SUMMARY
Chandrasagar (Sagar) Dugani, M.D., Ph.D., is an academic hospitalist dedicated to reducing health disparities associated with type 2 diabetes and its common complications of the heart (such as premature heart attacks) and brain (such as strokes).
Dr. Dugani also uses large data analytic approaches to improve hospital care and lead to better, safer care for hospitalized patients. He uses large data sets to investigate, design and evaluate interventions to reduce in-hospital mortality, particularly associated with type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Dugani collaborates with researchers in the United States, Canada, Middle East and India.
Focus areas
- Type 2 diabetes. Dr. Dugani examines the role of ethnicity and rural residence in developing type 2 diabetes and its complications.
- Premature heart disease. Dr. Dugani examines the role of traditional risk factors (such as type 2 diabetes and obesity) and novel blood markers (such as inflammatory and metabolic markers) in developing premature heart disease. Premature heart disease is defined as occurring at less than age 55 years in men, and at less than age 65 in women. Dr. Dugani collaborates with Samia Mora, M.D., M.H.S., of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, in Boston, and Alawi A. Alsheikh-Ali, M.D., MSc, of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on studies related to premature heart disease. Dr. Dugani serves as project director for the Gulf Population Risks and Epidemiology of Vascular Events and Treatment (Gulf PREVENT) study on premature heart disease, based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- In-hospital mortality. Dr. Dugani's research focuses on factors linked to avoidable mortality in hospitalized patients. In next steps, he will design and evaluate interventions to reduce risk of mortality in hospitalized patients.
- Innovation in hospital care. Dr. Dugani works with colleagues in hospital internal medicine to develop, implement and evaluate novel interventions that improve the quality and safety of care delivered to hospitalized patients.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Dugani's research examines how ethnicity and rural residence influence the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and its complications. This work will lead to better, personalized interventions to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly for marginalized and underserved groups. Additionally, Dr. Dugani's research on hospital practice and care will lead to the development of guidelines to provide better coordinated, individualized care for hospitalized patients.
Professional highlights
- Associate director, Community-Engaged Research Program, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Mayo Clinic, 2024-present.
- Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2010-present.
- Chief co-editor, "Clinical Anatomy Cases: An Integrated Approach with Physical Examination and Medical Imaging," 2016.
- Recipient, Rajyotsava Award for contributions to science, technology and community service, Government of Karnataka, Bangalore, India, 2012.
- President, Clinician Investigator Trainee Association of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 2011-2012.
- Recipient, June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Toronto, 2010.