Our Scholars
Our dedicated DFN family have all received one or more DFN scholarships to enable them to train as health professionals in Nepal. 100% make an agreement to return to a remote area to work for at least two years. Those who recieve a second scholarship for postgraduate study are bonded for three more years to work in rural Nepal.
Our Doctors
Lalit Jung Shahi
Location of origin: Kalikot Disctrict, Karnali
Progress: The first doctor to qualify thanks to a DFN scholarship, Lalit completed his undergraduate training and served as doctor in rural areas for 4 years. He went on to complete postgraduate training in Cairo, Egypt and become the first DFN
consultant.
Current status: Lalit works as an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist at Surkhet Hospital, Karnali
Nahakul Shahi
Location of origin: Kalikot Disctrict, Karnali
Progress: Nahakul completed his undergraduate training in 2016. He went on to work as a medical officer in his home district, at Manma hospital.
Current status: Nahakul is undertaking postgraduate study in Nepal to become a surgical specialist.
Prakash Thakulla
Location of origin: Accham District
Progress: Prakash completed his undergraduate training in 2019. He worked at the Nick Simmons institute in Doti during his two year bonded period.
Current status: Prakash is currently undertaking postgraduate study in Kathmandu.
Kamal Hamal
Location of origin: Jumla, Karnali
Progress: Kamal completed his undergraduate training in 2020. He went on to work in his home region of Jumla after graduation.
Current status: Kamal is working in Dolpa in western Nepal and hopes to embark on postgraduate study to become a consultant-level doctor.
Apsara Hamal
Location of origin: Bhadpani-6, Phoimahadev, Kalikot
Progress: Apsara completed her undergraduate training in 2021. She has since worked as a doctor in Manma, in her home district.
Current status: Apsara is preparing for postgraduate study.
Jeevan Pandey
Location of origin: Nagma Kalikot, Karnali
Progress: Jeevan completed his undergraduate training in 2022.
Current status: Since completing his internship year, Jeevan has been working as a doctor in Jumla.
Santosh Upadhayay
Location of origin: Jumla, Karnali
Progress: Santosh completed his undergraduate training in 2023.
Current status: Since completing his internship year, Santosh has been working as a doctor in Jumla.
Man Bahadur Darji
Location of origin: Gandaki Province, Baglung District
Progress: Man completed his undergraduate training in 2023.
Current status: Since completing his internship year, Man has been working as a doctor in Salyan, Karnali.
Sangita Adhikari
Location of origin: Madanpur village, Nuwakot District, Belkotgadhi municipality
Progress: Sangita completed her undergraduate training in 2025.
Current status: Sangita is currently doing her internship year at Patan Academy of Health Sciences, after which she will return to a remote area to work.
Dhanendra Shahi
Location of origin: Kalikot district, Karnali
Progress: Dhandendra completed his undergraduate training in 2025.
Current status: Dhandendra is currently doing his internship year at Patan Academy of Health Sciences, after which he will return to a remote area to work.
Srijana Rawal
Location of origin: Jumla, Karnali
Progress: Srijana was awarded a DFN postgraduate scholarship in 2024 and qualified in 2025, becoming the second DFN consultant doctor.
Current status: Srijana has completed the final year of her residency in obstetrics and gynaecology at Dhulikel Hospital, Kathmandu University and will now be working at KAHS during her bonded period.
Our Nurses and Midwives
Binita Rai
Location of origin: Solukhumbu (near Everest)
Progress: Binita became a fully qualified nurse in 2020. Following this, she worked for two years at a PHASE Nepal health post in Humla, Karnali
Current status: Binita is now studying in Nepal for her bachelors degree in nursing.
Apsara Jirel
Location of origin: Gorkha District
Progress: Apsara became a fully qualified nurse in 2020.
Current status: Since qualifying, Apsara has worked at a PHASE Nepal health post in Humla, Karnali.
Prabha Devkota
Location of origin: Rukum district
Progress: Prabha became a fully qualified nurse in 2021.
Current status: Since qualifying, Prabha has worked at a PHASE Nepal health post in Bajura Kolti, Seti zone.
Neelam Yadav
Location of origin: Terai region
Progress: Prabha became a fully qualified nurse in 2022.
Current status: Neelam is currently working with the army hospital and is preparing to to do her bachelors in nursing.
Yuna Shahi
Progress: Yuna completed her bachelors in nursing in 2020. She went on to work at Oda Foundation in Kalikot.
Current status: Having finished her previous role in Kalikot,Yuna is now looking for a new senior nursing role.
Sita Sharma
Location of origin: Sinja, Narakot, Jumla, Karnali
Progress: Sita became a fully qualified nurse in 2023. She was then employed by Karnali Academy of Health Sciences.
Current status: Sita is studying for her bachelors in nursing at KAHS, supported by a second DFN scholarship.
