Sampath Kumar Shivanagi, a US-based doctor and philanthropist, died in Mississippi on Monday (February 11, 2025). He was 84 years old.
Following his donation, the KLE society named its cancer hospital in Belagavi after him. He was present along with his wife Dr. Udaya Shivanagi, when President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the hospital in Belagavi in January 2025.
In a condolence message, Chairman of KLE society Dr. Prabhakar Kore said that Mr. Shivanagi had donated ₹8 crore to the hospital.
Hailing from Athani in Belagavi district, he studied medicine in Karnataka Medical College, Hubballi, and Washington College of Medicine in the US. He practised as an obstetrician and gynaecologist in the US for several decades.
President Droupadi Murmu lights the lamp during the inauguration of the KLE Dr. Sampat Kumar Shivanagi cancer hospital in Belagavi on January 3, 2025. KLE chairman Prabhakar Kore, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, ministers Sharan Prakash Patil, Satish Jarkiholi and others are present. | Photo Credit: BADIGER PK
He was an influential leader of the Indian-American community and was elected a delegate to the Republican national convention. He was among the reception committee members when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US during the first term of President Donald Trump.
Dr. Shivanagi served as advisor to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services during the term of President George W. Bush, the president of Indian American Forum for Political Education, member of the Board for the Department of Mental Health in Mississippi for several years and president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. He had received Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award from former President Pranab Mukherjee.
Published - February 11, 2025 06:11 pm IST
