Washington, DC — October 4th, 2020: “The members of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) join the nation in praying for the speedy recovery of President Donald J. Trump and the First Lady, Melania Trump, who have been diagnosed with the deadly pandemic Covod-19, and are being treated for the symptoms,” said Dr. Sudhakar Jonalagadda, President of AAPI here today. 
Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda issued the following statement after he conveyed well-wishes to the President of the United States and the First Lady on behalf of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). “The presidency is not about a person, it is about the office and what it represents not just to the American people, but to people around the world. COVID-19 is a serious illness and we are hopeful that the President and First Lady make a full and speedy recovery. Many AAPI members have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that the coronavirus has had on families across America. We have been on the frontlines in the war against this pandemic, and we will not stop fighting. As physicians, we have joined forces with researchers, scientists, and academics, to develop appropriate therapeutics and we hope, effective vaccines, to stop the spread of this disease, not just in the United States, but in India and around the world. It is our sincerest wish that during these trying and very difficult times, that the American people will set aside their differences and work together so we can defeat COVID-19,” added Dr. Jonnalagadda. Indian-Americans constitute less than one percent of the country’s population, but they account for nine percent of the American doctors and physicians. One out of every seven doctors serving in the US is of Indian heritage, providing medical care to over 40 million of US population.
Dr. Sajani Shah, Chairwoman of AAPI’s Board of Trustees pointed to the fact that “The deadly Corona Covid-19 virus has claimed nearly 180.000 deaths around the world with the US leading the chart with nearly 45,000 deaths. The pandemic has placed the entire healthcare sector, and in particular the Indian American medical fraternity at the frontlines of the fight against the pandemic.” There are about 80,000 practicing Indian American physicians who are at the forefront of fighting COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Dr. Jonnalagadda said, “APPI, the largest ethnic medical organization in the country has taken several proactive steps in educating their members and the general public about the disease, the preventive steps that needs to be taken at this time and most importantly, they are using all their contacts and resources at the hospital administrative and government level to facilitate treatment protocols to be in place at the various hospitals around the country.” For more information about AAPI, please visit: www.aapiusa.org
