About

Dr. Poonam Khanna

<strong>Additional Professor</strong> , Department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh

Additional Professor , Department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh

Dr. Poonam Khanna is a distinguished academician, researcher, and public health nutritionist, currently serving as an Additional Professor of Nutrition at the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh. With a Ph.D. in Food Science and Nutrition, her work bridges rigorous academic research with hands-on community engagement, focused on advancing health outcomes through nutrition.

Over the past two decades, Dr. Khanna has contributed significantly to India’s public health landscape through her extensive research on anaemia, child malnutrition, mid-day meal quality, non-communicable diseases, and food safety. She has authored and co-authored more than 100 national and international publications and book chapters in leading journals and edited volumes.

Her commitment to public service has earned her numerous accolades, including the Best Scientist Award 2022 by ICAR-IIMR and recognitions from FSSAI and the Department of Social Welfare for her leadership in campaigns like Eat Right Chandigarh and Poshan Maah.

As a nodal officer, technical expert, and member of multiple state-level committees, Dr. Khanna plays a pivotal role in shaping policy and guiding programs aimed at tackling nutritional challenges in India. Her field-based research projects have impacted thousands of lives across rural and urban communities.

Dr. Khanna’s passion lies in empowering people through nutritional literacy and evidence-based interventions. Her work not only strengthens academic and scientific discourse but also brings sustainable change at the grassroots level.

PGIMER, Chandigarh

Academic Qualifications

Institute: CSKHPKVV, Palampur (Himachal Pradesh)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Food Science and Nutrition
🕒 2005 – 2010

Focused on applied nutrition and food innovation in public health contexts.

Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Food Science and Nutrition
🕒 2003 – 2005

Specialized in nutritional sciences and research methodologies.

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Home Science
🕒 2000 – 2003

Awarded merit certificates for securing top position consecutively for three years.

Awards & Recognitions

  • Best Scientist Award 2022 at the National Nutri-Cereal Convention 4.0, organized by IIMR-ICAR, Hyderabad.
  • Award of Honour for a community-based project supporting single-parent children in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab (Sponsored by Sai Eye Care Society, Khamanon).
  • National Nutrition Award (2019) from the Nutrition and Natural Health Sciences Association, New Delhi.
  • Felicitation by FSSAI for promoting the Eat Right Chandigarh initiative.
  • Recognition by Poshan Abhiyaan, Department of Social Welfare, Chandigarh, for organizing impactful activities during Poshan Maah 2022.
  • CSKHPKVV, Palampur: Multiple merit certificates for academic excellence over three consecutive years.
  • Appreciation by Directorate of Field Publicity, Government of India for outstanding performance in national symposiums.

Leadership Roles in National Health Initiatives

  • Nodal Officer, SCEAR-A Project at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
  • Technical Expert, State Technical Advisory Group for Anemia Mukt Haryana.
  • Member, State-Level Steering Committee for the Anemia Mukt Bharat initiative.
  • Lead Facilitator for numerous nutrition awareness and intervention programs targeting reproductive-age women and schoolchildren.

Government and Institutional Collaborations

  • Technical Expert with the Population Council for quality control and training on nutritional assessments.
  • Policy Advisory & Implementation Roles with national bodies including FSSAI, ICAR, and PGIMER.
  • Contributor to national workshops and seminars on food fortification, food safety, and maternal-child nutrition conducted by NAMS, World NCD Congress, and other public health organizations.
  • Member of the Data Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB) for pesticide control studies.

Vision Statement

“I believe in translating scientific knowledge into practical, community-level action that empowers individuals—especially women and children—to lead healthier, more resilient lives.”