The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)-Connecticut Chapter will honor outstanding achievers of the Indian American community in Connecticut and those provide service to the community or the society at large at its Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, June 9th at the Stamford Marriott Hotel, Stamford, CT starting at 6 p.m. Six Indian Americans are honored for their achievements in profession and service to the nation.
Honored guests at the banquet include Consul Devi Prasad Misra, Consul for Commerce at the Indian Consulate in New York; US Congressman Jim Himes (D, 4th District); Stamford Mayor David Martin; Greenwich First Selectman Peter J. Tesei; New Canaan First Selectman Kevin Moynihan; CT State Senator Carlo Leone and State Representative Dr. Prasad Srinivasan.
This year's awards banquet will benefit the GOPIO-CT's Scholarship Fund and the charity Teach for America.
GOPIO-CT 2018 AWARDEES
The 2018 awardees are: Dr. Rohit Bhalla, MD, Vice President of Stamford Health for Contribution to Health Care Administration; Prof. Sarbani Basu, Chair of Department of Astronomy at Yale University for Achievement in Basic Sciences; Mr. Hasu Patel for Community Service; Mr. Sharad Patney, President and CEO of VLink, Inc. for Achievement in IT Services; Ms. Asha Rangappa, a CNN national security analyst who served as a former Special Agent of the FBI and currently a senior lecturer at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs for Service to Govt. and Non-Profit Institutions; and Dr. K. Sudhir, James Frank Professor of Private Enterprise, Management and Marketing and founder-director of the China India Insights Program at the Yale School of Management for Achievement Business Management
Dr. Rohit Bhalla – Contribution in Health Care Administration
Dr. Rohit Bhalla serves as Vice President and Chief Quality Officer of Stamford Health, in Stamford, CT; where he serves on the executive team that built the new Stamford Hospital, has developed programs in health care quality, patient safety, and care coordination, and has been recognized as the organization’s Planetree Physician Caregiver of the Year. In the region, he leads his organization’s Community Health Improvement Plan, serves on the Board of Trustees of the CT Hospital Association, the Quality Council of the CT State Innovation Model Program, and on programs and advisory committees of the Greater New York Hospital Association, United Hospital Fund, and America’s Essential Hospitals. Dr. Bhalla is Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, has lectured and published several papers in the areas of quality improvement and health policy, and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Public Health/General Preventive Medicine.
Prof. Sarbani Basu – Achievement in Basic Sciences
Sarbani Basu is a Professor at the Department of Astronomy at Yale University, and its current chair. She specializes in the study of the Sun and other stars using data on stellar oscillations (star quakes). She was awarded the 2018 George Ellery Hale Prize of the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society for her contributions to the understanding of the internal structure and dynamics of the Sun and stars.
Hasu Patel – Community Service
Fondly known in the community as Senator Patel, Hasu has been Working with Elderly population, fighting for their rights, helping them to get their medical coverage and food stamps, providing them transportation especially to their medical appointments, legal assistance and providing help in translation due to language barrier. In short, holding hands of elderly people and guiding them at every step and helping them. He has also helping needy people to get them jobs, legal help with immigration and even lodging if needed. He has even helped with funeral arrangements in unfortunate circumstances and financial help when needed. He has helped a good number of students to get jobs, lodging and even financially. When someone looking for business, immigration help or any legal issue he always gives his best advice to the people. He always takes responsibility when the need arises.
Sharad Patney – Achievement in IT Services
Sharad Patney is President and CEO of VLink, Inc., a fast-growing IT services company. Patney is responsible for running all facets of the business. He is the driving force in accelerating growth by implementing corporate direction and strategy. He has led numerous initiatives which resulted in increased customer satisfaction across all industry verticals of VLink. Patney completed BE degree in Power Electronics from University of Nagpur and MS degree in Business Analytics & Project Management at the University of Connecticut.
Asha Rangappa – Service to Govt. and Non-Profit Institutions
Asha Rangappa is a Senior Lecturer at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and a former Special Agent in the New York Division of the FBI, specializing in counterintelligence investigations. Asha has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post among others is currently a legal and national security analyst for CNN. She attended Princeton University abnd received her law degree from Yale Law School and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Juan R. Torruella on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Prof. K. Sudhir – Achievement in Business Management
Dr. K. Sudhir is the James Frank Professor of Private Enterprise, Management and Marketing and founder-director of the China India Insights Program at the Yale School of Management. He routinely consults and conducts research for Fortune 500 companies and non-profits in the United States and abroad and his research has been honored with numerous awards. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of Marketing Science, the leading quantitative academic research journal in marketing.
Commenting on the award selection, GOPIO-CT President Anita Bhat said, “We select the awardees, who have made an impact in our society and/or those who provide outstanding service.â€
GOPIO Founder President Dr. Thomas Abraham who also served as the Chairman of GOPIO-CT Awards Committee said, “These awardees are role models for our new generations and GOPIO-CT has a done great job in building up a good image of India and Indian Americans in Connecticut.â€
The awardees will be honored at GOPIO-CT’s Twelfth Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, June 9th at the Stamford Marriott Hotel in Stamford. CT. The program includes dignitaries, entertainment and Bollywood DJ. For reservation or to buy tickets, call Anita Bhat 203-524-2935 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Over the last 12 years, GOPIO-CT, a chapter of GOPIO International has become an active and dynamic organization hosting interactive sessions with policy makers and academicians, community events, youth mentoring and networking workshops, and working with other area organizations to help create a better future. GOPIO-CT serves as a non-partisan, secular, civic and community service organization – promoting awareness of Indian culture, customs and contributions of PIOs through community programs, forums, events and youth activities. It seeks to strengthen partnerships and create an ongoing dialogue with local communities.
Photos attached:
Individual Photos of the Awardees
Dignitaries at the Awards Banquet - Combined photos of the awardees, from l. to r. Dr. Rohit Bhalla, Prof. Sarbani Basu, Hasu Patel, Sharad Patney, Asha Rangappa and Prof K. Sudhir
Dignitaries attending GOPIO-CT 2018 Awards Banquet, from l. to r. Consul Devi Prasad Misra, Rep. Jim Himes (CT 4th District), Stamford Mayor David Martin; Greenwich First Selectman Peter J. Tesei; New Canaan First Selectman Kevin Moynihan; CT State Senator Carlo Leone and CT State Assemblyman Dr. Prasad Srinivasan.
