iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Leading physicians, healthcare professionals, academicians, and scientists of Indian origin from across the country have gathered at the historic Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, the birthplace of US Independence, to attend the 41st annual convention and scientific sessions of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI).
The event offers a unique opportunity for medicos and healthcare professionals to interact and participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, developing health policy agendas, and encouraging legislative priorities. Attended by over 500 delegates from around the nation, the program began on July 6, 2023.
In his welcome address, Dr. Ravi Kolli, president of AAPI said, “The convention provides a forum for members to facilitate and enable physicians to help excel in inpatient care, teaching and research, and to pursue their aspirations in professional and community affairs, by providing opportunities for business partnerships and relationships and to celebrate, coordinate and communicate.”
Dr. Raghu Lolabhattu, Chair and ECO of the Convention said: “We have been working hard to put together an attractive program. We are fortunate to have a dedicated team of convention committee members helping us to make this event truly historic.”
In his keynote address, Congressman Shri Thanedar, the 5th member to join the Samosa Caucus in the US House told the audience about his humble beginnings in India and how his application to come to the United States to pursue a doctoral degree was denied four times by the Indian Consulate in Mumbai. “Today, I am proud to state that I had the honor of escorting the Prime Minister of India to deliver his address to the joint session of the US Congress.”
Born into a large family in Southern India, he knows firsthand the struggles and stigma of poverty. “I had started working as a janitor to meet the needs of my family.” He’s committed to fighting for more education and job training resources for southeast Michigan, a higher minimum wage, universal health care, and programs to jumpstart entrepreneurship in historically disenfranchised communities. “These initiatives will close the racial wealth gap and help more families in the United States,” he said.
Thanedar praised the great contributions of the physicians, especially during the Covid. Congressman Thanedar vowed to “fight for the transformation of the broken immigration system in the US.”
In his remarks on the great philanthropic activities carried out through the Heart to Heart Foundation, Dr. Sunny Anand said, “We’ve been going to villages trying to deliver medical care, and it’s been a journey of more than 50 years. Within the last 10 years, we have set up 10 hospitals with no cash counters and no billing department. All the care is given totally free. Our Foundation has touched the lives of so many with more than 220,000 consultations 26,000 heart surgeries or cat interventions completely free of cost. And we are now talking to you about rural Medical College. Come join us in our endeavor to touch many more lives and transform the lives of the rural poor.”
The entertainment sessions of the inaugural night kickstarted with the “AAPI’s Got Talent contest” where AAPI members showcased their hidden talents. The highly sought-after event was led by Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, the incoming vice president of AAPI, and Dr. Seema Arora, past Chair of AAPI BOT. Other cultural programs for the evening included Bishakh Jyoti Live, Garba and Mehfil & Khaas.