Niruta Shahi
Location of origin: Tila, Shapully, Jumla, Karnali
Progress: Niruta became a fully qualified nurse in 2023 and was subsequently employed by Karnali Academy of Health Sciences
Current status: Niruta is working at a municipality health post in Jumla
Hardevi Bhandari
Location of origin: Kalaka Sundari, Jumla, Karnali
Progress: Hardevi became a fully qualified nurse in 2023.
Current status: Hardevi is currently looking for a role in a rural health post.
Rita Jirel
Location of origin: Jiri, Dolakha, Bagmati
Progress: Rita became a fully qualified nurse in 2023.
Current status: Since qualifying, Rita has worked at a PHASE Nepal health post in Mugu, Karnali
Sangita K.C.
Location of origin: Kumbukasthali, Ramechhap
Progress: Sangita became a fully qualified nurse in 2023.
Current status: Since qualifying, Sangita has worked at a PHASE Nepal health post in Humla, Karnali
Satya Ukhada
Location of origin: Attariya, Kailali
Progress: Satya became a fully qualified nurse in 2022. Since qualifying, Satya has worked with PHASE Nepal and Oda Foundation in Kalikot.
Current status: Satya is studying for her bachelors in nursing at KAHS, supported by a second DFN scholarship.
Samina Asarpati
Location of origin: Gorkha
Progress: Samina became a fully qualified nurse in 2022.
Current status: Since qualifying, Samina has returned to work in her home district of Gorkha.
Arju Nepali
Location of origin: Jumla, Chandannath Municipality-3 Dadakot
Progress: Arju became a fully qualified nurse in 2023.
Current status: Since qualifying, Arju has returned to work in her home district.
Parbati Bhandari
Location of origin: Kanaka Sundari, 1, Jumla
Progress: Parbati became a fully qualified midwife in 2023.
Current status: Since qualifying, Parbati has been working in her home district at KAHS.
Our Current Undergraduate Students
Pramish Singh
Location of origin: Mahawai Oda, Kalikot
Progress: Pramish received a DFN scholarship to study medicine at KAHS in 2023. After completing his studies, he will return to his home region to work as a doctor at
Oda Foundation.
Current status: Pramish is in the second year of his medical training at KAHS.
Dhruba Saud
Location of origin: Bannigadhi, Achham
Progress: Dhruba was awarded a DFN scholarship in 2023. He had already started his medical studies at KAHS and needed financial help in order to continue.
Current status: Dhruba is in the fourth year of his medical training at KAHS.Â
Renuka Khadka
Location of origin: Ramechhap, Manthali Ward No. 12
Progress: Renuka was awarded a DFN scholarship in 2024 to study nursing. She will go on to work with PHASE Nepal in a rural area on completion of her study.
Current status: Renuka is in the first year of her nursing training in Kathmandu.
Gauri B.K.
Location of origin: Oda, Kalikot
Progress: Gauri was awarded a DFN scholarship in 2024 to study to be a Health Assistant (HA)
Current status: Gauri is in the first year of her HA training at Kavre Health Institute.
Sunmaya B.K.
Location of origin: Oda, Kalikot
Progress: Sunmaya was awarded a DFN scholarship in 2024 to study to be a Health Assistant (HA)
Current status: Sunmaya is in the first year of her HA training at Kavre Health Institute.
Our Current Postgraduate Students
Meena Kafle Chaulagain
Location of origin: Sinja Pandugupha village, Jumla district
Progress: The first woman to qualify as a doctor thanks to a DFN scholarship, Meena completed her undergraduate medical training in 2016. She went on to work in Mugu district hospital.
Current status: Meena has started postgraduate study in Nepal to become a GP, supported by a second DFN scholarship. When she has finished her study, she will work as a specialist doctor at KAHS.
Purna Adhikari
Location of origin: Phoimahadev 02, Nagma Kalikot, Karnali
Progress: Purna completed his undergraduate medical training in 2021, having received a DFN scholarship. After working as a medical officer in Surkhet on graduation, Purna worked in Jumla.
Current status: Purna has started his postgraduate study in Nepal, supported by a second DFN scholarship. When he has finished his study, he will work as a specialist doctor at KAHS.
Navita Kadel
Location of origin: Jumla, Karnali
Progress: Navita was awarded a DFN postgraduate scholarship in 2024. When she has finished her study, she will work as a specialist doctor at KAHS.
Current status: Navita is in the first year of her residency in obstetrics and gynaecology at Lumbini Medical College.
Jwala Baral
Location of origin: Kalikot, Karnali
Progress: Jwala was awarded a DFN postgraduate scholarship in 2024. When she has finished her study, she will work as a specialist doctor at KAHS.
Current status: Jwala is in the first year of her psychiatry residency at Chitwan Medical College.