Julie Patel was a mother, wife, sister, grandmother, and friend. She touched and influenced the lives of many who had the pleasure to know her. Julie became widowed shortly after arriving to Canada and faced the challenge of raising her three children and supporting them in their education aspirations. She worked exceptionally hard, not unlike many new immigrants to Canada to ensure she gave her children everything possible to facilitate their success. Julie understood the importance of an education leading to an enriched life. Her lifetime in Canada was characterized by making a difference from knitting sweaters, socks, and booties for the babies at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto to volunteering to help the homeless. Julie, who never went to university, knew firsthand how expensive it was a send a child to university and had a vision of financially assisting students to pursue their studies.
As Julie’s family, we have banded together to make her vision a reality. We are grateful for your support.
Our Team
Ameen Patel, MB, FRCP(C), MACP, Co-President/Founder
Dr. Ameen Patel is the middle child of Julie Patel. He graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
Dr. Patel holds the William J. Walsh Chair in Medical Education and is the Associate Chair of Education for the Department of Medicine. He is the Division Director for the Division of Education and Innovation and the Clinical Site Lead for Perioperative Medicine at the Juravinski Hospital.
Dr. Patel has dedicated his career to educating and mentoring medical students and residents while actively participating in scholarship. He is acutely aware of the cost of education and the importance of financial support. He remembers with immense gratitude and amazement his mother’s support for of his many years of education.
Feisal Patel, Co-President/Founder
Feisal Patel is Julie’s eldest son. Having obtained a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Toronto, Feisal joined the corporate world, where he acquired extensive experience in the areas of finance, business management and project leadership prior to venturing out in a consultant role to businesses. He has consulted to Government and Fortune 100 companies over a twenty year span. He is currently retired, having recently sold the company he started with his partners.
His current interest is expanding the Julie Patel Foundation to provide support to as many students in as many Canadian institutes of post secondary education as possible. He is currently on the board of a number of small companies. Having been the beneficiary of a good education, which directly led to his successes, he embraces the concept that education, particularly university education, can lead to substantial benefits for the society and well as for the individual.
Feisal is committed to helping students reach their educational goals with financial support from the Julie Patel Foundation, thereby ensuring that his mother’s vision of supporting education will be passed onto future generations.
Zarina Patel Mehiu, CGA, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
Zarina Patel is Julie’s oldest grandchild. She graduated from Western University with dual bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, Finance & Accounting, and Economics. Zarina obtained her CGA and CPA in 2015. Currently Zarina is employed at the Hazelton Hotel in Toronto as the Director of Finance. Previously, she was the Financial Controller at Sirona Health Partners Inc., a network of health and medical companies.
Zarina is the CFO of The Julie Patel Foundation. She is responsible for the implementation of financial procedures and controls and the direction of financial management. Her experience includes charitable and corporate accounting management for The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada.
Dr. Bonnie McElhinny, Board Member/Adviser
Dr. Bonnie McElhinny is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Women and Gender Studies and Principal of New College at the University of Toronto. She has been a faculty member at the University of Toronto since 1995.
Bonnie graduated from Stanford University with a Ph.D. in linguistics and was subsequently awarded a Fulbright Scholar and Mellon Post-doctoral Fellow.
Bonnie brings a wealth of experience working with students over many years.