Representing the interests of the over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, leaders of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic organization of physicians, for 35 years, AAPI Convention provides a platform to the medical fraternity to discuss issues relating to their profession, including assessing their role in the ever evolving situations – medical, political and social. The annual convention this year, from June 21 to 25 at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, is being organized by AAPI’s New York Chapter. Those responsible for the big event are Convention Chair, Dr. Raj Bhayani, Co-chairs, Drs. Vinod Sanchetti, Kishen Kumar, Jayesh Kanuga, and Kusum Punjabi; Convention Advisory Committee Chair, Shashi Shah; and Drs. Hetal Gor, Jagdish Gupta, and Himanshu Pandya. AAPI’s new executive committee includes Dr. Gautam Samadder President, Dr. Naresh Parikh, Vice President; Dr. Suresh Reddy, Secretary; Dr. Manju Sachdev, Treasurer; Dr. Madhu Agarwal, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Aditya Desai, YPS president; and Atul Nakhasi, MSRF President. The Indian Panorama is introducing here two of the incoming leaders of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. One is the Presidentelect Dr. Gautam Samadder, and the other, Dr. Ashok Jain Elected Chair, BOT of AAPI.

Dr. Gautam Samadder, President Elect of AAPI

“AAPI must be responsive to members, supportive of leadership and a true advocate for our mission”

“AAPI must be responsive to its members, supportive of the leadership and a true advocate for our mission,” Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, says. “I am committed to unify AAPI by breaking down the barriers of various regions, languages, medical education within the organization and bringing everyone together as a whole organization rather than separate fragments of the organization,” Dr. Samadder says.

At AAPI, where he will assume charge as the president of AAPI at the annual convention in Atlantic City on June 25th, Dr. Gautam Samadder rose through the ranks due to his hard work and dedication. He was a Regional Director for the AAPI NE Central-II Region, and had served as the Editor-in-Chief of AAPI Journal, a quarterly published by the American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI). He was instrumental in reviving the journal and turning it around to a ‘sought-after’ publication.

“My leadership involvement with the AAPI started during my Global Health Summit trip to India in Rajasthan in the year of 2010 although I have been a patron member of AAPI for more than 20 years. I had the opportunity to know Dr. Ajit Singhvi, who had encouraged me to take on a leadership role at AAPI and here I am seven years later.”

According to him, “One thing is clear, if you are a team player, hardworking, and willing to serve in the best interests of the organization. There is always a leadership opportunity for you in AAPI.”

Dr. Samadder was elected as Secretary of AAPI in 2014. Prior to this, he served as the Regional Director in Ohio and Michigan for two consecutive years in 2010 and 2011. “I have been involved in the grass-root level to form all Ohio AAPI chapter which includes (AIPO) local chapters from Columbus Cleveland Cincinnati Dayton, Youngstown, and Toledo and served as the president in 2012. In addition, I have been the president of the local Chapter of AAPI Central Ohio (Columbus) from 2008-2010.

Working with his dedicated executive committee, Dr. Gautam wants to “establish a strategic plan for AAPI that can sustain change in leadership. “AAPI members should be at the table during planning and implementation stages of the health care reforms,” Dr. Samadder says. “I want to encourage medical students, residents, and fellows and all second-generation Indian American physicians to be actively involved in both local and national level. Efforts go to building a strong association focusing on leader development and strengthening our professional relations.”

“In my capacity as the President of national AAPI, I want to support the growth of global and Indo-US relationship and to support and promote charitable activities through AAPI both in the US and India,” Dr. Samadder says.

“As I have shown over the past decades in my roles as a Regional Director, Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and President Elect of AAPI, and now as the President, I will continue to work to create advocacy and community services, escalating profitability, productivity and popularity of AAPI.

“I will also promote globalization of education as well as work towards creating awareness and promote the level of involvement of the Indian American Medical Community and to foster the increasing strength and grown of our beloved Nation.

While working in close cooperation with AAPI at all levels, we will together address the issues affecting the physicians at the state and national level. I envision promoting health care advocacy and community services, escalating profitability, productivity and popularity of AAPI,” he adds.

Dr. Samadder wants to “amplify participation among young physicians and medical students, strengthen AAPI’s financial security through profitable corporate sponsorships and facilitate collegial cooperation between local and state chapters, as this will increase AAPI’s global stature and eminence, which will ultimately make healthcare more efficient and effective in USA and India.”

His “work ethic, integrity and self-reliance will help propagate AAPI’s mission and instill renewed energy and participation. My leadership experience demonstrates in the private and nonprofit sectors will be advantageous in increasing participation, chapter cooperation and awareness of exchange programs. I am dedicated to helping chart a course toward AAPI’s true mission.”

Under his leadership, Dr. Gautam will strive to make AAPI an organization where people feel proud to contribute their time and energy for the greater good of the members and the society. “AAPI is a platform to cherish their achievement and creating a platform to further enhance and provide opportunities to our budding physicians to be successful in academic medicine and to the rest of the world, and to India in particular.Leading a major organization like AAPI and providing a forum to its members to collectively work together to meet their diverse needs is a major challenge.”

