About Us

health pragmatics, ltd is an international multidisciplinary team that upholds the values of professional excellence, accountability, and responsiveness.

We believe in:

  • Evidence-based, best-practice strategies as the most effective, efficient and successful approach for our clients
  • Acting as a member of the public health community, not simply a consultant to the public health community
  • Working in partnership with governments and organizations to leverage our expertise, experience and creativity
  • Promoting healthy lifestyles by working smart, playing often, and leading balanced, mindful lives
  • Community service by dedicating a significant portion of our energies to volunteering at organizations in our communities

We access a wide range of international public health experts tailored to the needs of our clients. Our core team consists of:

Burke A Fishburn, Owner & Consultant

Burke is a results-driven public policy expert with executive management experience and over 17 years of progressive, broad experience in public health, public administration, and extensive international and cross-cultural work in the Asia-Pacific region. He has directly contributed to major advances in international and national health policies and programs. He has been recognized for strategic, focused, and creative approaches to managing and leading initiatives. He has been a legislative aid to a US Senator, a planning and evaluation expert for the US Department of Health and Human Services, a senior policy adviser for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and most recently the Tobacco Free Initiave Regional Coordinator for the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Region.

Mr Fishburn recently received Vietnam’s National Merit Award for his work on on tobacco control in the country from 2000-2010.  Mr Fishburn received the award 27 May 2010  in Hanoi during a national conference to evaluate progress on the country’s anti-smoking measures.  Mr Fishburn lived in Vietnam 2001-2003 working for the World Health Organization (WHO).  He has continued to support the country’s anti-smoking efforts over the past decade as a WHO Regional Adviser and as a consultant to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and the International Union Against Tuberculosis & Lung Disease.

ASSOCIATES

Poonam Dhavan, Consultant

Dr Dhavan is currently the Research Coordinator for the University of Texas’ Center for Healthy Living. She has trained in medicine, health administration and public health/epidemiology, and has eight years of health sector experience working in India public hospitals, the World Health Organization at both Geneva-headquaters and in Southeast Asia, as well as the Public Health Foundation of India. Dr Dhavan provides expert epidemiological review, data analysis and research report writing.

Cecile Santos, Consultant

Cecile’s areas of expertise focus on project, program and budget management; writing and editing; and advocacy and partnership building. She has worked extensively in liaising with government, non-government and international organizations, institutions and partners. Her professional experience includes work in the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Her professional interests are in the fields of international relations and communication.

Harley Stanton, Consultant

Harley is the current President of the Asia Pacific Association for the Control of Tobacco (APACT) and Director of Gateway Health, an Australian-based health consulting firm. He was the Health Promotion Adviser for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community based in New Caledonia, a Scientist with the WHO Tobacco Free Initiative in the Western Pacific Region. He earned a Doctorate in Public Health from Loma Linda University (USA) and Master of Public Health with a focus on Nutrition and Health Promotion.

Genesis Noemi Samayoa, Consultant

Genesis provides Spanish translation and interpretation services for Health Pragmatics.  She is currently working on a double degree in Spanish and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Colorado (CU) at Boulder.  She is also the lead student assistant for the CU School of Journalism and Mass Communication and an intern at Azteca America Colorado, a Spanish-language news station affiliated with ABC Channel 7 in Denver. Upon graduation, Genesis plans on going into the Spanish media market.