(Chicago, IL: May 14, 2021) â€œMany years of meticulous planning, hard work and concerted efforts by several leaders have resulted in American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) launching its own premier academic initiative, Journal of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (JAAPI) today,â€ Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, President of AAPI said in his opening remarks. Describing the inauguration of JAAPI as â€œa historical milestone for AAPIâ€ Dr. Jonnalagadda said, â€œWe are deeply honored to have Dr. Bailey inaugurate JAAPI tonight.â€
Dr. Susan R. Bailey, President of American Medication Association (AMA), who was the Chief Guest and Distinguished speaker at the launch event, inaugurated JAAPI on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 during a solemn virtual ceremony, attended by hundreds of AAPI members and supporters from around the nation.

Dr. Susan R. Bailey, while inaugurating JAAPI said, â€œItâ€™s my pleasure to celebrate the launch of JAAPI. On behalf of AMA we congratulate AAPI for this new initiative, which will be a great source of medical education. We applaud you and looking forward to reading your great contributions in the years to come.â€
Dr. Sajani Shah, Chair of AAPI BOT, while describing the launch of JAAPI as a â€œMonumental moment for all at AAPI,â€ said, â€œAs a second generation physician of Indian Origin, we are excited at AAPI launching its own Medical Journal. I want to congratulate AAPI for launching a scientific journal that will help writers in the US, in India and around the world.â€

Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, President-Elect of AAPI while congratulating the AAPI family said, â€œThis is the fruit of our team work and itâ€™s a good opportunity for the members of AAPI to contribute scientific articles, and make it better as we move on.â€

â€œThis is a historical milestone in the annals of AAPI. The foundation for this milestone was laid one year ago in February 2020 by our visionary leaders, Drs. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda and Suresh Reddy,â€ said Dr. Bellomkonda Kishore, the Founding Editor in Chief of JAAPI said. Describing the vision and the efforts that have given shape to the launching of JAAPI, Dr. Kishore said, â€œA Peer Review Journal needs group synergy and cultivation of the culture of peer-review process and publication. It is like agriculture â€“ crop after crop. But the very fact that we are able to assemble a passionate and diligent team of editorial board members, and developed the required group synergy and culture bringing out the journal as planned, itself is a sign that AAPI has reached a level of academic maturity, capability and perfection.â€
Dr. Kishore is hopeful that the talented and dedicated Editorial Team will be able to â€œsustain the journal, and take it to new heights over time.â€ The inaugural issue of JAAPI has â€œexcellent contributions by eminent physicians and scientists, and has come out beyond our expectations and in an outstanding manner. We are committed to maintain the same standards in the future. Excellence and thoroughness are our motto.â€
After one year of publication, JAAPI will be registered with MEDLINE so that it will be indexed in PubMed and other databases. JAAPI is a fully Open Access journal with no manuscript submission or publication charges. And we welcome articles by authors from all over the world without any restrictions. We are also open to eminent academicians wishing to join the editorial board. Details are provided in the journal. JAAPI follows next generation peer-review model by which it discloses the identity of editors and reviewers after publication, but the review process itself is blind. This will give due credit to editors and reviewers, and also ensures fair review process. The cover page is designed to reflect the heart of AAPI, an association of Indian American Physicians â€“ with colors of the flag of India, our motherland, on top and the red and white stripes of American flag, over which the AAPI emblem rests, indicating the way we adopted this Great Land, Dr. Kishore explained.
Dr. Vemuri S. Murthy, an Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, an Advisor to the Journal of AAPI, and Chairman of the AAPI Webinar CME Committee and Program Director of the CME Program, introduced Dr. Bailey to the audience.

â€œPhysician Leadership In Times of Crisis & Transitionâ€ was the theme of an hour long CME presented by Dr. Bailey at the conclusion of the JAAPI launch ceremony. The insightful and practically oriented CME was organized by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, in affiliation with Chicago Medical Society and in association with Indian American Medical Association of Illinois IAMA (IL.)
In her address, Dr. Bailey shared with AAPI members as to how the pandemic has â€œ tested physicians as never been before. My heart breaks for what I see is happening in India,â€ she said. Describing Covid as a grave threat, Dr. Bailey said, â€œIt needs to be addressed globally. I hope the current US administration can render all possible help to India and other nations.â€ Acknowledging that physicians â€œhave the power to bring in changes to the delivery of healthcare,â€ Dr. Bailey thanked all the medical professionals. â€œYour work has been extraordinary. Many have died serving the sick and worked tirelessly to help the sick. AMA has stood with them every step of the way, by offering evidence based support to all healthcare professionals.
While extending full support for the strengthening of Affordable Care Act, Dr. Bailey said, AMA has advocated for loans and financial help to physicians and for PPE and vaccine development and its distribution. â€œVaccination has helped us but we are still far away. The need is to have maximum people to be vaccinated. This gives us an opportunity to be vaccine ambassadors by advocating for vaccination,â€ she said.
Dr. Sunita Kanumury moderated the Q&A at the end of the presentation by Dr. Susan Bailey. Dr. Kanumury is an AAPI Delegate to AMA and a past President of AAPI. Dr.Kanumury is a practicing Allergy and Immunology specialist in Livingston, New Jersey, with multiple Hospital Affiliations.

Dr. Murthy congratulated the Editor-in-Chief, â€œDr. Kishore Bellamkonda, whose vision and energetic leadership resulted in the AAPIâ€™s Academic Emblem, JAAPI.â€ On behalf of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin and other Medical Societies, and the JAAPI Committee. Dr. Murthy expressed deep appreciation and thanked Dr. Susan R. Bailey, Dr. Peter C. Agre, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2003; Dr. Mario R.Capecchi, Nobel Laureate in Medicine or Physiology 2007; Dr. Mitchell S.V. Elkind, President, American Heart Association, and Dr. Nageshwar Reddy, Director, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, for their immense support and help.

For more information on AAPI and to read the inaugural edition of JAAPI, please visit: www.aapiusa.org

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AAPI's Premier Academic Initiative, Journal Of AAPI (JAAPI) Inaugurated By Dr. Susan R. Bailey, AMA President