GAPI Volunteer Clinic- an innovative
outreach program for the Community
By Mahadev Desai
Photos: Vinod Devlia
Georgia Associations of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPI), an
eminent organization in the healthcare field took an innovative
step in its humanitarian outreach program by opening a GAPI
Volunteer Clinic in #736 of the Global Mall, Norcross, GA, on
Sunday, March 27, 2011.GAPI was established in 1987 and it now
has more than 800 members and over 300 Life members. It is well
known for rendering sterling services in health care to the
community.
The opening ceremony was attended by GAPI Officers and members,
Georgia’s noted physicians and nurses from diverse specialties,
members of the Gwinnett Medical Center; Republican Party
activist Narender Reddy, BAPS Mandir Officers,Jayantibhai Patel
and Pravinbhai Patel, Global Mall owner Shiv Aggarwal and was
graced by the presence of Congressman Dr.Tom Price,(R-GA) and
his gracious wife, Dr. Betty, who were given a rousing welcome
by the attendees. After Dr.Price and his wife met with and
cheerfully intermingled with all the guests, Acharya Pandit Ved
Joshi performed the Pooja ceremony chanting auspicious shlokas
to invoke the blessings of the Gods on the occasion. The Guest
of honor, Dr.Price,GAPI President Dr.Sreeni Gangasani, GAPI’s
past President Dr. Santanu Das, President Elect Dr Dilip Patel,
GAPI officers and Board of directors Dr.Piyush Patel and
Dr.Abhishek Gaur, Dr IndranKrishnan and Dr. Indira Menon took
turns to light the Diya(lamp).There was thunderous applause as
Dr.Price went on to perform the ribbon cutting ceremony to
formally mark the opening of the GAPI Volunteer Clinic.
 |
|
Acharya Pandit Ved Joshi performs
Pooja ceremony |
Dr.Gangasani thanked Dr.Price and his wife Dr.Betty Price for
gracing the occasion. He briefed the audience about the
Clinic,.” This is a great moment for GAPI. Following the
astounding success of the SAI Health Fairs initiated by
Dr.Sujatha Reddy, where thousands of poor,uninsured and
underinsured in the community have received free and effective
heath care through screening for diabetes, Hypertension,
cardiovascular disease and cancer, GAPI’s past Presidents
thought of extending the services through the GAPI Volunteer
Clinic. Dr.Das started the process and the present GAPI officers
have implemented it. The Clinic, under the Executive Director
Dr.Sujatha Reddy will provide good quality health care,
irrespective of race,ethnicity,or gender, on a regular basis.
Initially the Clinic will be open on first Saturday of each
month from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. Later on it will be open twice
a month and eventually every weekend. Labs will be done at
discounted price by American Clinical Labs. Two physicians will
staff the clinic each time. GAPI members, nurses, and volunteers
from the community will provide the requisite support to the
clinic. My Special thanks to Carla Catalon-Scott from Georgia
Community health volunteer program for working with us to
provide liability insurance coverage through state run program.
I would like to express my thanks to Jay Shankar and his team of
volunteers for helping with scheduling and running the clinic,
Seena Mathew and other members of the Gwinnett Medical Center
for coming forward to provide nursing help and Surya Pandiri for
offering to do free EMR. I would also like to thank the
respected CEO of Global Mall and philanthropist Shiv Aggarwal
for his generosity in offering the Clinic accommodation. Dr
Gangasani requested all the members of the community to come
forward to help with running of the clinic smoothly. He also
thanked Dr Satish Poddar, Dr Dipak Patel and Viju Chiluveru for
donating furniture and equipment for the clinic.
 |
|
Dr.Gangasani presenting a Plaque to
Dr.Tom Price. |
“Michigan born Dr.Tom Price is the US Representative for
Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, serving since 2005. He is
an energetic leader and a relentless and persevering problem
solver ”Dr.Sreeni said. “ Republican Dr.Price is an outspoken
advocate for patient-centered health care reform, energy
conservation, and tax related issues. He graduated with an
M.D.from University of Michigan and completed his orthopedic
surgery residency at Emory University. He and his wife Dr.Betty
Price are good friends of the Indian community.”
Dr.Price thanked GAPI members and all the attendees for the very
warm welcome. “ I feel truly honored to be invited to open the
clinic today. In health care, the challenges are massive and the
solutions we are trying to provide are to allow physicians,
patients and families the right to make the medical decisions
themselves and not from any undue influence from outside. And
that is what this Clinic is all about-an opportunity to have
access to health care-it is a safety net right here in our
community. And I am fully confident that as Dr.Sujatha Reddy’
has suggested that each of the GAPI’s more than 800 members,
volunteer his or her services just four hours a month, the
Clinic will run smoothly.(Laughter) I am proud of what GAPI is
doing. It is a vital portion of our community. We are blessed to
have in our community individuals of Indian descent. They
participate in a wonderfully positive way to make our fabric of
our community so special. A community is more than bricks and
mortar, more than buildings. It needs volunteers who stand up
and help each other. Betty and I feel deeply privileged and
honored to be here today.”(applause)
In his laudatory remarks Narender Reddy said that Dr.Price is a
great friend of the India-American community and has been
gracious to attend several functions in the past. In Congress,
he has 100% record in favor of Indian-American interests, and he
was one of the Co-sponsors of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. It is
very unusual for someone from the South co-sponsoring and he is
the first one to do that”(applause)
The impressive ceremony concluded amidst hearty applause as Dr.
Gangasani presented a commemorative plaque to Dr.Price.
|
