Alumni Profiles – March 2026
Hear about the experiences and career paths of six alumni, while also discovering the role the University has played in their lives.
Andrew Larkins
Andrew’s career journey began in veterinary clinics, but today he wears multiple hats as an epidemiologist, lecturer and non-executive director of an animal welfare charity. Inspired by his Edinburgh degree, Andrew is a One Health advocate tackling challenges that affect humans, animals and environment alike.
Sandra Tafadzwa Garwe
Sandra is a public health and policy professional currently working at the Clinton Health Access Initiative in Zimbabwe where she supports the organisation’s HIV Prevention Programme and multi-disease diagnostics work. Alongside her role, she also runs a small education programme supporting students at universities across Zimbabwe.
Paul Dhillon
Paul divides his time between clinical work in the emergency room and leadership responsibilities in the Canadian Armed Forces. His career has been far from typical, taking him – among other places – aboard the HMCS Ville de Québec and to Sierra Leone during the Ebola outbreak.
Ishani Malhotra
Ishani is a scientist and biotech founder dedicated to helping breakthroughs in cancer research reach patients more quickly and effectively. Inspired by her postgraduate degree and the University of Edinburgh’s innovation community, she is now starting her second company focused on using AI to improve cancer treatments.
Darien Alfa Cipta
During medical training, Darien realised many patients’ struggles could not be explained by biological illness alone. Now Head of the Department of Psychiatry at a medical school in Indonesia, Darien combines clinical work, research, and teaching to advance understanding of mental health and improve patient care.
Ivo Gormley
GoodGym began in 2009 when its founder and Edinburgh alumnus, Ivo Gormley, decided to run to visit an elderly neighbour instead of running on a treadmill. His idea to combine fitness with social good has grown into a charity with runners in over 60 towns and cities in the UK.
