Bhagya Galkissa-Dewage, Ph.D.

bhagya.gd@ou.edu

Bhagya Galkissa-Dewage is originally from Sri Lanka and began her career as a veterinarian before transitioning into public health research. She earned her master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from Oklahoma State University and completed her PhD in Public Health with a minor in Global Health at the University of Illinois Chicago. Following graduation, she completed her postdoctoral training with the Oklahoma Water Survey on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman.

Bhagya’s work reflects a unique One Health background spanning animal, human, and environmental health. Her research experience includes infectious disease agents ranging from My. tuberculosis, food-borne and vector-borne pathogens to SARS-CoV-2. During her doctoral research, she studied wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in informal settlements in Kenya. While her primary interests lie in molecular and environmental surveillance research, she also has extensive experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.

In addition to her research background, Bhagya has been actively involved in global water and public health advocacy. She previously served as the USA Focal Point for the North American Youth Parliament for Water, where she advocated for science diplomacy,  youth engagement at the intersection of SDG 3 and SDG 6 at several United Nations platforms, including the United Nations Water Conference 2023 and the United Nations General Assembly "Summit of the Future" in 2024.