Kashyap Patel, an Indian-origin doctor and leading oncology figure, has been selected to receive the Hind Rattan Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon the Indian diaspora by the NRI Welfare Society of India. The award recognizes non-resident Indians whose professional excellence and public service create lasting social impact. Patel, medical director and consultant at Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, was honored for his more than two decades of work in community oncology, where he has advocated for equitable access to high-quality cancer care, especially for rural and underserved populations. His career combines frontline clinical practice, health policy advocacy, and leadership with the goal of making patient-centered cancer care accessible outside of major urban hospitals.In announcing the honor, Patel described it as a moment of reflection rather than celebration.“As I enter the final quarter of my journey, I find myself thinking about what is truly important,” he wrote. “Our greatest legacy lies not in honor but in service above and beyond,” Dr. Patel said.
Kashyap Patel’s community-first approach to cancer care
Trained in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology, Patel has built his career around the belief that location and income should not determine a patient’s chance of survival. Rather than focusing solely on academic or higher education centers, he chose a community-based practice that allows patients to receive advanced cancer treatments closer to home and family support systems.Through Carolina Blood and Cancer Care, Patel helped develop a model of care that blends clinical excellence with compassion and continuity. The clinic primarily serves rural communities in South Carolina, providing specialized oncology services that would otherwise require long distance travel, while emphasizing multidisciplinary care and patient education.Looking back on this work, Patel says his guiding belief has always been simple:“Every patient, no matter where they live or their financial situation, deserves access to world-class cancer care.”
National advocacy with Community Oncology Alliance
Patel’s influence extends beyond the clinic. As former president of the Community Oncology Alliance, he became the leading national voice for independent oncology practices in the United States. He engages with policymakers on issues such as drug pricing, Medicare reimbursement and health care integration and believes protecting community oncology centers is critical to maintaining affordable, patient-centered cancer care.Throughout his leadership, Patel has emphasized that community clinics are not a secondary source of large hospital systems but an important pillar of equitable health care.
Why the Goto Prize is Awarded
The Hind Rattan Award recognizes Patel for his ongoing contributions to health care delivery and advocacy. In its award speech, the National RI Welfare Association of India stated that the honor is bestowed on individuals who have demonstrated “outstanding professional achievements, humanitarian values and services that enhance the global status of the Indian diaspora.”Patel’s selection reflects his efforts to expand cancer treatment access, preserve independent community clinics and promote ethical, patient-first health care policies. His work directly impacts how cancer care reaches underserved populations, making the system more responsive to patient needs rather than institutional convenience.
Ceremony and service messages
The award will be presented at the UK Supreme Court in London on 14 August. Patel dedicated this honor to colleagues, patients, health care advocates and policymakers who support community oncology.“I accept this honor with humility and rededication to the work ahead,” he wrote, adding, “Service above self. Always.”By combining clinical leadership with policy engagement, Patel represents a generation of Indian-American professionals whose impact is reflected not only in professional success but in the improvement of lives. The Hind Rattan Award places his work within a broader tradition of contributions from the global diaspora to strengthen health care systems while upholding humanitarian values.
