UCLA Launches Groundbreaking Jivrajka Initiative To Tackle Heart Disease In South Asians

India-West Staff Reporter

LOS ANGELES, CA  — University of California, Los Angeles, on June 1 announced the launch of the South Asian Heart Program–Jivrajka Initiative and the establishment of the Jivrajka Family Foundation Chair during a gathering at the Luskin Conference Center.

The event drew over 150 invitees and marked the start of Southern California’s first heart health program designed specifically for the South Asian community – a group that faces up to four times the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to others.

The initiative is supported by a $2 million pledge from Drs. Jayashree and Vinod Jivrajka through their family foundation.

Community-focused solutions

“We are successful in our careers, but nothing is more important than having a healthy heart,” said Dr. Vinod Jivrajka. A cardiologist himself, he spoke of once overlooking his own symptoms and emphasized the need for specialized care. “I got lucky—not everyone does,” he said. “Cardiologists need to be educated on how South Asians are different, and with this program we are able to get more knowledge and share it with providers.”

Why the risks

Dr. Ravi Dave, director of the intiative and keynote speaker, said the program is “essential in tackling the distinct cardiovascular challenges our community faces.”

In a detailed presentation, Dave outlined the unique factors affecting South Asians: high rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, abdominal fat, excessive salt in diets, low levels of physical activity, and chronic stress from immigration and family obligations.

He added that heart disease in this population often develops nearly nine years earlier than in others—and frequently goes undiagnosed. Traditional cholesterol panels, he said, often fail to detect the problem. Instead, South Asians tend to have elevated levels of apolipoprotein B and other markers not typically measured.

Historical roots

Dave also discussed the role of genetics and colonial history. “When we can’t find a solution, we find someone to blame—and generally, it’s the British,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

He went on to explain that during 2,000 years of recorded South Asian history, there were 17 famines—but 25 occurred during just 200 years of British rule. These widespread famines forced the human body to adapt by storing fat and producing more glucose. Today, that legacy is mismatched with sedentary lifestyles and calorie-rich, nutrient-poor diets.

According to Dave, Bangladeshis—whose ancestors were closest to famine zones—exhibit the highest levels of insulin resistance and diabetes. “There’s a gradient,” he said, explaining that risk decreases as one moves further from the areas most affected by famine. Sri Lankans, for example, have been less impacted.

Call to action

Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, who lent his name to the program, also addressed the audience. “Heart disease doesn’t give notice but just creeps up,” he warned. Urging greater awareness and prevention, he called for a “culturally sensitive response” powered by “cutting-edge tech,” adding, “Unlike unforced errors in tennis, this doesn’t have to be one.”

In prerecorded messages, Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8) and Ro Khanna (CA-17) echoed the need for more targeted action and praised the effort for addressing long-overlooked disparities.

UCLA faculty leaders Dr. Priscilla Hsue, Chief of Cardiology, and Dr. Eve Glazier, President of the UCLA Faculty Practice Group, were also present to support the launch.

The ceremony ended with a ribbon tying – by members of the Jivrajka family, not cutting—meant to symbolize a new beginning for South Asian heart health.

To learn more or support the South Asian Heart Program–Jivrajka Initiative: https://giving.ucla.edu/southasianheart