Dear Friends,
I am taking this opportunity to share with you my decision to serve our American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, AAPI, as PRESIDENT ELECT of the organization.
As a candidate for AAPI - PRESIDENT ELECT 2010 - 2011, I bring with me:
EXPERIENCE: Vice President of AAPI and Chair Membership Committee
Regional Director Mid Atlantic Area
Member of the Board of Trustees for 3 years. My experience as a Member of the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees has made me keenly aware of the management of AAPI finances (PATRON FUND)..
COMMITMENT: I am committed to work with the Leaders and AAPI members to restructure AAPI making it unparalleled in service and responsiveness to the entire membership and to foster a culture of Transparency and Accountability in the organization.
SERVICE: My volunteer service to the Community is wide reaching, with causes including Orphan Children, Destitute Women and Funding of Several Women’s causes.
ADVOCACY: To empower and involve my fellow physicians and the younger generation for the future of AAPI. They are the key to bring Change, and Help AAPI grow to the next level. I will promote participation of Woman Physicians in AAPI leadership roles.
CHANGE: “I am asking you to believe not only in my ability to bring about meaningful change in AAPI.... I am asking you to believe in yours.”
I would like to solicit your ideas in ways to serve AAPI better.……
Our leaders over the past 25 years have helped AAPI to become a strong, stable and vibrant organization. I am committed to guiding AAPI to even greater heights through active participation, and teamwork. Together we can make giant strides toward growing AAPI - in numbers and in strength.
There is still a lot to be done. We need to work for Change.
This years MOTO of our Committe has been "AAPI CONNECTS"
As Chair of the Membership Committee I have visited 18 local chapters to meet and connect with grass roots and bring awareness of AAPI ACTIVITIES and NATIONAL ISSUES. ENCOURAGE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF OUR MEMBERS. Worked to empower and strengthen our LOCAL CHAPTERS. Working toward dual membership between the Chapters and National AAPI.
WORKING with Local Chapter Presidents ON STRATEGIC PLANNING TO ADDRESS MEMBER ISSUES AND UPDATE OUR DATABASE SO AS TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO EVERYONE now and in the future.
Worked as a Team and participated in the Governing Body, INDOUS SUMMIT and day to day workings of AAPI.
During these changes in Healthcare Reform that affects our practices I urge all of you to take an active part so we can be one voice for change. Indian-American physicians need to be part of the mainstream force for Healthcare Reform as it is the key to ECONOMIC REFORM. AAPI has been able to work with the AMA to stop the medicare cut backs. AAPI has signed a Coalition Letter Regarding GME Slots sent to all U.S. Senators in support of an amendment introduced to the Healthcare Reform bill that would add 15,000 residency slots to the current system.
Most importantly I will count on you, the members of AAPI to provide me with your valuable feed back. I look forward to your continued support. As a leader of AAPI I have learned and gained immense experience and will continue to balance passion and compassion for its growth and would love to be a part of it.
Truly yours,
Sunita Kanumury, M.D., F.A.C.A.A.I.
Vice President AAPI (July - 2009 to present)
Past Member of Board of Trustees
Mid-Atlantic Regional Director of AAPI 2004 - 2005
Diplomate American Board of Allergy & Immunology
Phone 973-627-1000
e-mail: sunitakanumury@yahoo.com
www.sunitakanumury.com
My Vision And Plan For Action
- Work to align with major organizations like AMA, NMA, NHMA, to work together to expand access to quality health care, increasing opportunities in medical education, cultural competence and research.
- Advocate for national TORT REFORM to help bring a solution to medical liability problems.
- Partner with State and County Medical Associations, so that AAPI can be in the forefront of Healthcare Reform as it is the key to Economic reform.
- Empower AAPI politically to protect our professional survival: make AAPI financially stable .
- Advocate accountability and transparency in AAPI's operations to foster unity and shun parochial tendencies, thereby improving AAPI's image with the media and public.
- Increase membership and member participation.
- Advocate and Empower second generation physicians, medical students and women to be part of AAPI.
- Encourage all Regional Directors and all Alumnae Organizations to proactively involve the local Chapters and their fellow members in activities of National AAPI, thereby building a stronger base.
- Redouble efforts to make our Washington DC operations the main hub for political and legislative activism.
- Launch a major outreach initiative toward the second generation to network them.
- Boost independent fundraising to support charitable activities in US and India by showcasing the accomplishments of our free healthcare clinics.
- Work with governance and leaders to restructure AAPI to make it a strong organization on par with the changing healthcare environment.
- Initiate to mobilize Congress to help Fund the needed Graduate Medical Education Positions.,thereby helping the future physician workforce needs of our nation.