South Asian Health Initiative
(SAHI)

The South Asian Health Initiative (SAHI) was founded in June 2004 by New York University School of Medicine's Center for Immigrant Health (CIH) and Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH). SAHI was formed to respond to the growing numbers of South Asian immigrants and their families in the United States and their particular health needs.

Click here to link to the dedicated SAHI website

click here to view the SAHI brochure

Click here to view SAHI project initiatives

History and Mission
South Asians in the United States are a diverse group. Persons hail from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, as well as from countries such as Guyana, Trinidad and Kenya. South Asian immigrants are among the fastest growing segment of our population. The South Asian Health Initiative (SAHI) was founded by New York University School of Medicine’s Center for Immigrant Health (CIH) and Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH).

SAHI’s mission builds upon our work in underserved immigrant communities for the past fifteen years. It facilitates the delivery of linguistically, culturally, and epidemiologically sensitive healthcare services to South Asian communities. SAHI is a partnership of community members, public health practitioners, physicians, dentists, researchers, and advocates.

Our Team
Jyotsna Changrani, MD, MPH, Director
Sapna Pandya, MPH, Coordinator
Francesca Gany, MD, MS, Advisor
Susan Shah, JD, MPH, Advisor
Suman Saran, Coordinator

Throughout the year, students from high schools, colleges, medical schools, and graduate schools serve as invaluable additions to the SAHI team.

Partners
SAHI brings together a diverse and exciting partnership of individuals dedicated to the health of South Asians in New York.

Our Community Advisory Board reflects a partnership of community members, public health practitioners, health care providers, researchers, social scientists, advocates, students, and others who are committed to South Asian public health issues. The primary function of the Board is to work together to determine feasible health initiatives for underserved South Asians living in the New York Metropolitan Area.

Current SAHI partners are follows:

Academic/Research
Columbia University, Bangla Students Group
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Cancer Screening Group
NYU College of Dentistry, Indian Students Association
NYU College of Dentistry, Research on Adolescent and Adult Health Promotion (RAAHP) Center
NYU School of Medicine, South Asian Medical Students Association
State University of New York College at Old Westbury
University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey

Community
Andolan
BABAE (Bridging Assistance Building Advocacy & Empowerment)
Coney Island Avenue Project
Council of People's Organizations
Islamic Council of North America (ICNA)
New Immigrant Community Empowerment
Queens Child Guidance Center
Queer Immigrants Rights Project Restaurant Opportunities Center - NY
South Asian Community Health
South Asian Council for Social Services
South Asian Network
Swaminarayan Temple
United Sikhs
Workers Awaaz

Health Care Providers
American Cancer Society
Asian Pacific Islander Coalition Against HIV/AIDS (APICHA)
Bellevue Hospital Center
Elmhurst Hospital Center, South Asian Outreach Program
MHRA – MIC Women’s Health Services Clinic
Northshore University Hospital
Northshore Long Island Jewish Health System
Planned Parenthood New York City

Professional Associations
Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin - Medical Students/Residents
South Asian Public Health Association
South Asian Marrow Association of Recruiters


Funders
SAHI would like to acknowledge the following funders:

Center for Immigrant Health
Center for the Study of Asian American Health
New York City Department of Health Mental Hygiene
New York State Department of Health, Office of Minority Health
National Cancer Institute
NYU Research on Adolescent and Adult Health Promotion (RAAHP) Center

Contact Us
South Asian Health Initiative (SAHI)
Center for Immigrant Health & Center for the Study of Asian American Health
NYU School of Medicine
550 First Avenue, OBV C&D 402
New York, NY 10016

Phone: 212-263-8246
Fax: 212-263-8234

E-mail: sahi@med.nyu.edu