First 100 Days of AAPI Led By Dr. Suresh Reddy and Team

“As I look back to the past 100 days since we assumed office, leading American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), representing over 100,000 enthusiastic and cohesive group of Physicians and Fellows of Indian Origin, I am extremely happy to state that we have kept our promise,” Dr. Suresh Reddy, President of AAPI., declared here.

“In my inaugural address, I had promised “to align all the energies to make AAPI an enormous force, committing to take the more than three decades old organization to the new heights and bring all the AAPI Chapters, Regions, Members of the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees to work cohesively and unitedly for the success of AAPI and the realization of its noble mission, bringing in increased dignity, decency, professionalism and eliteness into the organization, and thus elevate the already existing stand,” DR. Reddy reminded AAPI members.

Some of the goals Dr. Reddy and his Team have set before them included: Make AAPI financially robust and increase our endowments enormously so we can focus on our mission of: Education, Mentoring, Research, Charity, and Service. “In the past 100 days we have been in Office, we have worked hard to realize the goals we have set for ourselves, taking AAPI to greater heights,” Dr. Reddy proudly announced here.

“I am grateful to the AAPI members and leaders who have entrusted me with the task of leading AAPI,” said, Dr. Reddy, who along with Dr. Seema Arora, as the Chair of BOT; Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, President-Elect of AAPI; Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, Vice President;  Dr. Vijay Kolli, Secretary; Dr. Raj Bhayani, Treasurer of AAPI;  Dr. Stella Gandhi, President of Young Physician Section;  and, Dr. Anubhav Jain, President of Medical Student and Resident Section, assumed charge of the largest ethnic Medical Association during the annual convention in Atlanta, GA on July 6th, 2019.

Under the leadership of Dr. Reddy, AAPI is financially strong today than ever before. “Moving the ship towards financial stability, we have secured funds not only for this year, but for the next three years. Significantly reduced AAPI office expense,” Dr. Reddy said.

Being active and making this vibrant Physicians body visible and meaningful to it members, Dr. Reddy and his Team have undertaken numerous programs and activities. The most important of the numerous initiatives was the highly successful AAPI’s Historic 13th Annual Global Healthcare Summit in Hyderabad, inaugurated by Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India, at the famous Taj Krishna Hotel in Hyderabad on July 21st.  The GHS 2019 had several Firsts. For the first time, the GHS was organized for 4 days with a maximum attendance of more than 200 Doctors from USA, with all the workshops and lectures were very well attended; AAPI was able to come up with a White Paper with all the achievements of AAPI through GHS.  AAPI successfully organized a popular Jeopardy-type Med-Quiz for the medical students from all the medical colleges from the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, attended by over a hundred Med Students form several Medical schools.

AAPI’s  Young Physician Section had the largest turnout ever for this year’s Global Health Summit. They were heavily involved in multiple aspects of the conference including the Women’s Forum, Cardiac Workshop, Oncology Workshop and one of the most attended events, Medical Jeopardy.

At GHS, AAPI rededicated its vision and mission to strengthen the early detection and treatment of TB, recommitting itself to strengthen its efforts to work towards eradicating Tuberculosis (TB) by the year 2025 in India, and pledged to expand its efforts to more cities in India, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

AAPI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the HealthNet Global Limited (HNG) – a company owned by Apollo Hospitals Group, with the objective of delivering virtual second opinion consultations to millions of Indians in the vast rural areas of India, where they are unable to get required medical care.

Attended by 178, including 123 Medical Students, 27 Consultants, 22 Nurses and 6 Laerdal Representatives, the seven hours long AAPI GHS Resuscitation Workshop provided Training on ways enhance the outcomes after sudden cardiac arrests ongoing community hands-only CPR training and AED awareness.

AAPI delegates, students and faculties from several schools and colleges joined the “Obesity Revolution” Walkathon at the popular KBR Park, for creating awareness about Obesity. The walkathon had a record breaking as many as 2,000 participants.  This was followed by four other walkathons across the City at different venues.

The Women’s Forum at the GHS had a fantastic turnout with panelists Jayaprada, Dr. Anju Aggarwal, Dr. Sai Lakshmi, and Sangeeta Reddy. The forum was planned with Co-Chairs Dr. Sajani Shah and Dr. Seema Arora and committee members including YPS board members; Dr. Stella Gandhi, Dr. Ami Baxi, Dr. Soumya Neravetla, and Dr. Swati Yalamanchi.

Through a series of world class Continuing Medical Education (CME) and non-CME seminars by experts in their fields, AAPI provided comprehensive and current reviews and guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases and to reduce morbidity and mortality and achieve cost effective quality care outcomes.

Partnering with TATA Trusts, AAPI continues to fight against cancer in India, envisioning an integrated well connected network of existing and additional centers staffed by local and AAPI volunteer specialists from USA working partly in India and partly via tele-medicine from US to deliver high quality cancer care across the country in the villages. AAPI team visited Burgula, a village Adopt by Dr. Alok Agrawal under ADOPT A VILLAGE Program, having first hand experience of the noble initiatives by Dr. Agrawal and his dedicated team.

Seminars on AYUSH, Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, & Homeopathy and a powerful CEO Forum, attended by leaders in the field of healthcare, pharmacy, industry leaders and academicians, were some of the other major highlights of the GHS 2019.

