Anant Bhati, known for his work as Hamilton County coroner, a doctor and an educator, died early Saturday, Feb. 18 at the age of 71.

Bhati, of Indian Hill, sustained fatal injuries after falling outside the Westin Hotel in downtown Cincinnati Feb. 8, only 15 months after taking office as county coroner. He was taken to and treated at Good Samaritan Hospital and later moved to University Hospital Feb. 12.

Born in Jodhpur, India, Bhati went on to receive his medical degree from the Sawai ManSingh Medical College in Jaipur, India. He then came to the United States to practice as an obstetrician, becoming a prominent figure in Cincinnati medicine for more than four decades.

Since 1980, Bhati worked as an obstetrician and gynecologist and served as the director of the division of gynecology at Good Samaritan Hospital, according to the Hamilton County Coroner website. Bhati became an American citizen one year after beginning at Good Samaritan.

As a physician, he delivered thousands of babies and was an
innovator in surgical techniques using endoscopy, according to uc.edu.

Bhati was an active member in not only the local medical community, but also the University of Cincinnati community.

“Anant R. Bhati was widely recognized as a compassionate doctor who taught medical students for more than 30 years at the University of Cincinnati,” said UC spokesman Greg Hand.

Bhati instructed and supervised medical students and residents at UC’s College of Medicine as a volunteer professor for more than 30 years, according to the university’s website.

Along with his medical work, Bhati also served on the UC Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2009. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from UC — the highest possible award given by the university — in December 2010.

“He was, for nine years, a dedicated and devoted trustee of this university,” Hand said. “In that role, he consistently embodied thoughtful advocacy for higher education.”

Among his many accomplishments, Bhati also was on the State Medical Board of Ohio from 1995 to 2005, and served as the board’s president in 2001.

“His dedication to the community was well known through service on the State Medical Board of Ohio and as coroner, as well as long-term advisory positions in both corporate and non-profit organizations,” Hand said.

Prolific and committed, Bhati has also served on the boards of Heritage Savings Bank, the Ohio Medical Aetna Medical Advisory Board, the Provident Bank Advisory Board, Hindu Society of Greater Cincinnati, Salvation Army Advisory Board and Regional Board of the
ProAssurance Company.

A funeral service for Bhati was carried out at Spring Grove Cemetery Sunday afternoon.

Bhati is survived by his wife Shammi, son Amar of Indian Hill, daughter Shan of Chicago and a grandson.

In lieu of flowers, Bhati’s family has requested that a donation be made to the Darwin T. Tuner Scholars Program, a diversity scholarship at UC.

Bhati also conducted an autopsy in Everett Howard — the UC Upward Bound summer program student that died after UC Police Division officer Rick Haas used a taser to subdue him in August 2011.

The cause of Howard’s death is still undefined.