AJAY GHOSH
FREMONT, California: Dr Raj Bhayani from New York was honored by Vivek Oberoi and Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP general secretary, at the India Day Parade and Festival of Globe in Fremont, California, with the Inspirations to Indian Americans Award August 18.
The event was organized by the Federation of Indian Associations of Northern California and convened by Dr Romesh Japra, a leading cardiologist in the Bay Area.
Dr Bhayani, an accomplished neurosurgeon, social activist, entrepreneur, leader, and the first ENT surgeon in India, was honored for his inspiring leadership and achievements in his medical profession and community service.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Bhayani, while thanking the organizers for the event for bestowing the award, referred to India as a great and the largest democracy, which is growing steadily under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Patriotism, which is in our hearts is seen in our actions,” he said. “This Independence Day has a very special meaning for India and all of us, as India, for the first time in our 73 years of Independence history, is going in the right direction.”
Dr Bhayani, who had completed training in neurosurgery and has a fellowship in facial plastic micro vascular surgery in India, is currently practicing medicine in New York. An active member and currently serving as the treasurer of the American Association of Physicians of Indian-origin (AAPI), Dr Bhayani has held several positions in AAPI and has grown with the organization. He is the president-elect of AAPI-QLI, one of the largest Chapters of AAPI.
His accomplishments in the professional world are well known. During the duration of his career, he has published and presented more than 50 research papers, which has resulted in inclusion of his name in the Marquis ‘Who’s Who in America in Medicine and Healthcare’. 
Not satisfied with his professional accomplishments, Dr Bhayani has devoted his life to being actively involved in the philanthropic sector. He currently serves on the boards, and is an active member, of over 20 communities and associations that are involved in philanthropic activities. In addition, he has also served on the Board of Trustees of Save Life Foundation, which has helped in the implementation of Good Samaritan Law and Road Safety Bill to help road side accident victims and to improve road safety in India.
His life has been an example of how to give back to the community, which has given him much.
“Even since childhood, I had the desire to be someone, who wanted to contribute to the common good,” he said
Recently, he was the chief organizer for ‘Football for Nation’ initiative in Delhi by bringing parliamentarians and film stars together to play a game of football to raise funds for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Besides, his significant contributions in organizing several health and blood donation camps as well as fund raisers for Akshaya Patra, helping millions of kids with the mid-day meal program in India, have earned him great respect and appreciation in the society. He was grand Patron for India Day Parade in New York to mark India’s Independence Day in New York.
The unassuming Dr Bhayani was instrumental in organizing Prime Minister Modi’s historic address to the Indian-American community at Madison Square Garden, during his maiden visit to New York in September 2014.
Dr Bhayani is one of the foremost members of the Indian community who has worked tirelessly in increasing awareness of the Modi’s initiatives in the US, which in return has resulted in the remittance of funds to India for the implementation of these initiatives.
His outstanding support to the society in his roles as a physician, a leader, and as a philanthropist have not gone unnoticed. Dr Bhayani has received dozens of awards, recognition and scholarships. He has been felicitated on several platforms and his list of accolades include Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman Award at House of Lords in London, Bharat Gaurav Puraskar and Delhi Ratan Award, Hind Ratan Award, Asian American Heritage Honoree of the year 2016, New York City, as well as State Proclamation Award.
He has also been awarded United States Congressional Achievement Award and is also the recipient of the Most Influential Leader in Indian Community in United States award. He has received USA Triologic Society award for his research papers. He has held various leadership positions in the healthcare field and leading hospitals in New York heading the ENT and facial plastic surgery divisions.
With ambitions to grow as a national leader of AAPI, Dr Bhayani says: “Since my association with AAPI, I have seen with awe and inspiration, how this noble organization has grown over the past 37 years. AAPI has a very strong future with its highly educated, skilled and dedicated membership and leadership. AAPI has a greater role to play in the national arena.”
