Big News! Ahmedabad University Launches Bagchi School of Public Health with Huge Philanthropic Support!

A Vision for Health: Ahmedabad University Launches Bagchi School of Public Health with Landmark ₹55-Crore Grant

With its strategic location, the Bagchi School of Public Health has the potential to emerge as a leading hub for public health research, education, and policy formation. It seeks to give students the information and abilities needed to address a variety of challenging health concerns, such as chronic illnesses, infectious diseases, and other health issues. The school will incorporate knowledge from a variety of disciplines, such as epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health policy, and health management, by encouraging an interdisciplinary approach. The school is an extension of Ahmedabad University. The school was founded in 2023 and is now called Susmita and Subroto Bagchi in honour of the well-known philanthropists. The mission of the Bagchi School of Public Health is to transform public health research and education in India. The ₹55 crore donation from the Bagchi couple will support the creation of top-notch intellectual, digital, and physical infrastructure and lead the world in public health research and education thanks to this investment.

The institute combines research, instruction, and activism by utilizing Ahmedabad University's distinctive multidisciplinary setting. By giving rigorous, structured Master's and PhD programs in particular core public health areas, the Bagchi School will set a new standard. The PhD in Epidemiology is the school's flagship program, which gives students the advanced analytical and soft skill abilities they need to address both known and unknown challenges in public health. Environmental health, and analytical methods for health, including biostatistics and data science, are among the first areas of study. A significant need in the field of public health education in India is filled by the emphasis on specialization and cutting-edge analytical techniques.

The goal of the research is to find long-term solutions that will enhance clinical practice, policy, lifestyle, and the environment. The school's action arm will convert research results into creative, empirically supported programs and policies. The Sahyog Centre for Promoting Health, which was founded in cooperation with the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), is another way that the Bagchi School encourages teamwork. This centre encourages people, groups, and institutions to make environmentally responsible and health-conscious decisions.

Professor Pankaj Chandra, Vice-Chancellor of Ahmedabad University proudly stated that it was a moment of honour that Ms. Susmita Bagchi and Mr Subroto Bagchi chose our institution to implement their vision of creating knowledge and helping the underserved. With their assistance, India will develop into a global leader in public health. Mr. Subroto Bagchi who is co-founder of Mindtree, author, and public servant stated that COVID opened our eyes to the huge gap in the sphere of public health education and research in India. They contacted Ahmedabad University because they had previously engaged with them on several occasions and were greatly impressed by their vision, capacity to develop and implement innovations, and all-encompassing approach to research and education.

Profession novelist and public servant Ms Susmita Bagchi stated "Originally, we had 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,". The best candidate for this position turned out to be Professor Kaumudi Joshipura. We wish to increase our involvement because we are certain that the institution will leave a lasting legacy for at least the next 100 years with excellent leadership in place.

"The School will focus on delivering high-quality rigorous education programs, while simultaneously identifying and promoting no-cost, low-cost, and cost-saving interventions to help improve health, especially for the underprivileged segments of society," said Professor Kaumudi Joshipura, dean of the Bagchi School of Public Health. I am grateful to Mr Subroto Bagchi and Ms Susmita Bagchi for their tremendous contributions to this endeavour on behalf of the faculty, the students, both present and future, and the communities that will benefit. Ahmedabad University is positioned to have a significant impact on public health practice and education by fusing inventive research, rigorous academics, and abundant philanthropy.

Editor’s Note: 
 

QThe future of Public health in India is taking a new turn with the opening of the Bagchi School of Public Health, this school is a living example of what can be accomplished when committed resources and visionary leadership are combined to address today’s most pressing health issues. The opening of this school and grant of ₹55 crore is an investment in future generations well being. The school aims to improve health outcomes and create resilient communities, and it extends an invitation to researchers, public health professionals, and students to engage in this endeavour.

Skoobuzz encourages aspiring scholars to get ready to absorb the knowledge in public health education and sharpen their skills to tackle complex health issues for the well-being of society.