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Chicago, IL
“Congratulations and best wishes to the new team of AAPI leadership, who have been elected to lead AAPI in the coming years,” Dr. Satheesh Kathula, President of AAPI announced here today. “We thank the election officers led by Dr. V. Ranga, and all the members of AAPI for participating in the democratic election process and exercising their role as the electoral college members.”
While thanking the tens of thousands of Indian American physicians, who are active members of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), and the large number of voters who participated in the election process, Dr. Kathula said, “We have successfully concluded our Special Election for the year 2024-25 for AAPI leadership position and I am happy to declare that Dr. Meher Medavaram has been elected as the Vice President of AAPI for the year 2024-25. We want to thank AAPI members who participated in the AAPI’s electronic voting process and have elected a new, diverse, balanced, and experienced team to lead AAPI, the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States in the coming year and beyond.”
Along with Dr. Kathula, Dr. Amit Chakrabarty serves as the President-Elect of AAPI, Dr. Raj Bhayani is the Secretary, and Shirish Patel will serve as theTreasurer of AAPI for the year 2024-25. Representing the young physicians of Indian origin, Dr. Shefali Kothary serves as the YPS President and Dr. Oriya Uppal is theMSRF President for the year 2024-25.
Dr. Kathula did not have to contest the election this year, as he has been serving as the President-Elect during the past year. Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, who has been serving as the Vice President in the past year also did not have to face elections, as he automatically becomes the President-Elect of AAPI for the coming year. “I’m very honored and consider myself fortunate to be bestowed with the responsibility of leading the four-decades-old strong organization with the cooperation and collaboration of an excellent team of dedicated, hardworking, and loyal officers and executive committee members who are with me to take AAPI to newer heights,” Kathula added.
While congratulating the newly elected leaders to the Executive Committee, Dr. Chakrabarty, the President-Elect in 2024-25 said here in a statement: “I want to congratulate all the winners of the election. I want to especially thank all the candidates for their passion and dedication to serving AAPI and regardless of the outcome, we need you as a valuable team member of our beloved AAPI.”
Dr. Medavaram is a Board Certified in Family Medicine and is a Fellow of Academy of American Physicians. A graduate of Osmania Medical College, she is serving as the Assistant Director at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Medavaram is the Medical Director of Mount Sinai Hospital, FAQH Center, and a Staff Physician Advocate at Good Samaritan Hospital as well as a Clinical Preceptor at UIC College of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine CMU School of Medicine and is the President of Naperbrook Medical Center.
In her role as the Vice President of AAPI, Dr. Medavaram wants to “unify and revitalize the AAPI, ensuring and advocating for physician rights and interests.” While recognizing the mission of AAPI, she wants to work towards making AAPI a purely professional organization, while forming a bridge between AAPI Senior Leadership and Young Physicians.” Committed to AAPI and dedicated to its continued progress, Dr. Medavaram wants to work towards “strengthening AAPI financially by securing a robust endowment fund and supporting and upholding AAPI’s vision of promoting professional solidarity in the pursuit of excellence in patient care, teaching and research.”
At AAPI, Dr. Medavaram has served in many capacities. She was the Chair of the Women’s Forum GHS AAPI- 2022 and had served as the Convention Chair of the 38th AAPI Convention of Chicago 2019-2020. Being an active member of AAPI for several years, Dr. Medavaram has served as the Regional Director AAPI, Region 5 (IL, WI, IN) 2020-2022 and was elected President of the Indian Medical Association of Chicago 2020-2021. She served as a Board of Trustee member of OGKTMA from 2018 and was the National ATA from 2016 onwards.
Dr. Raj Bhayani, who was elected uncontested as Secretary of AAPI said, “It is with great joy and gratitude that I stand before you today as the newly elected Secretary of AAPI for the year 2024-2025. I am deeply honored to serve this esteemed organization in such a significant role. I am committed to building upon past achievements and leading AAPI with integrity, transparency, and innovation. I will focus on promoting diversity and inclusion in healthcare, advocating for the needs of our members, and fostering collaboration. Let us continue to work hand in hand to make a positive impact on healthcare and uphold the values of AAPI.”
