Orlando, Florida, USA: Orlando Health Sciences University has officially adopted a new name to recognise the extraordinary contributions of Indian American benefactors, Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel. Effective December 11, the institution is now known as Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel University (KPGU), reflecting a renewed vision for global excellence in health sciences education in Central Florida.
University officials stated that the renaming underscores the institution’s growing aspirations to emerge as a leading international centre for medical and health sciences training.
The Patels were instrumental in establishing the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM), which opened last year to address the shortage of osteopathic physicians and residency opportunities in the region. With its launch, OCOM became the first osteopathic medical school in Central Florida.
Board chair Chad Toujague said the Patels’ lifelong dedication to healthcare and education mirrors the university’s core values. He noted that the new name honours individuals widely regarded as among the most influential benefactors in the osteopathic medical field, praising their commitment to service and forward-thinking leadership.
Robert Hasty, dean of OCOM and chief academic officer of KPGU, described the renaming as a pivotal milestone in the university’s evolution. He said that aligning the university’s identity with the Patels reflects its progress toward becoming a globally recognised health sciences institution, capable of expanding its academic influence worldwide.
Expressing gratitude, Dr Kiran Patel said he and his wife were deeply humbled by the recognition. He emphasised their strong commitment to advancing osteopathic medicine and supporting communities in Central Florida and beyond.
He further highlighted their extensive involvement in medical education across India and the United States, stating that the expanded university represents an ambitious international approach to healthcare education. The goal, he said, is to train physicians devoted to improving lives across the globe.
OCOM will continue functioning under the KPGU framework, maintaining its emphasis on producing compassionate, highly trained physicians. University leaders said the name change reinforces its mission to become a premier hub for health sciences education.
Dr Patel also shared a long-term vision, predicting that by 2076, physicians trained through the Patel Institutes could number 50,000 worldwide, collectively impacting more than one billion people each year.
Beyond academia, the Patels currently lead Bay Area Primary Care, a network of outpatient clinics operated alongside their physician daughters and son-in-law. Dr Pallavi Patel serves as medical director, drawing on her decades of experience in pediatric care in the Tampa area.
Dr Kiran Patel is widely recognised for his role in healthcare entrepreneurship. His achievements include building large multi-speciality physician groups, founding WellCare HMO—later sold in 2002—and developing Freedom Health and Optimum Healthcare, both Medicare Advantage organisations acquired by Anthem in 2019.
Before establishing their professional and philanthropic presence in Florida, the Patels practised medicine together in Zambia for five years after earning their medical degrees from Gujarat University in India.