During the Pre & Post Tours Global Healthcare Summit, AAPI delegates had a a spiritual trip through multi faith beliefs beginning with Judaism, followed by Christianity and Islam and ending with Hinduism to Israel, Jordan and India. AAPI participated in CPR training organized by International Liaison Committee (ILCOR) on Resuscitation, Jordan, affiliated to American Heart Association, and trained multiple University students. Dr. Suresh Reddy and Dr Krishan Kumar along with Dr. Taghreed Al Najjar, Chair of ILCOR, Jordan division taught the importance of bystander CPR.

Post Global Summit took AAPI leaders to the temples of Siva at Srikalahasthi, Lord Ganesha at Kaanipakam and later traveled to Tirumala to visit Balaji temple for darshan and his blessings. Post Tour included City Tour of Hyderabad and Thirupathy. AAPI delegates had a memorable tour to the historic Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, where they learnt the rich history of the former Kingdom of Hyderabad ruled by the Nizams.

Back home in the US, AAPI joined the Independence Day parade in Greater Chicago area with much fanfare for the fifth time in a row on Aug 11, 2019. AAPI had its annual Leadership conference at the Chicago Indian Consulate. Dr. Bharat Barai welcomed the delegates. It was inaugurated by Dr. Raja Krishnamurthy, US Congress man. Robert Rules of Order by Dr. Arvind Goyal; Indo- US Relations byDr. Sampat Shivangi and Ethics by Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar were themes for the conference. Kick off year 2019-20 of AAPI was led by Dr. Suresh Reddy.

AAPI joined hands with the Chicago Medical Society’s project SMILE (Saving More Illinois Lives through Education) and Indian American Medical Association, Illinois in an exclusive Hands-only CPR training, and AED educational program at Shirdi Saibaba Temple in Aurora , Illinois on September 1st. The three-hour program with CPR promotional video of AAPI and hands-on training attended by about 150 participants including students from the community

Continuing and strengthening AAPI’s association with AMA, this year, Dr. Vijaya Appareddy was appointed as a Delegate and Dr. Sunita Kanumury as an alternate delegate. Many resolutions have been authored/coauthored by Dr. Appareddy on behalf of AAPI and adopted as AMA policy. Several AAPI leaders received AMA Leadership awards.

AAPI President Dr. Suresh Reddy and Past President Dr. Ranga Reddy represented AAPI at the Mahatma Gandhi. Sesquicentennial Birthday Celebration event on October 12, 2019. The Metropolitan Asian Family Services organized the spectacular event at the Waterford Banquets in Elmhurst, Illinois, as a tribute to the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi.

Several Indian American community leaders and AAPI leaders came together in at the National Press Club in D.C. for the first ever U.S.-India Leaders Summit on Sep. 18th, to brainstorm on alleviating health care challenges, boosting U.S.-India trade, and strengthening the security partnership between Washington and New Delhi. IMPACT Summit 2019 was attended by many AAPI delegates including AAPI President, Dr. Suresh Reddy and Chair, Board of Trustees, Dr. Seema Arora, in Washington DC on September 19th.

AAPI leadership was honored to be part of the solemn celebration as Dr. Vidyasagar Dharmapuri was honored by the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, with a professorship in his name: The Dharmapuri Vidyasagar, MD, Professorship in Neonatology. 

A delegation of AAPI  leaders, comprising of Dr. Suresh Reddy, Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, and Dr. Himanshu Pandya, President of AAPI QLI, visited Antigua on invitation by the American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine with the aim to help foster long lasting symbiotic relationship and assist with the already robust educational pathway for the medical students of Indian origin at AUA.

  During the visit to the island, AAPI leaders met with several prominent international cricket players, most of them from the current and past Indian Cricket Team, including Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri,  and Virat Kohli, and they were formally invited to be part of the Sports Medicine Summit at the AAPI Annual Convention in Chicago next year, which they agreed to, subject to their schedule.

AAPI Leaders Present Memorandum to Prime Minister Modi Offering to Play Critical Role in Implementation of Ayushman Bharat, during one of the greatest public events ever organized and jointly attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, which was attended by over 50,000 people from across the nation, at the NFL stadium in Houston on Sunday, September 22nd, 2019.

AAPI joined hands with IRC to train 500,000 lay people in CPR during the month of October to celebrate the World Restart A Heart (WRAH) day. AAPI has in the forefront condemning Gun Violence, and has offered support to AMA’s Stance, calling upon the US and state governments to make common-sense reforms, supported by the American public to protect innocent lives.

Led by Dr. Reddy and his Team, the national AAPI Leaders have been travelling across the country to interact with and listen to members and leaders of the AAPI Regional Chapters. From New York to Alabama, from Ohio to Florida, they have been to numerous Chapter and Regional meetings to strengthen the local bodies that are the backbone of national APPI.

“We will continue to work together knowing that collaboration and cooperation is essential among AAPI leadership that all members of the lead team speak and act in one voice. I promise you that I will work closely with the next two confirmed presidents so we can start strategic planning on multiple projects. This will ensure continuity and smooth transition of programs and initiatives from current President to next. With all your blessings we will take AAPI to even greater heights,” said Dr. Reddy.