ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Orlando Health Sciences University renamed to honor Indian American couple
The renaming recognizes the Indian American donor couple and sets direction for a global health sciences institution in Central Florida.
-
1759163132.png)
Anushka Pathak - Fri, 12, Dec 2025
- 13:20 EST
- 26
Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel with some members of their family / Courtesy: Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM)
Orlando Health Sciences University on Dec. 11 was officially renamed to Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel University (KPGU), in honor of the Indian American philanthropists whose contributions have shaped osteopathic medical education in Florida and beyond.
The board of directors said the new identity represents the institution’s expanded ambitions as it positions itself as a world-class health sciences university.
Also Read: 4 Indian-origin figures granted political peerage in UK
The couple founded the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM), which was inaugurated last year, in response to the region’s deficiency in osteopathic physicians and residency programs. Its opening marked the establishment of Central Florida’s first osteopathic medical school.
Board chair Chad Toujague said the Patels’ impact aligns closely with the university’s mission. “Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel embody the spirit of service and visionary leadership that is foundational to our institution,” he said, adding that the renaming recognizes “the most significant philanthropists in the osteopathic profession.”
Robert Hasty, dean of the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) and chief academic officer for KPGU, said the new designation marks a critical stage of growth. “Naming the university after Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel reflects our advancement towards our development into a world-class health professional university,” he said. According to Hasty, the couple’s contributions position the institution to expand its global reach and long-term academic footprint.
Kiran Patel said he and his wife, Pallavi, were “profoundly honored” by the decision. “Our commitment to the osteopathic profession and to the Central Florida community, and beyond, is immense,” he said.
Highlighting the scale of their educational initiatives in India and the United States, he added that the expanded university “represents a bold global vision for healthcare education” and will aim to train physicians “dedicated to serving humanity worldwide.”
OCOM will continue to operate under the KPGU umbrella, maintaining its focus on developing compassionate and skilled physicians. The institution described the renaming as a reinforcement of its mission to become a premier center for health sciences.
Patel said the university’s training model is designed for an increasingly global healthcare landscape. “We expect that by 2076 there will be 50,000 physicians from the Patel Institutes practicing medicine globally and impacting over 1 billion lives annually,” he said.
The Patels’ most recent work includes leading Bay Area Primary Care, a network of outpatient clinics they operate with their physician daughters and son-in-law. Pallavi serves as medical director, building on her long career in clinical pediatrics in the Tampa region.
Kiran has been a key figure in healthcare entrepreneurship, building a multi-specialty physician network, founding WellCare HMO—which expanded nationally before being sold in 2002—and later developing Freedom Health and Optimum Healthcare, two Medicare Advantage plans acquired by Anthem in 2019.
Before establishing their medical and philanthropic base in Florida, the couple practiced medicine together in Zambia for five years after earning their MBBS degrees from Gujarat University.
Related
.jpg)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login