By AAKASH M. PATEL
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| Dr. Akshay Desai |
Seven Indian Americans received the prestigious Ellis Island Medals of Honor on May 12 for 2007, up from five last year, reflecting and increase in influence of the community in mainstream America. Among the seven were Florida physicians Akshay Desai, Kiran C. Patel, both of the Tampa Bay area, and Mammen Zachariah in South Florida. All three were presented the award at a ceremony for 100 recipients in New York.
The award was established by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) in 1986 to pay tribute to U.S. citizens who have made important civic, artistic, scientific and commercial contributions to America. Four U.S. presidents, several senators, congressman and Nobel Prize winners are among the remarkable group of past recipients. The Ellis Island Medals of Honor are sanctioned by the U.S. Congress and recipients’ names are listed in the Congressional Record.
A St. Petersburg-based physician and entrepreneur, Desai is founder and CEO of Universal Health Care Inc. He serves on the state’s Board of Education and is a member of the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
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| Dr. Kiran C. Patel |
A Tampa-based physician and philanthropist, Patel is chairman of the nonprofit Dr. Kiran C. Patel Foundation for Global Understanding that develops and funds a wide variety of programs in health, education, arts and culture. He serves on the board of trustees of the University of South Florida and is a member of the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
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| Dr. Mammen Zachariah |
A Fort Lauderdale-based physician, Zachariah is a cardiologist at Holy Cross Hospital. The hospital’s Zachariah Family Wellness Pavilion promotes heart-disease prevention. In 2004, then Florida Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Zachariah to the Florida Board of Medicine, a position in which he serves today.
“2007 marks another great year for achievement in many fields by a diverse group of individuals,” NECO co-chairman Nasser Kazeminy said. “NECO is proud to honor those who make a difference in all of our lives, and who embody those core human values which we as Americans cherish.”
For Zachariah and Patel, the Ellis Island Medals of Honor award seems to run in the family. Zach Zachariah, the brother of Dr. Mammen and also a Fort Lauderdale cardiologist, received the award in 2004. Dinesh Patel, the brother of Dr. Kiran and a founding managing director of vSpring Capital in Utah, received the award last year.
The other Indian Americans included in the list were: Kirti Desai of New Jersey, president of a construction company; Jacob Eapen, a pediatrician from California; Smita Shah of Illinois, president of an engineering and construction management firm; and Daniel Thomas, a periodontal specialist from Kansas.
Aakash M. Patel is secretary of the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and can be reached at 813-936-5100 or Apatel@bankonparagon.com
