Dr. Anil & Aparna Deshpande

Dr. Anil & Aparna Deshpande

In 1987 Dr. Anil Deshpande and his wife Aparna moved to Bucks County to start his medical career. St. Mary Hospital, as it was known then, was a small community hospital servicing a growing population.

With the arrival of Dr. Deshpande came the expertise for advanced cardiac care that he used to help develop a comprehensive cardiac program. In 1997 he performed the first Open Heart procedure in Bucks County. Twenty-five years ago the Deshpandes had no way of knowing how their involvement with St. Mary would move beyond his medical training.

But it has, and their role as leaders in the philanthropic effort at St. Mary has reached well beyond the medical community. Dr. & Mrs. Deshpande are Co-Chairs of this year’s Gala; Dr. Deshpande sits on the Foundation Board; served as the Co-Chair for Medical Staff Committee during the Access to Excellence Capital Campaign; and was Co-Chair for the Expanding on Excellence Capital Campaign. Part of their reasoning for getting involved was the early realization that quality medical care close to where they live is extremely important. And because they plan to stay in the community long after Dr. Deshpande retires, St. Mary isn’t just a place of work, it is their hospital of choice. Dr. & Mrs. Deshpande also believe in the vision and mission of St. Mary Medical Center. Along with the growth of Bucks County they have witnessed the growing generosity of the community and the steadfast commitment to providing world-class healthcare right here in Bucks County.

Additionally, the culture of philanthropy has taken hold among his peers. In part, because Dr. Deshpande led a tireless effort to engage and educate the physician community about the power philanthropy has on patient care. He noticed an increase in physician involvement during this capital campaign over the last one. “I have observed a change in participation in all Foundation activities by physicians. They have given generously during this campaign in spite of economic challenges facing their practices; they are attending more Foundation events and volunteering in leadership positions for philanthropic outreach. This was not the case ten years ago,” said Dr. Deshpande.

One of Dr. Deshpande’s proudest moments of the past few decades was the culmination of the collective efforts to build and move the Cardiac Catheterization Labs to their new location on the second floor. The project was finished ahead of schedule and was made possible by the partnership between the St. Mary Foundation and their supporters, who together raised enough funds to build the new Heart & Vascular Center to meet the growing needs of the community. The location on the second floor next to the CVCU is better for patients, families, and staff. “It was extremely satisfying to see it all come together.”

“When I first came to St. Mary I didn’t understand why community members volunteered so much time and gave so generously to St. Mary; I didn’t see any tangible benefit. Then I saw what they did to bring philanthropic support to help start the Open Heart Surgical Program at St. Mary. I experienced the joy of seeing a vision of expert care brought to our community. I witnessed the growth of a program they helped to raise money for become one of the leading Heart &Vascular programs in the county. That doesn’t happen unless community members, physicians and staff all work together toward a common goal.”

What started it all for the Despahndes? They were asked. “The VP of the Foundation noticed Aparna and I had been giving small amounts in response to annual appeals. He asked to meet with me to discuss my future involvement and suggested I become a member of the Foundation Board of Directors. We still considered ourselves new to the community and were not sure what we could bring to the table. That was in 2005. Since then we have learned that the more you give — of your time, talents and financial support — the more you get in return. Aparna and I have received so much in knowing our efforts have helped so many. To see the growth of a program we care deeply about; the transformation of our community hospital into a regional medical center; and most importantly we have seen a community gain access to the best, latest and most advanced medical care in the county. To be a part of that makes the time, energy, and financial support we give worth all the effort.”

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