Face to Face With Dr. Hemant Patel

We are so proud to have physicians of the highest caliber such as Dr. Hemant Patel as part of the White House community. Dr. Patel, an attending physician at White House for many years, was chosen as a NJ Top Doc for his commitment to excellence in Pulmonology and Critical Care, two years in a row, in 2018 and 2019.

It was his childhood in Baroda, India, that propelled him towards medicine. Having seen up close too many sick and unfortunate individuals on the streets of his hometown, he instinctively knew he wanted to make a difference and save lives. After attending medical school in India, he moved to the United States in 1981to start his training. However, while completing his medical residency, his father became ill with a small spot on his lungs, so Dr. Patel raced back to India to be at his side. Thankfully the spot was not cancerous, though it was discovered that his father suffered a pulmonary condition. This personal connection inspired much of Dr. Patel’s interest in Pulmonology.

While he has worked primarily in the U.S., Dr. Patel has never neglected his roots. He is involved in the global healthcare community and continuously striving to make a notable difference in his home country of India. He served as president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) from 2007 to 2008. He has partnered with the Indian Health Ministry as a driving force in achieving smoke-free hospitals in India and exchanging best healthcare practices. He also founded the Annual Healthcare Summit in 2007, a 4-day convention in New Delhi, India.

As a resident of Livingston, NJ, Dr. Patel has led his private practice since 1989 and served in various leadership positions in different hospitals, including Chairmanship of Pulmonology. He is affiliated with St. Barnabas Medical Center, Newark Beth Israel Hospital, and East Orange General Hospital. His love of helping others runs in the family and he is proud of his sons who are both practicing physicians; one is a Radiologist in Southern Jersey and the other is an Infectious Disease Specialist.

Congratulations and special thanks to Dr. Patel for your continued expertise and passion for helping so many people. We are so fortunate to have you with us!

In 2010, Dr. Patel was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, a deserving distinction which recognizes “individuals who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate, their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity. They do so while acknowledging their debt to their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America.”