Year of challenges and discovery

Picture Perfect- Mrs. Bina Singhvi with daughter, Dr. Mamta Singhvi.

As the end of the AAPI year nears, it is as good a time as ever to reflect on the changes, setbacks and accomplishments that we as an organization have met with. I am proud of all the strides that MSRF (Medical Students, Residents, and Fellows) section has made, and owe much of our success to the dedication and hard work of my board, as well as to the support from our parent AAPI Executive Team led by my father Dr Ajeet Raj Singhvi.

A primary goal during my tenure was to increase awareness and credibility in our group, and nothing speaks louder than numbers. I am proud to say that we have been able to add over 1,800 new lifetime members to our database in the past year, which 25% more than in the previous 28 years combined. Of this number, a staggering 80% comprises the MSRF / YPS (Young Physicians Section) sector. We are a dynamic, vibrant organization, and I urge each and every one to continue their involvement in defining the future role of Indian Americans in medicine. Service and outreach was another aspect we concentrated heavily on this year. With the help of parent AAPI, we were able to strengthen our International Missions and Community Service program. By providing financial aid and logistical support, we sent dozens of ambitious medical trainees abroad to places like Egypt, China, Tanzania and Haiti. As a result our members were able to become more cognizant of the global scope of medicine and saw first hand how medicine is practiced with limited resources in developing nations. This has proved to be an extremely popular and gratifying initiative, and I hope that it will only continue to grow in years to come.

We launched a very well received Externship to India program, whereby several of our members received a $1,500 scholarship and traveled to the subcontinent for an enriching and unforgettable four week rotation. During my own trip to India for our 4th Indo-US Health Summit held in Rajasthan, I had an opportunity to interact with our Indian MSRF counterparts. I hope that the meaningful dialogue that we started will become a strong collaborative partnership with time. I was also able to meet with the Indian Health Minister, Hon. Ghulam Nabi Azad, and on behalf of our organization apprised him of the pressing need to revitalize the Indian medical school curriculum, especially as it pertains to psychosocial and ethical issues.

Our work this year was prolific in the realm of leadership and policy as well. Seminars were hosted in California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Michigan to train our members in communication skills and to educate them on issues of advocacy. The recent Legislative Day on Capitol Hill proved to be an effective forum to explore topics ranging from affordability of higher education and loan forgiveness to elimination of residency caps and J1 visa waivers. We also introduced a one month Capitol Hill fellowship this year. I truly hope our members will take advantage of this scholarship, as it will undoubtedly be an unparalleled learning experience. In addition, we unveiled the first ever AAPI Journal dedicated to the MSRF/YPS sectors. It successfully highlighted the humanistic talents of our membership, which are indeed impressive. Finally, we’ve put together a unique convention this year with a combination of a state of the art CME series featuring approximately 20% MSRF/YPS speakers, exclusive entertainment at world class venues, unique networking opportunities, and high profile personalities.

And, of course, there are always regrets/failures, which must not go unrecognized for fear of complacency setting in. There have been so many things I had hoped to accomplish for which I just did not have the time, resources or energy. Goals of mine which were not met included the desire to start an AAPI based mentorship program for disadvantaged youth aiming for higher education. I had also hoped to make inroads in the increasing childhood obesity epidemic, especially as it correlates to low socioeconomic status. Unfortunately being a full time medical resident makes finding extra time next to impossible!

What I am grateful for, however, is that I view my experience as AAPI MSRF President as a stepping stone. I have learned an incredible amount, met motivating people along the way, faced unique challenges, and discovered a lot about myself throughout this past year. I know it will help me tremendously as I move forward with my career, aspirations, and dreams.

I have been lucky to get the opportunity to work alongside my father. Although it has been challenging at times, secondary to the demanding expectations we have for one another, it has also been such an enjoyable and gratifying time for both of us. His impressive work ethic, unflinching optimism, and devotion to those he serves have all been a true inspiration for me. Simply put, he is my hero.

"A primary goal during my tenure was to increase awareness and credibility in our group, and nothing speaks louder than numbers. I am proud to say that we have been able to add over 1,800 new lifetime members to our database in the past year, which is 25% more than in the past 28 years combined. Of this number, 80% is from the MSRF/YPS sector. We are a dynamic, vibrant organization and I urge each and every one to continue their involvement in defining the future role of Indian Americans in medicine."

- [ BY DR. MAMTA SINGHVI AAPI, MSRF PRESIDENT ]