Alumnus Wins Utah Governor’s Medal

Dinesh Patel, PhD’79, has been honored with the Utah Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology Lifetime Achievement. 

Dr. Patel co-founded Utah-based TheraTech Inc., pioneering technologies used to administer controlled, time-release medicine, ultimately leading to a 1999 $350 million acquisition. Dr. Patel then co-founded Salus Therapeutics, a Utah biotechnology company that developed anti-sense pharmaceuticals, also ending in a successful acquisition. Today, Dr. Patel is the managing director of Patel Family Investments, overseeing a portfolio of over 25 early-stage companies and 12 private equity/venture funds, many of which are Utah-based.

“We offer our admiration and sincere congratulations to all of this year’s Utah Economic and Energy Summit award recipients,” said Val Hale, Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development’s executive director. “We thank them for the impact they’ve had on our community and in the state, and wish them continued success for years to come.”