(Chicago, IL: July 4th, 2020): The First Ever Virtual Summer Summit by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), held from June 16th to 28th, 2020, came to a close on Sunday with a call to continue the service by its members to humanity, while providing the AAPI members with a unique opportunity to learn, interact and be entertained from the comfort of oneâ€™s home, Dr. Suresh Reddy, President of AAPI, said here today.

â€œWith high level speakers including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised the contributions of AAPI members during his virtual address on Saturday, June 27th, the Summit was packed with 8.5 hours of CMEs, virtual seminars, Nurses Appreciation, and cultural extravaganza,â€ Dr. Reddy said. Other speakers who are scheduled to address AAPI members included: Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation; Susan Bailey, AMA President; and Jerome Adams, US Surgeon General.

â€œI am proud of the achievements and contributions of the Indian-origin physicians across the world in the battle against COVID-19,â€ Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the Chief Guest at first ever Virtual Global Summit. In his address on Indo-US Relationship During the Pandemic and the Role of AAPI, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told members of the powerful and the largest ethnic Medical Association in the United States, â€œI have closely followed your contributions, sacrificing your life to save that of others. Some of have done the ultimate sacrifice of giving up your own lives at the service of others. You will be remembered for forever.â€ Acknowledging the sacrifices of Indian Origin physicians, Modi said, â€œI want to express my sincere gratitude for being the warriors who are committed to save the lives of so many during the pandemic.â€

Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu was introduced by Dr. Seema Arora, Chair of AAPIâ€™s Board of Trustees, as â€œone of the most experienced Indian diplomats on US affairs, having served in the Indian Mission in Washington DC in various capacities and at the Permanent Mission of India to United Nations, New York.â€ Calling the Indian American Physicians as the â€œreal heroesâ€ Ambassador Sandhu â€œYou are the real heroes who have risked your lives and have been out to assist others." There is a widespread recognition of their contributions in the US, he added. â€œLawmakers in the US appreciate your contributions. AAPI members have greatly contributed risking their own lives.â€ Expressing his deepest condolences to AAPI and the families of those Physicians, who had lost their lives, the Indian Envoy thanked AAPI for â€œyour support to the Indian Embassy helping Indian students stranded here due to the pandemic. Your online Health Desk has helped many Indians in the US affected by the pandemic.â€

Praising AAPI for the several charitable works in India, Ambassador Sandhu, said, â€œIndia and the US are strategic partnersâ€ and pointed to collaboration between the two nations on cutting edge medical research in healthcare sector and science. With inexpensive medical supplies to 127 countries, India has become â€œa reliable partner in global supply chain of all healthcare needs.â€

Dr. Anil Tibrewal led the Nurses Felicitation, during which the Nurses the soul of healthcare delivery were recognized by AAPI for their dedication and commitment to patient care, especially during the COVID pandemic. AAPI has completed a tremendous program reaching out 110 hospitals in more than 40 states across the US and appreciating nearly 10,000 nurses recently under the Chairmanship of Dr. Anil Tibrewal. The one hour long exclusive webinar provided AAPI members with personal stories of Nurse Leaders from different parts of the country.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard addressed the delegates during the Virtual Summit. In her remarks, â€œThis is a new normal where we use technology to connect with one another. We as members of the community connect and work together to defeat this invisible enemy. You have been in the front line. Putting yourself at risk and you save the lives of the people. What is unique about AAPI is that you bring a global perspective to defeat the virus and serve the people.â€ She congratulated AAPI for raising money to provide PPEs across the nation. She offered to facilitate a dialogue between leaders of the Indian diaspora with Joe Biden, when he is elected as the President of the US.

Susan Bailey, President of American Medical Association (AMA) delivered the keynote address. She expressed support for the DACA program. Emphasising the need for more qualified medical professionals, she said, â€œOur nation depends on professionals from the immigrant community. They will care and provide much needed services to the nation.â€ She was critical of the current Administrationâ€™s move to suspend immigrant work visas. â€œAMA strongly opposes the ban on immigrant doctors and their families.â€ IMG is crucial to patient care and AMA supports Conrad 30 and Physicians Access Reauthorization Act, she said. â€œAAPI has strongly supported IMGs and we will continue to work together to ensure patients receive the best care. We greatly support AAPIâ€™s efforts in immigration visas for Physicians,â€ she said.

â€œWe need to safely reopen the economy knowing the risks and impact on peopleâ€™s lives. We need to support policies expanding coverage of health insurance to the maximum number of people. Every sector of health care will benefit from telemedicine and we will work to have it continued after the Pandemic endemic,â€ she told the AAPI delegates. Dr. Amil Shah, Dr. Jayesh Shah and Dr. Bhushan Pandya along with Dr. Anupma Gotimukula coordinated the webinar. NRI doctors have significant contribution to be on the frontline fighting COVID and servicing patients.

During an interactive session with Dr. Jerome Adams, Surgeon General of America, he delivered insightful description on COVID 19 and how to prevent it from infecting. He recalled his very close association with â€œmany Indian American Doctors who have dedicated their lives at the service of the nation.â€ He praised the thousands of â€œIndian American Doctors who provide services in rural areas across the nation. You have done immensely to lift this country and support this nation.â€ President Trump is concerned about the broken immigration system, he added.

