ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Florida Governor Jeb Bush
appointed Dr. Akshay M. Desai, a physician based in
St. Petersburg, to the Florida Board of Governors
last week.
Dr. Desai is one of six appointed to the apex body
that sets policy and oversees the management of Florida
state universities. Prominent among the other appointees
are J. Stanley Marshall, well-known Florida educationist,
and Bill McCollum, former Congressman and co-chair
of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
The appointed members of the Board, who will have
to be confirmed by the state Senate, will serve for
staggered terms of 7 years, during which they will
"operate, regulate, control and be fully responsible
for the management of the whole university system"
that includes 10 universities with a combined budget
of $4.2 billion.
Dr. Desai's appointment is another manifestation
of the influence of Indian Americans under the Republican
governor of Florida. Dr. Desai, an active member of
the Florida Republican Party and a formidable fund-raiser,
was an alternate delegate to the party's 2004 national
convention. He was an elected delegate to the party's
2000 convention. He currently serves on the influential
'Committee of 100' of the state GOP.
Last year, in recognition of his abilities, both
professional and political, President George W. Bush
appointed Dr. Desai to the President's Advisory Commission
on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, thus giving
him the rare distinction of being appointed to distinguished
positions by both the Bush brothers.
For Dr. Desai, the appointment to the Board of Governors
is a logical step up after having served as chairman
of the Council for Education Policy, Research and
Improvement for the state of Florida and as member
of the state's Postsecondary Education Planning Commission
- both gubernatorial appointments.
As with most Indian Americans, education is a field
that has a particular resonance for Dr. Desai. As
a self-made man who owes his success to education
and hard work, Dr. Desai feels only a good education
can help non-privileged Americans, particularly minorities
like the African Americans and Hispanics, realize
their American Dream. A strong advocate of Republican
beliefs, he feels only a good education can help minorities
overcome the "bigotry of low expectations"
of those who see a 'welfare' state as a salvation.
Dr. Desai earned his medical degree in India and
acquired a master's degree in administrative medicine
from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
He is the founder, president and CEO of Universal
Health Care Inc. and has been president of American
Family & Geriatric Care for over 15 years.
Dr. Desai lives in St. Petersburg with his wife Seema,
and their three children, Priyanka, Parth and Crystal.
(Official release received from Mr. Dasai on March,
08, 2005)
