Sen. Joe Manchin honors AAPI President Dr. Satheesh Kathula with President’s Lifetime Achievement Award

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On September 19, 2024, Dr. Satheesh Kathula, president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), was honored with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony took place at the Hart Senate Building in Washington DC, where the award was presented by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

Senator Manchin told News India Times, “I just want to thank and congratulate Dr. Kathula for all he has done,” while commending Dr. Kathula’s contributions to the country, particularly in the field of healthcare, and his dedication to his patients and the broader community.

President of the US-India SME Council, Elisha Pulivarti, who nominated Dr. Kathula for the  award, told News India Times, “Dr. Kathula has been a tremendous asset to the Indian American community, and the Council is proud to honor him with this recognition.”The Council has been approved as an official certifying organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Awards.

Dr. Kathula, a 29-year resident of Ohio, has dedicated his career to treating patients and actively supporting various nonprofit organizations. He has held leadership roles, serving as President for five different organizations. Currently, as the President of AAPI, he represents 100,000 physicians of Indian-origin across the United States.

Advisor to AAPI charitable foundation, Dr. Sudhir Parikh, a Padma Shri recipient and chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, told News India Times, “I would like to congratulate Dr. Kathula for his contribution to the Indian American community and AAPI.”

Regarding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S. from September 21-23, Sen. Manchin told News India Times PM Modi was a “good ally and a good friend,” adding, “We want him to be with us, and we want to be with him,” emphasizing the strong relationship between the two nations.

Dr. Kathula told News India Times, “It’s an honor and a privilege to receive this award from Senator Joe Manchin. This really inspires not only me, but for the people who are actually serving the community and their society at large.”

He said, AAPI will be hosting a Global Health Summit this October in New Delhi, with a focus on the theme of preventing cancer and heart attacks through lifestyle changes and technological advancements. He went on to say that AAPI is aiming to have Prime Minister Modi and President of India Droupadi Murmu participate in the event, which will also see attendance from hundreds of doctors. He further noted that AAPI is also preparing for its annual convention, which will take place next summer in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He stressed that AAPI also plans to organize a bone marrow drive, as the donor pool among South Asians is very limited. “So, we are trying to recruit potential donors in the stem cell or bone marrow transplant donations. Because people are getting affected by lymphomas and leukemias, and they need transplant. Since they do not get the matched donors in this country, we are trying to increase that pool,” he added.

AAPI is also launching a program called “Million Miles of Gratitude,” to honor veterans by promoting physical activity, he said. Participants can log their walking or running miles, with each mile serving as a tribute to veterans. The goal is to collectively reach a million miles in the next year.

Additionally, AAPI aims to introduce heart screenings for the Indian community, as they are at higher risk of experiencing heart attacks at a younger age, he said, adding that the initiative will focus on prevention and early detection.