Indian-Americans constitute less than one percent of the country’s population, but account for nine percent of the American physicians. As Forbes magazine aptly summed up, every seventh doctor practicing in the United States is of Indian Heritage. The percentage of Indian American Doctors maybe even more in the underserved areas, as they provide healthcare to over 40 million Americans across the nation.

“I was very pleased to that the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), representing the interests of over 80,000 physicians of Indian Origin, and the largest ethnic organization, was recognized on Capitol Hill during the recent luncheon organized by Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry to honor the visiting Prime Minister of India Narendar Modi recently,” said Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, President of AAPI. Dr. Seema Jain, President-Elect, represented AAPI and the President, and was accompanied by the Secretary Dr. Gautam Samadder at this historic event.

“It was an amazingly spectacular event attended by many Senators, Congressman, corporate leaders, businessmen and community leaders, diplomats and leaders and innovators in diverse fields from India and the US,” described Dr. Jain. “Having invited as representatives of AAPI speaks volumes about the importance and the ever growing clout of AAPI and its members.” In addition to meeting with both Kerry and Biden, Dr. Jain recounted with excitement her interactions with Nancy Pelosi, Sonal Shah, Ami Bera, Tulsi Gabbard, and corporate leaders/presidents of Boeing and Boehringer, amongst others. 

Dr. Jain and Dr. Samadder briefed both the leaders and several corporate leaders at the luncheon of the several community outreach programs that been enthusiastically embraced by AAPI Members in the US and in India. The AAPI Charitable Foundation also serves more than a million patients a year in their sixteen clinics in India. These activities in both countries are very popular, and are encouraged and supported by AAPI, they pointed out

Dr. Jain shared with Biden and Kerry about the numerous programs and activities being carried out by AAPI during its more than three decades long existence. “AAPI has been seeking to collectively shape the best health care for the people of US, with the physician at the helm, caring for the medically underserved as we have done since physicians of Indian origin migrated to the US for decades in large numbers,” Dr. Jain told the American leaders. Dr. Samadder had a one to one interchange with Mr. Mukesh Ambani at the event.

The Secretary of State Mr. John Kerry delivered the inaugural address, and was followed by the Vice President Joe Biden. The Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi in his address in Hindi highlighted the future relationship between India and USA and how the two oldest and largest democracies can work together to bring peace and harmony in the world.

As the President Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar put it, “The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) is the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States. AAPI is an umbrella organization which has nearly 130 local chapters, specialty societies and alumni organizations”. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, AAPI represents the interests of over 60,000 physicians and 15,000 medical students and residents of Indian heritage in the US. For more details, and please visit: www.aapiusa.org.