Picture 2008 (c) Paul Watson

Venetian Hotel Las Vegas, NV

The Medical Students, Residents, and Fellows (MSRF)section of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) celebrated it's 11th annual convention in Las Vegas the weekend of June 25-29th. For the first time in MSRF history, more than 530 MSRF members were in attendance. Thursday night was kicked off by a fabulous social event at Jay-Z's exclusive nightclub 40/40 at the Venetian Hotel. It served as an excellent opportunity for MSRF members across the country to network and form new friendships. The party was a great hit, with even Lebron James making a cameo. An inaugural luncheon on Friday was followed by Women's forum for female physicians. More than 150 MSRF members who were looking for love had a chance to try their luck out at the Bhaarat Matrimony/India Abroad singles meet. After feasting at the delicious array of Las Vegas restaurants, everyone headed over to Tryst nightclub at the fabulous Wynn Casino. Dancing under waterfalls in a man-made rainforest was just part of the allure of this beautiful nightclub.

 
After gerneral body elections, the newly elected board led the rest of the MSRF crew onto the final event: The final gala event at Tao Nightclub. AAPI was exclusively offered the roof of this gorgeous club with savory thai food from Tao's restaurant and open bar. After the dinner was over the flood gates opened and all three levels of the club were hopping with AAPI members and other night owls dancing away into the early hours of the morning. As most of the young doctors prepared to head home, everyone agreed that the weekend was a huge
success and were already anticipating a great 2009 convention in Orlando.

CONVENTION SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2008
	6:30 am – 8:00 am	Yoga and meditation
	8:00 am - 9:00 am	Breakfast
	9:00 pm - 12:00 am	AAPI Kickoff Social Venue: TBA An evening of cocktails with a Latin American theme in a new, top club in Vegas. * Complimentary Event
FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2008
	6:30 am – 8:00 am	Yoga and meditation
	8:00 am – 9:00 am	Breakfast
	12:00 pm - 2:00 pm	26th Annual AAPI Convention Inaugural Lunch
	2:00 pm - 4:00 pm	AAPI Women’s Forum
	4:00 pm – 7:00 pm	AAPI, BharatMatrimony & India Abroad Singles Meet Event *Additional Item – Registration Details to Follow
	6:00 pm – 8:00 pm	Experience Vegas Dining on your own
	8:00 pm – 2:00 am	AAPI-MSRF/YPS Friday Night Event - Nightclub AAPI guests will enjoy this upscale lounge with premium open bar for 3 hours. Attire: Western Cocktail The AAPI Exclusive Door closes at 9:30 pm.  No AAPI guests will be allowed after that time.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2008
	6:30 am - 8:00 am	Yoga and Meditation
	8:00 am - 9:00 am	Breakfast
	8:00 am - 9:30 am	5th Annual AAPI-MSRF Research Competition The brightest minds in MSRF present their research on a variety of cutting edge topics in Medicine
	9:30 am - 10:15 am	"It takes more than medical school to be a physician. Thinking outside the box." Geeta Nayyar, MD, MBA
	10:15 am - 11:00 pm	Employment Agreements:  What You Need to Know Before You Sign the Dotted Line Priya J. Bathija Associate Counsel, ProMedica Health System
	11:00 am - 11:45 pm	The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps:  Answering the Call Rear Admiral Sam S. Shekar, MD, MPH
	12:00 pm - 2:00 pm	Awards Luncheon Honors the most successful and impressive physicians, residents and medical students of Indian origin at our Awards Lunch
	2:00 pm – 3:00 pm	Residency/Fellowship Panel Confused about what you want to do with your medical career? Meet residents/fellows from different specialties who can help you decide
	3:00 pm – 3:30 pm	AAPI-MSRF Governing Body Meeting Snehal Desai, MD, President, AAPI-MSRF Presentation of Annual report and voting on bylaw changes. Attend and have your voice heard
	3:30 pm – 4:30 pm	2006-2007 MSRF Elections Snehal Desai, MD, President, AAPI-MSRF Anita Bangale, MD, President-Elect, AAPI-MSRF This event is mandatory for those seeking to run for office.
	6:30 pm – 2:00 am	Gala Banquet A night of great food catered by a famous restuarant, cocktails and entertainment followed by a TOP Nightclub experience. Attire: Western Cocktail AAPI Exclusive Door closes at 8:00 pm *Event sponsored by Compass Bank (Platinum Sponsor)
SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2008
	6:30 am – 8:00 am 9:00 am - 11:00 am	Yoga and Meditation Brunch

 

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Rear Admiral Sam S. Shekar, MD, MPH 

Rear Admiral Sam S. Shekar, M.D., M.P.H., is an Assistant Surgeon General in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Health for Commissioned Corps Transformation.  In this capacity, he plays a highly critical role in the efforts by HHS to significantly grow the 6000 officer active-duty force, provide robust force management direction and support to the Corps, and expand officer assignment opportunities with its federal, state, local and academic partners.  Through the transformation initiative, the Commissioned Corps will be able to better advance public health service, policy and support throughout the nation.

Dr. Shekar is a board-certified Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine, holds a medical license in the State of Maryland and received his MD, MPH and BS degrees from the University of Michigan. Dr. Shekar joined the Commissioned Corps as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer and preventive medicine resident with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In his twenty-year federal career, Dr. Shekar has had the opportunity to serve in policy and managerial assignments of progressively increasing responsibility and scope, including executive and leadership roles at the National Institutes of Health, Health Resources and Services Administration and the Health Care Financing Administration (currently Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).  He has also represented HHS in regional/state assignments and activities, serving as the Regional Health Administrator for Region I (New England), and assisting the hurricane response efforts in Louisiana and Florida in the fall of 2005.  He directed the HHS field response to Hurricane Wilma in November of that year, working closely with the Florida State Department of Health.

RADM Shekar has received two group Secretary’s Distinguished Service Awards and numerous Commissioned Corps medals for his significant health policy and management efforts in HHS.

Priya Bathija, JD

Priya Bathija currently serves as Associate Counsel for ProMedica Health System, an integrated not-for-profit health system comprised of 10 hospitals and 282 health care facilities in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.  Prior to this, Ms. Bathija practiced health care law as an associate with the law firm Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP in Columbus, Ohio.  In both these positions, Ms. Bathija has provided general legal representation to health care providers in the areas of HIPAA, Stark, the Anti-Kickback Statute, Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, and corporate compliance.  Ms. Bathija also has extensive experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating physician employment agreements, and she has used this experience to educate residents and fellows on this topic throughout the State of Ohio. 

Geeta Nayyar, MD, MBA

Geeta Nayyar, M.D.,M.B.A, is a Rheumatology Fellow at the George Washington University. She has been a physician activist since she was a medical student in the Honors Program in Medicine (six-year accelerated medical program) at the University of Miami. Her accolades include serving as a nationally elected officer on the Health Policy Action Committee of the American Medical Student Association. She was a public health and policy intern for the American College of Preventive Medicine, and lobbied Congress to secure tobacco control legislation. Dr. Nayyar will be finishing her Rheumatology fellowship in July 2008, and will subsequently be joining APCO Worldwide. APCO is a strategic consulting firm that specializes in consulting on issues that are at the intersection of business, reputation and government. They have done extensive work on global public health issues. Dr. Nayyar will be joining the firm as a Vice President in the Health Policy Division. She will continue to see patients part time at the George Washington University Department of Rheumatology.
Dr. Nayyar will be talking about Public Roles for U.S. Physicians, and how this specifically relates to the Indian community at large. Hear her speak about her unique M.D., M.B.A. and health policy perspective, and its implications both inside and outside the hospital.