REACHING GOALS: Shah with wife Shivam

How do you spend billions and billions of dollars? Ask Rajiv Shah. This is the happy challenge the 28-year-old faces every morning since he was appointed chief policy analyst and senior economist last month at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest with an asset base of $24.2 billion.

Created by multi-billionaire, Bill Gates, the foundation is dedicated to changing the world through health and education initiatives. Led by Gates' father, William H. Gates, sr., and Patty Stonesifer, the Seattle-based foundation works to pass on the advances in medical science and information technology to those living in poverty across the globe.

Shah's primary responsibility is to work with the foundation's senior leadership to develop policies for global health, education and online libraries investment, and policy strategy. He provides analytical support, economic analysis and policy guidance around these priority areas.

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This crème de la crème job fell into his lap even as he was completing his dissertation in economics at the Wharton School of Business, and his MD at the Medical School at the University of Pennsylvania. Earlier, he had worked as special advisor to Philadelphia's Commissioner of Public Health, and on Mayor John Street's New Centuries Committee.

Shah also worked as health care policy advisor and research associate for vice president Al Gore during his presidential bid campaign. A colleague from the campaign who joined the Gates Foundation's executive team, recommended Shah. Trained as a doctor, health economist and development aid worker, his abilities seemed tailor-made for the job.

Recalls Shah, "As I learned about the foundation's priorities and leadership, I realised this was a unique opportunity to help change the way people think about global health investment and philanthropy and to improve people's lives in a dramatic and measurable way."

Born and brought up in Michigan and Detroit, Shah had a passion for public service from his early days and was a founder of Project IMPACT, a nonprofit organisation of young professionals, which works to increase civic awareness and community leadership among South Asian Americans.

Wife Shivam, whom he met when they were both studying at the London School of Economics, says: "Raj's the most ambitious and committed person I know! He flew to the Taj Mahal for a day to propose to me while I was travelling in India. It is a great example of the extremes he will go to in order to do things for people he cares about and to achieve his goals!"

The commitment extends to causes he cares about. Deciding not to be a physician was hard and as Shah admits, "It was difficult to walk away from a "safe" path, but I knew that I would be happier pursuing a career dedicated to public service and community leadership, and I have not regretted it."

Shah started on this path as a college volunteer at a tuberculosis/ leprosy camp near Mysore. "The contrast was startling between what we can do here and what we seem unable to do in developing environments," he says. "So it is exciting to finally be at an institution that can revolutionise global health. It's a good learning opportunity as well as an opportunity to serve and to have an impact."