Indian-origin doctor couple donates $500K to US medical school

An Indian-origin doctor couple, Rakesh and Vinita Gupta, have made a significant philanthropic contribution of $500,000 to the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine in North Carolina. The donation is structured to provide immediate support and long-term scholarships for students.

Out of the total sum, $100,000 will be allocated immediately to fund merit scholarships for students enrolling in 2026 and 2027. The remaining $400,000 has been invested to create endowed Enrichment Scholarships, which will be awarded to students who meet specific criteria after completing their first year of medical school.

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To give back in a small way is extremely rewarding

The Guptas, who consider the Fayetteville community their home, have been deeply involved in local services for decades. Methodist University, a private institution in Fayetteville, has benefited from their long-standing support, with Dr. Rakesh Gupta having played a role in conceptualizing the School of Medicine. Their dedication to generosity was recognized by the university, which presented Dr. Rakesh Gupta with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award and Dr. Vinita Gupta with the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award.

"They have been generous benefactors to MU, including a recent very large scholarship gift to the School of Medicine. They are also two of the kindest and most welcoming people I know," said Methodist University president Stanley T Wearden. Both doctors are retired, with Dr. Vinita Gupta having served as a pediatrician in the U.S. Army for 25 years and Dr. Rakesh Gupta as a gastroenterologist. The couple met in medical school in India and later moved to the U.S., where they built their careers and became pillars of the Fayetteville community, contributing to various organizations and even helping to establish the local Hindu Bhavan Temple.

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They have been generous benefactors to MU, including a recent very large scholarship gift to the School of Medicine. They are also two of the kindest and most welcoming people I know.