India Post News Service
NEW YORK: With over 250 physicians and community leaders present, the new executive committee members headed by Dr Jagdish Gupta assumed charge of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin of Queens and Long Island (AAPI-QLI ) at Akbar Restaurant in Garden City, Long Island, NY last month
Dr Rakesh Dua, whose term ended, passed on the gavel to Dr Gupta, a practicing Gastroenterologist, serving the community for over 40 years. Other members of the Executive Committee 2018 are Dr. Himanshu Pandya, President Elect; Dr. Raj Bhayani, Vice President; Dr. Abhay Malhotra, Secretary; and Dr.Vinod Jayam, Treasurer. Ten prominent physicians were inducted as Members at Large of the Governing Body. The organization also has 15-member Board of Trustees and five Advisory Board Members from the community.
Dr Vajinath Chakote, Chairman of the Nominating & Election Committee, declared the results of 23rd AAPI-QLI Executive Committee for 2018. Dr. Jagdish Gupta laid out the new programs for the members in the year 2018. “We want to continue to be the most vibrant, transformative and politically active Chapter among all AAPI chapters in the nation,” he said.
AAPIQLI, one of the largest chapters of National AAPI, has been serving 800 member physicians since 1995, providing continuing medical education, and discussing the state of the art topics in healthcare, wealth management and practice management.
Dr. Ajay K. Lodha, past President of AAPI-QLI and national AAPI, was elected unanimously as the Chair, BOT of AAPIQLI in a subsequent meeting on February 16. Dr. Lodha called upon the AAPI members to “stand united, in order to be able to fight for our rights,” while pointing to the fact that Indian American physicians service every 7th patient in the nation and contribute immensely to the healthcare industry in the nation.
AAPI-QLI aim has been to represent the interests of all physicians of Indian origin in the area including providing Continuous Medical Education (CME) and engaging in charitable activities for the benefit of the community at large. Since its inception there was a strong alliance with and support from National AAPI. It currently represents 660 active physicians and donates more than $60,000 annually for charitable purposes. It is also one of the largest chapters of National AAPI.
A highlight of its February event was announcing funds to many different community organizations. The beneficiaries were Governor Cuomo Puerto Rico Relief and Rebuilding Fund to alleviate devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, International Nutrition Network (INN) which serves free meals and operates 10 Soup Kitchens in 14 location across Long Island, Rotacare which provides free medical, dental, pharmacy and other behavioral health services to low income people, Sankara Nethralaya & Eye Foundation, providing world class free tertiary eye care and helping eradicate blindness in India and many other cultural and religious community organizations.
