Rutgers School of Public Health alumna Nandini Selvam, PhD, MPH, leads the US Federal portfolio for IQVIA Inc., a Fortune 300 multinational health services company
Each April, the Rutgers School of Public Health’s Office of Career Services features alumni whose work is advancing health and well-being locally and globally. Launched in 2021, Alumni April brings together students, alumni, faculty and community partners through stories and events that showcase diverse career paths and the many ways public health professionals drive impactful change.
This year’s Alumni April theme, Humans of Rutgers School of Public Health, centers the human stories behind public health – highlighting non-traditional journeys, interdisciplinary careers and the people-first values that shape the profession. These leaders illustrate the many ways our alumni bring public health values into varied roles and sectors, while keeping people and communities at the heart of what they do.
Among them is Nandini Selvam, PhD, MPH, President of Government Solutions at IQVIA Inc. Here, she reflects on her journey, what it means to “humanize public health” and advice for future public health leaders.
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Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.
I’m a product of New Jersey Public education, and I’m proud to say my academic home has always been Rutgers – including the Rutgers School of Public Health. Those experiences grounded me early in the idea that public health is about people first, and that where you come from should never limit where you go, and what you can do.
Today, I lead IQVIA Government Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of IQVIA, a large health services company with a global footprint, where I oversee our business and scientific strategy. I’ve spent nearly 25 years working across the healthcare ecosystem, and what has kept me motivated the whole time is the chance to connect science to real-world impact – especially for communities that too often get overlooked. The combination of my undergraduate training in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and my graduate studies in Epidemiology have afforded me the opportunity to work across disease and therapeutic areas; everything from vaccines and infectious diseases to chronic disease, women’s health, and US and global health policy.
My career has taken me through academic research, the US federal government, and roles in the pharmaceutical, health insurance, and health services industries. One of the most defining experiences for me was serving as a Commissioned Corps Officer in the US Public Health Service during my postdoctoral training as an Epidemic Intelligence Officer – “disease detective” at the CDC. It taught be how to lead in moments that really matter, and it still shapes the way I approach my work today: stay mission-driven, stay grounded in the data, and never lost sight of the humans behind it.
How did your non-traditional path shape your public health career?
My path has been non-traditional in the sense that I've moved across disciplines and sectors – academia, government, and industry – and I've come to see that as a real advantage to public health. It taught me early that there isn't just one right way to do this work. Different sectors speak different languages, measure success differently, and face different constraints – yet they all can influence health outcomes.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that a public health mission doesn't have to stop at the doors of government or academia. Working in the private sector and running a business can still be deeply public health-driven, especially when you're focused on scale, sustainability, and measurable outcomes. In many cases, industry has capabilities- data, technology, operational reach- that can help move faster and reach more people, but it works best when it's aligned with public priorities and community needs.
For me, humanizing public health is closing that distance: asking what is missing from the data, what the numbers can’t capture about lived experience, and whether the solutions we design will actually work in real life.
Nandini Selvam, PhD, MPH
Alumna, Rutgers School of Public Health
That's why I'm such a strong believer in public-private partnerships. The most durable progress happens when sectors come together – when funding, policy, scientific rigor, and execution are aligned. My non-traditional path has taught me to build those bridges and translate across those worlds, so the work isn't happening in silos – and communities ultimately benefit.
What does “humanizing public health” mean to you?
Humanizing public health means remembering that behind every data set, no matter how big, is a person, a family, and a community. I've spent a lot of my career working with large-scale real-world data, and it's incredibly powerful for spotting patterns and informing decisions – but it can also create distance if we're not intentional.
For me, humanizing public health is closing that distance: asking what is missing from the data, what the numbers can’t capture about lived experience, and whether the solutions we design will actually work in real life. It’s treating communities as true partners, so evidence and lived reality work together – and the result is not just better analysis, but better, more equitable outcomes.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to those pursuing a career in public health?
Two things: stay mission-driven and stay close to the real world. Keep building your skills – ask good questions, get comfortable with data, and communicate clearly – but keep the people behind the numbers in view.
Spend time with communities early, learn what implementation really takes, and get used to working across sectors. And when you notice gaps – who’s missing in the data or not being reached – speak up.
