Renowned Indian surgeon and veteran Rotarian, Dr. Bharat Pandya, has been selected by the Nominating Committee as the Rotary International President for the 2028–2029 Rotary year.
Dr. Pandya, a member of the Rotary Club of Borivli, Mumbai, India, will officially become the President-Nominee on 15 September 2026, provided no challenging candidates emerge before the stipulated deadline.
A distinguished general and laparoscopic surgeon, Dr. Pandya practiced medicine for 38 years after earning his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Seth G. S. Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Throughout his medical career, he received several prestigious recognitions, including fellowships from the Association of Surgeons of India and the International College of Surgeons, as well as the Outstanding Performance Award from the Borivli Medical Brotherhood.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Pandya has made remarkable contributions to vocational education and community development. He is a founding member of the Association of Minimal Access Surgeons of India and previously served as a board member and vice chair of Jan Shikshan Sansthan, a government-sponsored vocational training and skills development institute. He has also been honoured with the Mumbai Gaurav (Pride of Mumbai) Award by Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha and the Indian Global Foundation.
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Within Rotary, Dr. Pandya has held several key leadership positions, including Rotary International Director, RI Treasurer, and member of numerous committees such as the Finance Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. He has also served The Rotary Foundation as Trustee, Vice Chair, Chair of the Executive Committee, and Vice Chair of both the Finance and Stewardship Committees. He currently serves as Chair of the RI Programs Committee and Vice Chair of The Rotary Foundation Programs Committee.
He was a member of the India PolioPlus Committee from 2011 to 2015, a period during which India was certified polio-free, marking a historic milestone in global public health.
Dr. Pandya and his wife, Madhavi Pandya, a past District Chair of Inner Wheel District 314, are Major Donors and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation. They have two daughters and one granddaughter.
The selection was made by the 2026–2027 Rotary International Nominating Committee for President 2028–2029, comprising Rotary leaders from across the globe.
If confirmed, Dr. Pandya will serve as Rotary International President for the 2028–2029 Rotary year, providing leadership to the global humanitarian organisation as it continues its mission of promoting peace, fighting disease, supporting education, protecting the environment, and creating lasting change in communities worldwide.
