The People
Behind the Mission
A team united by lived experience, academic expertise, and an unwavering commitment to healthcare equity for all.
Lila K. Chamlagai
MPH, PhD Candidate
Founder & President · Helping Hands America
Lila K. Chamlagai (he/him) is a Gates Millennium Scholar and a PhD candidate in Behavioral and Social Sciences at the Brown University School of Public Health, where his research focuses on mental health equity, health disparities, and culturally congruent Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI-R) for refugee and immigrant populations.
Born and raised in a Bhutanese refugee camp in eastern Nepal, Lila spent almost 17 years in the camp before resettling with his family in Springfield, MA in 2011. That lived experience became the foundation of his life's work.
He serves on the Community Advisory Board for the Research Program on Children and Adversity (RPCA) at Harvard University and Boston College. His scholarly contributions appear in peer-reviewed journals including the International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care and Global Health: Science and Practice.
A certified Reiki Master and Yoga Instructor, Lila integrates holistic healing into his public health practice and actively mentors emerging scholars from refugee and immigrant backgrounds.
Board of Directors
Each board member brings first-hand experience with displacement, healthcare, and community service — making Helping Hands a board-led organization in the truest sense.
Pabitra Neupane
Board Treasurer
Born and raised in Bhutan, Pabitra was forced to flee due to persecution and spent 16 years in a refugee camp — where she taught refugee children. She resettled in Massachusetts in 2008 and has since built a distinguished career at Ascentria Care Alliance, where she currently oversees the Employment Department, supporting refugees and immigrants in achieving economic stability. A recipient of multiple awards of excellence, Pabitra brings her lived experience and deep compassion to her role as Board Treasurer.
Chandra Chamlagai, MS, PA-C
Secretary
A Gates Millennium Scholar and family medicine provider practicing since 2023, Chandra holds a Master of Science from Bay Path University. Before becoming a clinician, she worked as a medical interpreter and patient care technician — giving her a ground-level understanding of the barriers refugees and immigrants face when accessing care. She advocates strongly for culturally responsive and accessible healthcare and is committed to building healthier, more resilient communities.
Bernard Habimana
Board Member
Born in Rwanda, Bernard holds a degree in Business Administration from the Université Nationale du Rwanda. He has held key roles with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Tanzania and Tushirikiane Africa Trust in Nairobi, supporting urban refugees from Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since relocating to the United States in 2013, he has served as Program Manager for Services for New Americans at Ascentria Community Services — supporting more than 2,000 refugees and 3,000 other immigrants in building self-reliant lives.
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