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The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, the largest ethnic association of medical professionals in the United States, launched a pioneering initiative to promote excellence in medicine and to advance key research and academic initiatives at the Indian Consulate in New York last week.
Dr. Seema Jain, the newly-elected president of AAPI, who headlined the July three event at which the Scientific, Academic Research Foundation was formally launched, said that SARF has been founded to support and promote excellence in medicine, advance key research and academic initiatives and establishing a robust and credible process of recognizing significant contributions of Indian American physicians with excellence awards.
“It has been a dream for me for the past 10 years, and today, we have been able to launch Scientific, Academic Research Foundation,” she said.
The first ever SARF Inaugural Awards Gala will be held August 14, at the Pierre Hotel in New York. The awardees will be recognized at the gala slated to be to be addressed, among others, by Hardeep Singh Puri, Secretary General of the Independent Commission on Multiculturalism, Bob Oliver, President and Chief Operating Officer, Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals, Omar Ishrak, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic, Inc, among others.
The July three launch of SARF at the consulate was attended and addressed by physicians and community leaders that included Dr Sudhir Parikh, both a physician and community elder, and recipient of Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, in 2010 for philanthropy and community service both in the U.S and India.
“There is a plethora of Physicians of Indian Origin working globally who have their roots in India,” Jain, said, adding that there are an estimated 1.2 million physicians of Indian Origin working not only in India, but also, in most countries around the world.
“Their contributions to the world of healthcare are enormous. It’s in this context that AAPI’s new initiative becomes very timely and unique,” she told the audience.
Indian-Americans constitute less than one percent of the population in the U.S. but they account for nearly nine percent of the nation’s physicians in the country. These physicians are estimated to provide healthcare to over 40 million patients in the U.S.
Forbes magazine once wrote, she mentioned in her address, that the over-representation of Indian Americans in engineering, IT and medicine is striking.
One out of seven doctors in the U.S. is likely to be of Indian Heritage. In some states, including New Jersey, Indian Americans provide medical care to nearly 25 per cent of the population. Almost 10 to -12 percent of medical students entering US schools are of Indian origin.
The SARF awards are for individuals who distinguish themselves and are at the cutting edge of their field, rising up above thousands of others. She explained that the logo for SARF illustrates this concept with a mark that emphasizes an upward, ascending motion. Gold represents the rarity and preciousness of the individuals and their work, and the blue surrounding it denotes the high level of quality and professionalism that comes with the biomedical field.
SARF Award Categories include: Lifetime Excellence for Research and Innovation that recognizes a meritorious individual who has made significant contributions to the field of research through advocacy in medicine, clinical practice, or the surgical process. Excellence in Leadership to Young Physician Award recognizes two exceptional medical students, residents/fellows, or early career physicians that have gone beyond the medical practice to positively influence health care. Excellence in Global Health will recognize a physician whose influence has reached beyond the U.S. border to affect the international patient population.
The Physician of the Year award will recognize a physician who has displayed significant involvement in community service, proven leadership, positive mentoring skills, and compassion and sensitivity, while collaborating with students and patients.
Hall of Fame award is to recognize an individual who has spent their career providing outstanding contributions leading to extraordinary strides in the field of healthcare·
Excellence in Hospital/Health System Management award will recognize an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership while working to improve outcomes, patient safety, quality of care, community engagement, and consistency in results·
Excellence in Pharmaceutical/Medical Device Research and Innovation award will recognizes a C-suite leader in a pharmaceutical, device, or health technology company that has created significant and proven impact on addressing a major disease state, surgical intervention or application of technology to improve upon current treatment and management options· Excellence in Delivering quality and cost-effective Pharmaceutical Alternatives award is to recognize a C-suite leader in a pharmaceutical, device, or health technology company that has created significant and proven impact by utilizing disruptive innovation and making available breakthrough and expensive treatment/management options and significant reduction in cost.
“There is a need for greater visibility and cohesion of these Physicians. Their combined intellectual and technical strength can also be a vital force in the development of the healthcare sector, including research and academics. Indian physicians both in India and abroad excel in their fields and have a passion to provide quality care, Jain said.
“AAPI through this new initiative brings their collective power on one platform to help shape healthcare in underserved areas and work towards quality healthcare for all,” Jain added.
She said that while encouraging and honoring the current line of physicians, AAPI is also encouraging the next generations, creating enthusiasm among the next generation of physicians who will act as catalysts for research and development in the healthcare field.
Consul General Dnyneshwar Mulay, a litterateur in his own right, described the Indian American community as a “fertile ground,” where AAPI has grown to be a “Banyan tree,” and SARF is a “beautiful flower.”
He praised AAPI for its significant contributions to help strengthen Indo-US relationship. “SARF is an important beginning for AAPI. You are sowing the seeds today with this pioneering effort. Many other organizations of Indian origin that also have large membership will emulate AAPI to be their role model,” he said.
Among other who addressed the event included Anwar Feroz, an honorary advisor of AAPI as well as Dr. Sudhir Parikh.
In his felicitation address, Parikh praised Dr Jain for the initiative. “Dr. Seema Jain has taken the first step in making AAPI an international organization,” Parikh said.
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