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F.F. THOMPSON FOUNDATION RepoRt on GivinG 2013

dR. leKhRaJ B. KachoRia

Lekhraj B. Kachoria, MD considers wonderful things

himself a very lucky man. He and we have in our area,
Bhagwanti, his wife of 58 years, built and it has enormous future

a wonderful life and a successful potential for growth. I am
medical practice in the small town
honored to be a part of its progress.”

of Macedon. Now, as they leap into
retirement, they’re saying “thank you” In retirement, Dr. and Mrs. Kachoria
plan to spend time in Botswana in
in a very kind and generous way by
an effort to bring medical services
donating the doctor’s family practice to those in need, and to visit
explains. “I always stopped at the
to Thompson Health.
one of their two sons, Naresh, who same gas station in Macedon and
“God has been very kind to me and lives in Botswana and works for
one day the attendant surmised

now I want to give back something a Harvard/Oxford-run economic I was a doctor and said, ‘Why don’t
meaningful,” says Dr. Kachoria, who development program.
you come to Macedon? We could

specializes in pediatrics and prefers to use a doctor!’ Then he picked up
be called “Raj.” “Giving back is such Dr. Kachoria grew up in Pakistan, the phone and called the barber
where he went to medical school, and
a beautiful way to say thank you for next door (who would be the next
such a good life.”
then traveled to England to further
town supervisor) and asked him if
his medical studies. Four years later
The gift to Thompson came about he wanted a doctor in Macedon.
in 1969, a chance encounter with an Well, we eventually met all the town
after a brief conversation between American professor led to an invitation
Dr. Kachoria and Cathy Shannon, leaders, and the rest is history.”
to visit the United States as a visiting
the hospital’s director of Practice pediatrician, an invitation he accepted. Now, 40 years later, Dr. Kachoria
Management and Kurt Koczent,
He went on to hold positions at leaves his patients in the capable
Thompson Health’s chief operating Harvard, Case Western University and hands of Thompson Health as he
oficer.
the University of Rochester, where
prepares for a visit to Africa. While
he is still a clinical faculty member.
there, he will demonstrate the same
“Luckily, I talked with Cathy and Kurt
one day about my retirement and, dedication, compassion, generosity and
The Kachorias ended up in Macedon extraordinary bedside manner
after our very irst conversation, I knew purely by luck, or, more precisely,
the gift to Thompson was destined
that made him a success in Macedon.
another chance encounter.
to happen,” Dr. Kachoria adds. “And
each day since, I have felt very good “It was 1973 and while I was waiting

about my decision, learning something for my New York State medical
new and nice about Thompson. The license, I worked at the Newark

health system is one of the most
Developmental Center,” Dr. Kachoria

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