Disha Ali
Ashburn
Summary
Global public health leader with 25+ years of experience in Africa and Asia, now gaining hands-on behavioral healthcare experience as a Mental Health Technician at North Spring Behavioral Healthcare. Dedicated to advancing domestic and global mental health, integrating deep research, analysis, and evaluation expertise with extensive mentoring experience—guiding country teams, graduate students, and early-career professionals. Skilled in crisis intervention, de-escalation, and trauma-informed care, with a commitment to fostering equitable, evidence-based solutions for diverse and underserved populations.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Mental Health Technician
North Spring Behavioral Healthcare
Leesburg
08.2025 - Current
- Provide direct care, observation, and support to patients in acute psychiatric units, ensuring safety and therapeutic engagement.
- Facilitate group and individual interventions based on treatment plans, incorporating trauma-informed care principles.
- Monitor and document patient behaviors, progress, and incidents, communicating effectively with the interdisciplinary treatment team.
- Support crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies in collaboration with clinical staff.
- Apply empathy, cultural sensitivity, and non-judgmental communication in high-stress situations.
Global Health Consultant
DAI Global UK
12.2021 - 05.2025
- Company Overview: An international development consulting firm that designs and implements projects to advance economic growth, governance, and social development worldwide.
- An international development consulting firm that designs and implements projects to advance economic growth, governance, and social development worldwide.
MEL Advisor, Strategies to Prevent (STOP) Spillover
Tufts University & JSI
USA
10.2023 - 02.2025
- Company Overview: The USAID-funded multi-lateral STOP project is a global consortium of experts in human, animal, and environmental health that assesses risk factors, implements interventions, and evaluates policies to prevent zoonotic disease spillover.
- Facilitated Epidemiologic research and MEL-related project activities in Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cambodia.
- Collaborated with global and country teams to co-create and implement qualitative and quantitative studies to validate infectious diseases (Avian Influenza, Lassa Fever, Ebola, Mpox).
- Mentored country teams and Tufts University graduate students to produce peer-reviewed publications.
- The USAID-funded multi-lateral STOP project is a global consortium of experts in human, animal, and environmental health that assesses risk factors, implements interventions, and evaluates policies to prevent zoonotic disease spillover.
Team Lead, Ethiopia
Global Health Evaluation and Learning Support Activity (GH EvaLS)
10.2022 - 09.2023
- Company Overview: GH EvalS, a USAID contract, provided evaluation, assessment, and learning support to prevent child and maternal deaths, control HIV/AIDS, and combat COVID-19.
- Led a team of experts to conduct a multi-country evaluation of the Capacity Strengthening (CS) Strategy of the USAID-funded Demographic and Health Survey Program (DHS-8).
- Collaborated with country leads to co-design and implement mixed-method studies to assess the DHS-8 CS strategy in 21 countries, including in-depth analyses of the strategy in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Ghana.
- Communicated assessment results to USAID and its DHS-8 Program Stakeholders through oral presentations, written reports, and policy briefs that informed the CS for the next DHS Program.
- GH EvalS, a USAID contract, provided evaluation, assessment, and learning support to prevent child and maternal deaths, control HIV/AIDS, and combat COVID-19.
Senior Advisor, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ethiopia
JSI
07.2019 - 04.2022
- Company Overview: A global consulting nonprofit organization dedicated to improving people's lives worldwide through greater health, education, and socioeconomic equity for individuals and communities.
- Team Lead for Implementation Research for Universal Immunization through Family Health Services (UI-FHS): Designed and assessed an innovative data triangulation tool in two urban regions of Ethiopia, documented in a peer-reviewed journal publication.
- Team Lead of the USAID-funded Private Health Sector Project (PHSP) in Ethiopia: Designed the mixed-method evaluation approach, coordinated different partners, and analyzed and triangulated qualitative and quantitative data. Documented as a report and a journal manuscript.
- Technical Team Lead for the Assessment of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Family Planning Integration Project in Zambia (USAID): Designed a qualitative assessment approach, developed a protocol, designed instruments, reviewed monitoring data, guided sample selection and mentored the in-country team.
- Technical Adviser with USAID Advancing Nutrition: Conducted literature review and co-wrote a report on reevaluating the appropriateness of 'stunting' as an indicator for nutrition program evaluation. Led the development of the list of appropriate indicators for nutrition and agriculture programs. Documented as reports available on USAID Advancing Nutrition’s website.
- A global consulting nonprofit organization dedicated to improving people's lives worldwide through greater health, education, and socioeconomic equity for individuals and communities.
Technical Advisor (Immunization and Child Health), Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP), USA
JSI
12.2016 - 06.2019
- Provided directions to conceptualize, document, and assess the performance of the MCSP’s immunization program in 13 countries.
- Technical Guidance to Country Monitoring System: Technical support for nine countries in implementing data systems for results-based program monitoring systems of Routine Immunization services. Prepared quarterly and annual project performance reports to USAID.
- Lead on Learning Studies: Applied mixed methods in multi-country learning studies to assess the use of process indicators to enhance the immunization program outcomes.
- Lead on Cost-Effectiveness Study: Developed protocol, tools, and implementation of the study, analyzed data, and published cost-effectiveness of traditional and GIS-driven microplanning in two states of Nigeria.
- Technical Guidance in Documentation and Dissemination of Learnings: Led in the communication of project results through workshops, conferences, policy briefs, reports, and peer-reviewed publications.
