Founder of IVC

Dr. Abul Sharah founded IVC in October 1999. In February 2002, IVC established a pilot project consisting of a curative program and a preventative program in one of the poorest areas of northern India. The curative program aimed to serve about 20,000 people in six to ten villages, and the preventative program began by serving just one village. Both programs have since grown tremendously—the curative program serves more than 200,000 people in 70 villages annually, while the preventative program reaches 48 villages.

Founder's Vision

Dr. Sharah grew up as a fatherless, impoverished boy in India's poorest province, Uttar Pradesh in northern India. Through good fortune, brains and hard work he earned a Ph.D and rose to senior engineering and marketing positions at Honeywell and MTS Systems over a 27 year career.

In 1996, Dr. Sharah harbored a growing desire to give something back in appreciation for his good fortune.  Then chance intervened on a business trip to Calcutta. Dr. Sharah paid a visit to Mother Theresa's Home for Dying Destitutes and by coincidence he arrived at the exact hour the nun received visitors. After learning of his humble Indian roots and success in the United States, Mother Theresa urged Dr. Sharah to pursue a mission of love and human service.

Dr. Sharah decided to retire from corporate life early and return to the poor villages of Uttar Pradesh to help establish a medical clinic, nutrition, vaccination and health-education programs and to employ qualified medical personnel in an area where illiteracy and disease are rampant. Dr. Sharah is investing the rest of his life integrating his quiet passion to give kids a brighter future with the planning and analysis skills he learned in industry.