NEW YORK CITY (TIP): It was an inspiring and engaging event. The audience comprising of doctors and community leaders heard Dr Sarin’s words of pragmatic wisdom with rapt attention. Padma Bhushan Dr Shiv K Sarin, founder, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi is recognized with “Distinguished Clinician Award in Academic Practice’ by American Gastroenterological Association.

The Consul General of India, Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, in his opening remarks spoke about the leading role of Dr Shiv in the field of health care. RANA president Prem Bhandari highlighted the compassionate and selfless approach of Dr Shiv. He suggested that this important book should be translated into Hindi and Rajasthani also.

Prem Bhandari made a digression when he congratulated Consul General Binaya Srikanta Pradhan for his decision to keep the Consulate open on all days of the week to better serve the community. He said, “The Indian Consulate in New York has become the first not only in the US but globally to remain open 365 days a year. Bhandari praised the CG for institutionalizing this decision. Since 2014, the New York Consulate has been open on weekends and holidays in emergencies such as deaths or serious health issues of relatives, even during severe weather conditions like 24-inch snowfalls. Previously, the Indian diaspora had to approach community leaders or organizations for help during such times. Now, with this institutionalized process, everyone knows the consulate will remain open on holidays and weekends”. The New York Consulate has jurisdiction over ten states in the US, providing significant relief to the Indian diaspora living in these areas. Bhandari urged that Indian consulates, not only in the US but worldwide, should follow Binaya Pradhan’s example and remain open 365 days a year, wherever there are sizable Indian communities.

Dr Shashi Shah reflected on his college days with Dr Shiv. Both are alumnus of SMS Medical College, Jaipur. Dr Shashi, having read the book, used his friendly force to persuade Dr Sarin and was instrumental in mounting this program for the community members of New York.

Dr Shiv Sarin, a distinguished Indian physician, is a beacon of medical expertise, clinical research and has made huge contribution to medical education. From his academic origins at S.M.S. Medical College Jaipur to his leadership role at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, Dr Sarin is hailed as a healthcare luminary dedicated to the wellbeing of millions affected by liver and metabolic disorders. The ILBS is today the largest liver hospital in India and a deemed liver university.

In his opening remarks, Dr Shiv suggested that Indian Consulate should have local health body, a collegium of doctors of Indian origin to issue guidelines for the community. The core of this evening after formal launch of the book by the dignitaries was stimulating interaction between Dr Shashi and Dr Shiv. He opened with simple question, ‘Why did you write this book?’, to which author responded with a chuckle and remarked, “he has started ragging me”. Both swiftly got down to the business of developing an eye-opening dialog, which generated a genuine sense of cultivating healthy habits among the audience.

Dr Shiv Sarin’s ‘Own Your Body’ builds a bridge between common man and medical terminology, while narration of the book in the story form deals with characters, their aspirations, their emotional equations and also deals with the medical challenges posed by fatty lever. How to prevent it? Dr Shah questioned the author on the suggestion of giving priority to gene matching over horoscope matching. This was an evening which was looking at health in an integrated way, where flow of health from generation to generation was also considered. How a normal looking healthy boy may be prone to heart attack. Dr Sarin explained that the combination of what we inherit and how our habit pattern is related to our longevity and healthy life.

The frequent reference of challenges posed by obesity and stage of becoming insulin resistant was also explained in simple terms. When one hears that over 80 percent kids in India are walking less than 30 minutes a day and it doesn’t speak good of their healthy future, one wonders, how to reverse the process.

Mukesh Ambani, chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, writes about the book, ‘Own Your Body’, ‘After reading this book, one would realize that good health is not as much a function of one’s genetic makeup as it is of one’s lifestyle choices.’

Dr Shashi echoed the same spirit expressed in the words of Dr Shiv “Do not outsource your health to doctors. Embrace self-care. As the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India (MCI), Dr Sarin played a pivotal role in shaping medical education and conceptualized the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Dr Sarin has also been at the forefront of policy initiatives, including the national viral hepatitis control program and the integration of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease into national programs.

Beyond his exceptional clinical talents, Dr Sarin is a gifted teacher and a master communicator, epitomizing medical excellence and ethics. Committed to community service, he has been a pivotal figure in the fight against hepatitis. Honored with prestigious awards such as the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize and Padma Bhushan, Dr Sarin symbolizes the harmonious convergence of medical excellence and altruistic fervor.

His work, encapsulated in the mantra ‘Own Your Body’, transcends medical expertise, showcasing the profound impact one individual can have on the health and happiness of millions.

The event was jointly organized by RANA, AAPI QLI and RAJMAAI. Mrs Neelam Modi was master of ceremony for the evening and Dr Raj Bhayani extended ‘Vote of thanks’ on behalf of the organizers.