NRI physician to be adviser to US health secy

Indian American physician Dr Sampat Shivangi has been nominated the adviser to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael O Levin, the Bush administration announced on Thursday.

Shivangi, who practises in Jackson, Mississippi, will assume office with immediate effect.

The health secretary has also asked him to serve on the National Advisory Council for a term beginning immediately.

Levin expressed the hope that he would be able to provide the benefit of his valued counsel in the coming years.

Thanking Levin, Shivangi said he will utilise this opportunity to work for the underprivileged.

This includes his intent to promote projects in India and other developing nations on major issues like AIDS, tuberculosis, malnutrition, maternal and child health programmes and education, as well as addressing the problem of physician shortages in rural America.

Shivangi has been at the forefront of the powerful American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin and served as secretary and vice president of the association besides representing it at the American Medical Association.