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LAS VEGAS: The four-day 26th annual convention of Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in Las Vegas between June 25 and 29 wrote a new chapter in the Indo-US relations and also vigorously reaffirmed Indian physicians' commitment and dedication to serve both the nations.Indian Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, Associate Secretary of State Richard Boucher, Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen, Chairman of the Apollo Hospitals Dr Pratap C Reddy and a host of other dignitaries praised the AAPI leadership in respect of health care initiatives and fostering closer Indo US ties.

There are some who try to make their identity a little more vague by calling themselves Asian or whatever -- we all are and we are proud to be Asians -- but some would like to refer to the Indian subcontinent, call it the Asian subcontinent. Thank God, they don't call the Indian Ocean just an ocean just because it's the only ocean named after a country."Congratulating AAPI for going global and partnering with medical organizations like in the United Kingdom, the envoy said AAPI has institutionalized its cooperation with the government of India and institutions in India like major hospitals.

"I can assure you that it was extremely well received by the president and prime minister and other top leaders in India. I am glad that you will be making a big difference there and I welcome that initiative." Sen said that he was very fortunate to have been here at a time of unprecedented development of rapid and qualitative transformation in the ties between the two nations and relationship that can truly be called a strategic partnership. "And, I look forward to the future of this relationship with confidence," he said.

"We might have some hiccups on the road, but I look at it with confidence because this relationship is based firstly -- it's not a relationship between two governments -- on a relationship between people, it is based on shared values and aspirations as democracies committed to the rule of law. There are so many democracies but how many democracies do you have with such diverse pluralistic society. How many?

You'll find none, except India and the United States," he said.Sen said the US-India relationship is not based on transient factors or tactical considerations, but it is based on many common concerns, on intersecting interests, and though there might have been differences sometimes on how to achieve certain objectives in the long-term perspective, there is no long-term national security or any other vital important interest of the two countries which clash -- none. Sometimes we differ on how to get there, but not in that objective.

That's another factor, which gives me confidence in the future of this relationship," he said. He assured AAPI members that their lobbying efforts on behalf of the US-India civilian nuclear agreement will not be in vain and that ultimately the deal will be consummated.The Indian ambassador also said that the US-India strategic partnership is more comprehensive than any other bilateral relationship that India could think of. "I would like to assure you that we will do our best to see that all the time, the effort that you have put into this endeavor will not be in vain. I sincerely hope that it will not be in vain and we will achieve that objective.

I am hopeful."The envoy described that the civilian nuclear deal was important not only for economic development, also because of energy constraints. Sen said the US-India relationship is more broad-based, comprehensive than any of India's relationship with any other country in the world. "When you talk about the economy, you talk about investments, when you talk about trade, you talk about science and technology, any area -- you look at defense -- there's been a very rapid transformation taking place.

We have military exercises of incredible complexity, which are of increasing size and complexity, covering all, virtually all dimensions-counter-insurgency, counter-terrorist operations at sea, on land, in the air and in all aspects - in education, culture, covering all aspects of human activity," Sen said. The US-India relationship covers everything from the mango to the moon referring to the US-India mango deal and NASA's decision to send American payloads on India's first mission to the moon later this year, he added.

"So mangoes to the moon," he said.Richard Boucher, in his key-note address, recalled the close ties between the two nations and the key role played by AAPI during the past year in fostering better understanding that led to passage of the landmark Indo-US civilian nuclear deal in the US Congress.

Dr Anbu- mani Rama- doss in his address said the role played by Dr. Hemant Patel and AAPI was appreciated by the Government of India and its people. "The AAPI leadership was sincere and committed in working with Indian physicians to provide better healthcare to the masses. AAPI did not forget its roots and engaged in several activities such as conducting Indo-US Healthcare Summit in New Delhi that blazed new trail in healthcare sector in India and paved way for new frontiers in public private partnership.

The convention also witnessed the inking of a unique partnership between AAPI and Apollo Hospitals Group of India. The MoU signed by Dr Hemant Patel and Dr Prathap C Reddy initiates joint programs such Apollo Hospitals providing ground support and assistance to AAPI's 17 dispensaries in India for providing rural healthcare. Also, Apollo Hospitals will assist in extension of the program to more rural areas and also provide telemedicine services at these locations.

Apollo Hospitals has also agreed to hold regular CMEs at various Apollo Hospital locations wherein AAPI members would participate as faculty in various specialties. Apollo Hospitals is to provide opportunity to medical students from the US to train in Indian hospitals and AAPI will provide a network of physicians willing to participate in offering post op care to US patients returning home after surgery from India.

