JACKSON, Miss. (Diya TV) — Dr. Sampat Shivangi, a trailblazing Indian American doctor and community activist, died on February 10, 2025, at the age of 84. Born on October 27, 1940, in Athani, Karnataka, India, Dr. Shivangi’s inspiring journey from modest origins to becoming a renowned voice in American medicine and politics is a testament to perseverance and foresight.

Dr. Shivangi received his MBBS from Manipal’s Kasturba Medical College and went on to receive his MD and DGO from Karnataka Medical College in Hubli. He immigrated to the United States in 1976 and established himself as an eminent physician and a leader in the Indian American community.

During his professional life, Dr. Shivangi showed an unwavering dedication to medicine and public service. He was an advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services between 2005 and 2008, working for healthcare policies that would favor marginalized communities. He was also a long-time member of the Mississippi State Board of Mental Health and the Mississippi State Board of Health, and he played a crucial role in formulating mental health policies in the state.

Aside from healthcare, political activism was something in which Dr. Shivangi was heavily involved. As president of the Indian American Forum for Political Education, he set about engaging Indians to a greater extent politically, so their voices could be heard in Washington, D.C. He also spearheaded efforts in support of the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Treaty and the U.S.-India Defense Treaty, building stronger bonds between the two countries.

His achievements were vast. He was among many awards he received, including being awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from the then-President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2008. In 2017, the Indian American Republican Committee honored him as Person of the Year in recognition of his political and community leadership.

Dr. Shivangi was also instrumental in coordinating major events to empower Indian Americans on Capitol Hill. In 2022, he worked in conjunction with AAPI, the largest organization representing Indian American doctors, to hold an India at 75 celebration in the Hart Senate Building in Washington, DC featuring West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who gave an impassioned speech about US-India relations.

He was also a regular contributor to Diya TV’s political coverage on Election Nights and most recently during the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. 

In December 2024, his philanthropic vision culminated in the inauguration of the Dr. Sampat Kumar S. Shivangi Cancer Hospital in Belagavi, Karnataka. The hospital, inaugurated by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, stands as a testament to Dr. Shivangi’s unwavering commitment to improving healthcare access, particularly in underserved regions.

Even towards the end of his life, he continued to be active in India and the United States, attending events like the Athani Vidyavardhak Sounsthe Naming Ceremony on January 10, 2025, showing his commitment to advancing education and healthcare development in his homeland.

Dr. Shivangi leaves behind his wife, Dr. Udaya S. Shivangi, his two daughters, Priya and Pooja and a lasting memory of service and charity. 

All of us at Diya TV want to express our deepest condolences to the Shivangi family.