College of Osteopathic Medicine to Open Additional Site
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORT LAUDERDALE/DAVIE and CLEARWATER, Fla. – More than 300 people joined Nova Southeastern University officials and representatives of the Patel Family Foundation on March 7 as they broke ground on the new Tampa Bay Regional Campus in Clearwater, Fla. When construction is complete, the 325,000-square foot complex will replace NSU’s existing Tampa Campus and its programs, and will include a new site for the university’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. Located at 3400 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, it is one of NSU’s eight regional campuses.
In January, the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) approved a class of 150 students to begin studying at the Clearwater site in the summer of 2019, when the new facility is slated to open. NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine site in Fort Lauderdale will continue to enroll a class of 230 students annually. With a total of 380 students enrolled each year between the two sites, NSU will have an even greater impact on the future of health care statewide, nationally and globally.
Left to right: NSU Board of Trustee Chairman Ron Assaf, ACAI Associates, Inc. President Adolfo Cotilla, Dr. Kiran C. Patel, Dr. Pallavi Patel, President of Moss Construction Bob Moss, and NSU President Dr. George Hanbury.
The expansion of NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine and the construction of the new Tampa Bay Regional Campus are being realized through a commitment from the Drs. Kiran C. and Pallavi Patel, announced in September 2017.It is comprised of a $50 million gift and an additional $150 million investment in real estate and facilities, which includes a medical education complex. In addition, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs will continue to be offered in numerous medical and non-medical fields at the Tampa Bay Regional Campus.
“Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Kiran C. Patel and Dr. Pallavi Patel and their dedication to life sciences, we are pleased for NSU to be moving forward with construction of this beautiful Tampa Bay Regional Campus,” said NSU President Dr. George L. Hanbury. “This is a monumental opportunity for the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine to expand, bridging the gap in demand for top quality medical care. At the same time, NSU will be providing a world-class graduate and professional education opportunities in a state-of-the-art facility for our current and future students ranging from health care and business to education and psychology.”
“I feel it is more important than ever to advance the current state of health care,” said Dr. Kiran C. Patel. “It is rare for someone to have the opportunity to impact the world in this way, and, as an immigrant, I am honored to make a difference in people’s lives around the world.”
“I believe that NSU is the future of multi-disciplinary medical education,” Dr. Patel continued. “Together, we will be able to capitalize on an opportunity that will be beneficial to millions of human lives–many right here in Florida and so many others around the globe.”
NSU has established agreements with HCA West Florida Division and the Florida Hospital System for both clinical rotations and residency opportunities in the Tampa area, according to Elaine Wallace, D.O. dean of NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine.
NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine is part of the university’s Health Professions Division, which also includes the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences, as well as the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (M.D.) and the Colleges of Pharmacy, Dental Medicine, Optometry, Nursing and Medical Sciences.
“Dr. Kiran Patel and his wife, Pallavi, have always believed that education is important and that access to health care should be provided,” said Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos. “We are honored that they have chosen to bring this beautiful new campus to Clearwater where it will impact thousands of students, future doctors, and patients now and for many years to come.”
To learn more about Drs. Kiran C. and Pallavi Patel’s Impact at Nova Southeastern University and to find photos for media use, click HERE.
Interviews with Dr. Kiran Patel, NSU President Dr. George Hanbury and Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos will be available prior to the official groundbreaking event onsite at 9:30 a.m. Contact Marla Oxenhandler at (954) 770-9204 or by email at marla.oxenhandler@nova.edu to arrange an interview.
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About Nova Southeastern University (NSU): Ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s Top 200 National Research Universities and located in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and first-professional degree levels. A private, not-for-profit institution, NSU has campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Tampa Bay, Florida, as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico, while maintaining a presence online globally. For more than 50 years, NSU has been awarding degrees in a wide range of fields, while fostering groundbreaking research and an impactful commitment to community. Classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU is 1 of only 50 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification, and is also the largest private, not-for-profit institution in the United States that meets the U.S. Department of Education’s criteria as a Hispanic-serving Institution. Please visit www.nova.edu for more information about NSU.
March 7, 2018
MEDIA CONTACTS
Marla Oxenhandler
Public Relations and Marketing Communications
(954) 262-5315 (office)
(954) 770-9204 (cell)
Marla.oxenhandler@nova.edu
Julie Spechler, M.A.
Public Relations and Marketing Communications
(954) 262-5348 (office)
(954) 591-3361 (cell)
julies@nova.edu
