Sabi "Doc" Kumar
American surgeon and politician (born 1947)
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Sarbjeet S. (Sabi Doc) Kumar, M.D. (born July 14, 1947) is an Indian–American politician, writer and physician. A member of the Republican Party, Dr. Kumar, a retired general and vascular surgeon, has been a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 66th district since 2015, representing Robertson County. He chairs the House Insurance Committee, and is the first Indian American to be elected to the Tennessee State House.[1]
Sabi "Doc" Kumar | |
|---|---|
Kumar in 2023 | |
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 66th district | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Joshua Evans |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 14, 1947 |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Linda Kumar |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Amritsar Medical College |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Medical career
Dr. Kumar immigrated to the United States from India in 1970. He completed his medical residency and fellowship working in Miami at Mount Sinai Medical Center from 1971 to 1977,[2] when he moved to Springfield, Tennessee, where he continued his career as a surgeon.[3]
Dr. Kumar holds 5 patents, with the most well known for a clamp device, Kumar Cholangiography Clamp and Catheters, known as the "Kumar Clamp" and "Kumar Catheters", used in gallbladder surgeries.[4]
Political career
In 2014, Dr. Kumar ran for the Tennessee House of Representatives' 66th district after incumbent Representative Joshua Evans decided to run for the Tennessee Senate. Dr. Kumar won the Republican primary on August 7, 2014, with 44% of the vote.[5] running against 4 other candidates. On November 4, 2014, Kumar won the General Election unopposed.[6] Kumar was re-elected in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024. His current term ends in 2027.
In 2023, Dr. Kumar supported a resolution to expel three Democratic lawmakers from the legislature for violating decorum rules during a pro-gun control protest in the State Capitol Building. The expulsion was widely characterized as unprecedented.[7][8] Prior to his expulsion vote, Democrat Justin Jones accused Rep. Kumar of putting a "brown face to white supremacy;" Dr. Kumar also stated that Jones had pointed his finger in his face and told him, "Kumar, they will never accept you."[9]
Dr. Kumar ran as a pledged delegate for Nikki Haley in the 2024 Tennessee Republican presidential primary.[10]
Committees
In the 2015 legislative session, Rep. Kumar served on the following committees: Health Committee and Education Committee.
In the 2017 legislative session, Rep. Kumar served on the following committees: Education Instruction and Programs and Health (vice chair).
In the 2019–2020 legislative session, Rep. Kumar served on the following committees: Finance, Ways and Means Committee and the Health Committee.
In the 2021–2022 legislative session, Rep. Kumar served on the following committees: Calendar and Rules Committee, Health Committee, and the Insurance Committee (chair).