Both Zachariah and Patel are appointed for the term beginning October 27, 2017
Governor of Florida Rick Scott has announced four appointments and one reappointment to the State University Board of Governors which include the names of Indian Americans Dr. Zach Zachariah and Jay Patel.
Both Zachariah and Patel are appointed to the Board of Governors along with Tim Cerio and Ned Lautenbach and the Florida Governor also announced the reappointment of Patricia Frost, according to a statement on October 27.
Dr. Zach Zachariah is a board-certified internal medicine and cardiology physician who serves as the Medical Director of UHealth Cardiology at the University of Miami Health Systems in Fort Lauderdale. He was earlier appointed by Governor Scott to serve on the Board of Medicine.
The India-born Zachariah received his medical degree from the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune and completed his internship and residency at St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center. He earned his fellowship in cardiology from the Cleveland Clinic Educational Foundation.
Jay Patel, who is the chief executive officer of Florida-based real estate company named LHS Companies, has previously been appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees. Patel has received three Honorary Doctorates for his work in education, theology and the hospitality industry. He succeeds Ned Lautenbach.
Both Zachariah and Patel are appointed for the term beginning October 27, 2017, and ending January 6, 2019. All the appointments need a confirmation by the Florida Senate.
The Florida Board of Governors is a 17-member governing board that serves as the governing body for the State University System of Florida, which includes all public universities in the state. Fourteen voting members are appointed by the governor, as well as, the Florida Commission of Education, the Chair of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates, and the President of the Florida Student Association. The Board appoints a Chancellor, who serves as the System’s chief executive.