Dr. Chander Gupta and Dr. Daya Gupta, one of Manitoba’s top medical families, have made a substantial donation to The University of Winnipeg which will support high quality applied health research and scholarship inside the newly named Gupta Faculty of Kinesiology and Applied Health.
Generous Gupta family donation supports applied health research and allows for first faculty naming at UWinnipeg
WINNIPEG, MB – Dr. Daya Gupta and Dr. Chander Gupta, one of Manitoba’s top medical families, have made a substantial donation to The University of Winnipeg which will support high quality applied health research and scholarship inside the newly named Gupta Faculty of Kinesiology and Applied Health. It is the first faculty naming at UWinnipeg and a first among kinesiology and applied health schools across the country.
The Guptas, married for 47 years, are leading medical practitioners in their respective fields. Dr. Daya Gupta is the chief eye surgeon at the Gupta Eye Centre, a longstanding and successful practice and a Portage Avenue fixture in Winnipeg’s downtown. Dr. Chander Gupta is a renowned uro-gynaecologist and a national advocate for women’s health. Both of their children are doctors and the family is known for generous philanthropy, most recently supporting Manitobans who are visually impaired in partnership with CNIB.
“The Guptas represent the very best of Manitoba citizenship – they arrived here as new Canadians, studied and worked hard, became committed and active members of the Hindu and Indian communities, and are dedicated to using their skills and positions of leadership to give back to others,” said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor, UWinnipeg. “Their gift today means that our community-based research and health programming in relevant areas such as concussions and diabetes prevention among inner-city youth can thrive. This is an ongoing gift to the whole community.”
The Gupta donation also allows for enhanced athletic therapy, healing and clinical spaces within a renovated Duckworth Centre, connected via skybridge to the almost completed state-of-the-art UNITED Health & RecPlex, This will provide the surrounding community and students with a block-long wellness and recreation destination on Spence Street, the most significant facility of its kind ever built in the inner city.
“My wife and I and our family are dedicated to improving the health of Manitobans, and are especially interested in disease prevention and the emotional wellbeing of everyone from young people to seniors, who are too often lonely and isolated,” said Dr. Daya Gupta. “This faculty can leave a lasting legacy by tackling and solving some of these health issues, and for us, supporting this kind of research is a very good fit.”
The University of Winnipeg established a Faculty of Kinesiology on July 1, 2012 following a fifty-year history of offering health and sport-related courses. Students receive degrees in athletic therapy, physical and health education, coaching education, or exercise science. Research is conducted in a variety of areas including applied research aimed at increasing healthy living, wellness, and nutrition awareness. Dr. David Fitzpatrick is the Dean.
SHORT BIOS:
Dr. Daya Gupta is a leader in the community, a champion of eye health and a generous philanthropist. For the last 40 years, he has been recognized as one of the top cataract surgeons in Manitoba, having pioneered the out-patient small incision surgery for cataracts. He also opened one of the first refractive eye surgery clinics in the province. Dr. Gupta is chief eye surgeon at the Gupta Eye Centre, as well as Medical Director of the Ultravision Eye Laser Centre. He is a specialist in cataract, glaucoma, retinal laser and Excimer Laser Surgery, and has undergone extensive training in both Canada and the U.S. He has performed almost 50,000 successful cataract surgeries and provided treatment to more than half a million Manitobans during his career.
In recognition of his contributions to the community and his service to his patients and the medical community, Dr. Gupta received the 2013 Lieutenant Governor iCARE Award, He was awarded the prestigious Physician of the Year Award by his peers in 2011, and also received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012. He is the founding president of Manitoba Association of Asian Physicians and has participated in annual Eye Camps in India, providing those in need with free surgeries and glasses.
The Guptas have established numerous scholarships in our community to support academic and athletic talents.
Dr. Chander Gupta is a uro-gynaecologist, a national authority on urinary incontinence, and an advocate for women’s health. She was the first Manitoba gynaecologist to perform uro-dynamics studies on female patients and a pioneer in using new procedures to improve the quality of life for countless Manitoba women. She is well known in the medical community for her outstanding contributions as clinician, teacher, role model, mentor and patient advocate.
She was awarded the Order of Manitoba in 2005. For her dedication to excellence in patient care, she received the Manitoba Medical Association Physician of the Year Award in 2004. She is also the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the Indo-Canadian Cultural and Heritage Association and a founder of the Pearl for Life Golf Tournament to aid ovarian cancer research. The Guptas are avid golfers and strong supports of Winnipeg’s Niakwa Country Club.
Dr. David Fitzpatrick is Dean of the Gupta Faculty of Kinesiology and Applied Health. He has taught and conducted research at UWinnipeg since 1990. He holds a PhD from the University of Alberta, and has the following degrees and certificates from the University of Manitoba: Bachelor of Physical Education, Certificate in Education, Bachelor of Education, Master of Education (Curriculum), Master of Education (Administration), as well as a Special Education Certificate from the Manitoba Department of Education. He has also served as UWinnipeg’s Dean of Arts.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Diane Poulin, Senior Communications Specialist, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
