before working on healthcare volunteer, patel worked on other social enterprises such as studentshelp.org consulting starting at age 17. patel was awarded the 2013 national jefferson award for greatest public service by a citizen under age 35 patel was awarded the ucla cey humanitarian award in 2008 and an honorary certificate in global health from ucla school of public health for his work in global health volunteering. patel was also awarded as a 2007 international youth foundation global laureate youthactionnet fellow and a semi-finalist in the echoing green competition.