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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Dr. Sudhir M. Parikh Founder, Chairman & Publisher Ilayas Quraishi Chief Operating Officer Ela Dutt Editor Archana Adalja Contributing Editor T. Vishnudatta Jayaraman Advisor Arun Shah Ahmedabad Bureau Chief Peter Ferreira, Deval Parikh, Freelance Photographers Bhailal M. Patel Executive Vice President Chandrakant Koticha-Rajkot, India Executive Director Business Development Jim Gallentine Business Development Manager - U.S. Shahnaz Sheikh Senior Manager Advertising & Marketing Sonia Lalwani Advertising Manager Shailu Desai Advertising New York Muslima Shethwala Syed Sheeraz Mahmood Advertising Chicago Digant Sompura Consultant for Business Development Ahmedabad, India Hervender Singh Circulation Manager Main Office Editorial & Corporate Headquarters 1655 Oak Tree Toad, Suite 155 Edison, NJ 08820-2843 Tel. (212) 675-7515 Fax. (212) 675-7624 New York Office Tel: (718) 784-8555 E-mails editor@newsindiatimes.com advertising@newsindia-times.com subscription@newsindia-times.com Website www.newsindiatimes.com Chicago Office 8846 Lavergne Ave, Skokie, IL 60077 Tel. (773) 856-3345 California Office 650 Vermont Ave, Suite #46 Anaheim, CA 92805 Mumbai Office Nikita Ajay Pai Goregaon, West Mumbai Ahmedabad Office 303 Kashiparekh Complex C.G. Road, 29 Adarsh Society Ahmedabad 380009 Tel. 26446947 F ax. 26565596 Published weekly, Founded in 1975. The views expressed on the opinion pages are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of News India Times. Copyright © 2025, News India Times News India Times (ISSN 0199-901X) is published every Friday by Parikh Worldwide Media LLC., 1655 Oak Tree Toad, Suite 155 Edison, NJ 08820-2843 Periodicals postage paid at Newark, N.J. , and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address change to News India Times, 1655 Oak Tree Toad, Suite 155 Edison, NJ 08820-2843 Annual Subscription: United States: $28 Disclaimer: Parikh Worldwide Media assumes no liability for claims/ assumptions made in advertisements and advertorials. Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the authors and Parikh Worldwide Media does not officially endorse, and is not responsible or liable for them. - Continued On Page 4 Opinion News India Times (December 13, 2025 - December 19, 2025) December 19, 2025 3 Foreign-Trained Doctors Are The Backbone Of The AmericanHealth Care System I t made me extremely happy to see two highly regarded news sources, the Harvard Gazette in November, and TheWashington Post in early December – carry- ing 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 govern- ment 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 reputa- tion as great doctors -from family physicians to specialists. Almost ev- ery American has an anecdote about having been cared for by an Indian doctor at some point in their lives. And that includes the rural hinter- land of America. Indian doctors served in the most difficult and under- served 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. That did not happen over- night. A key factor in the devel- opment of the Indian cohort of medical professionals, was the founding in 1982, of the American Association of Physi- cians of Indian Origin, AAPI. Our mandate and raison-d’etre, was to make the Foreign Medi- cal Graduates’ or FMGs become a strong and highly qualified part of the Ameri- can health care system. Today, Indian- origin physicians treat one in 7 patients in this country. Today, AAPI’s horizons are much wider. Its mission, goals and initiatives are multifaceted - advocacy, profes- sional 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 com- munity. We advocate on a wide range of policy issues at both federal and state levels, including healthcare reform, im- migration issues, Medicare and Medic- aid 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” an- nually, 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 profes- sionals, 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 Moth- erland, 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 Presi- dent 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 coun- tries, including India, build their health care systems suited to the needs of their populations. It will enhance communica- tions 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 ech- elons 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. By Dr. Sudhir Parikh Dr. Sudhir Parikh PHOTO:FACEBOOK “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.