Latha Swamy

Latha Swamy, a multidisciplinary technical and research advisor, has a wealth of experience in environmental issues and human health. She strongly believes in the relationship between environmental degradation and human health, with a special focus on the impact of these issues on people living in poverty. Latha has spent many years researching and measuring the effectiveness of programs and policies aimed at solving problems at the intersection of health systems strengthening and access, food justice and security, gender equity, and colonialism/imperialism.

Her extensive education includes a Master of Environmental Management (MEM), International Development Economics, Governance & Policy (Forests/Agriculture), Gender, and Health from Yale University, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical Scientist Training Program, Neuroscience, Cognitive Neurophysiology, Otorhinolaryngology, ABD (All But Dissertation) - Degree not conferred at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Medical Scientist Training Program, Clinical Experience - Degree not conferred at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. She also holds an M.Sc. in Systems Neuroscience & Clinical Investigation from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and a B.S. in Cellular Biology, with a minor in Music, Ethnomusicology, Percussion, from The University of Georgia.

Latha has been involved in various capacities throughout her career, with her most recent role being the Director of Food System Policy at City of New Haven. She previously served as a Senior Advisor in Planetary Health at Yale University and Editor of the Journal of Sustainable Forestry at Taylor & Francis Group. She has also held positions such as Graduate Teaching Fellow at Yale School of Management, Consultant for Fishery Cooperatives at Rare, and Program Evaluation Intern (ASRI Klinik) at Health In Harmony/Klinik Alam Sehat Lestari. Other positions she has held in the past include Research Intern at Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), Consultant for Agroforestry at Hopital Albert Schweitzer Haiti, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (EQUID) Co-founder and Coordinator at Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Consultant for Renewable Energy Financing at Natural Resources Defense Council, Program Coordinator, Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry at Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and Health Policy, Education, and Advocacy Fellow at Physicians for a National Health Program. She was also a Student Doctor, MSTP Continuity Clinic at Jacobi Medical Center.