Dr. Samadder’s presidency will start with AAPI’s family trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana from August 4-13, 2017, which will provide twelve hours CME credits and include a jungle safari at a world famous resort and extensive site seeing opportunities.

The AAPI Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) from December 28-31, 2017 in the beautiful city of joy, Kolkata (West Bengal, India), will continue to make progress on AAPI’s past initiatives, including the traumatic brain injury (TBI) guidelines dissemination, training of first responders, and engaging local authorities to help address one of the major causes of road fatalities by pursuing four key aspects which are awareness, free hospital care, in hospital, and rehab.

According to him, the GHS will serve as a sounding board for many health care leader to freely exchange ideas, and help resolve challenges that are addressed during the very effective CEO forums usually chaired by MOH officials and leading CEOs. This will help in attracting investments, advanced training, and setting up hospitals, medical institutions, etc. AAPI GHS will continue the International Research Competition, EP, Cardiology, Urology, and other workshops that will help in training several India based physicians. Finally, the women’s forum under the banner of women’s leadership forum will serve as an inspiration for aspiring female leaders to see and hear from their role models.

Gautam spends most of his life in the private sector and is presently the CEO and managing director of Columbus Sleep Consultants, which he has built up from the ground. He was instrumental in the formation of Indian Sleep Society, with the objective of promoting sleep research and publications within Asian Indian communities. He is a speaker for several pharmaceutical companies and the physician advisor to several medical technology companies and recently collaborated with Fisher and Paykel to establish diagnostic centers in several major cities in India.

Born and growing up in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, young Gautam was always eager to learn and develop the talents and skills, overcoming numerous obstacles and turning them into small town opportunities, he took on the challenge of pursuing his career in Medicine by competing in the medical admission process and graduated from Rani Durgawati Medical College, Jabalpur.

With his passion for knowledge, determination, perseverance, and success, Dr. Samadder came to the United States in 1985 for higher education. After completing his Residency in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai affiliate hospital-North General, New York, he did his Pulmonary Fellowship at SUNY affiliate-Brookdale Hospital, New York and Sleep Fellowship at Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Subsequently, he moved to Ohio in 1995. “While doing pulmonary fellowship, I was very intrigued with obstructive sleep apnea – a very dangerous medical condition but an easily treatable condition,” recalls Dr. Gautam Samadder, Founder and CEO of Columbus Sleep Consultants. “Also, this is one of the rare specialties, where patient satisfaction is enormous because of the successful outcome of the treatment.”

With aspirations to develop and become an entrepreneur, he took on the challenge of opening an independent practice of Pulmonary and Sleep medicine in 1997. His hard work and dedication paid off. He was successful in expanding the practice to be one of the biggest networking of independent sleep labs in Ohio, employing more than 50 employees, including three physicians and two physician assistants. Currently, he serves as the Medical Director at a multi-locational and Multispecialty Sleep facility, Columbus Sleep Consultants.

Dr. Gautam Samadder built his career on hard and dedicated work in the private and public sectors. He spearheaded the formation of Indian Sleep Society (AAPIOS) and is actively involved in promoting Sleep Research and Awareness both nationally and Internationally including India. He recently collaborated with Fisher & Paykel to establish diagnostic centers in major Indian cities.

Even though working as an entrepreneur, owning a large sub-specialty involving community service, he had a deep desire to give back to the community. Having worked with the local and state medical society, being the regional director and local chapter president of AAPI he has a deep desire to give back to this extra ordinary organization (AAPI).

He is actively involved with the Indian community and member at large of the Asian Indian Alliance, which actively participates in a bipartisan way to support and fund electoral candidates. He is actively involved with the Bharatiya Hindu Temple and free health clinics.

Serving as a core member of the Advisory Board of the Ohio State University Gateway Project, which supports Exchange programs between USA and India including student’s scholarships, Dr. Samadder is also an active member of the Ohio State Medical Association and was the first counselor of the International Medical Graduates for the state of Ohio. Dr. Samadder was a Clinical Assistant Professor at Ohio State University.

“These experiences, along with others, have provided me with a strong foundation from which I can offer fresh ideas and responsible leadership,” he says. For someone who in his own words is “always looking to strengthen AAPI”, a set of more responsibilities would certainly be welcome. “Having worked with Dr.Narendra Kumar on the 9- city tour event, I would like to lead AAPI with my dream team to new heights.” he says. “I am always looking for opportunities to help AAPI in making it powerful so that members get benefit they deserve, and spread awareness at local and state level and unite local chapters.”

Among the many mentors, who had inspired him, Dr. Samadder has been impressed by Dr. Kumar and Dr. Ajit Singhvi, past Presidents of AAPI. “I have been especially fascinated by the commitment of Dr. Kumar. He is fortunately in the same specialty as me and I have had several interactions with him. When I see him working for AAPI, his unselfish commitment, time and family wise, I am so awestruck. If I can replicate that, I will be blessed,” he says with modesty.

