Our team

Management Team:

Founder & President: Raj Gorla

Raj1Raj Gorla has played leadership roles in healthcare, technology and non-profit arenas. After traveling across the world to volunteer for health infrastructure, disaster relief and human rights-related projects, Raj founded Suraksha in 2008 in his hometown with the goal of empowering and educating disabled girls. Currently based out of New York, Raj is the CEO of Contineo Health, a healthcare advisory firm. With over 10 years of experience in strategic planning and advisory consulting in the healthcare technology domain, Raj has managed highly-efficient teams in the areas of EMR Implementation,Population Health, Healthcare Analytics, and Mobile Health. .

Raj's passion lies in technology innovations that can improve health outcomes and increase universal access to healthcare. Education is of paramount importance in Raj's own life: he holds an MBA from Yale University and prior Masters & Bachelors degrees in Computer Science. A founding partner at Equilateral Ventures, Raj is also on the board of multiple health-related organizations including Legworks, Constant Therapy, Maternity Neighborhood and Proact Health Solutions.

Board Members:

Joseph Ianelli

Joseph IanelliJoe is the Associate Director of Financial Services for the Massachusetts General Hospital. Specializing in early and late hospital revenue cycle activities, he oversees a group of approximately 50 staff and their activities including registration and patient information, financial counseling, insurance verification, authorization, and the appeals process. Large-scale projects include significant process redesign, system implementation, program and service development, implementation of Massachusetts Health Care Reform, and preparation for national Health Care Reform variations.

Holding an undergraduate degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a graduate degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston University, he practiced as a licensed clinician, specializing in the intersection of homelessness, substance dependence, and infectious disease. Prior to his work at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Joe created and directed substance dependence programs for a homeless shelter, was a substance abuse specialist for an HIV clinic, and directed AIDS Services Programs, all in the City of Cambridge. He is currently on the Board of AIDS Action in Boston. In May, 2015 Joe completed his Executive MBA at Yale University.

Sara Gillen

Sara1Ms. Gillen has served in health and social service non-profit senior leadership positions for over 15 years. Ms. Gillen is currently the Vice President for Business Operations at HELP/PSI, providing leadership to HIV and healthcare related programs serving young men of color who have sex with men, drug users, homeless persons, and people living with HIV. Her responsibilities include strategic planning, innovative program design and start up, financial management, program evaluation and outcomes monitoring, and dissemination of program models. With a background in HIV/STI prevention services, Ms. Gillen has developed innovative programs for community health in hard-hit, disenfranchised neighborhoods across New York City.

Prior to joining HELP/PSI, Ms. Gillen led the Harlem United Healthcare and Prevention divisions. Sara holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Hunter College and an undergraduate degree in history from City College. She has recently earned her Executive MBA, focusing on healthcare leadership, from Yale University. Sara Gillen has served on the Board of Queens Pride House, a small local LGBT community center in Queens, New York, since September 2011, and volunteers with the Healthcare NOW! New York chapter.

Nirmala Nanda, Secretary & Treasurer, Vizag

Nirmala_NandaMrs. Nanda is the Secretary of Suraksha and has been working with us since 2008. She oversees Suraksha's operations and partnerships in Visakhapatnam. She has over 2 decades of experience in the banking industry and has a Bachelors Degree in Science from Andhra University.

Nirmal Kumar, Project Coordinator, Srikakulam

Nirmal_KumarMr. Kumar is the Project Coordinator for Suraksha's Srikakulam Projects. He is the point person for all project reporting, metrics and partnerships with deaf associations in AP.

Sunanda Mandala, Advisor, ICWD Project Director

Sunanda_MandalaMs. Sunanda has been working in social services in the women and childen welfare arena for the past 20 years. She is currently an Assistant Project Director for the ICWD (Integrated Child and Women Dept.) of Andhra Pradesh and has served on the Advisory Board of Suraksha since its inception.