Glitz and Glamour at AAPI's 29th Convention

President Kalam releasing the AAPI 29th Convention Souvenir. Outgoing AAPI President Ajeet R. Singhvi and the new AAPI President Sunita Kanumury are also in the picture.

In New York, where the spectacular andgrand are routine and ho-hum, genuinenew benchmarks are uncommon.

That's why the five-day 29th annual conventionof the American Association ofPhysicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) thatkick-started with a bus tour on June 22,2011, and was followed by a lavish dinnerand an exceptional performance by singerCharanjeet and an accompanying band,was something to behold.

A model in one of Hemant Trevedi'sstunning creation.

Outgoing to Incoming - Dr. Ajeet R. Singhvi hands over AAPI's reins toDr. Sunita Kanumury. Congressman Jesse L. Jackson is at extreme right.

The mix of sheer glamour and intellect,when more than 1,000 Indian Americanphysicians from across North America, aformer head of state , Nobel Laureates,world renowned singers, designers andfashion models descended on New YorkCity for the convention at the glitzy HiltonHotel in midtown Manhattan, was matchlessin its magnitude.

Beginning with the formal inaugurationon June 23, 2011, by former Indian presidentA.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the festive atmospherepermeated the convention,which began with promises of providingeducation, entertainment and entrepreneurshipopportunities to the attendingphysicians and their families, from dayone.

The tireless 79-year-old Kalam, who hadarrived only for a one day visit, was besiegedby surging crowds of fans who elbowedeach other to get close to him as hewalked down the extensive exhibit hallthat featured the latest in healthcare technology.More than 80 vendors displayedtheir products and services across twofloors at the Hilton.

In his keynote address to the large crowdof physicians and their families, Kalamexhorted AAPI members to work hand-inhandwith engineers to find a way to lowermedical costs. AAPI board of directorsand trustees joined Kalam for the traditionallamp-lighting following which outgoingAAPI President Dr. Ajeet R. Singhvithanked President Kalam for gracing theconvention. Singhvi described Kalam as the "People's President" and "Missile Manof India." He said Kalam was one of thoserare individuals who represented the highestform of human spirit.

Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., and Dr. Ajeet R. Singhvi dancing to the songs belted out by Bollywood Singer Sunidhi Chauhan.

The star attraction on the evening of June 23, 2011 was a fashion show by Sheetal Boutique featuring designs of designer Hemant Trevedi. Showcasing dresses from each state of India, the fashion show, titled "Anushthan," featured 20 top Indian models. Later, foot stomping music by Punjabi pop star Mika Singh had the audiences swaying in excitement. For those with more refined tastes, noted classical singer Pandit Jasraj's rendition of Raag Megh Malhaar transported them to a state of divine calm. He was accompanied by U. Shrinivas, U. Rajesh and BikramGhosh.

Congressman Frank Pallone addressing AAPI delegates on the awards night.

On June 24, 2011, a presentation by Anwar Feroz of Johnson and Johnson highlighted the difference in healthcare in minority communities and noted significantly higher obesity and diabetes rates among minorities.

Ghulam Ali regaled the audience withhis lyrical ghazals.

Following Feroz's speech, Nobel Laureateand internationally acclaimed scientist,Dr James Watson, walked the audiencethrough a primer on cell signaling – themethod by which cells grow or divide -before discussing several new cancer therapiesthat are currently in the pipeline.In his presentation titled, "Curing IncurableCancers," the 83-year-old Watson ofthe Watson and Crick duo that discoveredthe double helix formation of DNA, said,"If you want to know whether your canceris treatable, measure the amount of glycolosis."He added that high glycolosislevels would indicate that the cancerwould be difficult to treat.

A women's forum featured high-profilespeakers including Reena Agarwal, theRobert E. McDonough Professor of BusinessAdministration and professor of financeat Georgetown University's McDonoughSchool of Business; Barkha Dutt,group editor with NDTV in India; andRuchira Gupta, an Emmy Award winningsocial activist, whose statistics and a slideon sex slavery in India and the plight ofgirls, some as young as 10 years of age,moved the audience to tears.

Congressman Hansen Clarke fromMichigan also made his presence feltwhen he addressed and met with the delegates.The evening also witnessed Sajda, a superbdance collage of Indian culture conceived,choreographed and directed byRekha Chowdhary of the New ShakuntalamCentre of Arts & Culture. Later, SunaharePal from Bollywood entertained thecrowd with music followed by a classicalfusion music concert by sitarist NishatKhan. The night ended with a hilariousstand-up comedy show by Shailesh Lodhawho had the audience in splits.

