“The 13th edition of the annual Global Healthcare Summit will be held in Hyderabad in India in July 19th to 21st, 2019,” Dr. Suresh Reddy, President-Elect of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), during a Kick Off Dinner Event, here at the Hotel Daspalla, Kavuri Hills, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad on January 2nd.

Dr. Suresh Reddy, Chair, Global Health Summit 2019, urged all AAPI leaders, local organizers and sponsors to fully participate in order to make the next edition of AAPI’s Global Healthcare a more effective one, serving the many healthcare needs of our mother India. Dr. Reddy, who will assume charge as the President of AAPI in July this year at the convention in Atlanta, USA, said, the GHS 2019, planned to be organized by AAPI in collaboration with BAPIO & GAPIO, as well as Host Alumni Chapters, including OGKTMA, ATMGUSA, KAMCOSA, and GMCGA, will focus on preventive health, targeting Rural Health, Women’s Health, and providing special CPR Trainings, that will equip First Responders to help save life. 

Dr. Raghu Lolabhattu, Co-Chair, Global Health Summit 2019, in his felicitation address, said, “We flew away from India decades ago. However, our hearts are still in India.” He said, GHS 2019 will focus on several relevant issues to serve the many healthcare needs and delivery of healthcare in India. For the first time, AAPI will organize Medical Jeopardy with cash prizes to winners, he said. He praised the local community and organizers for their enthusiastic support.

Anwar Feroz Siddiqui, Chief Strategic Advisor, AAPI, in his address, complimented Dr. Suresh Reddy for his great leadership, especially his ability to choose and delegate responsibilities to top AAPI leaders. Mr. Siddiqui, who has been working with GHS since its beginning a dozen years ago, lauded AAPI and its members for their willingness, passion, and generosity to give back to their motherland.

Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, Vice-President 2018-19, pointed to the uniqueness of the next GHS, pointing to the 1st ever GHS to be held in the state of Telangana, after the state attained full statehood. “AAPI has capped the voluminous achievements of the past 37 years with a clear vision to move forward taking this noble organization and its vision for better healthcare to newer heights,” he said. He said, under his leadership, the 14th edition of GHS 2020 will be held in Visakhapatnam in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, AAPI’s Secretary 2018-19, and a key organizer of the event, reminded the audience of the passion and dedication for their motherland that brings them back to India every year. She enumerated several contributions/outcome from the past 12 GHS organized by AAPI across several cities in India.

Dr. Gotimukula said, “AAPI has made significant contributions towards addressing several issues affecting the healthcare system in India. We have addressed the issue of Traumatic Brain Injury – the scourge of young India, and helped with the development of management guidelines thereby helping prevent deaths due to road traffic accidents, raising the importance and awareness on smoking cessation, Adopt a Village program and taking the initiatives to make quality healthcare accessible universally to village and taluka and district levels, and most recently a strong collaborative on making India TB Free with the signing of a MOU with USAID. Ten city pilots are well under way and significant progress is being made,” he told a captive audience,” she said.

Dr. Sanku Rao, a past President of AAPI presented the 37 year old history of AAPI and the evolution of GHS.in the past dozen years and the many accomplishments/contributions in the delivery of healthcare in US and in India. AAPI is the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States, and has been in existence for nearly four decades. The Association has almost 130 local chapters, specialty societies and alumni organizations under its purview, and represents the interests of over 70,000 physicians and 15,000 medical students and residents of Indian heritage in the United States, Dr. Rao said.

Sreeni Gangasani. Chair of AAPI Convention, provided an overview of the upcoming AAPI Convention in Atlanta, GA, and urged all to join in to experience a historic at the next annual convention. “To be attended by over 2,000 delegates from across the United States, the 37th Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) will be held at the fabulous Omni Atlanta at CNN Center and Georgia World Congress Centre (GWCC) in Atlanta from July 3 to 7, 2019,” he said.

Dr. Satish Kathula, referred to the highly impactful ADOPT A VILLAGE Program, spearheaded by Dr. Jagan Ailinani, a past President of AAPI, and Dr. Alok Aggarwal, who has adopted a village in the state of Telangana as examples of the good work done by AAPI. He said, AAPI provides a platform for many individuals who want to give back to their motherland.

Dr. Manoj Jain, Chair and spearheading the TB-Free India Movement, spoke about AAPI’s collaborative efforts with several non-governmental organizations and the USAID, with a  commitment to strengthen its initiatives to “make every city, ever district, every village in India TB free.” Dr. Jain pointed to the planning/review session held during GHS in Mumbai on Building on Local Roadmaps for a TB-Free India - A Combined effort of AAPI and CETI under guidance of Government of India, USAID, where the progress in the 10 cities, where the program has been on for several months, was reviewed through a live webcast from each of these 10 cities. He said, Hyderabad will be joining the efforts to make its citizens TB-Free.

Dr. Dwarakanatha Reddy, Overseas Convener, AAPI Global Health Summit 2019-20 and several Alumni Medical School leaders from the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were felicitated at the kick off event. Dr. Sushma Nakka, Presdient of KAMCOSA- USA served as the MC for the evening, while Dr. Ravi Kolli delivered the vote of thanks.

A Press Conference at the famous Hyderabad Press Club was organized on January 3rd to officially announce the Global Healthcare Summit planned to be held in Hyderabad from July 19th to 21st this year. Attended by dozens of local and national reporters from the media world, the Press Conference was addressed by the top leadership of AAPI and local organizing committee members.

Packed with strategic planning sessions such as the much anticipated CEO Forum, Women’s Forum, Launching of Free Health Clinic, First Responders Training, CMEs, promote Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine Education,  Research Contest, Medical Quiz, Fashion Show, Cultural Events, pre and post visits for delegates, the GHS 2019 is expected to be one with the greatest impact and significant contributions towards harnessing the power of international Indian diaspora to bring the most innovative, efficient, cost effective healthcare solutions to India, Dr. Suresh Reddy said.

One in seven Americans is touched by a physician of Indian origin. There is an equally large percentage of medical residents, fellows and students in the USA serving millions of Americans. AAPI’s GHS has provided a venue for medical education programs and symposia with world-renowned physicians on the cutting edge of medicine.

Representing the interests of the over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, leaders of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic organization of physicians, for 37 years. For more details, please visit:  https://aapisummit.org/www.aapiusa.org

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