Dr. Arvin Nanda is proud of his Midwestern roots. Born and raised in a rural Indiana town with a population of fewer than 1,000 people, the self-proclaimed John Mellencamp fan credits his parents and his “Small Town” upbringing as inspirations for giving back.
“My parents, Dave and Connie Nanda, immigrated to the United States from New Delhi, India, in the 1960s. They are the foundation of my education, inspiration and work in charity,” said Arvin, who has practiced medicine locally for 30 years. “Growing up in small-town, rural America, we did not have much. But we had enough.”
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Dr. Arvin Nanda and his wife of 30 years, Dr. Josette D’Amato
Despite these humble beginnings, Arvin’s family has thrived in their adopted country. His father earned his PhD in agronomy from the University of Wisconsin and enjoyed a 50-year career helping farmers grow corn and soybeans. His brother, Paul, worked for The Ohio State University’s global healthcare program and has traveled to many countries to provide free care to thousands of underserved people. Arvin attained a psychology degree from the University of Iowa in 1991 and attended medical school at Des Moines University, where he earned a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree in 1995.
DMU also is where he met his wife of 30 years, Dr. Josette D’Amato, an obstetrician and gynecologist for Dayton Children’s Hospital, who, he says, “works harder than I do!” They came to the area for Arvin’s residency in 1996 and later settled in Beavercreek to raise their son, Drew, and daughter, Brittany.
The Nandas’ service to the community involves all aspects of their lives, whether helping patients, volunteering their time or supporting charitable organizations through their Dayton Foundation Charitable Checking Account,℠ which they created and funded last fall with appreciated stock.
“By donating the stock, I saved on taxes and can award grants to benefit our church, the Grandview Foundation, The Physicians’ Charitable Foundation of the Miami Valley and many other organizations,” Arvin said. “There are more than 4,000 nonprofits in our community and so many amazing people who are working to take care of our community. But the needs are great.”
Arvin with his parents, Connie Nanda (left) and Dave Nanda, PhD (right)
One of the ways Arvin works to meet these needs is through his work on PCF’s board. After previously serving as a board member and as its president, he is returning to the board this fall.
“Dr. John Sefton and Gerri Sheehan, PCF’s former executive director, helped me to understand philanthropy and opened the door for me to meet amazing physicians who are trying to elevate their communities, including Dr. Robert Barker, Dr. Cleanne Cass, Dr. Micah Davis, Dr. Warren Muth, Dr. Alonzo Patterson and many more,” Arvin said of PCF, which now is led by Bonnie Baker-Tattershall. “These physicians empathize with patients and want to help improve their lives beyond healthcare, distributing more than $600,000 in grants a year to local charities.”
Dr. Nanda also serves on the board of trustees for the Grandview Foundation and as a volunteer on The Dayton Foundation’s Finance Committee, a position that has given him insight into the historic transfer of wealth that currently is underway.
“Life can be a very humbling experience, but together we can accomplish so much.”
– Dr. Arvin Nanda, Dayton Foundation donor
“The next 15 years will see the great Baby Boomer generation transfer wealth to the next generation, to charity and to the community. My parents and others have an opportunity to have a tremendous impact on improving the lives of all people and to benefit education, art, dance, music, food insecurity, healthcare and more,” he said. “It is an exciting time to see the culmination of an extremely hardworking and dedicated generation of people do so much good for the community.”
For Arvin, it’s the sentiment behind the act of giving that takes on the most meaning.
“Mother Teresa said, ‘It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.’ I want to be remembered as a person who cared and lived his life with honesty, integrity and love,” he said. “Helping others makes me feel connected with humanity. Life can be a very humbling experience, but together we can accomplish so much.”