New Haven, CT – The Yale University School of Medicine is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of Dr. Miraj Desai, a revered assistant professor at the Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH) within the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Desai, aged 41, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking contributions to the fields of structural psychology and mental health research. He was born on 1982.
Arnond Sakworawich shared Miraj Desai’s death news through facebook post which states, “I am extremely shocked and sad to hear the following news. Miraj is one of my best friends at Fordham University. We use to hang out together around campus and several conferences. It is such a heartbreaking moment. Miraj is a brilliant son of India. May his soul rest in peace.”
A valued member of the Yale community since 2011, Dr. Miraj Desai was widely recognized for his commitment to creating a better world through his work in academia and community engagement. Despite the absence of details surrounding the cause of his death, the Yale community is united in grief, remembering Dr. Desai for his unwavering dedication and innovative contributions to the field.
Throughout his academic journey at Yale, Dr. Desai held various roles, including Resident Fellow of Pierson College and affiliated faculty positions in the Center on Climate Change and Health, as well as the Yale School of Public Health. His groundbreaking work in “structural psychology” focused on examining the structural bases of health, equity, and inequity, with his concept of “implicit organizational bias” earning him a prestigious K01 award from the National Institute on Minority Health and Disparities (NIMHD).
Dr. Desai’s research on culture, community, race, and racism garnered significant recognition and funding through various awards, including a Pioneering Ideas Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a KL2 Scholar Award from the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation/NIH. His influential book, “Travel and Movement in Clinical Psychology: The World Outside the Clinic,” explored the connection between mental health and structural oppression.
Honors and recognitions adorned Dr. Miraj Desai’s career, including being named a 40 under 40 Leader in Health by the National Minority Quality Forum in 2022. His impact extended beyond academia, as evidenced by his collaboration with Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church, addressing recovery and structural racism from a community-centered perspective.
Survived by his wife, Dr. Usha Reena Rungoo, and son, Indra, as well as his mother, Maya Desai, and brother, Neil Desai, Dr. Miraj Desai’s profound impact on mental health research and practice will be remembered by many. His dedication to community engagement, participatory research, and addressing structural issues resonated deeply with colleagues and communities alike.
The Yale community and beyond are invited to join in mourning and remembering Dr. Miraj Desai. Details about departmental town hall meetings and memorial services are forthcoming, providing an opportunity for friends, colleagues, and admirers to pay their respects to a remarkable individual who left an indelible mark on the world of mental health research.
Categories: News
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
