Book on history of Indian-American physicians released

October 15, 2020

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Dr. Ranga Reddy, an anesthesiologist from Illinois, released a coffee-table book Sept. 16, 2020, on the history of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, at the Mini Convention and Fall Governing Body Meeting of AAPI in Chicago. Photo: courtesy AAPI

Dr. Ranga Reddy, an anesthesiologist from Illinois, released a coffee-table book, Sept. 16, 2020, chronicling the history of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), an organization that for decades has advocated on behalf of the interests of an estimated 100,000 Indian-American physicians and Fellows around the country.

India’s Consul General in Chicago Arun Kumar, along with Dr. Reddy, chair, AAPI History Task Force and past president released the book in the presence of AAPI delegates from around the nation during the MINI Convention and the Fall Governing Body Meeting of AAPI at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, Chicago, IL.

At the Convention, Dr. Ranga Reddy summarized the history of the journey of Indian physicians to this country and the challenges they faced when they began coming in the 1960s and 1970s.

“It was tough and challenging for the pioneers to establish practice and find suitable job opportunities in the US. Faced with instances of overt as well as subtle discrimination in residency recruitment and License Reciprocity, physicians of Indian Origin organized themselves in several states to fight the unfair treatment,” Dr. Reddy, was quoted saying at the convention.

Dr. Reddy served AAPI in various capacities including as its President and as a member of the Board of Trustees. He led efforts to create AAPI’s Patron Trustee Membership to support AAPI Charitable Foundation and raised over $600,000 during his presidency.

Summarizing the importance of the book on AAPI history, Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, president-elect of AAPI, said, “This is an excellent historical review of AAPI by Dr. Ranga Reddy. AAPI is fortunate to have dedicated leaders such as Dr. Reddy. Thanks for the wonderful work to AAPI. Hats off to his passion and dedication to AAPI. It’s a valuable work about AAPI since 37 years.”

“Over the past 37 years, AAPI has grown and is now the largest ethnic medical society in the United States, representing the interests of over 100,000 Indian American physicians and Fellows,” said Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, current AAPI President.