Faculty Member
Firdosi Rustom Mehta
- Email Address(es)
- docfirdosi(at)gmail.com
- Division(s)/Institute(s)
- Clinical Public Health Division
- Position
- Adjunct Professor
Dr Mehta has over 30 years of Public Health experience, more than half of which were with WHO. He has worked in several countries and regions of the world. Dr Mehta completed his medical education in India after which he served in the Indian Navy Defense Services. He then served in the Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman in various capacities for 10 years, the last being Director of Surveillance and Disease Control.
Dr Mehta then joined the World Health Organization and worked in Somalia from 1998 – 2002, where he was responsible for supporting the control of TB and all other communicable diseases in a complex emergency situation as well as supporting Emergency and Humanitarian action in different parts of the country. He moved from Somalia to Indonesia in 2002 in the capacity of Country Advisor Tuberculosis Control program for seven years. Indonesia is the second highest TB burden country globally. Dr Mehta worked tirelessly with Government and other partners to make a difference in a decentralized health care system.
Dr Mehta moved to Sri Lanka in 2009 as the WHO country Representative and Chief of Mission until October 2014. His experience in emergency and humanitarian action, communicable disease control, health system issues, mental health and a keen focus on addressing non communicable diseases in Sri Lanka have been well recognized and acknowledged. He has authored and co-authored several scientific publications in peer reviewed journals. He is an Adjunct Professor at York University and University of Toronto in Canada. He serves on the Governance and Advisory committees at the NGO Family services Peel, which focuses on Violence against women and Human Trafficking issues. He also mentors students and young professionals aspiring to pursue careers in Global health. After his tenure with WHO, Dr Mehta resides in Canada with his family.