Like the mythological Phoenix, IMANE has arisen with renewed vigor.

Heartiest congratulations to the 39th IMANE President, Dr. Sameer O. Kapasi & his team for a yeoman’s job.

Indian Medical Association of New England, IMANE celebrated a historic sell out event on November 18, 2017 at Boston Hilton, Woburn.

The celebrations began on Saturday morning with the arrival of AAPI President Dr. Gautam Samadder and his wife Dr. Anjana Samadder who both flew to Boston specifically to honor and congratulate Dr. Sameer Kapasi. Prior to his arrival Dr. Samadder had organized a celebratory brunch with the assistance of Dr. Seema Arora. He invited who’s who of the IMANE community and AAPI members and officers to the brunch. At the brunch Dr. Samadder praised Dr. Kapasi’s stellar performance and his absolute dedication and commitment, presenting him with a plaque for Outstanding Leadership.

Dr. Kapasi thanked Dr. Samadder for taking time off his busy schedule by coming to Boston and for organizing the brunch in his honor. He presented Dr. Samadder the first copy of the historic forty-page IMANE Brochure and a gold ceremonial IMANE lapel pin that was especially designed memento for the gala.

The evening Gala Celebration brought in greater than two hundred and fifty high-spirited members and friends from Boston and a large number of AAPI friends and well-wishers from all over USA.. During pre-dinner cocktail the guests mingled renewing acquaintances relishing an array of Indian hors d’oeuvres selected painstakingly
by Gourmet India. There was feeling of excitement in the air, similar to what one may feel before an opening night of a symphony

Once the banquet doors opened and everyone was seated Dr. Kapasi welcomed the audience thanking his executive committee and members of the Board of Trustees for supporting his efforts. His presidential address demonstrated humility and the skill of a well poised toastmaster. One came away with a feeling that Dr. Kapasi’s success had much to do with his gentle but firm demeanor, one that espoused team spirit; a quality seen frequently in a natural leader.

In his address Dr. Kapasi gave an overview of all the successful programs of his year; specifically mentioning the Spring CME program, IMANE’s generous contribution to the Hurricane Disaster Fund, community health services events such as the IAGB Hatch Shell event, UIA Norwood High School event, and INE Health Expo,.

The highlight of IMANE’s community service however he stated was an independent health and dental screening event conducted at Guru Nanak Gurudwara in Medford, Massachusetts where more than 150 Indian community members underwent preventive screening and also received medical and dental advice, yet another first for IMANE.

IMANE members and family spent a day at “Cradles & Crayons” a charitable organization where they donated much needed items and sorted out clothes for eighty needy families. This was indeed unique as it brought an awareness of IMANE’s charitable work outside the Indian community.

Ravindra Mahadev of Ameriprise coordinated with IMANE a very innovative program coined, “Nights out with IMANE” to promote new membership.

As an ongoing yearly support IMANE offered financial help and physician support services to charitable clinics in Framingham & Waltham.

During Summer, IMANE organized a fully funded unique outing, “IMANE at the Ball Game” at the world famous Fenway Ball Park where participants were seated in a private booth and provided dinner as they watched a ball game; very therapeutic for our hard working doctors. This too was a first for IMANE.

The climax was most definitely the annual gala as it was a celebration of a very successful 2017 under Kapasi’s presidency.

Following his address Dr. Kapasi invited Dr. Vivek Murthy, the 19th Surgeon General who was the Key Note Speaker for the evening. Dr. Murthy a Boston physician was most likely the reason for the resurgence and an awakened enthusiasm amongst young IMANE members and non-members alike, not discounting a fact that the young physicians themselves are very savvy in communicating skills.

