President's Message
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Dear Friends, I am honored to serve as your incoming president for the MSRF section of AAPI. AAPI is the second largest medical organization in the country and has become an increasingly powerful force in shaping healthcare in the United States. 2010 represented a year of increased complexity in the American Healthcare system. However, for those of us who are medical students, residents and fellows – 2010 represented a year of increased uncertainty for us. While we have been focused on learning basic science and clinical guidelines, policies are being made that will significantly impact our futures. I would like to you to know that your AAPI board is focused on helping to provide our members with tools and resources to help them find clarity in this uncertain environment. We will continue efforts to provide you with a wealth of opportunities to meet and network with other medical students and physicians. We have already established a mentorship database and it is my goal that we can extend this database to include members of parent AAPI in academic positions so that our members can stay abreast of opportunities nationwide. The strength of an organization is determined by the commitment both to and of its members. To that effect, we need to strengthen AAPI at a local level. I am encouraged by the enthusiasm that I see in our membership, and I want empower local chapters to continue to host AAPI fundraisers and events to connect members, raise awareness about our organization, and increase membership. Finally, I want to emphasize that regardless of what changes occur in the healthcare system, it is part of our culture and our duty to give back to those that are less fortunate. We will continue to find opportunities for our members to work with our colleagues in India so that we can be exposed to the challenges faced when providing care to underserved areas and gain a deeper appreciation for our shared heritage. It is also important to give back on a local level and to that end we are committed to supporting our members who wish to partner with local organizations to strengthen ties with the communities they live and work in. I am pleased to be continuing the work started by our past presidents, Mamta Singhvi and Chirag Parghi. On behalf of the entire board, I would like to thank them for their leadership and commitment to AAPI. If you are more interested in getting involved, please do not hesitate to contact me: president@aapimsr.org. On behalf of myself and our AAPI MSRF board we look forward to working with all of you and our counterparts on the YPS and parent AAPI board this upcoming year.
Thank you, Avni Shah, M.D. |
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