- Mentoring: Contributed to skill-building of colleagues at headquarters and in-country on MEL.
SHORT-TERM MEL ADVISOR
JSI
04.2015 - 11.2016
Lead Survey Specialist, Feed the Future (FTF)
International Development Group LLC (IDG)
Senegal
09.2015 - 04.2016
- Company Overview: A global consultancy providing technical expertise across sectors like health, education, governance, and economic growth.
- Conducted FTF’s interim assessment in ten Senegal regions and the Yaajeende project's mid-term evaluation in the Kolda region of Senegal. Formulated recommendations for USAID.
- A global consultancy providing technical expertise across sectors like health, education, governance, and economic growth.
Technical Specialist, Last Ten Kilometers (L10K) project
JSI
Ethiopia
04.2015 - 08.2015
- Conducted an interim assessment of L10K’s reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health (RMNCH) program on health care utilization and maternal and child health outcomes; applied equity-focused analysis; formulated recommendations on strengthening Ethiopia’s Health Extension Programs (HEP) services.
Lead Consultant, Alive & Thrive (A&T)
FHI 360
Ethiopia
06.2014 - 03.2015
- Company Overview: A global nonprofit dedicated to improving health, education, and economic opportunities through integrated, evidence-based solutions.
- Trained regional M&E staff of A&T’s implementing partner (Concern Worldwide) on data use and planning using the Health Management Information System (HMIS) and DHS data for undernutrition.
- A global nonprofit dedicated to improving health, education, and economic opportunities through integrated, evidence-based solutions.
Country Coordinator, Measurement, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) Alive & Thrive Initiative (A&T)
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Ethiopia
11.2009 - 05.2014
- Company Overview: A global research institute providing evidence-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty, hunger, and malnutrition worldwide.
- Led impact evaluation research by designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative studies to assess program effectiveness.
- Developed and implemented a results-oriented monitoring system that improved project performance.
- Analyzed multicounty Demographic and Health Surveys to assess to inform the global A&T program.
- Executed policy and advocacy studies to document changes in Ethiopia's nutrition policy environment.
- Collaborated with various sectors, donors, and NGOs, assessing technical capacity.
- Enhanced the research capacity of national partners and mentored junior professionals through hands-on training in survey design and evaluation.
- A global research institute providing evidence-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty, hunger, and malnutrition worldwide.
Research and Evaluation Advisor, USAID | DELIVER PROJECT
JSI
Virginia
- Conducted market segmentation analysis (MSA) using multi-country DHS and reproductive health commodity security (RHCS) assessments.
Senior Operations Researcher
ICDDR, B
Bangladesh
- Designed and executed costing and cost-effectiveness studies on reproductive health, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, child health, and nutrition interventions.
Senior Medical Officer
BRAC
Bangladesh
- Supervised the establishment of BRAC-Health Centers (BHC)- child health, maternal health, family planning, and reproductive health integrated clinics in 64 sub-districts.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Hewlett Fellow
Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine
New Orleans, LA, USAMaster of Public Health (MPH) - Fogarty Fellow
University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health
Birmingham, AL, USABachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) -
Chittagong Medical College
Chittagong, BangladeshSkills
Clinical:
Crisis intervention
- De-escalation
- Therapeutic communication
- Trauma-informed care
- Supporting treatment plans
- Ensuring patient safety
Research
Mixed-methods study design
- Program evaluation
- Research methodology
- Health program monitoring systems
- Peer-reviewed publications
- Mentoring of young professionals and graduate students
- Supervising multidisciplinary teams
- Digital health evaluation
- Quantitative and qualitative data analysis
- Epidemiologic assessment
- Stakeholder engagement
- Policy communication
Certification
- Digital Health Evaluation and Deployment, Brown University, USA, Capstone project focused on improving access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment among older adults.
- Mixed-Methods in International Health Research, University of Heidelberg, Germany
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language, International TEFL Academy, UK
Timeline
Mental Health Technician
North Spring Behavioral Healthcare
08.2025 - Current
MEL Advisor, Strategies to Prevent (STOP) Spillover
Tufts University & JSI
10.2023 - 02.2025
Team Lead, Ethiopia
Global Health Evaluation and Learning Support Activity (GH EvaLS)
10.2022 - 09.2023
Global Health Consultant
DAI Global UK
12.2021 - 05.2025
Senior Advisor, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ethiopia
JSI
07.2019 - 04.2022
Technical Advisor (Immunization and Child Health), Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP), USA
JSI
12.2016 - 06.2019
Lead Survey Specialist, Feed the Future (FTF)
International Development Group LLC (IDG)
09.2015 - 04.2016
SHORT-TERM MEL ADVISOR
JSI
04.2015 - 11.2016
Technical Specialist, Last Ten Kilometers (L10K) project
JSI
04.2015 - 08.2015
Lead Consultant, Alive & Thrive (A&T)
FHI 360
06.2014 - 03.2015
Country Coordinator, Measurement, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) Alive & Thrive Initiative (A&T)
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
11.2009 - 05.2014
Research and Evaluation Advisor, USAID | DELIVER PROJECT
JSI
Senior Operations Researcher
ICDDR, B
Senior Medical Officer
BRAC
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Hewlett Fellow
Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine
Master of Public Health (MPH) - Fogarty Fellow
University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) -
Chittagong Medical College
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