Gillings School remembers Sagar Jain, visionary and former health policy and management chair
November 8, 2024
The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health honors the legacy of Sagar Chand Jain, PhD, a revered professor and health policy visionary who died on October 23 at the age of 94. Jain was professor emeritus of health policy and management at the Gillings School, former department chair and founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of World Health & Population.
Born in India and immigrating to the United States in 1959, Jain joined the UNC-Chapel Hill in 1965, where he would go on to shape the then-Department of Health Policy and Administration as a key faculty member and later as department chair. His early work at Carolina was foundational in establishing the school’s reputation for health policy and public health administration, ultimately leading to his appointment as chair in 1971, a position he held until 1986.
His contributions included expanding the curriculum to incorporate global health perspectives and practical applications, preparing students to address both domestic and international health challenges. His collaborations with organizations like the World Health Organization and USAID further enriched the Gillings School’s academic programs and global outreach initiatives, creating legacy in the fields of public health education and policy.
“Sagar’s tenure as department chair led to the expansion of the School’s academic portfolio in health policy and management, said Laurel Files, PhD, professor emerita of health policy and management. “We were among the first with an accredited bachelor’s degree program, as well as with an executive (originally, “off-campus”) master’s degree program. And the department has been a role model in both areas.”
“As a doctoral student, I was fortunate to be assigned to Dr. Jain as his research assistant,” recalled John Paul, PhD, professor emeritus of health policy and management. “Initially, I managed logistics for a major health policy conference that resulted in the book Policy Issues in Personal Health Services. Dr. Jain generously included me as a co-editor, which was an honor and career booster for a young doctoral student. Following that project, Dr. Jain got me involved in a World Bank project on population and health, which culminated in another book and a World Bank mission trip to Nepal, with follow-on assignments. Both of these endeavors significantly bolstered my credentials in health policy research, globally as well as locally.”
Following his retirement as department chair, Jain leveraged his expertise in health policy to support the Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) in its mission of improving health care management in India and South Asia. His involvement with IIHMR was part of a joint venture that included program development and educational exchange opportunities between UNC and IIHMR.
Jain’s vision for this collaboration was to bring evidence-based health management education to India, using insights from the Gillings School’s established health policy programs. This partnership enabled IIHMR to adopt UNC’s approaches to health systems strengthening and management training, focusing on equipping health care professionals with skills to tackle health challenges in low-resource settings. The collaboration also included specialized training programs in hospital and health care management, influencing IIHMR’s emergence as a premier health research and management institution in the region.
Perhaps most dear to his heart was the Dadawas Project in his ancestral village of Dadawas, Haryana. Here, Jain’s efforts centered on poverty alleviation through education and empowerment. He believed that education could lift families from poverty within a generation, and his vision for the Society for Excellence in Education reflected this hope. He was instrumental in establishing the BMB School of Science and Mathematics, a dedicated institution aimed at providing quality education to underprivileged students in the region. Through his efforts, the school became a center for academic excellence, offering specialized coaching and resources to prepare students for competitive examinations, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). By creating educational resources, healthcare access, and a support system for underprivileged youth, Jain transformed Dadawas and modeled similar initiatives for rural communities across India.
Jain’s life was one of service, scholarship and a deep-rooted commitment to uplifting others. His legacy lives on in the students he inspired, the communities he uplifted and the global health frameworks he shaped. He will be remembered as a man of gentle strength and unrelenting purpose, leaving an indelible mark on public health and on all who had the privilege to know him.
“Dr. Jain was a mentor, champion and keen advisor when I was seeking guidance,” said Paul. “I came to see him as a friend as well and continued contact with Sagar long after I completed my doctoral degree. Dr. Jain provided the same attention and care to many others, both early and advanced in their careers, and I admired his remarkable leadership qualities. I feel lucky and grateful to have known and worked with Sagar Jain.”
Jain is survived by his wife of 65 years (Sushila), two children and their spouses (Dinesh and Alexandra Jain; Monic and Brian Stuart), and three grandchildren (Nicholas, Katherine and Lucas). A celebration of his life will be held on November 16 at 5 P.M. at the Blue Hill Event Center in Chapel Hill. Any who are inclined are welcome to share memories at the event.
Contact the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health communications team at sphcomm@unc.edu.
