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About Me

By the time I was 10 years old, I had lived in three countries: India, Barbados, and the United States. I became a US citizen when I was 16 years old, and it is something I never take for granted. Exposed to two great democracies—India and the United States—I was inspired at a young age by historical people-led movements for equity and justice in both countries.

My experiences as an immigrant, a community-organizer, and a health researcher in India, have made me passionate about working at the intersection of public policy and healthcare. In medical school, I quickly learned that OB/GYNs work at this juncture far more often than any other specialty in medicine. OB/GYNs serve as leaders, relying on cultural competence, ethical acumen, and clinical skills to provide and advance women’s health.

UCSF has historically fostered a community of clinicians who are boldly passionate about reproductive justice and health equity. I am thrilled for the opportunity during residency to learn and grow alongside this incredible group of leaders. I cannot wait to see what we achieve together through continued advocacy at the local, state, and national levels.

In my spare time, I enjoy conducting culinary experiments and pretending that I am in the British Bakeoff. I love gathering family/friends over food and drinks as much as I love finding a quiet place to curl up with a book. I treasure evening walks with my partner, Jerry, and our two rescue dogs, Mr. Muggles and Socrates. I look forward to hiking the hills of San Francisco and exploring nearby trails and national parks in the Greater Bay Area.

Akshaya Kannan, MD
Akshaya Kannan Singh, MD, MPP
Resident Physician - PGY 4

[email protected]

If you are a patient, please do not contact a physician by email without their prior expressed consent due to confidentiality concerns.

Main Address

UCSF OB/GYN&RS Residency Program
490 Illinois Street
10th Floor, Box 0132
San Francisco, CA 94158

Location Office Phone Fax
Mission Bay (415) 476 - 5192 (415) 476 - 1811
Mount Zion (415) 353 - 9240 (415) 353 - 9509
San Francisco General Hospital (628) 206 - 3061 (628) 206 - 3112

Research/Clinical Interests: Health policy and advocacy; Reproductive justice and health equity; Strengthening public health infrastructure including Medicaid and safety-net hospitals

Education/Training

Year

Institution Degree Field of Study
current University of California, San Francisco Residency Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
2020 Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA MPP Social and Urban Policy
2020 Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA MD Medicine
2013 University of Chicago, Chicago, IL BA Public Policy Studies

Research & Professional Experience

Year  
2019-2020 Consultant, Policy Analysis Exercise, Harvard Kennedy School: Conducted analysis on expanding postpartum Medicaid for state legislator in Florida
2018-2019 Research Assistant, Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Harvard Kennedy School: Investigated medical student learning about health care system costs
2018-2019 Research Assistant for Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School: Investigated racial equity and reconciliation in the American South
2018-2020 Student Researcher, Department of GYN/OB, Emory University School of Medicine: (1)Conducted retrospective cohort study assessing need for ERAS protocol and (2)conducted statistical analysis for case series on use of delayed absorbable unidirectional suture for posterior colporrhaphy
2016-2018 Advocacy Chair and Vice President of Programming, Health Students Taking Action Together (HSTAT), Atlanta, GA
2015-2017 Co-coordinator, Harriet Tubman Women’s Clinic, Atlanta, GA
2015 Health Equity Intern, Families USA, Washington, DC
2013-2014 Fulbright-Nehru Grant, Coimbatore, India: Conducted anthropological research on a menarche ritual in South India
2011-2013 Co-founder, Students for Health Equity, University of Chicago: Founded a student-run community organizing group dedicated to bringing a Level One Trauma Center to the South Side of Chicago

Achievements & Recognition

Year Major Honors
2019 Gold Humanism Honor Society, Emory University School of Medicine
2015 SNMA at Emory School of Medicine Nia Award: Awarded to a person who inspires building and restoring communities
2015-2020 Robert W. Woodruff Fellowship, Emory University School of Medicine: Merit-based scholarship
2013-2014 Fulbright-Nehru Grant
2013 Perry Herst Prize for Leadership, University of Chicago: One of the university’s highest student honors, recognizing three graduating students for their commitment to social justice and academic excellence

Oral Presentations

KANNAN A, Cohen I. The Turmeric Bathing Ceremony: an analysis of its practice and its impact on the menstrual experience of Women and Girls in Tamil Nadu, India, today. Oral presentation at: Society for Menstrual Cycle 2017 Conference; June 2017; Kennesaw, GA.

KANNAN A, Amirthaveni M, Thilakavathy S. Study of the Rituals, Nutritional, and Hygiene Practices During the Tumeric Bathing Ceremony in South India. Oral presentation at: 2014 First Ever International Women’s Issues Conference (IWIC); February 2014; Orlando, FL.

Publications

Ramirez-Caban L, KANNAN A, Goggins ER, Shockley ME, Haddad LB, Chahine EB. Factors that Lengthen Patient Hospitalizations Following Laparoscopic Hysterectomy. JSLS. Jul-Sep 2020;24(3):e2020.00029. doi: 10.4293/JSLS.2020.00029. PMID: 32714003

He S, Falk K, KANNAN A, Kelley RS. An Alternative Approach to Posterior Colporrhaphy Plication Using Delayed Absorbable Unidirectional Barbed Suture. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2020 Feb;26(2):107-110. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000000828. PMID 31990797

Policy Analysis Publications

KANNAN A. Strengthening the Illinois Trauma System: How do we re-establish Illinois as a national leader in trauma? Chicago Studies, 2016; 8(124-193).

Hernandez-Cancio S, KANNAN A, and Burroughs M. Why Reforming Health Care Payment and Delivery is a Health Equity Issue. Families USA. 2015. 

Hernandez-Cancio S, KANNAN A, and Burroughs M. Tackling Health Disparities While Reforming Health Care Payment and Delivery. Families USA. 2015. 

Hernandez-Cancio S, KANNAN A. White House Makes Push to Enroll Asian American and Pacific Islanders in Health Insurance. Families USA. 2015.

Opinion

KANNAN A. Fetal Heartbeat Bills Protect No OneWomen’s Policy Journal. November 13, 2019.

KANNAN A. Texas should embrace the chaos and expand MedicaidThe Houston Chronicle. January 17, 2019.

KANNAN A. Will I learn how to provide abortions in 2020Orlando Sentinel. January 19, 2019.

KANNAN A. Can a rising tide of female legislators lift all boats?The Hill. December 8, 2018.