Our Team Community Wellness Collective

  Our team Community Wellness Collective  brings together experienced trustees, program leaders, advisors, and community advocates who share a commitment to compassionate health guidance. Together, they help build educational programs, supportive resources, and community-centered initiatives for individuals and families navigating cancer and other serious health challenges.

Based in the Bay Area and connected to a wider network of experts and volunteers, our team believes that reliable information and human connection can help people feel less overwhelmed. Therefore, every initiative is developed with clarity, cultural awareness, collaboration, and whole-person well-being in mind.

Leadership Guided by Purpose and Community

Complex health journeys often involve more than medical treatment. Individuals may also need emotional support, practical education, culturally relevant resources, caregiver guidance, and a stronger sense of community.

The Community Wellness Collective team works to make these resources more accessible. Moreover, our leadership helps connect community needs with trusted perspectives from physicians, researchers, wellness practitioners, educators, advocates, and people with lived experience.

Our work currently includes cancer navigation, survivorship education, emotional health, nutrition, integrative healing, women’s health, and community-support programs.

CWC Board of Trustees and Officers

Our Board of Trustees and Officers provides governance, strategic direction, organizational oversight, and long-term guidance. Their combined experience supports the mission and responsible growth of Community Wellness Collective.

Naren Bakshi

Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board

Naren Bakshi helps guide the organization’s mission, board direction, and long-term community vision. As a co-founder, he supports the development of a collaborative platform focused on guidance, education, and meaningful human connection.

Vinay Deshpande

Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Board

Vinay Deshpande supports board governance, organizational coordination, and strategic planning. His leadership helps ensure that CWC’s programs remain aligned with its purpose and community responsibilities.

Pankaj Vij

Co-Founder

Pankaj Vij contributes to the organization’s foundation, growth, and community-focused mission. He supports efforts to create accessible wellness resources for individuals, caregivers, and families.

Mir A. Imran

Executive Chairman, Rani Therapeutics

Mir A. Imran brings an innovation and healthcare leadership perspective to the Board. His experience supports thoughtful conversations about healthcare access, emerging solutions, and responsible organizational growth.

Mohan Uttarwar

CEO, 1Cell.Ai

Mohan Uttarwar contributes experience in leadership, technology, and healthcare innovation. His perspective supports the organization as it develops educational programs and community-based resources.

Shekhar Gupta

Chief Financial Officer

Shekhar Gupta supports financial oversight and responsible organizational planning. His role helps strengthen the foundation required to sustain and expand community programs over time.

CWC Leadership Team

The CWC leadership team guides program development, communications, wellness education, community outreach, and strategic partnerships. Each leader contributes knowledge from a specific area while working toward a shared mission.

Hiren Upadhyay

Cancer Program Lead

Hiren Upadhyay helps guide cancer-related programs and educational initiatives. His work supports the development of resources that help patients, survivors, caregivers, and families understand different stages of the cancer journey.

Vimal Solanki

Cancer Program Lead

Vimal Solanki contributes to the direction and development of cancer-support initiatives. He helps connect educational content, community participation, and practical guidance across CWC’s cancer programs.

Sonya Moré

Chief Marketing Officer

Sonya Moré guides communications, public awareness, and community outreach. Her work helps make CWC’s programs, resources, and initiatives more visible and accessible to the people who may benefit from them.

Prasad Sarnjame

Mind-Body Wellness Lead

Prasad Sarnjame supports the direction of mind-body wellness education. His work helps the organization explore approaches that may support emotional balance, resilience, relaxation, and overall well-being alongside professional healthcare.

Madhu Jena

Women’s Health Program Lead

Madhu Jena guides the development of women’s health education and community resources. Her work supports clearer conversations about women’s wellness needs and encourages access to reliable, respectful information.

Jay Parekh

Advisor – Strategy and Programs

Jay Parekh provides strategic guidance for organizational planning and program development. His advisory role helps CWC evaluate opportunities, strengthen initiatives, and build sustainable community-support pathways.

Our Team Approach to Community Wellness

The Community Wellness Collective team follows several principles when developing programs and educational resources.

Clear and Accessible Guidance

Health information can become confusing or overwhelming. Therefore, we aim to organize educational resources in a way that helps individuals understand their options and identify relevant questions.

Compassionate Human Support

Every health journey is personal. Our programs recognize the emotional and practical challenges experienced by patients, survivors, caregivers, and families.

Culturally Aware Education

Culture can influence communication, family roles, health decisions, nutrition, caregiving, and emotional well-being. Consequently, culturally aware support is an important part of our community approach.

Collaborative Programs

No single perspective can address every need. For this reason, CWC brings together community leaders, experts, educators, wellness practitioners, volunteers, and people with lived experience.

Whole-Person Well-Being

Health challenges can affect the mind, body, relationships, finances, and everyday life. Our resources explore these connected needs while respecting the essential role of qualified healthcare professionals.

Supporting the Navigate Cancer Mission

One of the team’s central programs is Navigate Cancer, a guided educational platform that organizes information around different stages of the cancer journey.

Visitors can explore resources related to:

• Cancer prevention and health awareness

• Understanding a cancer diagnosis

• Treatment-related education

• Monitoring and follow-up care

• Financial guidance

• Emotional health

• Nutrition during the cancer journey

• Integrative healing

• Cancer survivorship

• Caregiver and family support

In addition, the team develops cancer initiatives in the Bay Area that encourage education, community participation, and meaningful conversations about survivorship.

Building a Community of Care

Our work is strengthened by community members who share their experiences, participate in programs, volunteer their time, or contribute professional knowledge.

Whether you are a survivor, caregiver, healthcare professional, wellness practitioner, educator, researcher, volunteer, or community advocate, there may be opportunities to support the mission.

By working together, we can create a more informed, compassionate, and connected approach to difficult health journeys.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is part of the Community Wellness Collective team?

The team includes a Board of Trustees and Officers, cancer program leads, wellness leaders, communications professionals, strategic advisors, volunteers, and community partners.

What does the CWC leadership team do?

The leadership team guides program development, educational content, community outreach, cancer-support initiatives, wellness resources, partnerships, and organizational strategy.

Is the CWC team a medical-care provider?

Community Wellness Collective is an educational and community-support platform. It does not replace physicians, oncology teams, mental-health professionals, or other qualified healthcare providers.

Does the team support South Asian communities?

CWC develops culturally aware resources and initiatives with particular relevance to South Asian individuals and families in the Bay Area. However, many educational resources may benefit people from different communities.

How can I join or support the organization?

You can participate in an initiative, volunteer, contribute expertise, become a community partner, or contact the organization to learn about current opportunities.

Connect With Our Team

The Community Wellness Collective team is working to create a trusted ecosystem of education, guidance, and community support. Together, we can help individuals and families navigate challenging health journeys with greater clarity, confidence, and connection.

Contact our team to learn more, participate in an initiative, explore volunteering opportunities, or discuss a community partnership.

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