Inspired by Dr. Sanjay Patel's father, Dr. Shankar Patel, who lived a simple life after earning his MBBS degree, the Mayflower Foundation was established. He believed healthcare was a right, not a transaction. He passed that belief to his sons.
In 2007, Dr. Sanjay Patel and his brother established the Mayflower Foundation in memory of their father - carrying forward an ethos that had shaped their entire understanding of what medicine should be. The foundation began by offering surgical care at minimal cost, at a time when access to quality gynaecological surgery in Ahmedabad was largely determined by a woman's ability to pay.
What started as a local initiative has grown into a programme that funds free and subsidised surgeries, supports medical education through fellowships and collaborative courses, and invests in clinical research that advances women's healthcare outcomes across India.
Dr. Smeet Patel - Dr. Sanjay's son - continues this legacy today. Three generations of the Patel family, united by the same founding principle that every woman deserves effective and personalised treatment, regardless of her background or financial means.
Read Full StoryMayflower Foundation Impact
90,000+
Lives Touched
22,000+
Surgeries Performed
3,000+
Professionals Educated
6+
Courses Offered
How We Help
The Mayflower Foundation works across four pillars - each one a direct reflection of the values Dr. Shankar Patel lived by.
Accessible Healthcare
Funding free and subsidised surgeries for women who cannot afford care, with a particular focus on endometriosis, gynaecological cancers, and infertility treatment.
Research
Supporting clinical research initiatives at Mayflower Women's Hospital - from case studies in complex endometriosis surgery to investigations in foetal medicine and minimally invasive techniques - that contribute to the wider evidence base and improve outcomes for future patients.
Education
Providing the next generation of gynaecologists and surgeons with access to high-quality, hands-on training through fellowship programmes, collaborative courses, and sponsored education.
Innovation
Investing in the adoption of advanced surgical technologies and techniques that make complex procedures safer, more effective, and more accessible.
Meet Our Founders
Dr. Smeet Patel
Dr. Sanjay Patel
Awards & Accreditations
Mayflower Research
The Foundation supports life-saving research initiatives that drive innovation in clinical care and expand the evidence base for women's health treatment in India.
Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of aorta: a story of survival
Know More
Post-traumatic high vaginal stricture and hematocolpos impersonating vaginal septum in adolescent girl: a case report
Know More
Maternal and fetal characteristics associated with meconium-stained amniotic fluid
Know MoreA comparative study of abdominal versus non-descent vaginal hysterectomy
Know MoreMayflower Education
At Mayflower, we believe that training the next generation of surgeons is as important as treating patients today. A gynaecologist trained in advanced laparoscopy at Mayflower will go on to treat hundreds of women over their career - extending the impact of every hour of teaching far beyond our own operating theatres.
Mayflower Women's Hospital is a training centre recognised by Gujarat University, and our educational programmes are conducted in collaboration with Storz, IAGE, and FOGSI.
Courses
Mayflower conducts its own course, CSEEMIG, along with other courses in collaboration with el Education, offering valuable education opportunities to students.
Learn MoreCollaboration
Mayflower partners with prestigious organisations under its Foundation, fostering impactful collaborations to advance healthcare.
Learn MoreFellowship
The fellowship programme is the only stipend-supported, university-accredited programme in India providing hands-on training in minimally invasive surgeries to gynaecologists.
Learn MoreSponsor
In 2023, the Foundation exceptionally sponsored the complete education of six students.
Learn MoreMayflower Surgeries
With a commitment to accessible excellence in women's health, the Foundation provides advanced surgical care for women who need it most - regardless of their ability to pay.
Range of Surgeries
The Foundation funds surgical access across Mayflower's full range of clinical expertise - endometriosis excision surgery, gynaecological oncology, minimally invasive procedures, and infertility treatments. No woman is turned away from surgery on the basis of cost alone.
Support
Financial hardship should never determine a woman's access to healthcare. The Mayflower Foundation's patient support programme provides subsidised and fully funded surgical care to women across Gujarat and beyond - assessed on a case-by-case basis with dignity and discretion.
Diseases We Cure
Mayflower Is Leading the Way in Women's Care
85,000+
Surgeries
100,000+
Happy Women
20,000+
Post-Infertility Surgeries
20+
Years of Care
Frequently Asked Questions
The Mayflower Foundation is a charitable initiative established in 2007 by Dr. Sanjay Patel in memory of his father, Dr. Shankar Patel - a physician who spent his life serving his community without charge. The Foundation funds free and subsidised surgical care for women who cannot afford it, supports medical education through fellowship programmes and collaborative training, and invests in clinical research that advances women's healthcare in India.
The Foundation was established by Dr. Sanjay Patel and his brother in 2007, inspired by the values of their father Dr. Shankar Patel - who practised medicine throughout his life without charging his patients, believing that medical care was a right, not a privilege. The Foundation is the institutional expression of that belief - ensuring that the quality of surgical care at Mayflower Women's Hospital is not limited to those who can afford it.
The Foundation funds free and subsidised surgeries for women who cannot access or afford care - including endometriosis surgery, gynaecological oncology procedures, infertility treatment, and minimally invasive gynaecological surgery. Each case is assessed individually. If you or someone you know needs support, contact us at care@mayflowerhospital.com or call +91 6352 800 850.
The Foundation supports Mayflower's fellowship programme - the only stipend-supported, university-accredited programme in India providing hands-on training in minimally invasive surgery for gynaecologists. It also funds the CSEEMIG course, collaborative training programmes with Johnson & Johnson, and in 2023, fully sponsored the education of six medical students. Mayflower is a training centre recognised by Gujarat University, IAGE, and FOGSI.
We welcome support from individuals, organisations, and the medical community who share our commitment to accessible women's healthcare. To learn more about how you can contribute - whether through donation, collaboration, or professional partnership - contact us at care@mayflowerhospital.com.