New York City – June 30, 2016: The 34th annual Convention of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) began here with a panel discussion on “Health Care 2020 & Beyond,” moderated by CNN anchor, Dr. Fareed Zakaria and in an interview style open forum by US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, as well as CEO Forums featuring healthcare leaders began at the Marquis Ballroom, Marriott Marquis, in Manhattan, NY on Thursday June 30, 2016,
In her welcome address, Dr. Seema Jain, President of AAPI, said, “This journey that was started in June of 2015 with a clear purpose of 4 E’s: Excellence of Education, Empowerment, Enlightenment, and Evolution, today’s launch of the FIRST CEO Forum discussing “HealthCare 2020 & Beyond” is another major milestone in our progress, taking AAPI to the next level and mainstream.”
Describing today’s events to be a “special day in the history of AAPI,” referred to it as “vision being realized.” She said, “It has been my dream to have a high level CEO Forum from all sections of healthcare, featuring leading CEOs from hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, academicians, intellectuals and physicians, who will focus on the changing trends in the healthcare sector and how they impact the providers, hospitals and corporations as well as the patients.”
Delivery and access of Healthcare in the United States and around the world is rapidly changing, leading to many describing the healthcare environment as dynamic, complex, and highly uncertain. The manner in which the health care environment is perceived and characterized is important for several reasons. Higher-performing health care providers and organizations are those that are, among other characteristics, able to understand and manage uncertainty and ambiguity in their environments. The Affordable Care Act designed to provide an opportunity to reinvent the health care delivery system to make it more accessible, patient-centered, and comprehensive, with an emphasis on prevention and primary care is under attack and depending on the outcome of the elections it may change.
In this context, through the two CEO Forums being held simultaneously, the AAPI delegates from across the nation had an opportunity to understand the major global developments in the rapidly changing healthcare sector, with an emphasis on new ideas and innovative solutions to America’s complex healthcare related issues. The Forum also offered insights into managing efficiently the growing costs in the delivery of healthcare services.
In his opening remarks, Anwar Feroz, AAPI’s Honorary Advisor, said, “The CEO Forum will educate the audience on the changing trends in the healthcare sector and how they impact the providers, hospitals and corporations as well as the patients. The Forum will also offer insights into managing efficiently the growing costs in the delivery of healthcare services.”
The panel on Hospital & Technology Leaders &CEOs Description featured: Dr. Arthur Klein, President Mt. Sinai Health Network. Michael Antoniades, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJUH, New Brunswick; Dr. Ram Raju, President and CEO, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation; Dr. Philip O. Ozuah, Executive V. P. and Chief Operating Officer of Montefiore Medical Center; Dr. Leslie D. Hirsch, President St. Peters Healthcare System; Dr. Shafiq Rab, CIO, Hackensack Healthcare System; Dr. Kevin J. Slavin, President & CEO of St Joseph’s Health System; Amit Limaye, President, Logistical Solutions Inc. AC Birox; Ritesh Patel SVP DIGI; and Aamir Siddiqi, General Manager, TRICE Technologies
The panel on Medical Devices, Technology and Pharmaceutical Leaders &CEO’s Forum was addressed by Bob Oliver, President & CEO Otsuka America; Omar Ishrak, Chairman & CEO Medtronic; Dr. Vasant (Vas) Narasimhan, Global Head Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer,Novartis; Dr. Freda C. Lewis-Hall, Chief Medical Officer, Pfizer; Deepak Nath, President, Abbott Vascular / Senior Vice President, Abbott Laboratories; Dr Shalabh Jain CEO Hyalo Technologies; Dr Ketan Mehta, CEO Neil Med; Naveen Jain, Founder & Executive Chairman – Moon Express; and Dr.Srijoy Mahapatra, MD Vice President, Clinical, Medical and Scientific Affairs, St. Jude Medical.
The over two hours long discussions were very well attended by a packed audience in rapt silence nd attention. The final session for the day on “Health Care 2020 & Beyond” moderated by Dr. Fareed Zakaria, had featured Bob Oliver; Omar Ishrak; Michael Antoniades; and Dr. Arthur Klein;.Deepak Nath.
In conversation with Dr. Fareed Zakaria, US Surgeon General – Dr. Vivek Murthy shared with an enthusiastic audience about his background, key public health initiatives, including disease prevention through healthy eating, active living, need for sleep, wise use of modern technologies, and emotional well-being. Describing the importance of his upcoming health education report from his office on the need for ensuring health equity for all communities and fighting off threats to health drugs and addiction, Dr. Murthy said, “How the nation looks at addiction is very important and it can help prevent addiction.” Commenting that incarceration is not a solution to drug addiction, he said, “it adds to the problem.” He said, “If you help change people’s attitudes, we can help solve the problem.” Dr. Murthy had some very important tips on ways to healthy living, which was much appreciated by one and all.
The annual convention this year is being organized by AAPI’s New Jersey Chapter. Elaborating on the efforts and preparations that have been devoted to put together this unique event, Dr. Rita Ahuja, Chairwoman of the 2016 Annual Convention, said. “We have been working hard to put together an attractive program for our annual get together, educational activity and family enjoyment. I and the Co-Chairs are fortunate to have a dedicated team of convention committee members from the Tri-State region have worked hard to organize this historical event in the heart of New York City,” she said. For more details, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit: www.aapiconvention.org