Dr. Sampatkumar Shivangi

Dr. Sampat Shivangi, a pioneering Indian-American physician, community leader, and advocate, passed away on February 10, 2025, in Jackson, Mississippi at the age of 84. Dr. Shivangi’s life journey from humble beginnings in Athani, Karnataka, to becoming a respected voice in American healthcare and politics exemplifies resilience, vision, and an enduring legacy of dedication and impact.

Dr. Shivangi earned his MBBS from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, and later his MD and DGO from Karnataka Medical College, Hubli. In 1976, he immigrated to the United States, where he established himself as a prominent physician and a leader within the Indian-American community. His career was defined by a commitment to medicine, public health, and Indo-American relations.

Dr. Shivangi served as an advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2005 to 2008, advocating for healthcare policies that benefited marginalized communities. He was a longstanding member and eventual Board Chair of the Mississippi State Board of Mental Health, shaping mental health policies in the state.

Beyond healthcare, Dr. Shivangi’s influence extended to political engagement. As president of the Indian American Forum for Political Education, he worked tirelessly to increase the political engagement of Indian Americans and advocated for the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Treaty and the U.S.-India Defense Treaty. A regular delegate at national GOP conventions, he remained deeply engaged in policy discussions impacting both India and the United States.

Among his many accolades, Dr. Shivangi received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from then-President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, in 2017, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2008. In 2017, the Indian American Republican Committee named him Person of the Year for his political and community leadership.

In a culmination of his philanthropic impact, Dr. Shivangi created the Dr. Sampat Shivangi Charitable Foundation to establish, promote, and provide the needy with opportunities to access quality education, promote mental health awareness, ensure healthcare equity, support tribal communities in their holistic development, empower women to break barriers, and leverage sports as a catalyst for positive change.

In December 2024, his philanthropic vision took concrete form with the inauguration of Dr. Sampatkumar S. Shivangi Cancer Hospital in Belagavi, Karnataka. This hospital, inaugurated by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, stands as a testament to Dr. Shivangi’s unwavering commitment to improving healthcare access in underserved regions.

Even in his final months, Dr. Shivangi remained active in both India and the United States. On January 10, 2025, he participated in the naming ceremony of an English-medium school called Dr. Sampatkumar Sidramappa Shivanagi - Athani Vidyavardhak Sounsthe, demonstrating his dedication to advancing education in his birthplace.

Dr. Shivangi’s impact was both institutional and deeply personal. Known for his generosity, advocacy, and relentless drive to support those in need, he touched countless lives. Dr. Sampat Shivangi’s life was a bridge between continents, communities, and causes. His advocacy, leadership, and humanitarian efforts will continue to inspire future generations.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Dr. Udaya S. Shivangi, and their two daughters, Priya Shivangi Kurup, MS (NYU), and Pooja Shivangi Amin, Attorney at Law, their daughters’ husbands: Ashwin Kurup and Chirag Rajnikant Amin, and his three grandchildren: Jaidan Chirag Amin (age 10), Dilan Shivangi Amin (age 10), and Siya Ashwin Kurup (age 6). In his final text message to his daughter, Pooja, Dr. Shivangi explained that the school is dedicated to his grandparents, parents, and brothers who guided him when he was young and implored Jaidan, Dilan, and Siya to learn to be charitable when they are young and be idealists when they grow up.

A visitation for Dr. Shivangi will be held Thursday, February 13, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Pkwy, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157.