Dr Prathap C Reddy who also happens to be chairman of the National Committee on Healthcare of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said that Apollo as a pioneer has developed a new project, Apollo Reach Hospitals. 'This will enable healthcare to extend outside of the metros, including small towns. Apollo will establish more than 100 hospitals over the next decade and all of the private players will together establish over 1, 000,' he added. In the next decade, "my vision for Apollo is not just as a practitioner of medicine but as a technology innovator to bring healthcare to all people no matter their means.

""In keeping with the objectives of the National Rural Health Mission to provide accessible, affordable, accountable, effective and reliable health care, especially to the poor and the vulnerable sections of the population in rural areas, it is my call to awaken the sentiments each one of us holds for our motherland. I would request each one of us to adopt a Primary Health Center in rural India and this single PHC would make all the difference. Today, about 11 percent of our population is covered under health insurance.

It is with this vision that Apollo entered the healthcare insurance field, first with a Third Party Administrator - Family Health Plan Limited, and recently, with our stand alone health insurance company, Apollo-DKV Limited, in partnership with Europe's largest health insurer DKV, a subsidiary of Munich RE.In his farewell speech, Dr Hemant Patel said that AAPI has grown by numbers and by commitment.

"I am proud to tell you that we have accomplished each and every goal set out at our Silver Jubilee AAPI Convention in Philadelphia last year. AAPI has become more visible, credible, and accountable…Our first platform was about raising the voice of Indian-American physicians through strong leadership. With the strong support of the AAPI leadership team, I believe we accomplished this goal and much more.

We also represented your most urgent needs to our legislators in Washington through our highly successful Fall Legislative Day, which was held in September last year. For the first time, we as AAPI called upon the 30 plus Members of Congress who participated in the AAPI event - to help doctors be doctors once again. Bureaucracy and interference in clinical decision making is at an all time high and as president, I heard your call to and took this message to Washington. We articulated our issues with this broken health system and our desire to help legislators bring forward legislation that helps doctors continue to help patients.

In my remarks delivered to our Members of Congress, AAPI presented a well positioned and open dialogue which was unprecedented in our organization. My second presidential platform focused on developing new and innovative partnership and alliances. As the US becomes a more global village, we see a number of non-traditional organizations who are starting to play an important role. As such, I worked hard to put AAPI at the forefront of this phenomenon and started to build alliances with key and highly influential organizations.

Our ground breaking partnership with Indian Medical College, the Indian Medical Association and Medical Council of India is just such an example of developing successful alliances. We saw a real need for improving the quality of medical education in India and so with the support of our leaders, we have set out to work together with our colleagues on the ground in India to bring our vast network of health experts to India in order to share learning and ideas on how to make difference.

One very specific outcome of this work with the Medical Community in India is the announcement from SMS Medical College in Jaipur to begin a one year diploma program on Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine for the first time in India. Another example of our unique partnering was our engagement with the American Jewish Committee. This high level collaboration provided us some tremendous credibility on a more global stage, where we looked to share ideas and best practices on disaster relief.The third platform we set out for this year was to bridge global boundaries. And I am proud to say that with the historic AAPI Indo-US Health Summit, we have fully accomplished this goal.

Hundreds of AAPI members made the trip to India this past December to take part in cornerstone event of sharing ideas on improving health in India by using our minds, our clinical experience, our passion and our dedication to medicine and unwavering commitment to our mother country - India. Our fourth platform which we accomplished this past year is about communications and advocacy, where we set out to raise the voice of AAPI in the broader healthcare debate in the US and in India. AAPI brought about significant advocacy at the grass roots level from state to state and at the national level, he said.An important area where I committed myself to this past year was to raise the awareness of Women's Health and first ever Women's Healthcare Summit held in Houston, Texas in March of this year was a great success.

Too often, women's health issues get ignored and I thought that this was the right time to bring forward our best minds to talk about how we can improve women's health here in the US. Looking ahead I believe we have lots more to do and I remain forever grateful to all my colleagues, friends and supporters and this organization for allowing me this short time to serve as President," he added. Lastly, AAPI hit financial stability.

The outgoing team left behind a huge savings of $512,000 to the kitty, highest compared to previous years when the balance were either negative or marginal.In his acceptance speech the incoming president Dr Sanku S Rao outlining his vision for the year 2008-2009, said AAPI would conduct specialized CME programs across the US to hone up physicians' skills and update on the latest in their respective fields." As medical practitioners, we have very little time to keep ourselves abreast of the developments in the vast field such as medicine.

