Supriya Kumar "Shoop"

Saha, MD, Ph.D.

Born October 12, 1979, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Supriya Saha died from complications of a bone marrow transplant to treat myelofibrosis on the morning of May 6, 2020, in Seattle, Washington at the age of forty years old. He peacefully passed away on hospice care in the presence of his family. He is survived by his three-year-old son, Jothin Philip Saha, his wife, Sita Kugel, his parents, (Subrata and Pamela Saha), his brother Sunil Saha, niece Amani Saha, nephew, Kavi Saha, three aunts, five uncles, fourteen first-cousins, and nine second-cousins. Grandparents are deceased as well as two aunts, and three uncles.

During his short life, Dr. Saha was an accomplished scientist and clinician. He graduated from Harvard University Magna Cum Laude in Microbiology and Biochemistry, joined the Medical Scientist Training Program at UCLA as a Terasaki Fellow, was elected AOA, and received awards for research leading to publications as a medical student. He trained in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts (Mass), and completed a Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare Medical Oncology Fellowship in Boston, Mass. He joined the faculty at Mass General Hospital and completed his postdoctoral research at Mass General Hospital Cancer Center.

He moved to Seattle in the fall of 2016 with his wife Sita Kugel also an outstanding researcher in pancreatic cancer where both joined the faculty and started adjoining laboratories at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the fall of 2016. Sita focused on pancreatic cancer while Supriya worked on cholangiocarcinoma. Supriya has received numerous awards and grants for his research throughout his career and he is extensively published. Numerous colleagues, students, and residents that he has trained have extolled him and have benefited from his mentorship. In addition to his excellence in his professional life, he was a dedicated husband, father, and son.

Supriya fought for his life for fifteen months until nothing more could be done. He then accepted his fate with grace showing extraordinary love and concern for his family, and gratitude for all that was done to help him. During his final two weeks at home, he said his final goodbyes and spent quality time with his family.

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Published by The Seattle Times from May 12 to May 13, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Supriya Saha

Sponsored by The Family.

7 Entries

Bikramjit Basu

June 28, 2020

Dr. Supriyo, May your soul rest in peace. I am one of the acquaintances of your father, Professor Subrata Saha, whom I know more than a decade now. I met Prof. Saha multiple times in India and in USA. Each time we used to share news of our family. I heard your name in many such interactions. Being in the field of Biomedical Engineering for years now, I know the important role that you could have played to advance this field of research globally. This world needs many MD PhDs, which are not yet common in countries other than USA, particularly in India. I am sure the world of transnational research will miss one of the rising stars, but I hope your students and collaborators will continue your legacy to advance the field.

Moumita Bhadury

May 15, 2020

This is a great loss not only for the family but also for the world. Your contribution for medicine could have been endless, losing such a brilliant doctor so early is not so easy to accept.Though we did not meet much but you were someone we all looked up to as an inspiration. My deepest condolences. May you Rest In Peace dear brother. We all will miss you and you will always be in our heart.
Mou

Zahra Shirazy

Planted Trees

Debayan Ganguly

May 14, 2020

Rest in peace my brother, you can never be forgotten and I wish by any means if we could have able to keep you among us more or replaced you by even by me from going out so early, your presence would have been more meaningful, may God help us to get the courage to move on from this great loss, and give you peace and shelter in his arm. Love you always.

Kunal Saha

May 14, 2020

I'm one of Supriya's 7 uncles - it's a great loss not only for our family but also for the entire world as although he was a medical doctor, Supriya loved doing research and I have no doubt that he would have made more groundbreaking discoveries had he not left us at such a tender age.

Dr. Kunal Saha
Columbus, Ohio

Nicole

May 13, 2020

I worked with his mother briefly a few years ago and she told me many, many stories about both her boys. She loves them deeply and I cannot imagine the grief her whole family must feel right now. We miss you, Pam! Im so so sorry about your son. I wish I could hug you, but instead Ill send you my condolences this way.

Katherine Bond

May 13, 2020

What an extraordinary man. A great loss to the world and to his family. Walking with you in love at this difficult time.

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