Ajay Ghosh
Media Coordinator, AAPI
(Chicago, IL -- May 1, 2025) “We have successfully concluded our elections in a very transparent manner for the year 2025-26 for leadership positions at the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI),” Dr. Satheesh Kathula, President of AAPI, and Dr. Lokesh Edara, AAPI’s Chief Election Officer and Past Chair of AAPI BOT, jointly announced here today. “We thank the election officers and all the members of AAPI for participating in the Election.”
After months-long elections season, where multiple candidates contested at the annual elections for various offices for AAPI for the year 2025-26 and beyond, preliminary election results were announced on April 12th, 2025, while the results became official after the deadline for possible recounts
Dr. Krishan Kumar has been elected Vice President of AAPI, Dr. Seema Arora has been elected as the Secretary, and the new Treasurer elected for 2025-26 is Dr. Soumya Neravetla, a first-ever second-generation Indian American physician elected to the position in the 43-year-old history of AAPI.
Dr. Anjali Gulati, Dr. Sunitha Polepalle, and Dr. Srini Gokarakonda were elected as members of the Board of Trustees, and the Chair-Elect of the Board of Trustees of AAPI is Dr. Hetal Gor. Dr. Kathula will continue to guide AAPI as the Immediate Past President.
Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, who serves as the President-Elect of AAPI, and Dr. Meher Medavaram, the current Vice President of AAPI, did not contest the elections, as the current President-Elect will assume charge as the President of AAPI in July 2025, and the current Vice President will become the President-Elect for the year 2025-26.
Dr. Raj Bhayani, who was in a direct contest with Dr. Krishan Kumar for the office of the Vice President, conceded the election. AAPI Secretary-Elect Dr. Seema Arora won the contest against Dr. Malti Mehta and Dr. Shirish Kumar Patel, while Dr. Leena Gupta conceded the election to Dr. Soumya Neravetla as the Treasurer.
The following offices for Regional Directors are declared uncontested: NW Central: Dr. Annu Terkonda; SW Central: Dr. Sharma Prabhakar; NE Central I: Dr. Mohan Kesani; NE Central II: Dr. Dharmesh Gandhi; SE Central: Dr. Shashank Ponugoti; New England: Dr. Madhavi Gorusu; Mid-Atlantic I: Dr. Inderpal Chhabra; Mid-Atlantic II: Dr. Avinash C. Gupta; and, South-Atlantic: Dr. Uma Jonnalagadda. The Regional Director positions for the Pacific and Mountain Regions remain open for contests.
The deadline for filing the nominations was January 31st, 2025. Ballots were mailed/emailed by the AAPI Office by March 7th to all active members of AAPI. All the ballots from AAPI members were to reach the Election Agency by the Second Friday of April 11th, 2025. The ballots were counted, and the election results were announced on April 12th, 2025.
While thanking the contestants and the thousands of Indian American physicians, who are actively holding membership at the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), and participated in the election process, Dr. Kathula said, “A heartfelt thank you to all the contestants in AAPI elections — your willingness to volunteer your time and energy speaks volumes about your commitment to our beloved organization, AAPI. Congratulations to all the winners! We’re incredibly proud of your achievements and grateful for your dedication. I know firsthand how much it takes, having run in four elections and won them all. Your passion, effort, and courage are truly commendable, and they continue to inspire our members and future leaders.”
Dr. Sunil Kaza, AAPI BOT Chair thanked all the candidates for their commitment to the vision and mission of AAPI. He said, “I want to congratulate all the winners of the election, and all the candidates for their passion and dedication to serving AAPI, and regardless of the outcome, we need you as a valuable team member of our beloved AAPI. I wish them the very best and my wholehearted support.”
“As the incoming President of AAPI, I would like to congratulate my incoming new team for the year 2025-26,” said Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, who will assume charge as the President of AAPI during the 43rdh annual convention in Cincinnati, OH in July this year. “I’m very honored, and consider myself fortunate to be bestowed with the responsibility of leading the four decades old strong organization with the cooperation and collaboration of an excellent team of dedicated, hardworking, and loyal officers and executive committee members who are with me to take AAPI to newer heights,” Dr. Chakrabarty added.
Dr. Hetal Gor, AAPI BOT Chair-Elect said, “I am looking forward to working with the new leadership and members of AAPI in strengthening the goals and mission of AAPI and to help make AAPI a healthcare leader in US and globally and work in the best interests of our Physicians and our community here in the US and serve our motherland, India.”
Dr. Meher Medavaram, President-Elect of AAPI for 2025-26, said, “I want to express my sincere gratitude to all AAPI members for this honor and assure that I will sincerely work for the betterment of our beloved organization, AAPI. Once again, I thank everyone for the opportunity to serve.” She expressed gratitude to the Election Committee, who “successfully organized this election, with great participation from AAPI members.”
“I stand before you today filled with immense gratitude and humility. Winning this election is not just a personal achievement but a collective victory, and I am deeply honored to have your trust and support,” said Dr. Krishan Kumar. “This victory belongs to all of us. It is a testament to the power of unity, collaboration, and the belief that together, we can achieve great things. Let’s move forward together, with determination and hope, to build a brighter future for our community.”
Dr. Seema Arora said, “I’m very honored, and consider myself fortunate to be bestowed with the responsibility for serving the four decades old strong organization with the cooperation and collaboration of an excellent team of dedicated, hardworking, and loyal officers and executive committee members who are with me to take AAPI to newer heights.”
Dr. Soumya Neravetla, the newly elected Treasurer of AAPI, said, “I am honored to be elected as the Treasurer of national AAPI. I appreciate and thank all of you for your trust in me. Your guidance, support, and vote made this possible. This win belongs to all our members for trusting our vision of growth & progress. I hope to receive your continued support and inspiration.”
The growing influence of physicians of Indian heritage is evident, as increasingly physicians of Indian origin hold critical positions in healthcare, academic, research, and administrative positions across the nation. We the physicians of Indian origin are proud of our great achievements and contributions to our motherland, India, our adopted land, the US, and in a very significant way to the transformation of Indo-US relations.
Serving 1 in every 7 patients in the US, AAPI members care for millions of patients every day, while several of them have risen to hold high-flying jobs, shaping the policies and programs, and inventions that shape the landscape of healthcare in the US and around the world.
Since its inception in 1982, AAPI has been at the forefront, representing a conglomeration of more than 125,000 practicing physicians in the United States, seeking to be the united voice for the physicians of Indian origin. For more details about AAPI, please visit: www.aapiusa,org
