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.