Indian-origin couple pledges USD 200 mn for US varsity

An Indian-American doctor couple has committed a whopping USD 200 million to a Florida-based medical college for development of research in medicine and healthcare science, the university announced on Wednesday.

The amount, which includes a USD 50 million gift and USD 150 million as investment, is the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the Nova Southeastern University (NSU), the institution said in a statement.

The commitment of USD 200 million by Cardiologist Dr Kiran C Patel and his wife pediatrician Dr Pallavi Patel will significantly expand the programmes of NSU in osteopathic medicine and healthcare sciences, it said.

The Patel Family Foundation’s commitment includes a USD 50 million gift and an additional USD 150 million real estate and facility investment in a future 325,000 square-foot medical education complex that will be part of NSU’s new Tampa Bay Regional Campus, in Clearwater, the statement said.

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The USD 50 million gift is one of the seven-largest to any Florida university in history.

According to the university, the money would be used to develop the campus that will house a new site for NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, as well as its existing programmes in the Tampa area.

“This gift and additional investment will enrich NSU’s ability to educate highly-qualified physicians and health care professionals who understand how the medical disciplines can and must work together,” said NSU president Dr George Hanbury.

“I feel that it is more important than ever to advance the current state of health care. It is rare for someone to have the opportunity to impact the world in this way, and, as an immigrant to the United States, I am particularly honored to be able to make a difference,” Kiran said.

“This partnership will benefit thousands of patients, students and doctors. Over the next 20 years, NSU will train thousands of new doctors and other health care professionals who will directly touch millions of lives, making a real difference,” Pallavi said.

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