[Reflections] Chandy John: Using his heart and head for change that matters

“Will what we're working on in the long term improve child health, particularly in underserved children? If it's not going to achieve that goal then there is no point.” This question is what paediatric physician-scientist Chandy John asks himself. In October 2025, he was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine for his contributions to global health, specifically in severe malaria and sickle cell disease in African children. “A huge honour”, he says; “I can't think of anything more important to be part of right now, being on the vanguard of safeguarding the importance of evidence-based public health policy”.