Sound knowledge in the practicing field is a must and AAPI would be inviting top-notch experts from the US and other parts of the world, researchers and faculty to inform us is the latest. These CMEs platforms will not be restricted to major cities and would be conducted in various state capitals and cities where there are sizable Indian-American physicians. The stress will be on professional development, he added.AAPI would focus more this year on healthcare issues that has come to occupy center stage now.

He said AAPI would team up with AMA for streamlining the procedure for the benefit of patients and physicians. About 47 Million Americans have no medical coverage now and these working poor have no access to proper medical facilities. AAPI supports universal health care system and would lobby against cutting reimbursement fee for physicians, he said. Turning his attention to young physicians coming from India, he said AAPI would help obtain externship programs that would in turn help them get internship in hospitals.

Also, AAPI would provide them with evaluation letters at the end of the program which would become valuable in getting internships. The whole idea is to help them get into residency, he added. Dr. Rao said AAPI would take up the issue of shrinkage of residency spots for Indian-American physicians with the lawmakers and if the trend continues, there would not be enough Indian-American physicians in the US.

"We need more residency spots in tune with the population. We will engage the lawmakers to speak up on our behalf and ensure that justice is done," he added. "No residency means no practice and the country will be deprived of the skills of Indian-American physicians."Dr. Rao said the issue of J-1 visa waiver would be taken up with the new administration in the Capitol Hill and ensures that qualified physicians from India come to the US for higher education and training. Also, the organization would take up issues relating to US-born young physicians and try to rope in more youngsters into AAPI fold to infuse fresh blood.

"We plan to organize leadership camps to young doctors which would help them take leadership positions in various levels at AAPI," he said. Stressing the importance of working very closely with the Government of India like his predecessor Dr Hemant Patel who helped organize the first-ever Indo-US Healthcare Summit, Dr Rao said he would strengthen the ties between Indian physicians and AAPI."We are greatly indebted to our land of birth and AAPI will not shy away from sharing the expertise and skills for the betterment of India.

We would conduct seminars and workshops for transfer of knowledge and skills and also adopt best practices followed in India," he said. In this context, he pointed out that AAPI Charitable Foundation runs 17 permanent free health clinics across India and the organization would continue to fund such activities. "Our focus is on working with Indian Government and rural physicians in doing whatever we can to improve healthcare in villages," he added. One of the goals of the new team is to enroll more members so that AAPI could become stronger.

Others who addressed the four-day convention include Dr Ken Moritsugu, vice president, Global Strategic Affairs, LifeScan; Dr. Bhishma Kumar Agnihotri, former Ambassador-at-large for NRIs and PIOs; Dr. Renu Khator, chancellor and president of Houston University, Texas; Ms. Neelam Deo, Consul General of India in New York; Dr. Rebecca J. Patchin, secretary/treasurer of AMA and Dr. Harsh Vardhan, BJP leader from New Delhi. AAPI Presidential Awards were given to Dr Jayesh Kanuga, member Board of Trustees; Dr. Suvas Desai, chair, Legislative Affairs Committee; Anwar Feroz and Mr. Haresh Kaneriya of Johnson and Johnson and Mr Bob Miglani of Pfizer.

The AAPI Special Awards were presented Dr Charles Modica, chancellor of St. Georges University and Dr Thakoor G. Patel and Dr Kiran Patel, past president of AAPI.The BOT Presidential Award was presented to Dr Snehal Desai, president of AAPI- MSRF Committee. Dr Arun Pramanik, chair, AAPI Board of Trustees was the keynote speaker at the BOT luncheon and for the first time in history, AAPI had organized a panel discussion on the role of ethnic media in the growth of organization moderated by Managing Editor of India Abroad, Aziz Haniffa and Managing Editor of Pyramid Saimira Group magazines Dr. Prakaash M Swami.

The panel includes Dr Rajam Ramamurthy from AAPI and Bob Miglani of Pfizer. A separate session on Women's healthcare leadership development was held under the leadership of Dr Dharmi Kanuga.Congresswoman Shelly Berkley, US Senator Harry Reid and Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons issued a special proclamation to Dr Hemant Patel recognizing his services to the community. The key to the City of Las Vegas was presented to Dr Hemant Patel on behalf of the Mayor of Las Vegas by Councilman Larry Brown on behalf of Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

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