[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E18]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF DR. BHUPENDRA PATEL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 6, 2011

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the achievements of 
Bhupendra Patel, M.D., a remarkable man who has dedicated himself in 
service to others. The Chief of the Department of Medicine at the Mount 
Sinai Hospital in Queens, Dr. Patel is also an important and 
inspirational voice for the thriving Indian-American community of our 
nation's greatest city. A selfless advocate for his patients as well as 
a dedicated and generous philanthropist, ``Bhupi'' Patel is truly an 
example and role model for the community, and I am proud to call him my 
friend.
  Dr. Bhupendra Patel has demonstrated a lifelong passion for the study 
and practice of medicine. Born and raised in Kenya, he earned an MBBS 
from Baroda Medical College in India. The political unrest there, 
coupled with immigration of many of his friends to the United States, 
inspired Dr. Patel to conduct his medical internship and residency at 
the Long Island Jewish Hospital, where he worked as an internist. Dr. 
Patel continued to make important contributions to the field of medical 
education by serving as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at 
the renowned Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
  Throughout his career, Dr. Patel has striven successfully to help 
serve the needs of the growing Asian-American community in New York 
City, serving as the President of the Gujarati Samaj of Greater New 
York and helping found the Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation. As 
President of the Gujarati Samaj, Bhupendra Patel helped raise money for 
a new community center to serve the local Gujarati community. The 
Nargis Dutt Foundation that he helped found has committed itself to 
improving medical care for cancer patients throughout India for the 
past decade, supplying critically needed medical equipment to 
healthcare facilities there. Dr. Patel also serves on the board of 
``SHAREing and CAREing,'' an organization in Queens that for the last 
sixteen years has provided essential services to those afflicted with 
breast cancer, helping to ensure the quality of their medical and 
social services and providing them with critical tools to help them in 
their moment of need.
  Dr. Patel's activism extends beyond the world of medicine. As 
President of the Indian-American Center for Political Awareness, he has 
worked not only to improve bilateral relations between India and 
America, but to increase political awareness of and boost the 
participation of the Indian American community. In so doing, he has 
helped pave the way for second generation Americans of Indian descent, 
urging them to remain involved and build on earlier progress. Dr. 
Patel's considerable contributions to medicine and philanthropy have 
been widely acknowledged; he has been honored by the Gujarati Samaj of 
Greater New York, the Indian Dental Association of the United States, 
and 100 Black Men, and was presented the ``Outstanding Asian American'' 
award by former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, as well as the 
prestigious 2008 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
  Mr. Speaker, in recognition of a lifetime of service to others, I 
request that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Dr. Bhupendra 
``Bhupi'' Patel, a great New Yorker and a great American who made 
immeasurable improvements to the quality of life of his fellow New 
Yorkers. Dr. Patel's selfless and enduring dedication to serving others 
and to the civic life of our nation serves as an inspiration to us all.

                          ____________________