The Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions is a research center based at the

University of South Florida The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, and other campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. It is one of 12 members of the State University System of Florida. USF is ...

Tampa Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough County ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

. The Patel Center's main goals are to identify challenges in the developing world and find viable solutions to those problems, particularly issues related to

potable water Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, ag ...

and

sanitation Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage. Preventing human contact with feces is part of sanitation, as is hand washing with soap. Sanitation systems ...

urbanization Urbanization (or urbanisation) refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change. It is predominantly t ...

and

migration Migration, migratory, or migrate may refer to: Human migration * Human migration, physical movement by humans from one region to another ** International migration, when peoples cross state boundaries and stay in the host state for some minimum le ...

, and

sustainable Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livin ...

activities.

About the Patel Center

Founded in May 2005, the Patel Center for Global Solutions brings together faculty, staff, and students from the USF to facilitate the development of new research and technologies in pursuit of its Strategic Plan. Although also a research institution, the Patel Center aims to transfer theory, advice, and technologies into on-the-ground realities.

The Founders

The Patel Center for Global Solutions was created through a charitable donation from Dr. Kiran C. Patel, a cardiologist based in Tampa, FL, and Dr.

Pallavi Patel Pallavi Patel is an Indian politician. She is the leader of Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) party. She is daughter of Apna Dal Founder Dr. Sone Lal Patel and current Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Sirathu as Samajwadi Party candidat ...

, a pediatrician also based in Tampa. The donation is among the largest ever to the University of South Florida. The Patels contributed US$5 million to provide for a new facility for the Patel Center. The Patel donation was matched with US$5 million by the state of Florida. Two of Kiran Patel's healthcare companies have a history of defrauding the US government.

Executive Director

In January 2007,

Betty Castor Elizabeth Castor (née Bowe; born May 11, 1941) is an American educator and former politician. Castor was elected to the Florida Senate and as Florida Education Commissioner, and she subsequently served as the President of the University of Sou ...

, former President of the

, became the new executive director of the Patel Center for Global Solutions. In June 2009, Betty Castor resigned as executive director of the Patel Center. Dr. Donna Petersen was named the interim executive director in August 2009.

Patel Fellows

In November 2007, the Patel Center announced its group of inaugural Patel Fellows. Each Patel Fellow, a member of the University of South Florida staff, receives a stipend of $15,000 to support research projects related to the Patel Center's work.http://www.patelcenter.usf.edu/fellowsrelease.php USF Researchers to Explore Solutions to Global Problems - Press Release

Patel Center facility

Plans are currently underway to build a Patel Center facility on the campus of the

References

External links

Patel Center for Global Solutions homepage

University of South Florida homepage

Africa Initiatives Group
{{DEFAULTSORT:Patel Center For Global Solutions University of South Florida 2005 establishments in Florida