Interspersed throughout the conventionwere CME – a hit with a majority of theattendees, seminars and presentations coveringa wide range of topics including"Improving Global Health" and "EmergingRole of Minority Physicians." WhileLok Sabha member Navin Jindal conducteda forum for physicians on medicalentrepreneurship, two Indian federal ministers- Praful Patel, Minister for Heavy Industriesand Ashwini Kumar, Minister ofState for Science, Technology and EarthSciences, stressed the need to bring healthcareto rural areas in India.

Robert Wah, chair of the American MedicalAssociation's Board of Trustees, spoke at the awards luncheon June 25,2011 and urged AAPI to join forces withthe AMA. "When the AMA comes into acity, people start to listen."

Former Indian President Kalam talking with young Indian American physicians at the NY Hilton. Dr. Ajeet R. Singhvi, outgoing AAPI President, and Dr. Mamta Singhvi, MSRFPresident, can be seen in the pic.

(l to r) Former Indian President A.P.J. Kalam, Dr. Ajeet Singhvi, outgoing AAPI president and Dr. Mamta Singhvi, MSRF president. Dr. Gautam Singhvi isstanding at the back.

He painted a gloomy picture of the healthcare reform efforts. He said, "There is no more important time for physicians to come together. There are forces working against us and if we're not careful, we're going to get rolled over." The healthcare reform theme was also taken up by Rep. Frank Pallone, D-New Jersey. He said, "There have been many attempts to repeal this bill, but they haven't been successful. We're moving forward on this."

Audience enjoying Punjabi pop singer Mika's performance.

Delegates line up for a bus tour on June 22, 2011.

The black-tie evening belonged to fieryRep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., D-Ill, who told apacked audience that the nation's unemployedwere unheard in America. Heurged AAPI to build more medical facilities."More hospitals means more employedroofers," he said to a standingovation.

Meera Shankar, India's ambassador toUS spoke on the role played by AAPI andthe contribution of Indian-Americanphysicians.

Dr. Singhvi in his farewell speech saidthat his focus had been ‘the next generation."He said, "In one year we added2600 new patron members which was onethird of the total membership, in a singleyear compared to the past 28 years combined.Over 85% of which were youngphysicians. Leadership development seminars,Medical rotation to India scholarshipprogram, International mission andcommunity service initiative and Scholarshipfor the Capitol Hill internship wereall directed for the young physicians."

"AAPI now has a legislative office inWashington DC as well as a new ExecutiveDirector in Chicago. For the first timein 29 years AAPI is now an ACCME approvedCME provider. AAPI also filed anAmicus Brief on behalf of its 3 patronmembers, which sends an important messageagainst acts of discrimination basedon a physician's ethnicity."

"A Health India think tank was establishedto create a forum for public awareness,advocacy, health care delivery andfinancing. The Indo US healthcare Summitwas a great success, as AAPI attemptedto give back to our motherland bysharing our experience and know-how," hesaid relating AAPI's achievements in thepast one year under his presidency.

The evening saw incoming president DrSunita Kanumury, AAPI's first womanpresident in 12 years, formally assumeleadership of the organization. In her acceptancespeech, she said, "AAPI connectsis the slogan. We do not want that to bejust words. I ask the young people to comeforward. My doors are open to you at alltimes."

AAPI also recognized many distinguishedIndian American physicians excellingin their chosen fields of medicine,including Dr. Samin Sharma of the MountSinai Hospital, New York and Dr. ShivSarin, former chairman of Medical Councilof India.

And true to AAPI's promise of continuedentertainment, the evening ended withelectrifying performances by Bollywoodicon Sunidhi Chauhan and ghazal maestroGhulam Ali Khan.

The stream of visiting dignitaries continueduntil June 26, 2011, when CongressmanEd Royce from California, Chair ofIndia Caucus, flew in at brunch to speakto the members as well as receive the"Friend of Physicians' Award."

NRI Today later caught up with the affableDr. Singhvi who was happy with thesuccessful conclusion of the convention."From my perspective it could not havebeen better, my team worked diligently toprovide state of the art educational experience,culturally rich entertainment and deliciousfood.

I hope everybody learned, enjoyed, networked,reminisced with old friends andmade some new ones. Moreover we couldpush AAPI's legislative agenda with theCongressmen to make them understandthe issues that concern us."

[ BY ANU SHARMA ]