It made me extremely happy to see two highly regarded news sources, the Harvard Gazette in November, and The Washington Post in early December – carrying reports on the critical role that foreign-trained doctors play in the American healthcare system.
I came to the United States as a “foreign-trained” doctor from India, with a stint in the United Kingdom. I am one of the thousands who had enjoyed the high quality, low-cost education provided by the government of India, which to this day, Indian American doctors seek to pay back to their country of origin. I am very proud of it.
Upon our arrival here, we aspired and worked hard to achieve a reputation as great doctors -from family physicians to specialists. Almost every American has an anecdote about having been cared for by an Indian doctor at some point in their lives. And that includes the rural hinterland of America.
Indian doctors served in the most difficult and underserved places in the US. Today, an Indian American, Bobby Mukkamala, is President of the American Medical Association; one of them, Dr. Vivek Murthy, served as the Surgeon General. Another was the Covid ‘Czar’ – Dr. Ashish Jha. There are just too many to count here. Needless to say, both at the grassroots and at the highest levels, Indian Americans are playing key roles in providing healthcare to the public, in both Republican and Democratic administrations, as well as in private health care services.
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That did not happen overnight. A key factor in the development of the Indian cohort of medical professionals, was the founding in 1982, of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, AAPI. Our mandate and raison-d’etre, was to make the Foreign Medical Graduates’ or FMGs become a strong and highly qualified part of the American health care system. Today, Indian-origin physicians treat one in 7 patients in this country.
“AAPI was formed to address the unique challenges faced by physicians of Indian origin in the United States. These physicians, many of whom had migrated to the U.S. during the 1960s and 1970s, encountered difficulties related to professional integration, credential recognition, and adaptation to the American healthcare system. AAPI was conceived as a platform to unify Indian-American physicians, advocate for their rights, and support their professional and educational needs,” says the aapiusa.org website.
Today, AAPI’s horizons are much wider. Its mission, goals and initiatives are multifaceted – advocacy, professional development, philanthropy, and fostering relationships between the U.S. and India.
The advocacy goes beyond the specific interests of Indian American physicians to include the broader community. We advocate on a wide range of policy issues at both federal and state levels, including healthcare reform, immigration issues, Medicare and Medicaid policies, combating discrimination and bias.
Issues of specific interest to Indian trained and other foreign trained professionals remains on the agenda, with the ongoing effort to recognize foreign medical credentials, increasing residency and licensing for FMGs, and promoting public health initiatives and preventive health, collaborating with other medical and advocacy groups.
We at AAPI engage lawmakers on Capitol Hill on a “Legislative Day” annually, to bring forward the challenges confronting not just Indian American physicians, but the healthcare system as a whole.
Plus, the Global Health Summit that AAPI organizes annually in India, seeks to bring together US and Indian professionals, policymakers, and leaders to discuss ways to improve global health, share best practices, and engage in philanthropic activities.
Our advocacy for not just Indian physicians who came to the US, but for those who remained in their Motherland, has, in my view, brought about profound changes in the care patients receive in America, but also those in India and increasingly, in the rest of the world.
In a few months (February 2026), I will take over as President of the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin – GAPIO.
This organization has an ambitious goal of building a global network of the 1.4 million Indian-origin physicians around the world, but also others, who will be the source that can be drawn upon for assisting countries, including India, build their health care systems suited to the needs of their populations.
It will enhance communications between physicians from around the world regardless of their country of origin, to build a powerhouse of knowledge and skills that would be of use from the grassroots to the top echelons of health care delivery.
On February 14-15, 2026, the GAPIO 16th Annual Conference will be held in Indore, India, and we encourage and hope to see many non-Indian medical professionals participate in it.
Author: Dr. Sudhir Parikh, a recipient of India’s Padma Shri award, and the US Ellis Island Award, is an allergist and immunologist with 27 clinics in the tri-state area. He is also Chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media which brings out several weekly publications, and ITV Gold, a 24/7 television channel.