iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
The new leadership team of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) has committed to fostering improved access to healthcare, promoting diversity and inclusion, and amplifying the collective voice of the community.
“We are committed to your well-being and committed to advancing AAPI’s mission for a brighter future,” Dr. Anjana Samadder, the new President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) told AAPI delegates during her Inaugural Presidential Address on July 8, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA.
Dr. Samadder, the 5th woman president of AAPI in its 41 years history, is leading a dynamic team comprising Dr. Satheesh Kathula as the President-Elect; Dr. Amit Chakrabarty as the Vice President; Dr. Sumul Raval as the Secretary; Dr. Sreeni Ganagasani as the Treasurer; Dr. Lokesh Edara, as the Chair, Board of Trustees. Dr. Ravi Kolli will continue to guide AAPI as the Immediate Past President of AAPI.
The new AAPI president wants “to foster improved access to healthcare, promote diversity and inclusion, and amplify the collective voice of our community.” Her vision for AAPI is “to help build an ethically strong, morally straight, and fiscally responsible organization. It is also vitally important to bring much-needed diversity to keep AAPI thriving.”
“I would like to address healthcare practice issues facing our members both in private practice and in academia. I want to get AAPI represented in US National Health Care Committee by organizing strong lobbying efforts. I will be open to suggestions from members in order to make our organization one of the strongest ethnic organizations in the US,” said Dr. Samadder, a Gastroenterology Specialist in Columbus, OH, affiliated with Mount Carmel West and Mount Carmel East and a winner of the Gastrointestinal Surgery Excellence Award.
“Since its inception in 1982, AAPI has been at the forefront, representing a conglomeration of more than 125,000 practicing physicians in the United States, seeking to be the united voice for the physicians of Indian origin,” Dr. Samadder said.
Echoing the sentiments expressed by Dr. Samadder, Dr. Lokesh Edara, Chair of the AAPI Board of Trustees for the year, 2023-24, vowed to help make AAPI a healthcare leader in the US and globally. “We will work together to promote our values of professionalism, collegiality, and excellence in patient care and enhance AAPI’s reputation as a premier professional organization offering educational programs and advocacy,” he said.
Dr. Satheesh Kathula, President-Elect of AAPI and a board-certified hematologist and oncologist from Dayton, Ohio, practicing Medicine for nearly two decades plans to pursue Global Healthcare Leaders Program at Harvard University.
“We plan to make some changes to the AAPI Bylaws this year, which are meaningful and necessary to improve AAPI. I would also like to work on election reforms. We want to make sure that members are not bombarded during election time with multiple messages, phone calls,” said Dr. Kathula who as the President-Elect, is also the chair of the Bylaws committee. “My goals for AAPI have been very clear. I want to focus on education, communication, and legislation, involving the younger generation.” A recipient of several Community Service Awards, Dr. Kathula wants to “Make AAPI a mainstream organization and work on issues affecting physicians including physician shortage, burnout, and credentialing, while leveraging the strength of 100,000 doctors at legislative level.”
Dr. Amit Chakrabarty AAPI’s Vice President says, he will continue his efforts with the AAPI leadership in addressing physician burnout and green card backlog; forming a strong and well-funded AAPI-Political Action Committee for lobbying and getting political clout; partnering in world-wide healthcare education; being a part of the decision-making process of WHO and UN healthcare policies, especially those dealing with issues affecting South East Asia. “We need to streamline the membership database especially because we are moving towards an online voting system. We need to encourage the young physicians to participate and lead AAPI.”
Dr. Sumul Raval, Treasurer of AAPI, has pledged “to work tirelessly to advance the mission and vision of AAPI. I will focus on promoting diversity and inclusion in healthcare, advocating for the needs of our members, and fostering collaboration. I will also prioritize mentorship and professional development opportunities for our members, and strive to enhance our outreach to underserved communities.”
