Indian American physicians of New Jersey attend joyous, sold-out 6th annual gala

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It was a sold-out event at the Imperia banquet hall in Somerset, New Jersey where some 300 Indian American physicians came together to celebrate at their 6^th annual gala of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin-NJ Chapter.

The lively event featured speeches by leaders and founders of the organization, recognition of some attendees, as well as Bollywood performances and music that kept the crowd flowing, and enjoying a sit-down dinner.

Scores of vendors offered their products and services to the people trickling in and registering and a violin played melodies. Friends greeted each other and renewed their networks in a state where one in four patients is treated by an Indian doctor. Among the high-profile attendees was Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media, and a leading allergy and immunology specialist in NJ, who participated in the lamp-lighting ceremony along with President of AAPI-NJ Dr. Sudha Nahar, among others.

The cultural dances at the event were performed by the Malhaar Musical.

Top representatives of the three major health systems in New Jersey- Robert Wood Johnson, Hackensack Meridian, and CarePoint- were present at the event.

Those recognized at the gala included Dr. Rachana Kulkarni, regional director of Cardiology at Robert Wood Johnson, and chair of the AAPI-NJ Board of Trustees; two executives from Hackensack Meridian Health – Amie Thornton chief hospital executive at JFK Medical Center, and Patricia Carroll, president and chief hospital executive of Old Bridge Medical Center and Raritan Bay Medical Center; and Achintya Maulik, CEO of CarePoint.

Dr. Raj Bhayani welcomed everyone and dwelt on the history of AAPI-NJ since its inception six years ago. He spoke of its growth and the effort put into increasing enrolment

Dr. Nahar emphasized the need to increase Continuing Medical Education of physicians in the organization to keep them up on the needs of the rapidly changing medical research and practice.

Dr. Binod Sinha, past President of AAPI NJ, spoke about the charitable work done by the organization over the last six years. Even the first gala in 2018 was a sold-out event, he recalled, and the organization had achieved a lot in its short history. “In 2020 when Covid was at its height, we were the first AAPI chapter to raise $300,000 for charity,” he said, adding that AAPI-NJ was an organization with a purpose. “And the purpose is to support charity,” he said.

According to its website, among the organizations that AAPI-NJ supports are Akshaya Patra USA, Cancer Research, Help Foundation, India Disaster Fund, Pink Foundation, and SACHI – South Asian Community Health Initiative.

Dr. Maulik in his speech said AAPI-NJ had members who have a unique vision. “25 % of the world is Indian and there are a large number of Indians in New Jersey. But how much of Indian population represented in research and guidelines? The first purpose of AAPI is advancement of knowledge and education so that we understand all the innovations. Said he has a hospital in Nagpur and all the guidelines do not apply there in India. He stressed the need for AAPI community to pursue advancement of knowledge in order to really serve the South Asian population.

Dr. Kulkarni, in her speech said she looked forward to greater participation and lasting impact on the lives of many. “This evening is dedicated to celebrating our shared achievements, honoring those who have contributed to our mission, and inspiring new goals for the future.” She went on to say, “As we celebrate tonight, we also want to recognize the tremendous contributions of Physicians of Indian origin. These esteemed professionals play a vital role in the healthcare system of New Jersey and the United States, providing essential services, fostering innovation, and serving as leaders within the medical field. Their dedication not only strengthens our community but also enriches healthcare for all.”