Retired Physician Couple Donates $500K To North Carolina Medical School
India-West News Desk
FAYETTEVILLE, NC – Indian-origin physicians and longtime North Carolina residents Dr. Rakesh Gupta and Dr. Vinita Gupta have donated $500,000 to the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine, with the gift supporting scholarships for future medical students.
According to the university, $100,000 will be available immediately as merit scholarships for students entering in 2026 and 2027. The remaining $400,000 will establish endowed Enrichment Scholarships to be awarded to eligible students after their first year of medical school.
The Guptas, who have lived in Fayetteville for decades, have long been active in community service and philanthropy. Dr. Rakesh Gupta, a gastroenterologist, also helped conceptualize the university’s School of Medicine and previously served on Methodist University’s Board of Trustees alongside his wife.
“Our journey has been very joyous and enriching. We have made many friends along the way, and to give back in a small way is extremely rewarding, and we are grateful for the opportunity,” the couple said in a university statement.
University President Stanley T. Wearden praised the couple’s longstanding support.
“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,” Wearden said.
The university recently honored Dr. Rakesh Gupta with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award and Dr. Vinita Gupta with the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award, recognizing individuals whose service and generosity have made a lasting impact on the community.
Beyond their professional and philanthropic contributions, the Guptas have a long history of community engagement rooted in their shared journey in medicine.
Both physicians are now retired after distinguished medical careers. The couple met while attending medical school in Belgaum, India, before settling in North Carolina. Dr. Vinita Gupta, a U.S. Army veteran, spent 25 years as a pediatrician at Womack Army Medical Center, while Dr. Rakesh Gupta practiced gastroenterology in Fayetteville for decades.
Beyond their medical careers, the Guptas have supported numerous community organizations and, in 2010, helped establish the local Hindu Bhavan Temple, where they have volunteered and taught Sunday school. Their two sons, Ashish and Amit, also work in healthcare.
