Faculty

Dr Saunthari Somasundaram is a prominent global and national champion of noncommunicable disease (NCD) control, with over 20 years of experience spanning clinical care, policy advocacy, and governance. She serves on the boards of the NCD Alliance and City Cancer Challenge Foundation, and is President and Medical Director of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM), as well as Co-Chair of NCD Malaysia.

Her work focuses on advancing health equity, strengthening governance, and integrating community voices into health systems. She has led initiatives linking universal health coverage to NCD prevention, secured sustainable financing, and built multi-sector partnerships. Internationally, she contributed to the Lung Health Resolution and was elected President-Elect of the NCD Alliance in 2025.

During COVID-19, she championed equitable access to care and vaccinations for vulnerable groups. Her leadership consistently bridges global policy with grassroots impact, promoting inclusive, people-centred health systems.