Physician turned entrepreneur Dr. Raza Bokhari was the keynote speaker at the graduate diploma ceremony held Sept. 8, 2006 at Temple University's Fox School of Business.


During his speech, Bokhari described to the graduates how his entrepreneurial journey started in the heart of North Philadelphia in the early 1990s when he became part of a start-up pathology laboratory. Today, he is president and CEO of Lakewood Pathology Associates, a leading national provider of diagnostic pathology services based in Lakewood, NJ, and chairman of the board of Parkway Clinical Laboratories, a full-service clinical reference laboratory in Bensalem, Pa.

Bokhari also spoke to the graduates about pursuing their entrepreneurial passion. "The key to realizing success is to courageously take necessary risk without hesitation, and to face your challenges," he explained to the graduates. He also pointed out that Temple's Fox School had educated them with character, "now it is up to you to make the best of it in the business world."

Bokhari received his master's of Business Administration degree (MBA) from the Fox School in 2001, and was named the School's "Entrepreneur in Residence" for the 2001-02 academic year. He earned his medical degree from the University of Punjab, Rawalpindi Medical College, Pakistan.

Recognized for his passion, innovation and entrepreneurial zeal, Bokhari is a past recipient of the coveted Philadelphia Business Journal's "40 Under 40" award. He is a much sought after speaker and has been interviewed by numerous media outlets locally, nationally and internationally. Bokhari is also the president for the Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee, a national, membership-based non-profit whose mission is to advance and strengthen U.S.-Pakistan relations.

Lakewood Pathology Associates recently received $50 million in venture funding from a Chicago-based private equity group, Water Street Healthcare Partners.