Jagdish M. Chadha

away on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 from complications from pneumonia. He was 86 years old.

Jagdish’s life story is the epitome of the American dream. Born in pre-partition India,

Jagdish studied dentistry in India. After obtaining his dental degree in 1956 from Punjab

Dental College and Hospital, Jagdish moved to Boston for a postgraduate internship in

pediatric dentistry and was selected for a two-year clinical fellowship program in

orthodontics. He completed both programs at Forsyth-Harvard in 1958 and 1960

respectively. In 1962, he received a master of science and in 1964 and a DDS, both

from the University of Iowa. That same year, he joined the University of Iowa

Department of Orthodontics as an instructor and in 1968, attained the position of

associate professor. From 1965 to 1967, Jagdish served as assistant professor at the

Royal Dental College University of Aarhus in Denmark, returning to the University of

Iowa in 1967.

In 1970, Dr. Chadha accepted a position at the LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans

to create the orthodontic department and was appointed the department’s professor and

head. During his tenure at LSUSD, Dr. Chadha served on multiple school committees,

served as course director for orthodontic-related classes for both pre-doctoral and

post-doctoral students, participated in research, authored numerous articles and

publications, and lectured in continuing education courses.

Dr. Chadha received several awards throughout his distinguished forty-six year career,

including the University of Iowa College of Dentistry Instructor of the Year Award, Royal

Dental College Aarhus University Best Teacher of the Year Award, the University of

Iowa International Scholarship Award for Graduate Studies, and membership in both the

Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Dental Society and Sigma XI, a national honorary

research fraternity. In 2005, Dr. Chadha received one of the most notable awards, the

prestigious American Association of Orthodontics Louise Ada Jarabak Memorial

International Teachers and Research Award, recognizing his talent and efforts as an

Orthodontist who devoted time to teaching and research. In 2008, Dr. Chadha received

the LSU Health Sciences Center Distinguished Service Award in recognition of

outstanding contributions to the advanced education programs at LSUSD. In 2016, Dr.

Chadha was awarded the LSU School of Dentistry Lifetime Service Award.

One of Dr. Chadha’s enduring legacies is that he wanted to leave a place better than

what he found it. He started an endowed chair to benefit the LSUSD Department of

Orthodontics. Through the generosity of his alumni, more than $2 million dollars has

been raised for orthodontic education.

In addition to his professional service, Jagdish was involved in various community

affairs as well, from homeowners’ associations to the Association of Indian

Professionals in New Orleans, again with the desire to make the place better than what

he found it.

Known by many names, Jack, Doc, JM, Chief, Dad, Grandpa and Pop Pop, Jagdish is

loved and will be missed by family and friends. Jagdish is survived by his wife of more

than 52 years, Meena, his children Dr. Mona Chadha, Jay Chadha and Dr. Sandeep

Chadha, daughters-in-law Anu Shah and Amy Chadha, and grandchildren, Matthew

Modisette, Jena Modisette, Devan Chadha, Kiran Chadha, and Charlotte Chadha.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Dr. J M Chadha Orthodontic

Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation on Friday, August 10, 2018 beginning at 10:00 am at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124. A memorial service will begin at 11:00 am in the chapel.