In the heart of Dhaka, amid a healthcare system often plagued by inefficiencies, long waiting times, and patient distrust, a quiet revolution has been underway—led by a woman who dared to reimagine the healthcare experience in Bangladesh. Sylvana Quader Sinha, the founder, Managing Director, and CEO of Praava Health, embodies the rare combination of global perspective, professional rigor, and personal conviction.
Table of Contents
Early Life and Global Influences
Born and raised in Virginia, USA, Sylvana grew up with deep roots in Bangladesh. Her family origins in Bangladesh, coupled with frequent visits during her childhood, planted early seeds of awareness about the disparity in healthcare and quality of life. From a young age, she was struck by the extremes of poverty she witnessed in Bangladesh—despite its vibrant culture and resilience—and these early observations would go on to shape her worldview.
Her academic journey began with a degree in Philosophy and Economics from Wellesley College in Massachusetts, followed by a dual graduate path—a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School and a Master’s in International Development from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. These experiences equipped her with a powerful foundation in law, policy, and global development.
A Career of Impact: From Diplomacy to Development
Sylvana’s early career was steeped in global engagement. She worked at prestigious institutions like The World Bank and in international law, gaining firsthand exposure to the intersections of policy, law, and human development. Her commitment to making a difference led her to join then-Senator Barack Obama’s foreign policy team during his historic campaign—an experience that brought her close to some of the brightest minds in American diplomacy.
Yet, rather than staying in Washington after Obama’s victory, Sylvana made an unconventional move: she relocated to Afghanistan. There, she worked with the World Bank, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and other organizations, applying her expertise to development efforts in one of the world’s most fragile states. But despite the impact of her work, she began to feel a pull toward something more direct, more personal.
A Personal Crisis Becomes a Catalyst
The turning point in Sylvana’s life came in 2010 when her mother underwent a routine operation at a leading hospital in Dhaka. The procedure, expected to be simple, turned into a near-tragedy due to complications and misdiagnosis. A cancer diagnosis was later refuted abroad. This harrowing experience exposed her, in the most personal way, to the limitations and dangers of a fragmented healthcare system. She realized that if such errors could happen to someone with access to top-tier care, what was happening to everyday patients?
It was a wake-up call. She began to contemplate how she could create meaningful, systemic change in the Bangladeshi healthcare landscape.
Founding Praava Health: A New Vision for Care
In 2014, Sylvana made a bold decision: to return to Bangladesh and build a healthcare company from the ground up. With no prior experience in running a medical business, she began by listening. She spoke to doctors, patients, policymakers, and healthcare entrepreneurs around the world. The stories she heard revealed two core problems: a deep lack of trust between patients and providers, and unreliable diagnostic services.
By 2016, she hired her first employee and began building what would become Praava Health—a company based on a simple but powerful idea: that patients deserve to be treated with empathy, dignity, and accuracy.
After raising angel investments through her international network and building a core team, Praava opened its doors in 2017. What started with a small staff grew rapidly, with over 100 employees joining for the ribbon-cutting at the company’s first flagship center in Banani.
What Makes Praava Different
Praava Health is a pioneer in many ways. It’s the first healthcare company in Bangladesh to introduce a fully integrated hospital information system, giving patients access to their health data through a mobile app. This digital-first approach allows patients to schedule appointments, view test results, and communicate with doctors from anywhere.
Its six laboratories follow international standards, offering over 250 unique diagnostic tests. Praava also built Bangladesh’s first PCR lab for molecular cancer diagnostics, a breakthrough in early detection and personalized cancer care.
But perhaps its most revolutionary feature is its values-based membership model. Instead of profiting when patients fall ill, Praava’s model is based on keeping people healthy. Members pay a flat annual fee and receive regular care and wellness services—an approach aligned with global trends in preventive care.
A Culture of Ownership and Learning
Under Sylvana’s leadership, Praava fosters a flat, collaborative culture that encourages shared ownership. Every employee—from doctors to administrative staff—plays a role in the patient’s journey. Weekly team meetings, cross-functional learning sessions, and even employee-led health camps reflect a deeply human, service-driven ethos.
Sylvana herself leads hospitality training and encourages a culture of continuous learning. Her belief in empowering others is visible in how Praava operates: not just as a business, but as a movement toward rehumanizing healthcare.
Challenges, Resilience, and Growth
Building Praava hasn’t been without obstacles. Introducing a new healthcare brand in a trust-deficit market like Bangladesh is immensely challenging. Yet, word-of-mouth has been the company’s most effective growth driver. Patients who experience compassionate, reliable care become ambassadors. Corporate partnerships and an evolving digital presence are also helping drive momentum.
Praava now serves thousands of patients and continues to expand. With a hub-and-spoke model, Sylvana envisions dozens of centers across the country in the coming years, bringing quality care closer to home for millions.
Life, Leadership, and Legacy
To Sylvana, leadership is about values and vision. She often quotes Hafiz—“Stay close to anything that makes you feel alive”—as a guiding philosophy. The desire to create meaning, build connection, and serve others lies at the core of her journey.
Her advice to aspiring founders? “You just keep going. That’s all you can do.” She acknowledges the emotional and mental toll of entrepreneurship, but remains grounded through regular exercise, relationships, and an unwavering belief in her mission.
Her business model and entrepreneural journey are studied and covered at home and abroad.
Final Thoughts
Sylvana Quader Sinha is more than a founder. She is a changemaker—one who returned to her roots with a vision to heal, to rebuild trust, and to inspire a new model of healthcare. In a country where systems often fail the people they serve, Praava Health stands as a testament to what happens when innovation, empathy, and grit come together.
Sylvana’s story is still unfolding, and the impact of her work is only beginning to ripple through Bangladesh’s healthcare ecosystem. But already, she has proven that one person—driven by purpose and grounded in service—can indeed change the system.