AAPI’s 16th Annual Global Healthcare Summit in Visakhapatnam Concludes with a Call to Give Back to Our Motherland
The 16th annual Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) concluded with a call and commitment to give back to India, our motherland, making healthcare accessible, efficient, and equitable for all, at Hotel Novotel on Varun Beach in Visakhapatnam on January 8th, 2023.
Attended by nearly 500 delegates from the United States and India, the GHS 2023 was jointly organized by AAPI and the local organizing committee at Visakhapatnam from January 6th to 8th, 2023. This Global Health Care Summit, with participation from leading medical professionals, thought leaders, heads of several health industry sectors, and policy-makers has had several unique events with enthusiastic participation from local healthcare fraternity and dozens of leading physicians from the United States.
Dr Ravi Kolli, President of AAPI, while describing the objectives of the Summit, said, “The Global Healthcare Summit has served as a means to raising awareness on key health care issues affecting the Indian subcontinent, such as the Stigma of Mental illness, Suicide prevention, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, Women’s and Children’s Health, Blindness Prevention and Hepatitis etc. Highlight of this Summit was to reaffirm NRI Physicians’ commitment towards improving health care and create model programs for management of various diseases and to improve outcomes universally, he added.
The Summit focused on mental health, including reducing the stigma for seeking mental health services, and on Physicians burnout, Dr. V. Ranga, Chair of AAPI BOT said. “Deliberations included discussions on the Stigma of Mental illness, Suicide prevention, Management of Chronic and Non Communicable Diseases, and other Global Health issues including Climate Change and its impact on population health,” he added.
In addition, AAPI has plans to collaborate with various state and federal government programs to enhance the quality of healthcare delivery, making it affordable, efficient, and equitable, improving health outcomes universally and training the trainer sessions involving learning modules in different specialties, and tele-consultations.
Shri. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, in a message delivered to the AAPI delegates at the GHS, urged the members of “the American Association of Physicians of Indian origin to give back something to the society, which has given them an opportunity to pursue medical education and become successful in India and abroad.” He expressed confidence, stating, “I’m sure this platform will bring together best in the healthcare field from professionals, who will provide innovative solutions for the challenges being faced by all.”
Chief Guest at the Summit, Smt. Vidadala Rajini, Honorable Minister for Health, Family Welfare & Medical Education of state of Andhra Pradesh, said, “The Global Healthcare Summit is an important opportunity for all the healthcare professionals to learn from each other and enhance fellowship. I’m grateful to have this opportunity to attend and learn from all of you,” she said. “I believe that by working with you, we can improve the health and wellbeing of the people in the state. The government has the ability to design the best policies on healthcare, while delivering the best treatments and medical care to the patient is essentially in the hands of the physicians.” Among others who addressed the AAPI delegates and joined the felicitation of AAPI delegates and the local organizers of the Summit included, Shri. Gudivada Amarnath, Honorable Minister for IT.
“We are sure that the Summit offered a rewarding experience not only on intellectual but on aesthetic front as well, with the scenic beauty of Visakhapatnam and the many surrounding places. The organizing committee has taken every measure possible to make the event a memorable one for everyone at the GHS,” said Dr. Ravi Raju, Chair of GHS (India) 2023.
Describing some of the objectives of the GHS, Dr. Prasad Chalasani, Chair of GHS (USA) 2023 said. “We have tried to create an intellectually charged platform for experts to share their knowledge and experiences on some of the common professional issues that remain a challenge in spite of all the advances. The exchange of expertise and transfer of technology by the best brains is bound to offer positive and innovative solutions to some of the problems faced by humankind.”
Among the many initiatives that emerged from GHS 2023, a notable action plan has been for AAPI to collaborate with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to initiate an ambitious program to address mental health and wellness of students in high school in Andhra Pradesh. Some of the other initiatives that were announced during the GHS 2023 included: effective treatment modalities on non-communicable medical diseases, reducing the infant and maternal mortality and HPV Vaccination.
The essence of AAPI is educational. That translates into numerous Continuing Medical Education and non-CME seminars by experts in their fields. The GHS 2023 with the theme of “True and Total Health is the Wellbeing of Mind, Body, and Spirit” has had several CME sessions that focused on Mental Health, Infant and Maternal Mortality as well as various other medical specialty updates, Spiritual presentations and Medical Jeopardy for Medical students.
CME sessions with academicians from the United States offered unique opportunities for local medical staff and healthcare professionals to advance leanings and provide the best possible care for the people of India. The Summit had a research competition for medical students and post graduate students from all over India. AAPI conferred Awards of excellence and lifetime achievements during the Summit.
AAPI, in collaboration with the AAPI India Foundation administered free HPV vaccines to over 100 low income young women from several government schools in the region, during a special launch and awareness camp organized at the Mahatma Gandhi Cancer Hospital, Visakhapatnam in India on Saturday, January 7th, 2023 with the objective of creating awareness and preventing cervical cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths among women in India.
“We at AAPI, in keeping with our efforts and initiatives to educate, create awareness and provide support on disease prevention, are happy to be part of the HPV Vaccine Awareness Program,” Dr. Ravi Kolli, President of AAPI said. “It was truly an enriching experience to be present in person and meeting with the young women and be part of this life saving mission.”
