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Dr. Satheesh Kathula, President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) was honored with the Inspirational Award given by Raising Awareness of Youth with Autism (RAYWA) Foundation during a glittering Inspirational Award Gala on December 14th, 2024, at New York’s iconic Pierre Hotel by Taj Hotel. Dr. Kathula was chosen for the award along with several community leaders, for his contributions to the country, particularly in the field of healthcare, and his dedication to his patients and the broader community.
Dr. Kathula, a board-certified hematologist and oncologist from Dayton, Ohio, practicing Medicine for over two decades, in his response after receiving the award, said, “I am truly humbled to receive this Inspirational Award alongside several other remarkable individuals. This really inspires not only me, but the people, who are actually serving the community and society at large. Inspiration is the spark that ignites our potential and drives us to do more, to be more. It comes from many sources—nature, people, art, even from small things- but its power is immense.”
The organizers of the event said, “The RAYWA Foundation is proud to celebrate individuals who have made extraordinary contributions across diverse fields, driving impact, innovation, and inclusion. This year’s honorees exemplify the spirit of resilience, leadership, and compassion.”
The multi-faceted event recognized inspiring South Asian individuals from diverse categories. The black-tie networking extravaganza brought together the nation’s business, community, health, and art world from diverse industries. The gala featured inspiring speakers, live entertainment, and a silent auction.
The highlight of the program was the launch of Roshni Inspirational coffee table book. The Gala and Ceremony provided an exclusive opportunity to mingle with Roshni honorees in a celebratory setting. Roshni Recognition Gala attendees received gift bags containing samples of this year’s award-winning products. All Finalists and Winners received a unique trophy, featuring the company name, the name of one’s new innovative product/service, and the level of win. Special recognition was provided to the Honorees featured in the Roshni Media next Coffee Table Book.
Raising Awareness of Youth with Autism (RAYWA) Foundation has been doing incredible work to support individuals with autism. Kudos to Mani Kamboj and Dr. Rashmi Sharma for their tireless efforts to raise awareness about autism. For 25 years, they have hosted the Inspirational Award Gala, honoring those who inspire others in their respective fields.
Dr. Kathula has dedicated his career to treating patients and actively supporting various nonprofit organizations. Dr. Kathula has served AAPI in various capacities. He was the Regional Director, a member of the Board of Trustees. He was elected overwhelmingly by AAPI members as the national Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice President of AAPI, and has served as the President-Elect of AAPI during the year 2023-34, prior to assuming charge as the President of AAPI in July this year.
He strongly believes acquiring new knowledge is crucial for professionals, especially physicians with a changing healthcare environment. Recently, Dr. Kathula acquired a certificate from Stanford University in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. He graduated in May 2024 from Harvard University completing a “Global Healthcare Leaders Program.”
Dr. Kathula was the President and founding member of the Association of Indian Physicians from Ohio, President of the Miami Valley Association of Physicians of Indian Origin as well as the President of the ATMGUSA (Association of Telugu Medical Graduates in USA). In addition, he has worked with the Ohio State Medical Association on various issues. He has been actively involved in community service locally, nationally, and internationally for the last two decades. He was awarded ‘Man of the Year – 2018’ by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Among many others, Dr. Kathula has initiated a bone marrow drive, as the donor pool among South Asians is very limited, Dr. Kathula said. “So, we are trying to recruit potential donors in the stem cell or bone marrow transplant donations. Because people are getting affected by lymphomas and leukemias, and they need transplants. Since they do not get the matched donors in this country, we are trying to increase that pool.”
Under his leadership, AAPI has launched a program called “Million Miles of Gratitude,” to honor veterans by promoting physical activity. Participants can log their walking or running miles, with each mile serving as a tribute to the veterans. The goal is to collectively reach a million miles in the coming year.
Not satisfied with his personal and professional achievements, Dr. Kathula has been active in the Indian community. With the objective of enabling Physicians of Indian Origin to give back to their motherland, India, he organized the Global Healthcare Summit in New Delhi, India in October this year.
Dr Kathula’s love for his motherland has manifested in him setting up humanitarian and medical projects in India. The most important of them is establishing a state-of-the-art pharmacy college in Warangal in Telangana, where he grew up. Named Pathfinder Institute of Pharmacy and Educational Research (PIPER), the non-profit with Dr Kathula as the Chairman provides quality education and has already graduated over 1,000 students who are now working in different parts of India and abroad. He conducted several medical camps close to his native place and donated a defibrillator, water purification plant, and library to his native place.
Dr. Kathula, who graduated from Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India in 1992 is a clinical professor of medicine at Wright State University – Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Kathula is a Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. He has authored several papers and articles in medical journals and is in the process of writing a book, describing his journey as an immigrant physician. “For the past 22 years, I’ve been proudly serving as a Hematologist and Oncologist in the Dayton community, considering it my home.”
