Our Bureau
Chicago, IL
Under a sky filled with hope and halls echoing with gratitude, the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) – Chicago, in partnership with AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin) and IAMA (Indian American Medical Association), orchestrated a life-changing Free Medical Camp at the Mall of India, Naperville on April 19, 2025. The camp brought together over 400 plus patients served, more than 50 compassionate physicians, 90 enthusiastic SEWA kids and medical students volunteering, we had a combined force of over 600 individuals participating in this impactful initiative.
From early morning till afternoon, the halls of the Mall of India were transformed into sanctuaries of care — not just with stethoscopes and prescriptions, but with compassion, cultural connection, and community-driven love. At the heart of this monumental event stood Mr. Sunil Shah (Founder Chairman), whose dedication and visionary leadership have been the cornerstone of FIA’s community initiatives. His commitment to service has consistently inspired volunteers and professionals alike. As Mr. Sunil Shah said “FIA’s core belief is in collective well-being and the power of community-driven initiatives, whether it comes to health for all or coat drives for the unfortunate in winter”. At the medical camp, Sunil Shah’s (Founder Chairman) presence was not just administrative; it was emotional, encouraging, and inspiring.
Alongside this towering force stood the graceful, brilliant, and powerful Anu Malhotra, President of FIA, who led with deep compassion and unmatched tenacity. She is not just a leader; she is a nurturer of dreams and a protector of purpose. Anu Malhotra wove together the logistical threads of this massive effort — organizing, coordinating, supporting, and even leading a live yoga session that left many with tears of joy and serenity. During her welcome speech Anu Malhotra reminding us that leadership rooted in compassion is the most powerful of all. As Dr. Ajit Pant said “Anu Malhotra is A Visionary Leader with a Heart for Service, she brought warmth to cold logistics and turned a camp into a celebration of wellness”.
Mayor Scott Wehrli of Naperville graced the event as the Chief Guest, staying for its entirety and presenting the Awards to the Doctors and individuals who demonstrated exceptional community service. Standing proudly beside him, Alderwoman Shweta Baid added her voice to this powerful recognition. With grace and sincerity, she personally congratulated the honorees, presented awards, and thanked the many healthcare providers and in her words, “True heroes don’t seek the spotlight, they create it for others”. Doctors and Medical Services providers who participated and honored were: Dr. Dilip Shah, MD FACC, Dr. Meher Medavaram, Dr. Suresh Reddy (ex-Faculty Harvard Medical School), Dr. Kamal Patel, MD, Dr. Umang Patel, MD, Dr. Niranjana Shah, Dr. Radhika Chimata, MD, Dr. Urmilla Talsania, MD, Dr. Kirti Talsania, MD, Dr. Sukanya Reddy, MD, Dr. Rohitkumar Vasa, MD, Dr. Aman Sethi, MD, Dr. Vivek Mohan, MD, Dr. Neetha Dhananjaya, MD, Dr. Pooja Kinkabwala, DO, Dr. Leela Rao, MD, Dr. Lalitha Darbha, MD, Dr. Annu Mehta, MD, Dr. Praveen Mehta, MD, Dr. Piyush Icchashan Vyas, MD, Dr. Rama R Medavaram, MD, Deepali Aul, Ayesha Afridi, Deepti Suri Jayanthi Sridher, and Dr. Fairy Patel and many more, covering specialties such as Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Dentistry, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Chiropractic, Ayurveda, and Nutrition, and health professionals , who played key roles in ensuring holistic care was provided to every patient. Their collective efforts ensured comprehensive medical consultations, screenings, and personalized advice for attendees.
The 2025 FIA HERO Awards, for the boundless energy and relentless championing the medical camp with empathy, were bestowed upon five remarkable individuals: Falguni Sukhadia, Kamlesh Kapoor, VK Gupta, Nilabh Dubey, and Anjali Mohanty. As Mayor Scott Wehrli of Naperville stood before a full hall of attendees, his words echoed the sentiments of all present: “True heroes don’t wear capes. They wear compassion on their sleeves and courage in their hearts.”
A key highlight was the 30-minute special Yoga session with live music, led by Anu Malhotra, a Certified Yoga Teacher, guiding families through 10 powerful yoga steps to foster: Focus, Emotional balance, Physical fitness, and Awareness
Behind every successful event is an army of silent warriors. And at this camp, it was a Team of 34 dedicated FIA volunteers — now collectively honored as FIA Heroes — whose passion, grit, and relentless hard work made the impossible feel effortless. They coordinated logistics, managed registration, guided patients, and kept the event running like a well-oiled machine. And then came the SEWA Volunteers — over 40 of them, who arrived early and stayed late, giving six continuous hours of sweat and service. From carrying supplies to comforting patients, they embodied the very soul of “SEWA” — selfless service without expectation. “I saw angels in every corner of this camp, they didn’t have wings, they wore volunteer badges”, said an 85-year-old patient Sarah Khan
Special acknowledgments go to: Neal Patel (CEO Medstar) for providing the medical supplies and fir lab testing, Ramesh Punatar and Salim Siddiqui for capturing the day’s moments through their brilliant photography, DJ Mahesh Kumar for providing audio and video equipment, enhancing the event’s ambiance, Vinoz Chennamolu for sponsoring the use of a spacious hall, at Mall of India and ensuring 600 plus attendees were accommodated comfortably.
On April 19, 2025, something beautiful happened. Not just a health camp, but a movement of empathy, empowerment, and elevation, a place healing, humanity, and hope.
Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) is one of the oldest and largest umbrella organizations in the Midwest, dedicated to serving, uniting, and empowering the Indian American community. From promoting cultural heritage, to civic engagement, to community health and wellness, FIA continues to serve as a pillar of strength and progress for generations. Visit its website for more details.
