President, CEO sheds interim title after more than doubling new patient visits

SARASOTA — After a little more than six months in the interim position, Rishi Patel has become the president and CEO of Sarasota-based CAN Community Health. 

He originally joined the organization in 2015 as the chief pharmacy officer and has been the interim president and CEO since July of last year. 

“Within the short period of his interim leadership, Dr. Patel has inspired our CAN family to increase commitment to their roles, improve communication, increase workflows and productivity, and think more creatively,” says Jackie Rogers, chairwoman of the CAN Board of Directors, in a press release. “We believe he is an incredible selection to lead CAN into our next 30 years.”

New patient visits more than doubled to 4,755 in 2021 under his leadership compared to the previous year’s total of 1,830. 

“It is really our team of professionals here at CAN who deserve the credit. They inspire me every day with their dedication and enthusiasm,” Patel says. “As we reach out to communities in need, they keep us on course and discover new and innovative pathways with which to deliver, expand and refine our services.”

CAN Community Health is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides medical, pharmacy, dental, case management, mental health and comprehensive prevention and services such as nPEP, PrEP, and education. CAN also provides screening and treatment for Hepatitis C and STDs, as well as transgender health services. CAN provides services through Ryan White grants, STD prevention funding and the 340B Federal Drug Discount Program.