Indian-origin physician and oncology leader Kashyap Patel has been selected to receive the prestigious Hind Rattan Award, one of the highest recognitions granted to members of the Indian diaspora by the NRI Welfare Society of India. The award honours non-resident Indians whose professional excellence and public service have left a lasting social impact.
Patel, Medical Director and Consultant at Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, has dedicated over two decades to advancing community oncology, with a focus on providing equitable access to quality cancer care for rural and underserved populations. His work blends clinical practice, health-policy advocacy, and leadership to ensure patient-centered cancer treatment extends beyond major urban hospitals.
Reflecting on the award, Patel described it as a moment for reflection rather than celebration. “As I enter the last quarter of my journey, I find myself contemplating what truly matters. Our greatest legacy lies not in accolades, but in service above self,” he said.
Trained in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology, Patel built a career around the belief that geography and income should never determine a patient’s survival. Through Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associates, he developed a model combining clinical excellence with compassion, serving rural South Carolina communities with advanced oncology services that might otherwise require long-distance travel.
Patel has also led national advocacy efforts as a former president of the Community Oncology Alliance, engaging policymakers on drug pricing, Medicare reimbursement, and healthcare consolidation. He has consistently emphasised that community oncology clinics are essential to equitable healthcare, not secondary to large hospital systems.
The Hind Rattan Award recognises Patel’s sustained contributions to healthcare delivery, patient advocacy, and policy reform. The NRI Welfare Society highlighted his work in expanding access to cancer treatment, preserving independent community clinics, and promoting ethical, patient-first healthcare policies.
The award ceremony will be held on August 14 at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in London. Patel has dedicated the honour to his colleagues, patients, healthcare advocates, and policymakers who have supported his mission. “I accept this honour with humility and renewed commitment to the work ahead,” he stated, reaffirming his guiding principle: service above self.
Through his clinical leadership and policy engagement, Patel exemplifies the profound impact of Indian-origin professionals whose contributions strengthen healthcare systems while upholding humanitarian values. His recognition with the Hind Rattan Award places him among a global tradition of diaspora members advancing social and professional excellence.
