An eminent Indian-American has donated USD 1 million to the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy.
Dinesh Patel, a prominent entrepreneur and business leader in Utah state, has also accepted chairmanship of the university's USD 20 million campaign, the varsity said in a release.
This will bolster the existing Chhotubhai & Savitaben Patel Fellowships, which were established by Patel and his brothers in 2005 in honour of their parents, it said.
"We're very pleased that Dinesh will be chairing our efforts and his commitment to the College is clear by evidence of his generous gift," Dean Frank Ascione said.
Patel was the 2009 recipient of the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy's Alumni Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award and more recently was honoured with BioUtah's 2013 Utah Life Science Award.
The University of Michigan's College of Pharmacy, founded in 1876, is committed to educational excellence in preparing students for productive careers in pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, medicinal chemistry, clinical practice and research, the statement said.
Patel founded or co-founded multiple Utah life science companies. He was the founder and CEO of TheraTech, now a major Utah division of Actavis.
As a co-founding managing director of vSpring Capital, he invested in many Utah-based life science companies and supported over 20 other companies as an angel investor.
