(Visakhapatnam, India. January 7th, 2020) “The 14th edition of the annual Global Healthcare Summit will be held in Visakhapatnam from January 1st to 3rd, 2021,” Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, President-Elect of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), announced here during a Kick Off event in Visakhapatnam.
Dr. Jonnalagadda, while highlighting the numerous achievements of the past 13 GHS held across India, said, “The focus of the 14th edition of the annual Global Healthcare Summit 2021 in the state of Andhra Pradesh will be an India-centric approach with emphasis on Hepatitis Eradication, and India’s contributions for a cost-effective healthcare delivery, serving the many healthcare needs of our motherland, India.”
Dr. Suresh Reddy, President of AAPI, commended Dr. Jonnalagadda for organizing a very successful kickoff event with great publicity in the local media about the upcoming GHS 2021.
While lauding the AAPI members for their willingness, passion, and generosity to give back to their motherland, Dr. Reddy said, “In the past dozen years, by organizing GHS in India, AAPI has made significant contributions, seeking to address several issues affecting the healthcare system in India. We have been working with the Government of India and several local organizations, helping with the issue of Traumatic Brain Injury and raising the importance and awareness on smoking cessation. Providing CPR-AED Training to First Responders, rural development through Sewak Program, Adopt a Village program and taking the initiatives to make quality healthcare accessible universally to village and taluka and district levels, and most recently a strong collaborative effort on making India TB Free with the signing of a MOU with USAID, are some of the other initiatives AAPI has undertaken through GHS.”
“With the changing trends and statistics in healthcare, both in India and US, we are refocusing our mission and vision, AAPI would like to make a positive meaningful impact on the healthcare delivery system both in the US and in India,” said Dr. Seema Arora, Chair of the AAPI BOT.
Dr. Jonnalagadda, who will assume charge as the President of AAPI in July this year at the convention in Chicago, USA, said, the GHS 2021 is planned to be organized by AAPI , the largest ethnic medical association in the United States in collaboration with several professional medical associations, academic institutions, and the Government of India.
During the visit to India, an AAPI delegation led by Dr. Jonnalagadda met with Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, the Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and invited him to be the Chief Guest at the Global Healthcare Summit. Mr. Reddy, while expressing his appreciation to AAPI for bringing the global event to Andhra Pradesh, assured all support to AAPI in its efforts for organizing a highly successful GHS in Visakhapatnam.
He thanked Dr. Prasad Chalasani, President of Andhra Medical College Alumni of North America, Chair of GHS, Dr. Sashidhar Kuppala, the Incoming President of Rangaraya Medical College Alumni of North America, Co-chair of GHS, and, Dr. Ravi Raju, Chair of GHS in Visakhapatnam.
Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, Vice President of AAPI, enumerated several contributions/outcome from the past 13 GHS organized by AAPI across several cities in India. “AAPI has capped the voluminous achievements of the past 38 years with a clear vision to move forward taking this noble organization and its vision for better healthcare to newer heights,” she said.
Dr. Ravi Kolli, Secretary of API said, “One in seven Americans is touched by a physician of Indian origin. There is an equally large percentage of medical residents, fellows and students in the USA serving millions of Americans. AAPI’s GHS has provided a venue for medical education programs and symposia with world-renowned physicians on the cutting edge medical technology of medicine.”
According to Dr. Raj Bhayani, Treasurer of AAPI, “Senior leaders from leading healthcare organizations, hospitals and from the Ministries – Health, External/Overseas Affairs and regulatory bodies are collaborating with AAPI with the ultimate goal to provide access to high quality and affordable healthcare to all the people of India.”
Packed with strategic planning sessions such as the much anticipated CEO Forum, Women’s Forum, Launching of Free Health Clinic, First Responders Training, CMEs, promoting Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine Education, Research Contest, Medical Quiz, Cultural Events, pre and post visits for delegates, the GHS 2021 is expected to be one with the greatest impact and significant contributions towards harnessing the power of international Indian diaspora to bring the most innovative, efficient, cost effective healthcare solutions to India,
“To be held for the first time in Visakhapatnam, this year AAPI Global Healthcare Summit will have many new initiatives and also will be carrying the torch of ongoing projects undertaken by AAPI’s past leaders. In addition, several prominent leaders both from India and abroad are expected to be addressing the Summit, including the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,” Dr. Jonnalagadda said.
Dr. Suresh Reddy has called upon AAPI members to join in this historic journey. “AAPI’s mission is clear, our programs will continue to strive and our impact is multifold on benefiting the society. We, as physicians make significant contributions for the betterment of people's lives.” He appealed to “all AAPI members, well-wishers, sponsors, friends and colleagues to join this effort and help ensure that we are putting in solid efforts towards making quality healthcare affordable and accessible to all people of India,” Dr. Reddy said.
AAPI is the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States, and has been in existence for nearly four decades. The Association has almost 130 local chapters, specialty societies and alumni organizations under its purview, and represents the interests of over 70,000 physicians and 15,000 medical students and residents of Indian heritage in the United States. For more details, please visit:
https://aapisummit.org/www.aapiusa.org 