“Advancing Women’s Health Through Awareness and Action” was the theme at the much-anticipated Women’s Leadership Forum that featured extraordinarily successful Women Leaders representing a diversity of professions, involving public, private and government organizations. Panelists at the Women’s Forum included: Dr. Suneela Garg, Dir. Professor & Head of Community Medicine at Maulana Azad Medical College; Dr. Anuradha Medoju, Senior Regional Director at Telangana & Andhra Pradesh Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India; Dr. S. Radha Rani, Former Professor and Superintendent, Hospital of Mental Health; and Ms. Meghna Chalasani, Team Lead, Advisory Committees, Program Lead, Science Office Strategies for New Drugs at Center for Drug Education and Research, US Food & Drug Administration.
Dr. Smt. Tamilisai Soundararajan Honorable Governor of Telangana & Honorable Lt. Governor of Puducherry delivered the keynote address at the Women’s Forum virtually. She urged everyone to “Pay attention to little things and how changes can be brought in. Services need to reach everyone. There are many plans and programs initiated by the government, but people need to be made aware of them and be helped to utilize the programs,” she said. She lauded “the great work by AAPI members for promoting health globally.”
Dr. Udaya Shivangi, Chair of AAPI’s Women’s Committee, in her opening remarks provided an overview of the Forum and the many initiatives by the Forum both in India and the United States. Shri. MVV Satyavathi, Member of Parliament, representing Anakapalli was the Guest of Honor at the Women’s Forum. In her address, she congratulated AAPI, whose members having been born and educated in India, settled down in the US with success, have come back to India to serve the people of India and work together for the betterment of humanity.
The Summit featured a CEO Forum, where a galaxy of CEOs from around the world from hospitals, teaching institutions and major healthcare sectors, including pharmaceutical, medical devices and technology, joined to explore potential opportunities for collaboration.
Shri. Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Honorable Governor of Andhra Pradesh was the keynote speaker at the CEO Forum 2023 with the theme, focusing on “True and Total Health is the Well-being of the Mind, Body, and Spirit for holistic person-centered care.” Dr. Ravi Kolli, AAPI President led the discussions, while Prof. MD Nalapat served as the Co-chair along with Prof. Joseph M. Chalil, MD, Co-chair & AAPI Chief Strategy Officer. “We envision a great future for our country with the direct result of complex interactions at this forum with your assistance, guidance, and experience,” Dr. Chalil said.
A galaxy of speakers who were part of the powerful CEO Forum included: Ambassador Pradeep K. Kapur; Dr. Sangita Reddy. a Global Healthcare Leader, Indian Entrepreneur, and Humanitarian; Dr. Juby A Jacob-Nara, Vice President, Head of Global Medical- Respiratory Allergy & Gastroenterology (Sanofi-Genzyme), Mr. Sadasiva Rao Nannapaneni, Vice President – Corporate Affairs, Legal & Secretarial, Estate Management at NATCO; Dr. Anu Chirala, Co-Founder & President InstaMD; Dr. Jagadeesh Babu Rangisetty, CEO at Biophore India Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd, who has more than 30 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical Profession; Mr. Ramprasad M, Chairman, SHAI and an Investment banker, Dr. Upendra Srinivas, Managing Director at Quantum Specialty Diagnostics; Dr. Venkat Ramana Sudigali, Founder-Director Excell Multispecialty Hospital, Hyderabad, India, and the CEO of EHA Consortium.org; and Mr. Sasi Sunkara, Executive Director and Co-founder at CIPHER Oncology
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former World Health Organization (WHO) chief scientist was conferred with the prestigious Prof P. Brahmayya Sastry Oration & Dr. T. Ravi Raju Excellence Award during the Summit in Visakhapatnam on Friday, January 6, 2023. The event jointly organized by Prof P. Brahmayya Sastry Memorial Oration Committee and Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam was chaired by Dr. Abhijat Sheth and Dr. Sridhar Chilimuri.
The women leaders of AAPI dazzled on stage with elegance, and showcasing their talents by presenting two amazing Fashion Shows on Friday and Saturday at the Summit to the delight of the AAPI delegates.
Led by Surgeon Rear Admiral R. Ravi, Command Medical Officer, Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam, nearly 500 students from local schools and colleges, and dozens of delegates at the 16th annual Global Healthcare Summit participated at the Walkathon on the serene oceanside of the Bay of Bengal at Visakhapatnam on a beautiful Sunday morning on January 8th, 2023 with a mission to create awareness on Mental Health with the theme: “Be the Change: All for Global Health.”
In his closing remarks, Dr. Ravi Kolli said, “The Global Healthcare Summit held annually in India across several states, has become a major contributing factor, where Indian American Doctors focus on various programs and policies in our efforts to make a huge difference in the delivery of healthcare in India.”
“After the highly successful Global Healthcare Summit in Visakhapatnam last weekend, I am happy to announce that the 17th annual Global Healthcare Summit will be held in New Delhi from January 2nd to 4th, 2024,” Dr. Anjana Samadder, President-Elect of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) announced here during a Curtain Raiser held at the prestigious Constitution Club in New Delhi on January 9th, 2023.
“In our quest to fulfill the mission of AAPI, we are proud to share best practices and experiences from leading experts in the world and develop actionable plans and projects that enable access to affordable and quality healthcare for all people. To help accomplish this mission, we are excited to be here in Visakhapatnam and be part of the GHS 2023,” Dr. Kolli urged. For more information on Global Health Summit, please visit: www.summit.aapiusa.org and www.GHS2023.com