The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), representing more than 120,000 physicians, medical students, residents, and fellows of Indian origin in the United States, has evolved into one of the most influential physician organizations in the world.
Today, AAPI’s impact extends far beyond medicine, encompassing healthcare innovation, global health partnerships, youth empowerment, community service, and legislative advocacy. According to AAPI, physicians of Indian origin care for an estimated 50 million Americans, and approximately one in seven patients in the United States is treated by an Indian-origin physician.
“For more than four decades, AAPI has stood as one of the most influential organizations representing physicians of Indian origin,” said Dr. Meher Medavaram, President of AAPI. “Built by visionary leaders and strengthened by generations of dedicated volunteers, AAPI has become a powerful voice for excellence in medicine, service to humanity, education, advocacy, and philanthropy. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of those who have helped shape this extraordinary organization.”
Over the past 44 years, AAPI’s numerous initiatives demonstrate how a professional medical association can drive measurable change across communities, countries, and generations.
Dr. Vijay Maurya, AAPI’s BOT Chair, believes in member engagement and participation. He believes that AAPI’s strength lies in the collective involvement of its members across regions and chapters. He is confident in the organization’s resilience, noting, “I see AAPI continuing to grow despite having many challenges,” particularly when senior leadership and grassroots members work collaboratively toward shared goals.
STEM Initiative: Inspiring Future Innovators
Recognizing the growing importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), AAPI has invested in programs designed to encourage young people to pursue careers in medicine, healthcare, and scientific research. The initiative seeks to expose students to physician mentors, healthcare technologies, and emerging scientific disciplines while cultivating leadership skills and academic excellence.
The program reflects a broader reality in the United States, where STEM remains central to innovation and economic growth. By connecting students directly with accomplished physician leaders, AAPI provides opportunities that extend beyond classrooms, creating pathways toward careers in medicine, biotechnology, public health, and research. The initiative also helps strengthen the future healthcare workforce by encouraging young Indian American students and other minority groups to consider careers in health sciences.
Dr. Meher Medavaram, AAPI President has emphasized that empowering future generations remains central to the organization’s long-term vision.
“My vision is to lead AAPI with unity, integrity, inclusion, and purpose,” she said, underscoring the importance of creating opportunities that prepare future healthcare leaders.
Global Health Summits: Advancing International Collaboration
The AAPI Global Health Summit has become one of the organization’s most visible and impactful international initiatives. The 2026 Global Health Summit in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, brought together physicians, researchers, educators, and public health experts from both India and the United States to address critical healthcare challenges and explore innovative solutions.
The summit featured scientific forums, AI-driven healthcare discussions, women’s health programs, emergency medicine workshops, tuberculosis elimination strategies, diabetes and obesity management sessions, public health outreach initiatives, and physician leadership forums. Hundreds of delegates participated in knowledge-sharing sessions designed to strengthen healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Krishan Kumar, President-Elect of AAPI believes that “The Global Health Summit continues to serve as a bridge connecting American and Indian healthcare institutions while fostering sustainable healthcare solutions and capacity-building programs.”
AAPI leaders view the summit as more than a medical conference.
“GHS 2026 reflects AAPI’s unwavering commitment to elevating global health standards. When experts from two of the world’s most dynamic healthcare systems come together, the impact extends far beyond conference halls. It reaches communities, hospitals, and future generations,” said Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, immediate past President of AAPI.
“The next edition of AAPI GHS planned to be held in January 2027 in Hyderabad will continue to build on the past initiatives, while taking on new programs that will benefit and strengthen the health care delivery in India,” said Dr. Medavaram, President of AAPI.
Indo-US Scientific Convention: A Bridge Between Nations
Another cornerstone initiative is AAPI’s Indo-US Scientific Convention, which promotes collaboration between healthcare professionals, researchers, and academic institutions across both countries. The 2025 convention in Hyderabad focused on sudden cardiac arrest, emergency medicine, and advances in resuscitation science.
The convention brings together experts from AAPI, the American Heart Association, Indian medical institutions, and public health organizations. Topics included emergency medical services, pediatric advanced life support, cardiac arrest registries, neuroprotection during resuscitation, and community life-saving initiatives.
Such programs have helped establish a framework for long-term academic exchange and collaborative research while promoting adoption of internationally recognized standards in emergency medicine and cardiovascular care.
CPR Training: Building a Nation of Lifesavers
Among AAPI’s most tangible public health initiatives is its support for CPR and resuscitation training programs. Emergency medicine workshops and mass CPR education initiatives have become recurring components of both Global Health Summit and Indo-US Convention activities.
A notable presentation during the Indo-US Scientific Conventions and GHS focuses on a multicenter assessment of Hands-Only CPR training designed to help create what organizers described as a “Nation of Lifesavers” in India and the United States.
The 2026 Global Health Summit also included emergency medicine and resuscitation workshops based on updated American Heart Association guidelines, advanced simulations, and community-oriented life-saving training. These initiatives equip healthcare workers, students, and community members with practical skills that can dramatically improve survival rates during cardiac emergencies.
