AAPI’s Women’s Leadership Forum celebrates “Women of Excellence” at World Health Congress

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The Women’s Leadership Forum of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (aapiusa.org) celebrated “Women of Excellence” at the ongoing World Health Congress being held in the Marriott Marquis at Times Square.

Moderated by Dr. Bhavani Srinivasan and Dr. Mamta Singhvi   past president of MSRF and led by Dr. Anjana Samadder, president of AAPI, the Forum participants included Smiriti Irani, former federal Minister from India and Bollywood star, as well as Dr. Leena Gupta, Regional Director from the West Coast, Yoshita Singh, Press Trust of India, Chief Correspondent for USA and the United Nations, Dr. Soumya Vishvanathan, a physician and corporate leader, leading a group of 17 Hospitals in Florida. Each of them shared with the audience their personal journey to become successful in their professional careers.

Irani spoke about how she broke many glass ceilings and rose to the top of the political and Bollywood world. “I am honored to be part of the panel of trail blazing women.” She said, she was one of the youngest ever to be elected to the Rajya Sabha and Cabinet positions in India’s central government, and was honored as ‘Young Woman Leader of the World’ by the World Economic Forum.

She also highlighted India’s role in bringing women’s leadership to the G 20 meetings.

“Women don’t have the problem of speaking up, but they have the problem of being heard.” She said, “Women’s values cannot be measured by their success, she needs to be evaluated by what she is.” She praised physicians of Indian origin “for your great contributions.”

Yoshita Singh shared her journey from India to the UN. “You learn everyday as there is new everyday. I have seen the sea change in multilateral and bilateral relationships with USA.”

Dr. Soumya Vishvanathan said, “I am honored to be part of the powerful panel. It’s not about women, but people’s development.” Vishvanathan is an internal medicine physician in New England, she decided to take on leadership roles and rose to the top of the ladder today. She said, “With a well-rounded education and belief that I am ready to take on this leadership role leading 17 hospitals across Florida, where our system wide focus is on training young physicians.”

President of AAPI Dr. Anajana Samadder congratulated women participating in the Forum, adding, “From birth to death, all of us need women in our lives. They sacrifice their lives for the rest of the family, society, and the world at large. AAPI’s Women Forum salutes the great contributions of the women panelists here today and all the women who are present here today and everywhere.”