Dr. Bharat Barai, a distinguished Indian American physician and respected community leader from Illinois, was honored with the inaugural Dr. Sampat Shivangi Legacy Award for his exemplary leadership at the 43rd Annual Convention of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), held on July 26, 2025, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The award was presented by Congressman Jonathan Jackson of Illinois in recognition of Dr. Barai’s decades-long service to the community and his close association with the late Dr. Sampat Shivangi. The ceremony, attended by nearly 1,000 physicians and community members, served as a moving tribute to Dr. Shivangi’s enduring impact in healthcare, politics, and U.S.-India relations.

Dr. Sampat Shivangi, a pioneering physician, philanthropist, and long-time AAPI leader, passed away on February 10, 2025, in Jackson, Mississippi. His legacy continues to inspire Indian Americans across the nation.

In his address, Dr. Barai reflected on his close friendship with Dr. Shivangi and their shared commitment to advancing the U.S.-India relationship.

Originally from Mumbai, Dr. Barai is an accomplished physician and a prominent figure in the Indian American community. He currently serves as Medical Director of the Cancer Institute at Methodist Hospitals, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Indiana University Medical School, and Secretary (and former President) of the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana—a role he has held since 2000.

Dr. Barai holds medical degrees in Internal Medicine from the University of Illinois, Medical Oncology from Northwestern University, and Hematology from Rush University. He has served as President of the Medical Staff, Chairman of the Medical Executive Committee, and currently sits on the Board of Directors of Methodist Hospitals. Additionally, he serves on advisory panels for U.S. Senators and Congressmen, and on the advisory board of Indiana University’s School of Business.

During the award presentation, Congressman Jackson highlighted the shared struggles and triumphs of African American and Indian American communities in the U.S.

“Let us not forget, the path of honor in this country was never laid smooth. Just as Black Americans marched from Selma to Montgomery demanding dignity and the franchise for the right to vote that came to the Civil Rights Act of 1965, so too have the Indian Americans journeyed with courage, discipline and ancestral wisdom to etch their names into the bedrock of the American Congress.”

Drawing powerful parallels, he continued, “We are linked, you and I, bound by histories, tied together by history and a common destiny, both ancient and recent, yours, rooted in the Vedas and the teachings of the Mahatma Gandhi, while mine in the sorrow of the songs of the plantations and the sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, both people are marked as outsiders now shaping the very center of our great democracy.”

He praised the contributions of Indian American physicians across the U.S., he stated, “Liberty demands not only resistance but resilience. I honor you today for having gone into the parts of this nation to heal the sick and care for those that have been distressed.”

Dr. Shivangi’s wife, Dr. Udaya Shivangi, and daughters Priya Kurup and Pooja Shivangi Amin, pledged to carry forward his legacy.

“His dream did not end with him—it lives on,” said Dr. Udaya Shivangi. “I will carry forward his mission through education, philanthropy, and strengthening U.S.-India ties. I plan to write a book, make a film, expand charitable initiatives, and actively work to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and India, ensuring that his contributions inspire generations to come. Most importantly, along with our daughters, I will raise our grandchildren the way he wanted—to be idealists, to serve, and to give back to the world.”

Addressing Congressman Jackson directly, she added: “You have been a great help, not only to me, but to all our Indian doctors. Thank you.” She also acknowledged Dr. Vijay Prabhakar of Chicago for curating a historic congressional salute on March 26 at the U.S. Capitol and for his continued efforts to preserve Dr. Shivangi’s legacy nationwide.

Dr. Udaya Shivangi recalled that just a month before his sudden passing, Dr. Shivangi had fulfilled a long-cherished dream when President of India Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Dr. Sampat Kumar S. Shivangi Cancer Hospital in Belagavi, Karnataka. The state-of-the-art, 300-bed hospital, spanning 175,000 square feet, was built with advanced technology and funded through his personal donations and fundraising efforts.

“Dr. Shivangi believed that success is measured not by what we accumulate but by the lives we touch. That is the legacy I promise to uphold,” she said. “Sampat, you are not gone—you are here, in the walls of the hospital you built, in the halls of the school you founded, and in the hearts of those who loved you. And I will honor you every day of my life.”

Dr. Satheesh Kathula, outgoing president of AAPI, paid tribute to Dr. Shivangi’s decades of service: “There was no committee he didn’t serve on, and he was present at every convention and global health summit,” he said. “He would call me, advise me, and even scold me when I was wrong. He was like a father figure and a true role model.”

Dr. Shivangi’s philanthropic legacy spans continents. In India, through the Dr. Sampat Shivangi Foundation, he established numerous charitable institutions, including primary and middle schools, community halls, and healthcare facilities that have greatly improved access to education and medical care in underserved areas.

In the U.S., he was instrumental in establishing a Hindu temple in Jackson, Mississippi, providing a vital spiritual and cultural hub for the community. In recognition of his service, a street in Mississippi was named in his honor, a lasting testament to his contributions to society.

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