Our Bureau
Edison, NJ
Renowned Indian-American cardiologist Dr. Avinash Gupta has been elected as the new president of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), a major non-profit organization serving the Indian diaspora in the US.
Dr. Gupta was elected at FIA’s annual general body meeting last week in Edison, New Jersey. FIA’s board of Trustees, Senior Advisors Mr. H.R. Shah and Dr. Sudhir Parikh, and the Executive Team were present on the occasion. The newly unveiled executive team for 2024 includes Saurin Parikh as Executive Vice President, Smita Miki Patel as Vice President, Deepak Goel as 2nd Vice President, Priti Patel as General Secretary, Mahesh Dubal as Joint Secretary, Sanjeev Singh as Treasurer, and Haresh Shah as Joint Treasurer.
Dr. Gupta is known for working in the fields of social welfare and healthcare for decades in the US and India. “Being involved with community groups and helping others has always been my passion. Community service is very rewarding and fulfilling. It has enriched me as a person,” Dr. Gupta said after being elected.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Gupta assumed leadership of a team comprising 50 doctors and healthcare professionals based in the United States. Jointly, they successfully administered vaccinations to 3,500 Indian Americans residing in Ocean County, New Jersey. Moreover, Dr. Gupta provided virtual medical assistance to distressed Indians who found themselves stranded in the U.S. during the pandemic. He went above and beyond by arranging medications for those individuals who lacked medical insurance coverage. He also serves marginalized and impoverished individuals in the tribal regions of Jharkhand in India by providing free medical healthcare.
Dr. Gupta’s vision encompasses several key objectives. He intends to champion the interests and well-being of the Indian diaspora in the United States. This will involve promoting cultural exchange and understanding, advocating for the community’s needs, solidifying FIA’s role as a non-profit grassroots umbrella organization, and making our motherland India proud. Furthermore, Gupta articulated his dedication to social welfare projects and humanitarian initiatives. These efforts will not only support the Indian diaspora but also benefit the broader local community.
Dr. Gupta currently holds the positions of Chief of Cardiology, President of Medical Staff at Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus, Member of the Ocean County Board of Health, and Executive Vice President of FIA. Dr. Gupta is very active in community service and has served as President of the Monmouth Ocean County Association of Physicians from India (MOCAAPI) and Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BJANA).
FIA Chairman Ankur Vaidya expressed his appreciation for the hard work of the 2023 executive team and welcomed the incoming team. Dr. Gupta, reflecting on his experience as the FIA Vice President, described it as a valuable learning curve. He expressed his commitment to guiding FIA to new heights during his tenure as president. Collaborating with his new team, Dr. Gupta aims to reinforce India-US relations.
