AAPI convention to focus on medical education, CMEs

The 41st convention will be held in Philadelphia from July 6 to 9

The highly anticipated 41st annual Convention & Scientific Assembly of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) is set to take place in Philadelphia from July 6 to 9, 2023. The event will bring together renowned leaders in healthcare and academia from around the world.

Under the theme of advancing medical education, the convention will feature a multidisciplinary Continuing Medical Education (CME) program, providing an academic forum for specialists and primary care physicians to interact and exchange knowledge.

Read: AAPI annual convention in Philadelphia in July (February 15, 2023)

Dr. Ravi Kolli, President of AAPI, emphasized the educational focus of the convention, stating, “The essence of AAPI is educational.” He highlighted that the CME sessions would cover a wide range of topics, addressing gaps between current practices and best practices.

The AAPI Convention serves as an important platform for physicians of Indian origin to connect, network, and celebrate their shared heritage and professional achievements. The convention aims to foster collegiality and strengthen the bonds among members of the professional community.

Dr. V. Ranga, Chair of AAPI board of trustees, emphasized the significance of the convention, highlighting the opportunity it provides for physicians of Indian origin to reconnect with their shared roots, culture, and professional bond. The convention aims to foster collegiality and unity within this expansive professional community.

Dr. Anjana Samadder, President-Elect of AAPI, stated that the convention translates the organization’s mission into a wide range of CME and non-CME seminars led by experts in their respective fields. The CME sessions will offer comprehensive reviews and guidelines for diagnosing and treating various disease states, with the ultimate goal of reducing morbidity and mortality while achieving cost-effective quality care outcomes. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the causes, diagnosis, and best clinical practices for managing a diverse range of diseases discussed during the program.

Led by Dr. Sreeni Gangasani, AAPI CME Chair and Dr. Brahma Sharma, AAPI Convention CME Chair, the CME Committee has Drs. Gunjan Shukla, Sunder Rao, and Sachin Mehta as members.

“As the Chair of the AAPI CME Committee, I am proud to announce that our program will be providing the highest level talks for AAPI delegates,” said Gangasani. “Our team has worked tirelessly to curate a lineup of speakers and presentations that will provide valuable insights and information to our attendees. We understand the importance of staying up-to-date on the latest research, trends, and best practices in healthcare and beyond, which is why we have chosen speakers who are experts in their fields and who are passionate about sharing their knowledge with our delegates. We hope that our program will inspire and empower our attendees to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.”

“CME has been a major highlight of AAPI conventions,” said Sharma. “This year, our teams’ approach has been holistic and balanced, with sessions focusing on both old and new: bedside and bench side and usual care, in addition to personalized approach to chronic diseases which have become our nemesis today. The goal is not just to educate about current concepts of chronic disease management but also inform about emerging concepts like Genomics, Gene-editing, and Artificial Intelligence, which play a critical role in managing chronic conditions. AAPI has been fortunate to be able to tap in some of the world’s leading physician-scientists in these areas of Medicine.”

Thanking Kolli for the opportunity to collaborate during the convention, Sharma highlighted the popular parallel track for Lifestyle Medicine, which offers a comprehensive CME session focusing on the mind-body connection.

The first CME session, scheduled for July 6, will be led by Dr. Satheesh Kathula, a Clinical Professor of Medicine and Board Certified Hematologist and Oncologist. Dr. Kathula will address the delegates on the topic of “Rise of Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer.” Additionally, Dr. Sujeeth R. Punnam, an Interventional and Structural Cardiologist, as well as a Certified Cardiac Device Specialist from Stockton, CA, will present on “Update and Long-term Outcomes on Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements.”

Another speaker, Dr. Prasad Chalasani, an Interventional Cardiologist at the Florida Heart Center and the Chief of Cardiology at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute, will share valuable insights on the “Role of LAA Left Atrial Appendage Closure in Atrial Fibrillation.”

These sessions promise to provide attendees with in-depth knowledge and perspectives on important topics within their respective fields, enhancing their understanding and ability to deliver quality patient care, AAPI release said.

