Ahmedabad University Announced the Bagchi School of Public Health

Established in 2023, the School of Public Health at Ahmedabad University has now been named in honour of eminent philanthropists Susmita and Subroto Bagchi. Their contribution of a transformative gift of INR 55 crores will fuel the development of world-class physical, digital, and intellectual infrastructure. Vice Chancellor Professor Pankaj Chandra stated, “The Bagchis’ support will help build global leaders in public health out of India, and the School represents a unique setting for public health faculty, practitioners, and students to significantly define the nation’s health agenda.” Mr Subroto Bagchi, co-founder of Mindtree, mentioned that the Bagchis had reached out to Ahmedabad University in their effort to address the huge gap in the sphere of public health education and research in India, as they were deeply impressed with the University’s vision, ability to foster and execute innovations, and holistic approach to education and research. Ms Susmita Bagchi added that they initially funded a Chair so that the University could attract a highly respected, globally experienced academic who would develop a School of Public Health like a start-up. With great leadership in place, they feel confident that the institution will create a legacy for at least the next 100 years, and they wanted to up their engagement.

The Dean of the Bagchi School of Public Health, Professor Kaumudi Joshipura, stated that the School will focus on delivering high-quality rigorous education programmes, while simultaneously identifying and promoting no-cost, low-cost, and cost-saving interventions to help improve health, especially for the underprivileged segments of society. Leveraging Ahmedabad University’s interdisciplinary environment, the School is uniquely positioned to contribute significantly towards solving complex public health problems. The School's flagship programme, a PhD in Epidemiology, will develop leaders by equipping them with the substantive, analytical, and soft skills needed to solve both known and unimaginable complex public health problems. This focus on specialisation and advanced analytical methods addresses a critical gap in India's public health education landscape. The Bagchi School fosters collaborations for health promotion through the Sahyog Centre for Promoting Health established in partnership with the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA). The mission of Sahyog is to improve health through evidence-based messages and initiatives that are sustainable and scalable, especially for poor and underserved communities. Sahyog aims to empower individuals, communities, and organisations to make healthy and eco-friendly choices. Research undertaken at the Bagchi School will focus on discovering innovative ways to improve lifestyle, clinical practice, policy, and the environment.

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