Blanket Donation and Community Service Programs
AAPI’s commitment to service extends beyond healthcare. Various AAPI chapters across the United States organize humanitarian activities addressing immediate community needs, including clothing drives, food assistance, and blanket donation campaigns for underserved populations.
These initiatives reflect the organization’s philosophy that physicians must serve communities beyond clinical settings. Through partnerships with local charities, shelters, and faith-based organizations, AAPI volunteers provide practical assistance to vulnerable populations while strengthening community engagement. [nepa-aapi.com]
Such programs may not generate headlines, but they provide tangible support to families facing economic hardship and reinforce AAPI’s culture of volunteerism and compassion.
Family Medicine and Community Health
Family medicine remains central to AAPI’s mission of improving healthcare access and preventive care. Through conventions, educational programs, CME activities, and global health initiatives, AAPI emphasizes chronic disease prevention, diabetes management, obesity reduction, women’s health, vaccination efforts, and primary care education.
The organization also supports physician education and professional development, recognizing that strong primary care systems are essential to healthier communities. Scientific sessions regularly focus on preventive medicine, patient education, and evidence-based practices that improve long-term outcomes.
Legislative Advocacy: Giving Physicians a Voice
“AAPI increasingly recognizes that better healthcare requires engagement with public policy,” Dr. Vijay Maurya, Chair of AAPI BOT. “Through legislative advocacy efforts, the organization seeks to ensure that physicians contribute to discussions affecting healthcare delivery, physician workforce development, patient access, public health, and medical education.”
Advocacy has taken on greater importance as healthcare systems confront workforce shortages, reimbursement challenges, regulatory burdens, and growing health disparities. AAPI leaders have consistently stressed that physicians offer invaluable frontline perspectives that can help policymakers develop effective, evidence-based solutions.
Reflecting on AAPI’s broader mission, Dr. Sreeni Gangasani, Vice President of AAPI reminded members that the organization’s strength comes from collective action: “AAPI is not about one individuals. It is about a shared vision… all of us working together to ensure that AAPI remains strong, relevant, and prepared for the challenges and opportunities in the future.”
AAPI Extends Humanitarian Support to Nepal Flood Victims
AAPI’s commitment to service extends beyond healthcare and education into global humanitarian relief. Following the devastating floods in Nepal, AAPI members and supporters contributed $30,000 toward emergency relief efforts this year. Demonstrating its dedication to helping communities in crisis, AAPI matched the donations dollar for dollar, bringing the total contribution to $60,000. The funds are being directed toward relief and recovery initiatives for affected families, reflecting AAPI’s longstanding tradition of combining medical leadership with compassion and humanitarian outreach during times of need.
Ayurveda and Yoga Academic Collaboration with the Government of India
Further expanding its global health engagement, AAPI’s Ayurveda Consortium is preparing to enter into a proposed Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, for academic collaboration in the fields of Ayurveda and Yoga.
“While the agreement is yet to be formally signed, it is envisioned that a partnership focused on education, research, knowledge exchange, and integrative healthcare will be a great contribution to expanding knowledge and practice of ancient Indian wisdom across the globe,” said Dr. Medavaram. “The proposed collaboration is expected to create opportunities for academic programs, physician training, faculty exchanges, and evidence-based research that promote traditional Indian systems of medicine alongside modern healthcare practices.”
Looking Ahead
“The growing influence of physicians of Indian heritage is evident, as increasingly physicians of Indian origin hold critical positions in the healthcare, academic, research and administrative positions across the nation,” said Dr. Kumar. “We the physicians of Indian origin are proud of our great achievements and contributions to our motherland, India, our adopted land, the US and in a very significant way to the transformation of the Indo-US relations.”
According to Dr. Soumya Nerevatla, Secretary of AAPI, “Whether through STEM mentorship, Global Health Summits, Indo-US academic collaborations, CPR training, humanitarian outreach, family medicine initiatives, or legislative advocacy, AAPI continues to demonstrate the power of organized physician leadership.”
“For over four decades, AAPI has transformed its vision into action through initiatives that touch millions of lives. With physicians serving communities in all 50 states, we remain committed to strengthening the physician fraternity, advancing healthcare excellence, and making a lasting impact on the broader American society through service,,” said Dr. Raghu Lolabhattu, Treasurer of AAPI.
Representing more than 120,000 healthcare professionals and touching the lives of millions of patients annually, the organization has become a vital bridge connecting medicine, education, public service, and global collaboration.
“The message behind ‘Making a Lasting Impact Together’ is ultimately simple yet powerful: lasting change occurs when physicians combine expertise with service, leadership with compassion, and professional success with community responsibility,: says Dr. Medavaram.
Serving 1 in every 7 patients in the US, AAPI members care for millions of patients every day, while several of them have risen to hold high flying jobs, shaping the policies and programs and inventions that shape the landscape of healthcare in the US and around the world.
Through its expanding initiatives, AAPI continues to translate that vision into measurable impact both in the United States and around the world.
For more details and AAPI’s programs and initiatives, please visit: www.aapiusa.org
