Recognized as one of the most accomplished young professionals in Philadelphia by “The Philadelphia Business Journal,” Temple alumnus Raza Bokhari, 39, president and CEO of Lakewood Pathology Associates, pledged $1 million to the Fox School of Business.
“It’s only timely to give something back that would in some small way help advance academic excellence at Temple University,” he said. In honor of Bokhari’s pledge, the office housing the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute will be named after him. It will be located in the new Fox School facility, Alter Hall.
“I find it exciting to realize that as my 5-year-old daughter grows up and discovers herself … she will take pride in the fact that her [last] name is attached to an academic institution of her father and that’s something that adds an additional moment of pride for me,” Bokhari said.
Bokhari managed to turn Lakewood Pathology Associates, which was initially a small pathology lab in New Jersey, into a national anatomical pathology enterprise with locations in 25 states. It has been rated as one of the 100 fastest growing businesses by Philadelphia 100, a merit-based program that honors leading entrepreneurs in the region.
For more than three decades, Bokhari has served as chairman of the board of Parkway Clinical Laboratories, a full service clinical reference laboratory for clients in the mid-Atlantic region. He credits his entrepreneurial success to Temple’s MBA program.
“Temple is a place where I built wisdom and strength to make some good decisions in life and in many ways I feel very special that I got this opportunity,” Bokhari said.
According to Bokhari, he was motivated to give back to his alma mater after reflection on his accomplishment and entrepreneurship. Bokhari said he defines entrepreneurship as a prospect to remain active in the course of one’s profession.
With this definition in mind, Bokhari has built a reputable profile as a physician and entrepreneur.
Receiving a medical degree from the Rawalpindi Medical College at the University of Punjab in Pakistan, Bokhari ventured to the United States 16 years ago to work in a pathology lab in North Philadelphia.
There, he analyzed the role of private equity funds in launching effective
growth trends in health care services.
While working in North Philadelphia, Bokhari learned that Temple has one of the most highly ranked M.B.A. programs in the country, which influenced his decision come here to pursue an M.B.A. degree.
In 2001, he earned that degree. Professor of general and strategic management
Dr. Robert D. Hamilton III was a longtime mentor of Bokhari’s.
“He is extremely hardworking and willing to take some risks,” Hamilton said. “He’s been able to reach a number of financial goals, but the real accomplishment is not the money, it’s the pulling together of a company and building it up in a remarkably short time. That’s truly a talented person.”
Humbled by the recent recognition, Bokhari said, “I just keep my head down and keep on working, the amount of acknowledgement
and recognition this region has offered me continues to just amaze me and I am filled with pride and honor.”
Bokhari said he owes his success to Temple
and is grateful to be able to give back to the university where he will remain as a mentor for the IEI and will “get to learn a lot from the students as they startle me by their creativity.”
Bokhari said he is humbled by the legacy his donation will create at Temple. “In life we do many things – some good things, some not so good things – but this is something that will be there for me to be proud of,” Bokhari said.
Brittany Diggs can reached at bdiggs@temple.edu.
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