Dr. Kapasi graciously acknowledged Dr. Murthy for his exceptional “Fireside Chat” that was conducted by Dr. Bhavna Lall. The chat covered topics such as physician burnout and the future of public health. When asked of the most pressing public health issue of our time, Dr. Murthy spoke of children who were victims of violence, mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission, and went on to discuss his lead on substance abuse and addiction, an issue he brought to the forefront as the number one threat to the wellbeing of our nation. When asked about causes of physician burn-out, Dr. Murthy said, “There is no single cause, the truth is that we did not learn how to care for ourselves in medical school”. Dr. Murthy encouraged medical students, residents, and physicians to take care of themselves and find de stressors, emphasizing daily aerobic exercise and building nurturing human relationships. Dr. Murthy left the banquet with an inspiring and uplifting advice “If you succeed, pull someone along”. To the physicians Dr Murthy was an inspiration they would like to emulate.

Following Dr Murthy’s inspiring chat Dr. Kapasi welcomed the incoming president, Dr. Vikas Merchia, handing over the baton and pinning the ceremonial president’s pin on his lapel, wishing him well. Dr. Merchia spoke of his vision to strengthen bonds with in the community and diversify.

The next on the program was presentation of awards.
Awards were given to the following recipients:

Distinguished Physician’s Award Anjan K. Chaudhury, M.D.
Community Service Award Seema Arora, M.D.
Presidential Ambassador Award Ravindra Mahadev, CEP, CLTC
Presidents Award Sucheta Doshi, M.D.., M.P.H.
Presidents Award Paul Mathew, M.D., DNBPAS, FAAN, FAHS
Presidents Award Arshiya Seth, M.D.
Presidents Award Ranjani Saigal
Presidents Award Neela Gandhi, D.D.S.

Prem & Raj Goyal Foundation Award Krishna Adit Agarwal, M.B.B.S.

For the first time in the history of IMANE a brilliant, and a very deserving person in the community, Ranjani Saigal, executive director of Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of America was awarded the Presidential Award for her tireless effort. Another first in the history of IMANE was presentation of Presidential Ambassador Award to Ravindra Mahadev for his exceptional support and services to IMANE.

Dr. Sameer Kapasi recognized all the key members and all the past presidents of IMANE with a plaque and a ceremonial lapel pin for their continued and unwavering support in the growth of IMANE.

Special ovation and recognition was accorded to Dr. Manorama Saini (1983) the oldest past president attending the annual gala.

Dr. Kapasi thanked all AAPI officers & members for gracing the occasion. He conveyed his gratitude to all individuals and companies for supporting IMANE with placement of an advertisement in the brochure and also those who placed a congratulatory page in the brochure. .

Dr. Kapasi made a special honorable mention for Shoba Shastry of Alankar for decorating the banquet hall.

Dr. Kapasi recognized IMANE office staff for their dedication and presented young volunteers who helped with chores during the evening activities with a citation.

Dr. Paul Mathew a rising star emceed the program keeping the meeting in order drawing attention to Movember Foundation, a leading global organization committed to changing the face of men’s health

At the end of the formal evening the night livened with a well orchestrated program put together by our own Dr. Seema Arora, past IMANE president. Disc Jockey Tej provided a great repertoire of Indian music and managed the sound system throughout the evening. The icing on the cake however was the melodious voice of Dr. Amit Chakravarty and his partner Sadhna who flew in to tantalize music lovers with favorite Bollywood songs that was interposed by Dr. Arora’s amazing Bollywood dance performance. It was evident that doctors are not only white coat adorned stethoscope totting individuals but they can party, dance and sing! Boston’s very own Nightingale, Anuradha Palakurthi planned to make a surprise visit to honor IMANE but she was unable to leave an earlier program because of a delay.

Dr. Kapasi and IMANE appreciate the congratulatory citations received from Senator Edward J. Marky, Governor Charles D. Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn E. Polito, Mayor of Boston Marty Walsh, Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans and Dean of Faculty Harvard Chan School of Public Health Michelle A. Williams, ScD

Many left Hilton with a feeling of elation humming the songs they heard, amazed by the Savoir Faire and the total persona of the banquet. To the members nothing could be more compelling than the satisfaction of seeing IMANE rise to the occasion.

Indeed the Phoenix has arisen.

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