Indian-origin physician Dr. Kashyap Patel has been selected for the prestigious Hind Rattan Award, one of the highest honors given to members of the Indian diaspora by the NRI Welfare Society of India.
Dr. Patel currently serves as Medical Director and Consultant at Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina and has spent more than two decades advancing community-based oncology care.
His work focuses on improving equitable access to high-quality cancer treatment, especially for rural and underserved populations. This mission shaped his clinical practice, policy advocacy, and leadership approach.
Reflecting on the recognition, he wrote:“Our greatest legacy lies not in accolades, but in service above self.”
Medical Degree:
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, USA
Residency (Internal Medicine):
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, New York, USA
Fellowship (Hematology and Medical Oncology):
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, USA
Board Certifications:
Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology
Trained in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology, Dr. Patel built his career around the belief that a patient’s survival should not depend on geography or income.
Instead of concentrating only in large academic centers, he chose community practice so patients could receive advanced cancer treatment closer to their homes and support systems.
Through Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associates, he helped create a care model combining clinical excellence with compassion and continuity.
The practice serves predominantly rural communities in South Carolina, offering specialized oncology services that would otherwise require long-distance travel and emphasizing multidisciplinary care and patient education.
His guiding conviction:“Every patient deserves access to world-class cancer care.”
Dr. Patel’s influence extends beyond clinical practice. As a former president of the Community Oncology Alliance, he became a national voice for independent oncology practices in the United States.
He actively engaged policymakers on drug pricing, Medicare reimbursement, and healthcare consolidation.
He consistently argued that protecting community oncology centers is essential for affordable, patient-focused cancer care and that community clinics are fundamental pillars of equitable healthcare delivery.
The NRI Welfare Society cited his outstanding professional achievement, humanitarian values, and service that elevates the global standing of the Indian diaspora.
The honor recognizes his contributions to expanding access to cancer treatment, preserving independent community clinics, and promoting ethical patient-first healthcare policy.
His work has directly shaped how cancer care reaches underserved populations by making systems responsive to patient needs rather than institutional convenience.
See also: Lucknow Doctors Dr. Rajendra Prasad and K.K. Thakral Honored with Padma Shri for Contributions to Medicine
The award will be presented on 14 August at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in London.
Dr. Patel dedicated the honor to colleagues, patients, healthcare advocates, and policymakers who support community oncology and added:
“I accept this honor with humility and renewed commitment. Service above self. Always.”
(Rh/ARC)