NEWARK NJ (TIP): Three prominent Indian American physicians were honored for their achievements in the field of medicine and for their contributions to the larger society during the annual meeting Health summit of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) New Jersey Chapter on Saturday, November 22nd, 2014 at the Double tree Hilton, Newark, New Jersey.

Attended by nearly 350 physicians from the New York tristate region, the annual event with focus seminars on Life Style related Metabolic disorder disease, had CME programs, gala, awards ceremony and networking of AAPI delegates and an opportunity to strengthening of their bonds and collaboration. In his welcome address, Dr. Sanjay Jain, President of AAPI NJ said, “NJ AAPI is a professional association in New Jersey with a constituency of over 11,000 physicians.

AAPI is recognized as a strong voice in the healthcare legislation and policy arena, second to AMA. The mission of our organization is to serve as a forum to facilitate and enable physicians to excel in inpatient care, teaching and research and to pursue their aspiration in profession and community affairs.” Dr. Thomas Alapatt, Chairman of the Health Summit, said, “This is a unique opportunity to reach out to AAPI members and support the event as well as a great honor and privilege for us to have your presence at this event.” While seeking to draw the attention of the participants to the upcoming Global Health Summit in Mumbai and in the following year in New Delhi, Dr. Seema Jain, President-Elect of AAPI, said, The Global Healthcare Summit, while highlighting the meaningful gains so far, and spearheading further initiatives through education, training, panel discussions and the results of such will be presented at the Summit, disseminating the information to health providers across the nation.

It is these learning and relationships that have now enabled AAPI and participating organizations to plan ahead and prepare for an outstanding event that is expected to have over 300 very prominent and talented physicians and surgeons of Indian origin from around the world and are very passionate about serving their homeland, Mother India. Ambassador Dayaneshwar Mulay Consul General of India in New York, Chief Guest at the Gala, praised the contribution and achievements of Indian American Physicians, Michael Antoniades, Senior Vice President of the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, in his keynote address stressed the importance and the need to work together with the physicians of Indian origin, who have made a name for themselves as innovators and for their hard work, dedication and compassion.

Dr. Sharad Sahu, Director of Physician Affairs, Chief Internal Medicine and Office of Medical Affairs, was honored by AAPI NJ for his leadership in the field of medicine. “As a second generation Indian American Physician, I am proud to state that we are not only the second largest physicians community after AMA, but also we have come to be part of the decision making process, especially in health related areas in this country.” Dr. Nilesh Patel, a famous Cardiac Surgeon,who has made a name for himself for his innovative, minimally invasive heart surgery procedure with least mortality in the state of New Jersey,was honored for his contributions in Best Outcome for Cardiac Interventions for Surgeries.

Dr. Keshav Shivshankar, a reputed Cardiologist with 32 years of expertise, was honored for his philanthropic initiatives, In addition to his medical expertise, Dr. Shivshankar has been a pioneer in working for the needy in the New Jersey region. He had started a successful Soup Kitchen for the poor and was also instrumental in establishing a scholarship for Indian American medical students in the states, which has now been taken over and managed by AAAPI NJ Chapter, benefiting dozens of medical students each year.

The Educational Seminars earlier in the day was a huge attraction as they offered insights into modern technologies and the ways to benefit both the physicians and the patients they are called to serve, especially after the launch of the Affordable Care Act. Drs. Ranjita Sengupta, a Cardiologist from Rutgers University, and Hemal Gada, and Prashant Pandya led the CME Sessions on cardiovascular diseases and the modern technology that helps prevent diseases and the best ways t treat patients in a cost effective manner.

Dr. Gaurav Gupta focused his lecture on neurosurgery, especially on technological advances in the surgical treatment of acute stroke and brain aneurysms. Gaurav Gupta, MD, Director, Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, who had coordinated the CME Program underscored the academic contributions/CME speakers from the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, “with whom AAPI has been having a strategic partnership since this technically a distinct separate entity from the RWJ hospital.” Dr. Kusum Punjabi, president of Young Physicians Section of AAPI, was the emcee for the Gala, who introduced the speakers and the awardees in addition to the AAPI NJ Executive Committee that had put together the entire day’s event. The event concluded with a sumptuous dinner and live music and dance by local artists.