Describing it as â€œchallenging times and also a unique moment in our nationâ€™s history,â€ he referred to the impact of COVID-19 on peopleâ€™s lives. â€œThe virus is exploiting our pre-existing conditions and affects people differently based on oneâ€™s gender, age and race.â€ Telemedicine has mixed result, he said. â€œWe need to figure out the best type of channel that is more effective. We want to make sure that the taxpayer money is best spent and we need your help to gathering the data and showing how itâ€™s effective and how the taxpayer money is used in best possible ways, he added.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at World Health Organization pointed out the examples of how smaller nations and the state of Kerala in India have been able to contain the virus spread due tthough long term investment in education and healthcare and via decentralization. She urged the nations for urgent investment in health care mostly on primary healthcare focusing on prevention rather than treatment. Referring to several initiatives under WHO in coordination with countries and private companies to develop safe vaccine and to prevent the spread of the virus, she spoke about the Accelerated Program to study and find the most effective drug/vaccination development that is accessible to all the nations.

During a well attended Webinar exclusively for Medical Fraternity, Sadhguru addressed the audience on â€œChallenging Times Navigating A Way Forward After Covid19.â€ In his address, Sadhguru described the current period as â€œhard timesâ€ and lauded Physicians for the â€œgreat work during the challenging times. Only during hard times, one can achieve greater things in life,â€ he said. â€œYour dedication to work will have powerful impact on your children. You are placing the wellbeing of others before your own. This is the biggest strength for you,â€ he told the Doctors.

Dr. Suresh Reddy, while describing his â€œmeeting Sadhguru in Atlanta was the best moment in my lifeâ€ wanted to know to manage anxiety arising from people who do not adhere to the need for Masks/PPEs. Sadhguru referred to the tradition of India, which is Namaste with folded hands and not physically contacting each other. He was critical of people who in the name of Freedom and Rights are creating and spreading misinformation on the spread of virus. â€œThis level of irresponsibility will hurt millions, due to the ignorance and the spreading of rumours,â€

The much anticipated Womenâ€™s Forum was moderated by Dr. Ami Baxi, Dr. Stella Gandhi, and Dr. Sajni Shah, and was addressed eloquently with personal stories from their lives by Sonal and Anisha. Medical Jeopardy and Poster Presentation showcased the brilliance of Medical Students and Young Fellows of Indian Origin. Organized by Drs. Soumya Neravetla, Stella Gandhi and Pooja Kinkhabwala, both the contests were highly successful with several students, and residents participating from across the country.

In collaboration with The Chicago Medical Society, Dr. Vemuri Murthy, Chair of CMEs Committee organized and coordinated the 8.5 hours of CMEs provided for AAPI members.

â€œCheers from Cinema Celebritiesâ€ were showered on Physicians Fraternity by Kirron Kher, actor and politician, Bhagyashree, Pooja Batra and Padmini Kolhapuri. The 90 minutes long session was organized by AAPI in collaboration with Cancer Shakti Foundation, was coordinated by Dr. Shefali Agarwal. Other celebrities who interacted with the members were Jayaprada and Kajal Agarwal. The talented stars from Bollywood praised the contributions and sacrifices of Indian American Physicians and expressed their gratitude. â€œBig Thank you to all Indian American Medical Fraternity for putting your lives at risk while working diligently to save the lives of millions during the pandemic.â€

While inaugurating the Summit, Ambassador Amit Kumar, Consul General of Indian in Chicago, IL and Congressman Raja Krishnamurthi inaugurated the Summit praising the sacrifices and generosity of AAPI members. Describing them as â€œHeroesâ€ who rose to the occasion and proved to be of immense support and service selflessly to the sick especially during these times of great adversity, Krishnamurthi told AAPI â€œYou touch the lives of 13 percent of Americans, while serving 1 out of every 7 patients.â€

â€œThe American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin Virtual Summit offered an exciting venue to interact with leading physicians, health professionals, academicians, and scientists of Indian origin,â€ Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, President-Elect of AAPI, who will assume charge as the President of AAPI on the final day of the convention said. â€œThe physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country will convene virtually and participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, to develop health policy agendas, and to encourage legislative priorities in the coming year,â€ he added.

A dedicated pool of Physicians led by Dr. Meher Medavaram, Convention, Chair, worked hard to make the convention a memorable experience for all. Hundreds of AAPI members enjoyed witnessing it with the comfort of being in their living rooms for 12 straight days. It was received very positively by the members.

According to Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, Vice President of AAPI, â€œGiven that a physician of Indian origin sees every 7th patient in this country and every 5th patient in rural and inner cities across the nation, the reach and influence of AAPI members goes well beyond the convention.â€

â€œThe convention offers a variety of ways to reach physicians and their families. It provides access to thousands of health professionals who are leaders and decision-makers regarding new products and services, as wells as to national and international health policy advisors,â€ Dr. Ravi Kolli, Secretary of AAPI, said.

Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, will assume as the incoming President of AAPI on July 11th along with Dr. Sajani Shah, Chair of AAPIâ€™s BOT, and his Executive Committee consisting of Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, President-Elect, Dr. Ravi Kolli, Vice President, Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, Secretary, and Dr. Satheesh Kathula, Treasurer of AAPI. For more details, please visit: http://www.aapiusa.org

AAPI's virtual global summit ends with calls to continue to serve uumanity