The Jivrajka family has donated $2 million to UCLA to establish an endowed chair focused on cardiovascular health, particularly for South Asian and other high-risk communities.
The Jivrajka Family Foundation has made a significant contribution of $2 million to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to establish an endowed chair dedicated to specialized cardiovascular medicine. This initiative places a strong emphasis on prevention strategies for South Asian and other high-risk populations.
This generous donation creates a permanent funding source aimed at supporting research, clinical innovation, and community outreach in heart health. South Asians are known to face disproportionately higher risks of coronary artery disease and related conditions, making this focus particularly timely and necessary.
Dr. Ravi H. Dave, who serves as the director of interventional cardiology and the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program at UCLA, will be the inaugural holder of the endowed chair. He also leads the UCLA Health South Asian Heart Program, which is dedicated to culturally tailored prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies for cardiovascular diseases.
The Jivrajka Family Foundation was established in 2024 by Drs. Jayashree and Vinod Jivrajka, both of whom are physicians originally from Mumbai, India. After completing their education in India, they continued their medical careers in the United States. Their philanthropic efforts reflect decades of commitment to patient care and a desire to give back to the medical profession that has significantly shaped their lives.
In interviews released by the university, the Jivrajkas expressed that cardiovascular disease is a deeply personal concern within the South Asian community. They noted that heart attacks often occur earlier and with fewer warning signs compared to the general population. By endowing this chair, they aim to ensure that research and prevention efforts continue well beyond the limitations of a single grant cycle or campaign.
Endowed chairs provide stable, long-term funding that empowers academic leaders to pursue ambitious projects, recruit top talent, and expand programs without being solely reliant on short-term funding sources. At UCLA, the new chair is expected to enhance efforts to better understand the genetic, metabolic, and lifestyle factors that contribute to elevated cardiac risk among South Asians.
Dr. Dave remarked that this gift will accelerate ongoing work to refine risk assessment tools and expand outreach programs designed to educate families about diet, exercise, and early screening. He emphasized that prevention, rather than just intervention, is crucial to reducing the burden of heart disease.
University leaders have described the donation as transformative, particularly given that Los Angeles is home to one of the largest South Asian populations in the United States. They believe the endowed chair will help bridge clinical care, research, and community engagement in ways that directly address local needs while also contributing to a national understanding of cardiovascular disparities.
For the Jivrajkas, this gift is both a professional commitment and a personal mission. As physicians trained in India who have built their careers in America, they view the establishment of this chair as a full-circle moment. It represents their investment in the next generation of clinicians and scientists who are working to prevent the very diseases they have dedicated their lives to treating.
According to The American Bazaar, this donation underscores the Jivrajka family’s commitment to improving heart health in communities that are often underserved and at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases.