Jayesh B. Shah, MD President, AAPI

(Washington, DC: February 3rd, 2014): Leaders of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) met with key US Senators today, eliciting support for the nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy as the U.S. Surgeon General. In their efforts to win support for the first ever Indian American to be raised to such an important federal job, AAPI leaders  met with Senators Tim Scott, Mike Enzi, Lamar Alexander, Mark Kirk, Orrin Hatch, Pat Roberts, and Rand Paul. AAPI leaders also appealed to Senators Richard Burr and Richard Burr for Dr. Murthy’s nomination vote, whose confirmation hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb 4th at 10:30 am.

 
“AAPI is proud to support the nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy as the U.S. Surgeon General,” Dr. Jayesh B. Shah, president of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), said. “A team of Indian American physicians had nine senate meetings to support Vivek.” He added

Joined by Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, president-elect of AAPI, Dr. Shashi Shah, Chair, AAPI Board of Trustees, Dr. Harbhajan Ajrawat, and Dr. Sampat Shivangi, Dr. Shah is on Capitol Hill all day meeting senior US Senators. The nomination has been hailed by the influential Indian-American physician community, consisting of  over100,000 strong physicians of Indian origin in the US, who provide health care services to nearly one in every seven patients in the US.  “The nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy as the US Surgeon General cements the reputation physicians of Indian origin have across America,” said Dr. Shah.  “President Obama has made the right choice in naming a highly qualified physician to serve as America’s next surgeon general.  We are proud of Vivek and his many accomplishments and look forward to supporting him throughout the confirmation process,” said Dr. Shah.


President Barak Obama has nominated 36-year-old Indian-American physician Dr. Vivek Murthy to be the next US Surgeon General. The position, if confirmed by the US Senate, will make Dr. Murthy the country's 19th surgeon general for an office that was established in 1871, say reports here. As the US Surgeon General, the young and talented Indian American will be the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the US and the operational head of the 6500-strong US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, one of the seven uniformed services of the United States that includes army, navy, air force and marines.

A graduate of Yale University, where he earned a medical degree and an MBA, he will easily be, by far, the youngest surgeon general in US history. He will also be the first surgeon general of Indian origin, recognizing the immense contribution of the Indian-American community to health care in the United States.


Stating that it is a fitting public recognition of his tireless work and leadership in championing a system where everyone has equal access to quality healthcare, AAPI, Dr. Jahagirdar, stated that he is looking forward to bringing the experience and perspective of everyday doctors to the table to help shape the national prevention strategy.

“Vivek represents the next generation of Indian American physician,” said Dr. Harbhajan Ajrawat, AAPI Legislative Committee chairman.  “His ethics, quiet leadership style and impeccable credentials make him the smart choice for this position.  We will certainly mobilize the physician community to support his confirmation,” Dr. Ajrawat added.

The surgeon general, known as “America’s doctor,” represents the Health and Human Services Secretary and assistant secretary in addressing public health practice. According to an account on Epernicus.com, Murthy says “I study people’s journeys to find inspiration in their work.”