UCLA Health has received a $2 million gift from the Jivrajka Family Foundation, founded by Indian-origin doctors Vinod Jivrajka and Jayashree Jivrajka, to establish an endowed chair in cardiovascular health. The initiative aims to advance prevention and treatment strategies for South Asians and other high-risk populations.
Driving South Asian heart health
The endowed chair will anchor a new cardiovascular disease prevention programme focused on South Asians and similar high-risk groups. Ravi H. Dave, director of interventional cardiology and related fellowship programmes at UCLA — has been named the inaugural chair holder.
The endowment will support cutting-edge research, education, and community outreach, alongside the creation of a multidisciplinary team to study genetic and environmental drivers of heart disease. It will also enable the development of targeted therapies, expand access to care, and promote culturally responsive healthcare models.
Why UCLA
The initiative is housed at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, part of UCLA’s globally recognised medical ecosystem. With a strong track record in cardiovascular research and one of the largest South Asian populations in the United States, Los Angeles offers a strategic base for such an effort.
Dr Vinod Jivrajka and Ravi H. Dave, director of interventional cardiology and related fellowship programmes at UCLA
A vision realised
“We founded the Jivrajka Family Foundation Chair to empower a dedicated faculty leader committed to enhancing the health of our community. It is profoundly fulfilling to see this vision come to fruition,” said Vinod Jivrajka.
The founders
An interventional cardiologist turned entrepreneur, Vinod Jivrajka is chairman of Episource. He previously co-founded AppleCare Medical Group in 1996, scaling it from 500 members to over 100,000 before its acquisition by UnitedHealthcare. Earlier in his career, he practiced cardiology for over two decades across multiple U.S. states.
Jayashree Jivrajka, a physician trained in Mumbai, specialised in internal medicine in the United States, focusing on prevention and non-surgical treatment of adult diseases. Together, the couple established the foundation in 2024, driven by a shared commitment to improving access and outcomes in underserved communities.
