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Dearest Friends, Colleagues, and Alumni,
We want to thank you all for the incredible outpouring of support and care since Dr. Padhya’s passing last week. While I’ve always known how lucky I was to train under him and work alongside him for the past 15 years, the love and admiration expressed for Tap from across the country has been simply overwhelming.
As many of you know, Dr. Padhya was the heart and soul of the USF Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Over his more than 25-year tenure, he shaped our culture, pushed for excellence, and mentored countless physicians, residents, students, and colleagues. Since taking over as chair, he was laser-focused on a singular vision: to make our department a marquee program on the national stage. He leaves behind shoes that are almost too big to fill.
Over the past week, many have asked how they can support Tap and our department. In consultation with his family, we are proud to announce the creation of the Tapan A. Padhya, M.D. Memorial Fund in Otolaryngology to honor his extraordinary life and ensure his impact continues for generations to come.
This fund will be established as an endowed fund through the USF Foundation, with a base goal of $100,000. This level of support will allow us to create an annual lectureship in Dr. Padhya’s name, bringing leading voices in otolaryngology to USF and continuing his commitment to education and excellence.
We also invite you to help us reach a transformative stretch goal of $3 million, which would allow us to establish a named chair in Dr. Padhya’s honor. We know this is a bold aspiration, and the odds may be against us—but Tap never backed down from a challenge, and neither will we. Achieving this goal would be a defining moment for our department—elevating its national stature and ensuring that Tap’s legacy continues to guide and inspire future generations of otolaryngologists. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to fulfilling his vision and creating something truly lasting.
In honor of the impact Tap has personally had on me, I’ve made the founding gift to start the fund. I hope you’ll consider joining me. To make a gift, please visit https://usf.to/TapanPadhya. If you have questions, you can contact Katie Dorsey in the development office directly (kbdorsey@usf.edu, 813-690-4118).
Thank you for helping us honor a remarkable leader, mentor, and friend.
With gratitude,
Matthew Mifsud, M.D., FACS
Associate Professor and Acting Chair
USF Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
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