Swathi R. Srinivasan

About Swathi R. Srinivasan

Swathi Srinivasan was born in Cleveland, Ohio to two Indian immigrant parents whose love for science led them to pursue graduate education in the United States. Swathi was raised with an engineer’s fascination for understanding the world and an organic chemist’s passion for problem-solving. As a high school student, Swathi’s curiosity led to her award-winning research on micronutrients in Indian spices and Alzheimer’s disease prevention, a testament to the inexplicable role of heritage and home in Swathi’s endeavors.

At Harvard, Swathi thought often of Ohio, especially amidst a worsening overdose crisis in her hometown. This, combined with accidentally attending (and loving) an introductory social theory course, led Swathi to pivot from neuroscience to social studies and history of science, focusing on understanding the origins and impacts of inequity and injustice on health outcomes, particularly among people who use drugs and people living with, or at risk for, HIV/AIDS. Swathi conducted research on the overdose crisis response in Ohio and Portugal with sociologist Theda Skocpol and historian Allan Brandt, respectively. Swathi also explored health equity efforts through internships at various levels of government, including at the UN and the White House. 

Swathi’s research work accompanied her interest in public advocacy. When a young adult overdosed fatally on the steps of a campus cafe, Swathi worked with fellow students to found HCOPES, Harvard College Overdose Prevention and Education Students, which continues to educate community members on overdose prevention and has proposed, and is now implementing state-wide legislation on public-access to naloxone. Upon graduating, Swathi was selected as a Rhodes Scholar, where she completed an MPhil in history of science, medicine, and technology, researching US involvement in South Africa’s HIV/AIDS response. After completing the MPhil, Swathi received a year-long grant from the Rhodes Trust to document the global overdose response, which brought her to over fifteen countries in four continents. 

Currently, Swathi is an AmeriCorps Fellow in overdose prevention at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, where she supports unhoused people through harm reduction, health education, and case management.