Sapna completed her Bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy from Goa Medical College in 2018 and worked extensively as a Physiotherapist in both public and private healthcare sectors in India. Most notably, she served at South Goa's Secondary Care Hospital, contributing to the National Programme for Health Care of Elderly under the Non-Communicable Disease Cell. These diverse experiences deepened her passion for public health, inspiring her to pursue an MSc in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which brought her to London in September 2022.

In November 2023, Sapna joined King's College London as a Research Assistant on the Research Café Project with Dr Josephine Ocloo. This pilot initiative aimed to investigate how research cafes can foster diversity and make research more accessible to underrepresented groups.

Since October 2024, Sapna has taken on the role of Project Officer at King’s Improvement Science, where she works on mixed-methods quality improvement and implementation projects across the King's Health Partners and the South East London Integrated Care System. Alongside this, she is the Project Manager for the South West London Research Support Network, collaborating with the South West London Integrated Care Board to enhance diversity in research participation and involvement.

Sapna is committed to contributing to the global vision of achieving ‘Health for All’ and ‘Good Health and Well-Being.’ She strives to support these objectives by promoting inclusive health services and meaningful engagement in research.

Research interests

• Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement to promote equality, diversity and inclusion
• Health Services Design and Improvement through co-creation, co-design and co-production
• Long Term Health Conditions
• Adult and Older Adult Mental Health
• Healthy Ageing and Healthy Living

Expertise and public engagement

Sapna has expertise in health promotion, stakeholder engagement, and project management. She co-leads the South West London (SWL) Research Support Network alongside Dr. Catherine Heffernan, Director of Health Improvement at the South West London Integrated Care Board (SWL ICB). The network aims to empower local communities and voluntary organizations to engage in research while fostering a collaborative environment for community members, VCSE leaders, NHS professionals, and academics to exchange ideas and best practices.

Through their Network Cafes, Sapna and her team facilitate mutual learning opportunities, allowing participants to connect, share experiences, and receive practical support for becoming involved in or leading research—all in a relaxed setting, over tea or coffee and some delicious food. These gatherings create a welcoming atmosphere for knowledge exchange and community building.

Additionally, she leads the second phase of the Southwest London Research Engagement Network project, funded by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). This follows the successful Research Cafe Project, which served as the first phase of their broader engagement efforts.