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MSc Sharan Kuganesan
Sharan Kuganesan, MSc, is a Program Manager for Global Tobacco Control and STOP at Vital Strategies, a global public health organization.12 She has a diverse background in global health and a strong commitment to tobacco control initiatives.
Background and Education
Sharan grew up in Toronto, Canada, in a Tamil family with roots in Sri Lanka.1 She is fluent in Tamil and was exposed to various cultures during her upbringing.1 Sharan holds a Master of Science in Global Health from McMaster University and a double major in Biology and Global Development Studies from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.1
Professional Experience
Sharan's career in global health began with research roles at various institutions:
- Research Analyst at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Canada1
- Conducted thesis research on mobile mental health clinics in Karnataka, India1
- HIV/AIDS Quality Improvement Specialist and Global Health Corps Fellow at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene1
In 2018, Sharan joined Vital Strategies and was one of the first people hired to work on STOP, the organization's tobacco industry watchdog.1 Her role involves:
- Managing the flow of her team and its various outputs
- Coordinating with project partners
- Working with Vital's tobacco control teams in 11 countries1
Contributions to Tobacco Control
At Vital Strategies, Sharan contributes to several tobacco control initiatives:
- STOP: Exposes and counters tobacco industry tactics3
- Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program3
- Tobacco Enforcement and Reporting Movement (TERM): An AI-powered system tracking tobacco marketing3
Sharan has written advocacy reports, conducted user experience studies, and contributed to website development for these projects.1 She is particularly proud of campaigns like "Dirty Money," which expose corrupt practices of tobacco companies in Africa.1
Personal Interests
Outside of work, Sharan enjoys painting, exploring New York City, and traveling internationally.1 She has set a goal of visiting 30 countries by the time she turns 30.1
Sharan Kuganesan's work at Vital Strategies reflects her passion for global health and her commitment to combating the tobacco industry's harmful practices worldwide.


