GAINESVILLE, FLA. – Dr. Anup Patel is one of a select group of University of Florida alumni named to this year’s prestigious “40 Under 40.” Honorees receiving 2019 Outstanding Young Alumni awards were recognized during a campus ceremony on Saturday, April 13.

The annual awards program was established in 2006 to recognize alumni under the age of 40 whose achievements positively reflect The Gator Nation. Criteria for the competitive award include making a significant impact on the candidate’s industry and having civic or professional accomplishments at the state, national or international level.

“The word outstanding barely describes the alumni in this year’s ‘40 Under 40’ class. These young men and women are absolutely remarkable and have already made a significant impact in their professions and communities,” said Matt Hodge, executive director of the UF Alumni Association. “Collectively, they’re a wonderful reflection on The Gator Nation® and its potential to change the world.”

The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes graduates from all UF’s 16 colleges. This year’s honorees range from doctors and pharmacists to entrepreneurs and artists. Past award winners include meteorologist Stephanie Abrams, politician Adam Putnam and sportscaster and television personality Erin Andrews.

Dr. Anup Patel is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon trained in hand/upper extremity surgery, microsurgery, and plastic and reconstructive surgery in Orlando, Florida with Orlando Hand Surgery Associates and Orlando Plastic Surgery Institute. He completed his plastic and reconstructive surgery training at Yale University followed by a hand and microsurgery fellowship at the New York University Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. Dr. Patel received his MD and MBA from the Yale University School of Medicine and Yale University School of Management, respectively. He graduated as the valedictorian of his class at the University of Florida majoring in economics, biochemistry and molecular genetics and valedictorian of his high-school class at Lake Highland. During his time at UF he also co-founded Cents of Relief, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to serving woman and children affected by human trafficking.

The 166-year-old University of Florida has more than 415,000 living alumni residing in every U.S. state and in more than 150 countries. The university has a long history of established programs in international education, research and service, and is one of only 17 public, land-grant universities in the prestigious Association of American Universities. It is ranked No. 8 in the most recent U.S. News and World Report’s list of public universities. The UF Alumni Association is responsible for a network of nearly 100 Gator Clubs, is actively involved with the recruitment of superior students, and hosts outreach and on-campus programs to connect alumni with their alma mater.

To learn more, visit ufalumni.ufl.edu.