Professional Experience

Ms. Bhandarkar provides strategic and business advice, policy analysis, project implementation support, and coalition building and advocacy services to clients in the areas of healthcare coverage, access, and delivery, healthcare financing and health information technology. Her clients include healthcare providers, foundations, and policy and advocacy organizations.

Prior to joining Manatt, Ms. Bhandarkar worked for the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center (AHC), where she conducted research on adolescent health topics, provided technical assistance to the Center and delivered trainings to health practitioners and youth workers on integrating youth development principles into service delivery. She also, managed evaluation projects of the center?s medical services and coordinated strategic planning and fundraising initiatives with its Advisory Board. Prior to AHC, Ms. Bhandarkar worked in the Health Policy Division of the Children?s Defense Fund in Washington, D.C. and with UNICEF and UNICEF-USA on child and adolescent health issues.

Education

Johns Hopkins University, M.P.H., M.B.A., 2005.

Tufts University, B.A., Political Science and French, 1999.

Memberships & Activities

Board Member, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS).

Member, American Public Health Association.

Member, South Asian Public Health Association.
Treasurer, April 2002-2004.

Chair, Project-Impact for South Asian Americans, 2003-2004.

Publications

Co-Author, "The Role of Local Governments in Administering Medicaid in New York," Medicaid Institute at the United Hospital Fund, August 2009.

Contributor, “State Level Health Information Exchange:  Roles in Ensuring Governance and Advancing Interoperability,” Preliminary 2007 Findings from State-level HIE Consensus Project, prepared for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, September 28, 2007.

Co-Author, “Administration of Medicaid in New York State: Key Players and Their Roles,” Medicaid Institute at the United Hospital Fund, 2006.

Co-author, “Including At-Risk Adolescents in Their Own Health and Mental Health Care: A Youth Development Perspective,” Social Work in Mental Health, 2004.

Co-author, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Sexual-Orientation Questioning Adolescents Seeking Mental Health Services: Risk Factors, Worries, and Desires to Talk About Them,” Social Work in Mental Health, 2004.

Co-author, “The Health of South Asians in the United States,” South Asian Public Health Association, 2002.

Languages

French and Konkani.