Dr. Krishan Kumar, MD, D.Sc (Hon.), FACEP, FAAP, FAEMS, an Indian American physicians who has given decades of service to the US health system, and served for more than 25 years in the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), assumed office as the President‑Elect for the 2026–27 term at the recent AAPI Convention held in Miami, Florida, July 2-5.
In a press release, AAPI said looking to the future, Dr. Kumar “plans to significantly expand AAPI’s charitable footprint through the AAPI Charitable Foundation and the newly launched AAPI Global Foundation, while strengthening the annual Global Healthcare Summit in India.”
Following his swearing in July 5, Dr. Kumar joins a newly inaugurated leadership team that includes Dr. Meher Medavaram as AAPI’s 44th President, Dr. Vijay Maurya as Chair of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Sreeni Gangasani as Vice President, Dr. Soumya Neravatla as Secretary, and Dr. Raghu Lolabhattu as Treasurer.
“I am deeply honored to serve as President-Elect of this prestigious national organization,” said Dr. Kumar. “As an organization, AAPI is fiercely committed to expanding the knowledge base of young physicians, enhancing their careers, and empowering them to lead in healthcare advocacy and community service. I look forward to working alongside Dr. Medavaram and our entire leadership team to initiate new programs that truly benefit humanity.”
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Professionally, Dr. Kumar holds a unique status in American medicine as the only physician in the United States board-certified in both Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Furthermore, he is the only U.S. physician to have chaired three distinct academic departments: Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, and Emergency Medical Services.
This May 17, 2026, the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) conferred yet another distinction upon him, presenting him an honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) degree.
Over his 35-year tenure at Nassau University Medical Center and roles at institutions like NYIT and Stony Brook University, Dr. Kumar has shaped the regional healthcare workforce, AAPI said in its press release. As Medical Director of the Nassau County Fire Police EMS Academy, he trained more than 5,000 EMTs and 300 paramedics. In 2024, he furthered his commitment to the next generation of doctors by establishing the Kumar Family Scholarship.
At the international level, Dr. Kumar is a founding contributor to the Emergency Medicine Residency Program in India and Chair of the India Health Initiative Committee, helping formalize national standards for EMS, disaster medicine, and emergency care across India.
The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) is the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States, representing the interests of more than 80,000 physicians and 40,000 medical students and residents of Indian heritage.