Here is a list of CME sessions:

• “Advancing Access to Care through Licensure Portability and Telemedicine” will be the topic addressed by Dr. Humayun Chaudhary, President and CEO of FSMB.
• Dr. Vikas Khurana, Program Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education will share his expertise on: “Inflammatory Bowel Disease in South Asian Patients.”
• “Chronic Disease: Non-Communicable Diseases” is the theme for the CME session on July 7th. Dr. Pradeep Natarajan, Director of Preventive Cardiology MGH, Associate Professor Harvard Medical School, will lead the day’s sessions by focusing his address on “Subclinical Atherosclerosis in South Asians: Early Detection and Management.” This will be followed by a session led by Dr. Sunder Rao, Senior Consultant at the Butler Health System MARS PA on: “Role of SGLT2 in Preventing Heart Failure.”
• “Contemporary Approach in Prevention and Management of CKD” is the theme addressed by Dr. Wilcox Christopher, Chief Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Georgetown.
• Dr. Rajnish Mago, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania will speak about: “Current Concepts in Management of Bipolar Depression.”
• Dr. Surender Neravetla, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Ohio, will provide education on “Role of Diet/Salt in Pathogenesis of Chronic Disease.”
• Dr. Indranill Basu Ray, MD Founder President of the American Academy of Yoga in Medicine will share his insights on: “Yoga/Meditation in Chronic Disease Management.”
• Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula, Associate Professor Medicine and Director Sleep Medicine at UPenn, will speak about “Sleep and Public Health Policy.”
• The concluding session for the day will be led by Dr. Vemuri S. Murthy, Adjunct Faculty at the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago, Illinois. He will address the delegates on “Update on Sudden Cardiac Arrests during COVID-19 Pandemic & Cardiac Arrest Registries, with Focus on India.”

The final day of the convention, July 9th will have “Frontier of Medicine” as the main theme. Dr. Sek Kathieresan, Director of Preventive Cardiology MGH, and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, will lead an insightful session on “Genomics and Gene Editing in Cardiovascular Disease.” Dr. Partho Sengupta, Professor CV Medicine at the Robertwood Johnson Medical School Rutgers University, will share with the delegates on “AI and Cardiovascular Imaging.”

Other sessions on Day 2 will include:

“Percutaneous Mechanical Support in High-Risk PCI/ Cardiogenic Shock” is the theme addressed by Dr. Jon George, Director of Complex PCI at UPenn Hospital. Dr. BK Kishore, Academician, Innovator, and Entrepreneur, University of Utah Health and ePurines, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah will lead the session on: “Impact of AI on Molecular Diagnosis and Therapy.”

Lifestyle Medicine Track will be the theme during the concurrent session on July 9th morning. Dr. Nina Vasan at the Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University will inaugurate the Track with her address on “Mental Health and Social Media.”

Dr. Natrajan Rangnathan, Founder and Lead Scientist will share his insights on “Gut Biome/Dysbiosis and Chronic inflammation.”

“Personalized Diabetes Care and Glucose Device Monitoring” is the topic addressed by Dr. Bantwal Baliga, Chief Endocrinology Clinics, Georgia, and the concluding session will be led by Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu, Chair Oncology, NY Presbyterian Hospital, and will focus on “Prevention and Precision in Cancer.”

“Giving them a platform to celebrate their accomplishments, the annual convention to be attended by nearly 1,500 physicians of Indian origin, it will also provide a forum to renew their professional commitment through continuing medical educations activities,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Convenor of AAPI Convention.

“Physician leaders who will be part this convention have excelled in different specialties and subspecialties and occupy high positions as faculty members of medical schools, heads of departments, and executives of hospital staff. The AAPI Convention offers an opportunity to meet directly with these physicians who are leaders in their fields and play an integral part in the decision-making process regarding new products and services,” Dr. Raghu Lolabhattu, CEO of the Convention, said.

With nearly 1,500 physicians of Indian origin expected to attend, the convention will provide a platform for celebrating accomplishments, networking, and professional development. AAPI represents over 100,000 Indian American physicians, covering a wide range of medical specialties and subspecialties.

More information about the convention and registration details are available on the AAPI website.