Leading Figures in New England to be Honored at the 2024 New England Choice Awards

Eight prominent New Englanders from fields such as academia, healthcare, business, and community service, along with several organizations, will be honored with the prestigious New England Choice Awards (NECA) on November 15, 2024, at the Burlington Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA. INE MultiMedia, a non-profit organization promoting art, culture, education, and empowerment, announced the honorees.

The 2024 NECA recipients include Hamsa Balakrishnan, Associate Dean of Engineering at MIT; Dr. Mandeep Mehra, MD, Harvard Medical School; Ravi Ika, Founder & CEO of Nirvana Health; Mohan Nannapaneni, Founder and President of Team Aid; Preetesh Shrivastava, Founder of Hindi Manch; the Academy of Creative Arts; Shishu Bharati; and Vision-Aid.

These distinguished individuals and organizations will be recognized at a black-tie gala event at the Burlington Marriott Hotel. Over 400 attendees, including entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, philanthropists, educators, and community figures, are expected to participate in the celebration. The event is organized by INE MultiMedia in partnership with INDIA New England News.

INE MultiMedia received 279 nominations for the awards this year. A panel of nine judges, representing diverse fields such as business, academia, and community service, selected the final winners. The NECA Awards were founded in 2016 by INE MultiMedia to honor excellence in areas such as academia, art, music, business, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and community service. The organization aims to recognize individuals associated with the Indian American community and their contributions.

“NECA Awards celebrate the success of Indian Americans in New England and their contributions to our community,” said Dr. Manju Sheth, MD, President of INE MultiMedia and the creator of the NECA Awards. “It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the bar being raised each year. This growth reflects the increasing impact of Indian Americans across various industries. Congratulations to all the winners, and a heartfelt thanks to those who nominated these deserving individuals. We also appreciate our esteemed panel of judges. We are looking forward to celebrating on November 15.”

Here is an overview of this year’s award winners:

Academia and Innovation: Hamsa Balakrishnan

Hamsa Balakrishnan serves as the Associate Dean of Engineering at MIT and is the principal investigator of the Dynamics, Infrastructure Networks, and Mobility (DINaMo) group. Her research focuses on the modeling, analysis, and optimization of infrastructure systems. She and her team have collaborated with entities like the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, and major airports to address challenges such as air traffic congestion and advanced air mobility.

Healthcare Pioneer: Dr. Mandeep Mehra

Dr. Mandeep Mehra, MD, holds the William Harvey Distinguished Chair in Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine and serves as Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Heart Disease at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is a leading figure in cardiovascular medicine and is recognized globally for his work in heart failure and cardiac transplantation. He has published over 500 academic papers on advanced heart failure, circulatory support devices, and innovative care processes, placing him at the forefront of his field.

Leadership in Business & Entrepreneurship: Ravi Ika

Ravi Ika is the Founder and CEO of Nirvana Health. He established the company in 2013 with the goal of eliminating inefficiencies in the healthcare system. His company offers a platform that integrates pharmacy, behavioral health, and medical services for healthcare payers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Ika’s entrepreneurial efforts have led to innovative solutions aimed at improving healthcare management.

Community Service (Individual): Mohan Nannapaneni

Mohan Nannapaneni is the Founder and President of TEAM Aid, a non-profit organization providing support to individuals in distress, especially those living or traveling abroad. TEAM Aid assists families dealing with sudden losses due to accidents, suicides, homicides, or natural deaths. Since its inception in 2017, the organization has transported over 3,000 mortal remains to India and other countries, and has offered legal and immigration support to those in need. Nannapaneni’s leadership has made TEAM Aid a vital resource for the immigrant community, and the organization has over 3,000 volunteers across North America and other countries.

Shishu Bharati

Shishu Bharati is a non-profit organization that promotes Indian culture, heritage, and languages. Founded 47 years ago, its mission is to “Perceive, Preserve, and Promote” Indian cultural values. With three branches located in Lexington, Nashua, and Walpole, the organization serves over 850 students and teaches languages such as Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. Shishu Bharati prepares students to act as cultural ambassadors in their new home.

Community Catalyst: Preetesh Shrivastava

Preetesh Shrivastava is the Founder of Hindi Manch, a cultural organization focused on promoting Hindi language and Indian culture through various events. He has played a key role in organizing national-level cultural programs and has brought Bollywood celebrities to Hindi Manch musical events. Shrivastava is also actively involved in several other non-profit organizations, including the India Association of Greater Boston and the LearnQuest Academy of Music.

Hetal & Java Joshi: Academy of Creative Arts

The Academy of Creative Arts, founded by Hetal and Java Joshi, is an educational institution in Burlington, MA, offering over 30 creative and performing arts programs. Their facility, which spans 18,000 square feet, provides classes in art forms such as painting, Bollywood dance, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Hindustani vocal music, tabla, and storytelling.

Vision-Aid

Vision-Aid is a non-profit organization based in Lexington, MA, that focuses on empowering the visually impaired. This year, Vision-Aid celebrates its 20th anniversary. The organization has established a network of Vision Rehabilitation and Education centers throughout India, providing assistive tools and resources to over 20,000 visually impaired individuals.

“Like the past winners, this year’s outstanding NECA award recipients have consistently demonstrated their dedication to their innovative ideas, communities, organizations, and businesses,” said Upendra Mishra, co-founder of INE MultiMedia and publisher of INDIA New England News. “We’re excited to celebrate and share their successes with the community on November 15 at the Burlington Marriott Hotel.”

These recipients embody the excellence and commitment that the NECA Awards were created to recognize. Each has made a significant impact in their respective fields, contributing to both local and global communities. The 2024 New England Choice Awards promises to be a remarkable event, celebrating the achievements and innovations of these outstanding individuals and organizations.