective counseling intervention, mental health of Men who have Sex with Men (MSM). Many of his studies have been presented at national and international conferences and seminars and published in reputed peer-reviewed national/international journals, newsletter, and books. Following are the publication details:

Original and Peer-reviewed Articles  Pandya, A., Khanna, R., Parmar, N. (2009). Exploring young men’s notions about men & masculinity. Women Study Research Centre (WSRC) Newsletter, M S University of Baroda, 1:4.  Pandya, A. (2011). Understanding MSM & TG Populations: Implications for Strengthening Counseling in Targeted Interventions in Gujarat. Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing, 2(1), 174-178.  Pandya, A., Pandya, S., Patil, B., Merchant, S. (2011). Invisible Others: Sexual Health Vulnerabilities of wives of Men who have Men in India. Culture and Sexuality, 16(1), 76-89.  Pandya, A. (2011).Psychosociocultural issues of MSM in Gujarat, India. International Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 1(1): 18-23.  Pandya, A. and Pandya, S. (2013). Sexual Identity and Sexual Health Risks of Men who have Sex with Men in India: A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 3(1), 49-54.  Pandya, A. and Pandya, S. (2013). Socio-cultural Context and Sexual Health Risks of Men who have Sex with Men and their Female Partners in Gujarat, India. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 3(9), 1-6.  Pandya, A., Pandya, S. And Nair, R. d. (2013). Same-sex-sexual identity development in an Indian context. Psychology of Sexualities Review, 4(1), 40-52.

Book Chapters  Pandya, A. (2010). Voices of Invisible: Coping Responses of Men who have Sex with Men (MSM). In Chris, B. & Shen-Miller, D. (Eds.). International Psychology of Men- Theoretical Advances, Case Studies, and Clinical Innovations (pp. 233-258). New York: Routledge Publications.  Pandya, A. (2012). Sexuality issues of Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and strengths based counseling. In Ojha, S. & Pandey, S. (Eds.). Positive Psychology: Emerging Trends (In 2 Vols.) pp 462-477. New Delhi: Shree Publishers & Distributors

Book Review  Pandya, A. (2012). Review of Hirsch, J., Wardlow, H., Smith, D. J., Phinney, H.M., Parikh, S., and Nathanson, C. (2009). The Secret: Love Marriage and HIV. 301 pages. Vanderbilt University Press: Nashville, Tennessee. [ISBN: 978-0-8265-1682-4].

His strong presence in the academia and professional practices can be seen from researches conducted, scientific publications, and participation in various conferences/seminars.

Capacity building of counselors and HIV professionals in the state: He has trained more than 200 counselors and other professionals associated with HIV/AIDS prevention projects in the State and country. He has been recognized as a “Best Counselor” by Priject Support Unit (PSU), Ahmedabad and Gujarat State AIDS Control Society (GSACS), Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Gujarat. He has been empanelled as a state “Resource person” by the GSACS the year 2005-06, and Gender Resource Centre, Department of Women Development and Child Welfare, Government of Gujarat.

Professional Associations At present, he is actively associated with following organizations/institutions in different positions as follow,

Program Associate, Women’s Study Research Centre (WSRC), Department of HDFS, M S University of Baroda. Resource person, Gujarat State AIDS Control Society (GSACS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Gujarat, and State Training Resource Centre (STRC), Vadodara, Gujarat. Master Trainer, National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, Government of India. Member, American Psychological Association, USA Member, International Association of Holistic Psychology (IAHP), India Member, Society for Psychological study of Social Issues (SPSSI), Washington, USA Member, International Institute of Qualitative Metholodology, University of Alberta, Canada.

Recognition, Honors and Awards: 2013, Best Paper Award from Biennial Conference of The Home Science Association of India, Vadodara. 2012 Early Career Scholar Travel Award from International Society of Studies of Behavioral Development (ISSBD) to participate in ISSBD Conference, Edmonton, Canada,7-11 July,2012.

2011 Travel Scholarship by United Stated-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), New Delhi to attend ISSBD Regional Workshop in Chandigarh, October 13-15, 2011.

Research grant, Gujarat state AIDS Control Society (GSACS), Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Gujarat, July 2010.

2010 International Travel Award from Society for Psychological Studies of Social Issues, Washington DC.

Member Scholar, International Institute of Qualitative Metholodology, University of Alberta, Canada, December 2010.

Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral and professional fellowship from United States-India Education Fund (USIEF), New Delhi, and Department of State, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, USA.

Many Faces of Counseling Psychologist Award at International Counseling Psychology Conference, Houston, Chicago, 6th to 9th March 2008.

Research Fellowship from University Grant Commission (UGC), Govt. of India, New Delhi, October 2007.

Scholarship to participate Asia Pacific Conference on “Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights, 29th -31st October, Hyderabad.

Resource Centre for Sexual Health And HIV/AIDS (RCSHA) Scholarship in 2005 to participate in International Training on “ HIV/AIDS Counseling and Psychosocial Intervention” organized by Cell for AIDS Research Action & Training (CARAT), Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.

Future professional aspirations

He focuses to explore how sexuality, gender and masculinity influence health-related behaviors of children, women and men; develop indigenous behavior change theory or model, and design culturally tailored intervention strategies. He wants to contribute his efforts in strengthening institutional and program capacity for effective in implementation of public interventions. His goal is to establish Centre for Culture, Health and Behavior Change Science. He has conceptualized a research, training and development consulting firm that aims to work toward professionalizing counseling services, mobilize community and empower them for health-seeking behaviors, increasing community involvement in designing, implementing public health policies and programs and creating sustainable health service delivery model.