More than 2,500 physicians and their families attended the 33th convention of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, June 17-21 at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. For only the third time in its decades-long history, the baton was handed over to a woman president, Dr. Seema Jain of New Jersey, who announced her key strategic initiatives are “excellence of education, empowerment, enlightenment, and evolution.”
Jain who took the oath of office on June 20, immediately launched a overhauled AAPI website which she told News India Times dramatically expanded the resources available to members and the general public. It offers access to Continuing Medical Education courses, finding an Indian-American doctor in any state, and an academic e-journal carrying state of the art research and seminal work by physicians within its fold. Dr. Ajay Lodha, president-elect who takes over in 2016, in an interview with News India Times, described Dr. Jain as “a very dynamic young leader,” who had great ideas to grow AAPI in the coming year.
All those interviewed said the crowd attending the gala on 20th was riveted by the four distinguished speakers who included U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
“They spoke so well that the session went on for two hours and there was pin drop silence,” said Dr. Sudhir Parikh, a past president of AAPI who is also the publisher of News India Times and recipient of India’s Padma Shri award. Parikh was also honored by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for his community service and service to AAPI at the convention in an event attended by some 1,500 guests. “It was a spellbinding moment,” said Lodha about the guest speakers.
Parikh also indicated in an interview, that it was a change for the better this year that none of the chief guests were politicians. He also said having a younger AAPI leader like Dr. Amish Parikh of Florida, chair the convention with his team of firebrands, “is proof that the older generation is passing the baton to the second generation.
Outgoing AAPI President Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, in his speech at the convention, reflected on his past year at the helm promoting goals of education, charitable services, member support programs and mentoring and as well as legislative action. He congratulated the incoming team and predicted an even brighter future for the organization.
Along with Dr. Jain, and Dr. Lodha, Dr. Gautam Samadder as vice president, Dr. Naresh Parikh as secretary, and Dr. Suresh Reddy as the treasurer of AAPI were sworn in as the team to lead AAPI, and Dr. Aravind Pillai became the new chairman of the AAPI Board of Trustees.
Attendees praised the quality of CME seminars offered during the convention. Those offered included healthcare and medical issues, focus on ways to actively participate in the nation’s legislative process, on ways to prevent diseases, while working with the government of India and voluntary agencies to effectively train physicians in India. There was also a fashion show and entertainment by Bollywood greats like Sonu Nigam, Dr. KJ Yesudas, Jay Sean, and Mystic India as well as cultural programs, sessions on living, yoga, health walks, meditation, honoring those who worked hard to make a positive impact in their respective areas of work.
This year’s signature Women’s Forum had standing room only, the crowd spilling into the halls, to listen to the three speakers, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and actor Vani Tripathi, Dr. Margaret McLaren, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine from Hartford, Connecticut, and Bhakti Sharma, a champion Indian open water swimmer.
There were forums for AAPI Young Physicians Group and for AAPI MSRF for medical students, residents and fellows. A nearly sold out Exhibitor Hall included medical and pharmaceutical products, jeweler, fashion designs, devices and equipment and medical and dental, practice-related services.
“I’m very confident I’m going to make changes for the good with a more academic, global and inclusive focus. I want AAPI to be known as a mainstream organization and bring it on par with the American Medical Association,” Dr. Jain told News India Times. “AAPI and AMA can jointly make a bigger difference on Capitol Hill,” she added.
The physicians’ organization says it represents nearly 100,000 doctors, fellows, and residents in the U.S.
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