AAPI Reinforce Commitment to Health Services in India

Federation of AAPI Greater NY felicitated Aarthi Krishna for her contribution towards strengthening relations between the Indian American community and the Indian government. Neil Simon, President of American University of Antigua, David Norton of Johnson & Johnson, Tarun Shah, immediate past president of Federation and Samin Sharma were also felicitated on the occasion.

As a part of AAPIs commitment to provide continuing medical education to upcoming practitioners, a panel of experts presented a wide ranging information and lecture during the day. The seminar was attended by dozens of professionals who were eligible to earn licensing credits for attending the CME. The speakers at the seminar themed Managing Coronary Heart Diseases included Dr. Daniel Conroy of St. Marys Hospital, Passaic, NJ, who provided an update on current issues with heart failure. Marc Klapholz of UMDNJ spoke on managing sudden death and implanting defibrillators and Dr. Edo Kaluski of UMDNJ made a presentation on the current status of coronary angioplasty and stenting.

Dr. Thomas Alapatt, president, Federation of AAPI of Greater NY-NJ-PA reminded the audience that AAPI aimed at helping Indian American physicians pursue their aspiration in professional and community affairs. We also want to facilitate and enable you to excel in patient care, teaching and research activities, he said. The federation was actively engaged in philanthropic and charitable activities. In addition to supporting several health care clinics in India and the United States, national AAPI continues to be a strong voice in healthcare legislation and policy, he added.

Dr. Ajit Singhvi, president, AAPI, provided details about various steps taken by the organization in the areas of medical missions and community services. We are sending eligible candidates to India on clinical missions for four weeks, he informed the fellow physicians reminding them to attend the 4th Indo-US Healthcare Summit to be held in January 2011 in Jaipur, India. Shashi Shah, president elect, Federation of AAPI Greater NYNJ, Darmi Kanuga, vice president and Rakesh Mehta also conveyed their compliments on the occasion.

Later Congressman Frank Pallone conferred with the leadership team of AAPI on the prevailing health care issues in the United States.

Dr. Hemant Patel, chairman of the charitable wing of the Federation, who was recently awarded with Ellis Island Medal of Honor, said that his organization had trained thousands of health workers who regularly screened patients in the villages in Gujarat. Patel said that the project was self sustainable as the trained health workers were able to train other villagers. We plan to take the Gujarat model to other states of India. We hope to engage the Indian government in this project.

Dr. Sanjay Jain, Treasurer of the federation proposed a vote of thanks.

A spectacular Bollywood musical entertainment show by singer Sunidhi Chouhan and her group followed the speeches.