Dr. Sampath Shivangi named Chair of Mississippi Board of Mental Health

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The Mississippi Board of Mental Health named Dr. Sampat Shivangi of Ridgeland as Chair and Stewart Rutledge of Oxford as Vice Chair, in effect from July 1, 2022.

Shivangi was first appointed to the Board in 2009 by Gov. Haley Barbour and reappointed in 2016 by Gov. Phil Bryant, the press release from MBMH said.

He also currently serves on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Mental Health Services National Advisory Council, in the Biden administration, “A first for an Indian American physician, as well as Chair of Mississippi state Board of Mental Health,” Shivangi noted in an email message.

During his time on the Board of Mental Health, Shivangi has previously served as Chair, as well as numerous years serving on the Patient Care Subcommittee.

“He has taken an active role in efforts to promote suicide awareness and prevention, particularly those efforts related to postpartum depression awareness and treatment,” the press release said. In addition to his time on the Board of Mental Health, Shivangi previously served on the Mississippi State Board of Health. From 2005 to 2008, he served as Advisor to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services in the President George W. Bush administration. He is the founding president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin in Mississippi and is the past president and chair of the India Association of Mississippi.

Shivangi represents the physician category on the Board of Mental Health The board is composed of nine members appointed by the governor of Mississippi and confirmed by the State Senate.