Indian-origin physician and oncology leader Kashyap Patel has been selected to receive the Hind Rattan Award, one of the highest honours bestowed on members of the Indian diaspora by the NRI Welfare Society of India.
The award recognises non-resident Indians whose professional excellence and public service have created lasting social impact. Patel, a Medical Director and Consultant at Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, is being honoured for more than two decades of work in community oncology, where he has championed equitable access to high-quality cancer care, particularly for rural and underserved populations.
His career combines frontline clinical practice, health-policy advocacy, and leadership aimed at keeping patient-centred cancer treatment accessible beyond major urban hospitals.Announcing the honour, Patel described it as a moment of reflection rather than celebration.“As I enter the last quarter of my journey, I find myself contemplating what truly matters,” he wrote. “Our greatest legacy lies not in accolades, but in service above self,” said Dr Patel.
Kashyap Patel’s community-first approach to cancer care
Trained in internal medicine, haematology, and medical oncology, Patel built his career around the belief that geography and income should not determine a patient’s chance of survival. Rather than concentrating solely on academic or tertiary centres, he chose community-based practice, allowing patients to receive advanced cancer treatment closer to home and family support systems.Through Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associates, Patel has helped develop a model of care that blends clinical excellence with compassion and continuity.
The practice serves largely rural communities in South Carolina, offering specialised oncology services that would otherwise require long-distance travel, while emphasising multidisciplinary treatment and patient education.Reflecting on this work, Patel has said his guiding conviction has always been simple:“Every patient, regardless of where they live or their economic condition, deserves access to world-class cancer care.”
National advocacy with the Community Oncology Alliance
Patel’s influence extends beyond the clinic. As a former president of the Community Oncology Alliance, he became a leading national voice for independent oncology practices in the US. He has engaged with policymakers on issues such as drug pricing, Medicare reimbursement, and healthcare consolidation, arguing that protecting community oncology centres is essential for maintaining affordable, patient-focused cancer care.During his leadership, Patel consistently emphasised that community clinics are not secondary to large hospital systems, but essential pillars of equitable healthcare delivery.
Why the Hind Rattan Award was conferred
The Hind Rattan Award recognises Patel’s sustained contribution to healthcare delivery and advocacy. In its citation, the NRI Welfare Society of India noted that the honour is conferred on individuals who demonstrate “outstanding professional achievement, humanitarian values, and service that elevates the global standing of the Indian diaspora”.Patel’s selection reflects his efforts to expand access to cancer treatment, preserve independent community clinics, and promote ethical, patient-first healthcare policy. His work has directly shaped how cancer care reaches underserved populations, making systems more responsive to patient needs rather than institutional convenience.
Ceremony and message of service
The award will be presented on 14 August at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in London.
Patel has dedicated the honour to his colleagues, patients, healthcare advocates, and policymakers who support community oncology.“I accept this honour with humility and renewed commitment to the work ahead,” he wrote, adding, “Service above self. Always.”By combining clinical leadership with policy engagement, Patel represents a generation of Indian-origin professionals whose impact is measured not only in professional success, but in lives improved. The Hind Rattan Award places his work within a broader global tradition of diaspora contributions that strengthen healthcare systems while upholding humanitarian values.
