Page 29 - The Indian EYE 122024

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline DECEMBER 20, 2024 | The Indian Eye 29

KIRTI PATEL & SAMADHI BASNAYAKE integration of teaching and learning
with inquiry, scholarship and research.
Ratna Ghosh has been part of
Flower Mound honors as McGill for more than 40 years, be-
Outstanding Citizens coming Professor Emerita in 2023.
During that time, she was made a
Fellow of the Royal Society of Cana-
da and a Distinguished James McGill
Professor. She was profiled in Time
magazine, and was named to the Or-
der of Canada, the Order of Quebec,
and the Order of Montreal.
“People who are teaching and
in education now need to ask them-
selves, ‘What is the role of education in a world confronted with diversity and
difference in multiple ways?’,” said Ghosh. “Diversity is not going to go away
– it’s going to stay – because human beings are different in multiple ways.”
Ratna Ghosh’s Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred as part of
Fall 2024 Convocation on Dec. 2.
She has also served a five-year term as Dean of the Faculty of Education,
where she played an instrumental role in hiring the first Indigenous scholar
for OFNIE (Office of First Nations and Inuit Education). She was the first
woman and the first person of colour to hold the role.
“Dr. Ghosh’s award is an apt reflection of her dedication, passion, and
countless contributions to the field of education,” said Vivek Venkatesh, the
lower Mound Town Council in Texas has recognized the work of two Faculty of Education’s current Dean. “She has succeeded in inspiring genera-
Indian Americans namely Kirti Patel and Samadhi Basnayake for im-
Fproving the quality of life of its citizens. The awardees represent an inter- tions of students while also mentoring many of us who have had the privilege
to work alongside her.
esting mix of wisdom and youthful energy for serving the society and portrays “She’s been more than a professor and a Dean; she has been a beacon of
shining examples of Flower Mound’s 2024 Outstanding Citizenship Award. knowledge, wisdom, and compassion, and we are immensely grateful that her
Recently, Flower Mound Town Council recognized Kirti Patel and Samadhi
Basnayake with the Flower Mound’s 2024 Outstanding Citizenship Award in many influential achievements have helped to propel our Faculty to new heights.”
their respective categories. RAJ MITRA
The winner of the individual category is Kirti Patel. For more than 15 years,
she’s enriched the lives of Flower Mound residents by organizing and uniting
people at events such as Holi and Diwali. Kirti formed and is actively involved in Doctor selected for first-ever
the Dancing Diva group, which features about 50 dance-loving ladies of all ages.
Through dance, this group creates cultural awareness and a sense of community dual leadership role at Wright
for the participants and audience alike.
Kirti’s volunteering with senior programs or mentoring the youth and her State University
outreach spans generations throughout Flower Mound. This year alone, Kirti
received more than 20 nominations. As the winner of the individual category, aj Mitra, M.D., in a first of its
she has been gifted a one-year membership to the Community Activity Center, kind initiative, has been named
a VIP pass to Independence Fest 2025, and invitations to attend various Town Rdean of the Wright State Uni-
events throughout the year. versity Boonshoft School of Medicine
Samadhi Basnayake is the winner of the youth category. Samadhi began
playing the piano at just 5 years old and has since dedicated much of her life to and chief academic officer at Premier
Health. He is the first to hold the
sharing that talent with others. Now in high school, Samadhi realized the many new dual role responsible for driving
health benefits that music provides to the elderly and the various factors that ground-breaking initiatives through a
could prevent seniors from attending concerts, so she brought the music to them. more integrated delivery of academic
For the past 10 years, Samadhi has performed at two area assisted living
and memory care facilities, significantly improving the quality of life for those and clinical services at both institutions.
His appointment to this new role
residents. Additionally, she serves as a mentor to the other students in her mu- takes effect March 10, 2025, and fol-
sic class by demonstrating hard work, dedication, and a compassion for others. lows a national search and review of dozens of candidates guided by a nationally
Samadhi, as the winner of the youth category, has been gifted a day pass to the recognized executive search firm.
Community Activity Center. “I was particularly inspired by the shared mission of the two organizations
RATNA GHOSH to support the community through excellence in innovative research, exceptional
teaching and world-class patient care,” Mitra said. “This is particularly timely
Former Dean at McGill in southern Ohio and throughout our country, where we will face a substantial
physician shortage over the next decade.”
University honored with Lifetime ment, Mitra has made significant contributions to research, advising and policy
A nationally recognized expert in rehabilitation medicine and pain manage-

Achievement Award development, particularly in addressing the nation’s opioid crisis. His expertise
has been sought by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, where he
served as a physician advisor, and by the Centers of Disease Control and Preven-
atna Ghosh, an Indian-Canadian has been honored with McGill’s Life- tion as an expert consultant.
time Achievement Award for Leadership in Learning, which recognizes The appointment of Mitra to the newly created position is the latest mile-
Rsustained excellence in leadership and innovation, as well as the active Continued on next page... >>

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