Alum gives $1 million for U of M pharmacy school scholarships

Dinesh Patel and his wife, Kalpana Patel, recently donated $1 million to the University of Michigan College (UM) of Pharmacy for scholarships, according to a published report.

The report said the money would become part of the Chhotubhai and Savitaben Patel Fellowships, established by the Patel family in 2005 to provide financial help for the university pharmacy students.

Patel chairs the school’s board that is dedicated to fundraising. UM is in the midst of its Victors for Michigan fundraising campaign, which has set a goal of $4 billion. The pharmacy school has a goal of $20 million.

“It’s a small college, and so the $20 million is quite significant, and I think we have enough people helping us that we should be able to meet our target,” Patel told the Michigan Daily. “I am pleased to be a part of the college and do whatever we can.”

Born and raised in Africa, Patel earned an undergraduate degree in India, then gained a pharmacy degree from UM. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he works as venture capitalist.