[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 53 (Monday, March 24, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING DR. SAMPAT SHIVANGI
______
HON. MICHAEL GUEST
of mississippi
in the house of representatives
Monday, March 24, 2025
Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and remember one of
Mississippi's longstanding members of the Mississippi State Board of
Mental Health, Dr. Sampat Shivangi. As a pioneering Indian-American
physician, community leader, and advocate, Dr. Shivangi exemplifies
resilience, vision, and an enduring legacy of dedication to healthcare.
Over the course of his career, he was defined by a commitment to
medicine, public health, and Indo-U.S. relations. His career was
defined by a commitment to both medicine and public service.
Born in Athani, Karnataka, India, Dr. Shivangi's humble beginnings
gave him a unique voice to those in the medical world who sought his
expertise. He 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. During his time in the United
States, he established himself as a prominent physician and a leader
within the Indian-American community rising to serve as an advisor to
the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2005 to 2008,
where he advocated for healthcare policies that benefited marginalized
communities.
For his work across the world and my home state of Mississippi, Dr.
Shivangi has been honored with various awards. He received the Ellis
Island Medal of Honor and the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Sanman Award, and
was named the Indian American Republican Committee Person of the Year
for his political and community leadership in 2017. Additionally, as
the past president-elect of the American Association of Physicians of
Indian Origin, he helped shape the trajectory of Indian-American
healthcare advocacy in the United States.
Dr. Shivangi was committed to serving the people around him and was
instrumental in charitable giving to promote quality healthcare. He
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.
His philanthropic vision took concrete form with the inauguration of
the Dr. Sampatkumar S. Shivangi Cancer Hospital in Belagavi, Karnataka.
This hospital stands as a testament to Dr. Shivangi's unwavering
commitment to improving healthcare access in underserved regions. Even
in the final months of his life, 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 Shivangi--Athani Vidyavardhak Sounsthe, demonstrating his
dedication to advancing education in his birthplace.
I am honored to have had the opportunity to know Dr. Shivangi and to
have the opportunity to recognize his commitment to the medical
profession, mental health in Mississippi, and the betterment of people
across the United States and India. Dr. Shivangi will be missed, and
his contributions will not be forgotten.
____________________