Central PA Medicine - February 2017 - 33

daup h i n c m s .o
.o rg

UNITED WAY

HONORS
LOCAL
COUPLE
By LINDA HASCO

wo Dauphin County Medical Society anesthesiologists were recently
honored with the 2016 Humanitarian Award by the United Way
of the Capital Region's Tocqueville Society.
During a reception, the couple was honored
for their commitment to improving lives
through volunteerism.

Dr. Neelima Parikh and Dr. and DCMS
President Mukul Parikh have practiced anesthesiology locally since 1984; Neelima at
West Shore Anesthesia, Mukul at Riverside
Anesthesia Associates. Both have served in
leadership positions within their profession.
Mukul has served as chairman of the Anesthesia
Department at PinnacleHealth System and as
president of Central Penn Anesthesia.
Since the 1980s, they have used their medical
skills on medical mission trips to parts of Africa,
Haiti, India, the Philippines and Thailand.
They use their vacation time and finance the
trips themselves. They strive to complete two
mission trips a year.

The couple established a private foundation
in 2005 to help support the educational,
healthcare, religious and community service
activities they support.

In a quote taken by United Way, the Parikhs
state, "We are humbled and grateful to receive
this honor from United Way's Tocqueville
Society, which we hold in the highest regard.
For us, our work is simply about performing a
In 2013, the Parikhs founded the nonprofit duty to the world we share with others." The
organization, Operation Medical, to provide United Way of the Capital Region's Tocqueville
medical care and education to the world's most Society includes donors contributing $10,000
at-risk communities. Mukul and Neelima or more annually. Contributors since 1984, the
conduct surgeries, help secure financial resources, Parikhs last year donated $100,000 - the largest
medical supplies, equipment and pharmaceuti- gift from individual(s) that year.
cals, and inspire others to join their life-changing
work. On its website, Operation Medical
They also are active with the Hindu American
states its vision is to "become recognized as a Religious Institute. Neelima served as the first
leading organization in central Pennsylvania female president of HARI and on its board
for supporting a strong and varied network of directors. Mukul has served as chair of the
of healthcare providers and other individuals board of HARI.
dedicated to providing medical care and supplies
to individuals for whom such care is problematic."
on the Tocqueville Society, or the
A nine-day trip to Kasturba Hospital in Valsad,
Humanitarian
Award, contact United
India is planned for January, 2017. A total of
Way
at
717-732-0700.
31 individuals, including surgeons, anesthesia,
nurses and ancillary help, will participate.
This article was reprinted with permission from
PennLive/The Patriot-News.

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