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Physicians Tie Up With American University, Antigua at Convention Kickoff

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More than 2,500 physicians got together at Orlando, Florida for the 33rd annual convention of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, AAPI, June 18. Even as the President Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar announced one of the major objectives of AAPI was to give back to India, the organization in a major step to help second-generation Indian-American medical students and those from India, signed a corporate tie-up with the American University, Antigua, AUA.

The convention which goes on from June 17th to 21st, will be showcasing its several projects ongoing and planned for the future in India and in the United States. Among them the partnership recognition of American University, Antigua.

Neal Simon, president of AUA, told News India Times that a team from AAPI recently visited Antigue and reviewed the standing of the university and its curriculum and accredited it. “AUA follows a New York curriculum, the best in this country,”Dr. Jahagirdar told News India Times. “We support AUA as our preferred medical school, the only preferred medical school,” he added.

Ironically, Indian-American physicians who have fought for decades to get standing for foreign medical graduates, FMGs, in this country, are now fighting for their kids who want to go into medicine. They contend that American medical schools either discriminate or reject well qualified medical students by following hidden quotas. “We have a huge shortage of physicians but also a huge shortage of spots to medical schools here,” said Dr. Amish Parikh, chair of the convention committee. “There is discrimination or a kind of quota on Indians,” Parikh added. “We find our children, born and raised here, can’t get admission here. So like us, our children become FMGs. Its unimaginable for me as a first generation American.”

According to reliable estimates, by 2025, the U.S. will face a shortage of about 130,000 physicians and schools are not able to accommodate students, Simon pointed out. “We will provide that education to them. Eighty five percent of our graduates have found residency positions,” Simon added. Parikh estimates that 60 percent of the student population at AUA is of Indian origin, a large number of them second generation Indian-Americans.. The AUA was recently bought out by India’s Manipal University system. That ensures a steady source of highly qualified teaching staff at AUA at an affordable price, Parikh said.The university provides scholarships to needy students wanting to go into medicine.

“AAPI is a well known, very credible organization that has some of the same goals as AUA. So have them give the school (AUA) recognition means a lot to us,” Simon said.
The Indian-American physicians’ organization describes itself as the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States, representing the interests of over 60,000 physicians and 15,000 medical students and residents of Indian heritage in the United States. It estimates that almost 10%-12% of medical students entering US schools are of Indian origin.

Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, AAPI is an umbrella organization that represents nearly 130 local chapters, 160 professional associations, specialty societies and alumni organizations.

The post Physicians Tie Up With American University, Antigua at Convention Kickoff appeared first on News India Times.


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