In the Fall of 2000, a group of three physicians (Drs. John Sinnott, Eknath Naik, and Sagar Galwankar) after several brainstorming sessions, decided to establish the USF-India center. The prime objective was to tackle the most pressing health issues, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

Dr. Kiran Patel, a visionary philanthropist and cardiologist, was a driving force and guide behind this initiative. Dr. Patel and a number of physicians from the University of South Florida’s Division of Infectious Disease & International Medicine provided unconditional support and regularly committed part of their salaries towards this center.

The center was named the USF-INDIA Center for Health & HIV/AIDS Research and Training (CHART-INDIA). The center is based on the ardent philosophy of USA-INDIA collaboration with a non colonial approach. Late Dr. Jeffrey Nadler, a world renowned HIV/AIDS physician, provided the necessary academic backbone and Dr. Michael Knox, former Director of the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center, a leading HIV/AIDS educator of US physicians, provided all the technical expertise to set up HIV/AIDS training and educational programs.

CHART began small with five centers in four different states in India in 1999. Over the years CHART conducted several training programs and continued to build relationships with Indian partners and ultimately acquired a National Institute of Health (NIH) Fogarty grant for adolescent HIV training in Gujarat, India from 2007-2014.

Currently we are focusing on developing advanced simulation laboratory training and online certificate programs. We seek your support, both in terms of financial and/or time in order to sustain these programs in India.