Palm Beach Gardens Lving - November 2026

Dr. Ekta Solanki and Dr. Vishesh Pathak MEDICAL DIRECTOR & MEDICAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR - TRUSTBRIDGE - By Dan Hauser - - Photos by Neil Cohen Photography - COVER FEATURE F or Dr. Ekta Solanki and Dr. Vishesh Pathak, their connection to Trustbridge began long before either physician assumed a leadership role within the organization. It began during their training, developed through years of patient care and mentorship, and ultimately became intertwined with their professional identities. Today, Dr. Solanki serves as Trustbridge’s Medical Director, while Dr. Pathak is the organization’s Medical Education Director. Together, they represent both sides of a leadership journey: learning from those who came before them and helping prepare those who will follow. Dr. Pathak’s introduction to hospice came during medical school at Nova Southeastern University. The university had a relationship with Trustbridge, formerly known as Hospice by the Sea, that included a geriatric rotation. It was an experience that quickly changed the direction of his career. “That was my introduction into hospice and palliative care,” Dr. Pathak said. “And that's how I came to really fall in love with the field.” That experience allowed him to work alongside physicians and nurses and learn about hospice and palliative care firsthand. From there, Trustbridge remained a constant presence as he continued through his medical education and training. After graduating from medical school, Pathak completed his residency at JFK, where he again encountered Trustbridge and Dr. Rick Levene. He eventually matched into a fellowship and joined Trustbridge as an associate medical director, learning from Levene, Dr. Gonzalez, and other mentors who would play an important role in his development. That journey has now come full circle. “What is great about it is now I get to continue that circle,” he shared. “So now I get to work with medical students, residents, and fellows, and be a part of, and relive, that journey again.” Dr. Solanki’s path was similar, although her initial connection to hospice was more personal. She and Dr. Pathak began medical school together at Nova Southeastern, becoming study partners, before eventually couples- matching into their residency at JFK. During her fourth year of medical school, Dr. Solanki experienced hospice from a very different perspective when her grandmother was placed in hospice care in Orlando. “It was a little bit more of a personal introduction,” she said. “That sort of stayed with me.” PROFILES OF LEADERSHIP 10 PA L M B E A C H G A R D E N S L I V I N G | N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 6