The Global Officer is appointed from the senior membership of the College to support and represent on behalf of RCPCH Global's humanitarian child health work in low- and lower-middle income countries around the world. They bring direct experience and technical expertise to the international health and development work of the College, including engagement in RCPCH's educational and examinations strategic aims, as well as supporting advocacy for child health in the UK and overseas. The Global Officer chairs the College's International Board.
We asked Arvind to tell us more about his motivations and what he hopes to achieve...
I am honoured to take on the role of Global Officer at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, an organisation I’ve been proud to support for over three decades. This appointment allows me to contribute more directly to global collaboration in child health — a cause that has been central to my professional life.
I began my paediatric training in Mumbai, completing an MD before continuing my specialist training at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Since 1993, I have worked as a Consultant Paediatrician at North Middlesex Hospital, alongside a deep and sustained involvement in global health and medical education.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working across diverse health systems, particularly in South Asia. As Principal Regional Examiner and Strategic Lead for the region, I supported international assessments in India, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka. My focus has always been on ensuring fairness, maintaining clinical standards, and supporting local training capacity.
I co-chaired the UNICEF-funded Nepal Neonatal and Emergency Paediatric Care Programme (NNEPCP), which developed the country’s first set of national guidelines. I also led the Indian arm of a multi-country academic study examining post-COVID rises in neonatal and under-5 mortality. The findings have helped shape recommendations and health policy conversations.
I took on this role because I believe that by working collaboratively across borders, we can make a tangible difference to children’s lives. I was raised with the value of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – “the world is one family” – and this principle continues to guide me. I am passionate about equitable access to care, mentorship of young professionals, and the power of education to drive sustainable health system improvement.
As Global Officer, my aim is to support meaningful partnerships between RCPCH and international colleagues, build local capacity through training, and share learning that helps address today’s most pressing paediatric challenges. I look forward to working together to ensure that every child, no matter where they are born, has the opportunity to grow up healthy and well.