Rubindhiran Pillay

Professor Rubindhiran Pillay is a faculty member at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine, holding appointments as Professor in General Internal Medicine & Population Science and Senior Scientist at the Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Previously, he served as the Daniel White Jordan Chair and founding Executive Director of the Center for Health Systems Innovation at Oklahoma State University, and as a visiting professor across multiple UAB schools. His academic expertise bridges healthcare innovation, strategic leadership, and entrepreneurship, with a focus on transforming health systems through creativity and technology.

• PhD in Business Administration, University of Cape Town (2003)
• MBA in Health Management, University of Cape Town (1997)
• MD, University of Cape Town (1987)

His research explores the intersection of innovation, health leadership, and management capacity in public and private healthcare sectors. Key themes include competency gaps among nursing and hospital managers, work satisfaction dynamics, and strategies for retaining healthcare professionals. His publications span topics like global health informatics, innovation pedagogy, and managed care systems, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach.

Notable scientific awards include the Harvard Advanced Leadership Fellowship and founding presidency of the International Society of Healthcare Entrepreneurship Education and Research (ISHEER). He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Health. Teaching activities include advising PhD students and graduate courses at UAB on business and healthcare topics. Recent grants from the South African Medical Research Council support innovations in gestational diabetes diagnostics and preterm birth prevention.