His wife is a practicing gastroenterologist in Columbus. The couple have been married for about 25 years now. They have a son who is in medical school and their daughter is in high school.

“AAPI has a mandate to help disseminate our medical knowledge, our expertise and technological advances to the entire world,” Dr. Samadder says. Utilizing AAPI membership, AAPI, Dr. Samadder wants to create and lobby for the legislative agenda at the federal level, supporting the policies and programs benefitting AAPI members. He wants to bring in second generation Indian American members into AAPI leadership roles and positions, and thus “ushering in a new era of cooperation, stability, and sustained growth for AAPI.”

Years of health care management experience: Dr. Ashok Jain Elected Chair, BOT of AAPI

DrAshok Jain, M.D., M.S., FACR, chief medical officer for Beaumont Hospital, Wayne, MI, has been elected Chairman of Board of Trustees, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin for the year 2017-18.

Soft spoken, caring, gentle, intelligent, and committed to give back to the society, and gentle in his approach, Dr. Jain has been associated with AAPI since its initial launch over 35 years ago. “I have been involved with AAPI since its inception in 1983 as a young physician who had just started practicing in Michigan.” Ever since, he has been actively associated with AAPI and worked hard to the growth of this organization since its inception.

As a young physician filled with love and commitment, he had worked with Wayne County Medical Society and Michigan State Society for the establishment of first IMG section at state level in Michigan.

One of his contributions, Dr. Jain feels very proud of today is that, “I worked for keeping same criteria for IMG’s and AMG’s for state medical licensure.” Dr. Jain was elected as MAPI President in 1994, and had served at the AAPI Executive Committee as the Regional Director in 1995-1996.

His connections with the political leaders from India and the US made Dr. Jain more popular and much sought after. Dr. Jain served as the Alumni Committee Chair, and AAPI’s prestigious Legislative Affairs Committee Chair in 2004- 2005.

All along his life, Dr. Jain was filled with passion for giving back to the society. He was elected to serve as the MAPI Board of Trustees Chair and the Foundation of MAPI (FOMAPI) Chair in 2015. His visionary and leadership skills were seen all over as Dr. Jain, helped FOMAPI raise $180,000 for MAPI free clinic, serving the less privileged. In the 1980’s Dr. Jain raised $500,000 in five years benefiting Nargis Dutt Foundation for cancer patients for different charities in India.

His love for his country of birth was seen in Dr. Jain building and running Girls High School in his village in Rajasthan in 1997, where 650 girls study year until they complete High School. Dr. Ashok Jain had also served as a member of the Board of Trustee of Jain Temple in Detroit.

Dr. Ashok Jain, who serves as the Senior Vice President at Beaumont Health and as the Chief Medical Officer at Beaumont Hospital in Wayne, MI, has a Master of Science Degree in Medical Practice Management. Dr. Jain has served as a member of Board of Trustee at Oakwood Health Care System and now at the Beaumont Health. Dr. Jain serves as Chief of Medical Staff of Beaumont Hospital, Wayne from 2011 onwards.

Dr. Jain is married to his beautiful wife, who is also involved with MAPI auxiliary. His son finishing medical school and his daughter has a degree in MHA, Masters in Healthcare Administration, and is Trinity Health in Ann Arbor, MI. Beaumont Hospital, where Dr. Jain serves as the Chief Medical Officer, is a 185?bed teaching hospital that is part of Beaumont Health, Michigan’s largest health care system, based on inpatient admissions and net patient revenue. Dr. Jain was appointed to this role at Beaumont, Wayne in 2015. He closely collaborates with medical and hospital leadership, including its Medical Executive Committee, hospital president and elected chief of staff.

Dr. Jain is responsible for overall hospital performance and developing the vision and strategic plan for clinical activities. He also serves as the hospital’s patient safety officer and oversees site?related patient safety and quality activities.

A practicing radiologist, Dr. Jain joined Beaumont Hospital, Wayne in 1982 and was elected chief of staff in 2011. Dr. Jain is a graduate of the M.S. University of Baroda Medical College and completed a residency in radiology and fellowship in ultrasound/CT through the Wayne State University School of Medicine. Ashok Jain, M.D., M.S., FACR Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer Beaumont Hospital, Wayne Beaumont Health is a not-for-profit organization formed in 2014 by Beaumont Health System, Botsford Hospital and Oakwood Healthcare to provide patients and families with compassionate, extraordinary care, no matter where they live in Southeast Michigan. It consists of eight hospitals with 3,429 beds, 174 outpatient sites, nearly 5,000 physicians, 36,000 employees and 3,500 volunteers. In 2016, the organization had $4.4 billion in net revenue with nearly 178,000 inpatient discharges, 568,000 emergency visits and more than 17,500 births.

“I bring years of health care management experience, organized medicine leadership experience to AAPI,” Dr. Jain says the newly elected Chair of AAPI BOT. “My goal as the BOT, AAPI in the coming year is to formalize and create AAPI leadership academy working with American college of physician executives for development of leadership roles for all AAPI membership. I want to work hard to engage young physician and attract them to AAPI. They are the future of AAPI.”