AAPI’s academic initiative will be a great source of medical education, says AMA chief Susan Bailey.
The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic medical association in the US with 80,000 members, has launched its own premier academic initiative, a medical journal.
Journal of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (JAAPI) was launched on May 12 by Dr. Susan R. Bailey, President of American Medication Association (AMA) at a virtual ceremony, according to an AAPI press release.
Describing the inauguration of JAAPI as “a historical milestone for AAPI” Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, President of AAP said, the journal was the result of “many years of meticulous planning, hard work and concerted efforts by several leaders.”
Congratulating AAPI on behalf of AMA “for this new initiative, which will be a great source of medical education,” Bailey said, “We applaud you and looking forward to reading your great contributions in the years to come.”
“The foundation for this historical milestone in the annals of AAPI was laid one year ago in February 2020 by our visionary leaders, Drs. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda and Suresh Reddy,” said Dr. Bellomkonda Kishore, the Founding Editor in Chief of JAAPI.
“The cover page is designed to reflect the heart of AAPI, an association of Indian American Physicians – with colors of the flag of India, our motherland, on top and the red and white stripes of American flag, over which the AAPI emblem rests, indicating the way we adopted this Great Land,” he explained.
The inaugural issue of JAAPI has “excellent contributions by eminent physicians and scientists, and has come out beyond our expectations and in an outstanding manner,” Kishore said. “We are committed to maintain the same standards in the future. Excellence and thoroughness are our motto.”
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After one year of publication, JAAPI will be registered with MEDLINE so that it will be indexed in PubMed and other databases.
JAAPI follows next generation peer-review model by which it discloses the identity of editors and reviewers after publication, but the review process itself is blind, Kishore said.
This will give due credit to editors and reviewers, and also ensures fair review process, he said adding, JAAPI is a fully Open Access journal with no manuscript submission or publication charges.
It welcome articles by authors from all over the world without any restrictions. It’s also open to eminent academicians wishing to join the editorial board.
“As a second generation physician of Indian Origin, we are excited at AAPI launching its own Medical Journal,” Dr. Sajani Shah, Chair of AAPI Board of Trustees said noting the scientific journal will help writers in the US, in India and around the world.
Calling it “a fruit of our team work”, Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, President-Elect of AAPI said, “it’s a good opportunity for the members of AAPI to contribute scientific articles, and make it better as we move on.”
Dr. Vemuri S. Murthy, an Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, and an Advisor to the Journal of AAPI, introduced Dr. Bailey.
In her address on “Physician Leadership In Times of Crisis & Transition,” Dr. Bailey shared how the pandemic has “ tested physicians as never been before.”
“My heart breaks for what I see is happening in India,” she said. Describing Covid as a grave threat, Dr. Bailey said, “It needs to be addressed globally. I hope the current US administration can render all possible help to India and other nations.”
Acknowledging that physicians “have the power to bring in changes to the delivery of healthcare,” Dr. Bailey thanked all the medical professionals for their extraordinary work.
AMA, she said, has stood with them every step of the way, by offering evidence based support to all healthcare professionals.
While extending full support for the strengthening of Affordable Care Act, Dr. Bailey said, AMA has advocated for loans and financial help to physicians and for PPE and vaccine development and its distribution.
“Vaccination has helped us but we are still far away. The need is to have maximum people to be vaccinated. This gives us an opportunity to be vaccine ambassadors by advocating for vaccination,” she said.
Dr. Sunita Kanumury, an AAPI Delegate to AMA and a past President of AAPI, moderated the Q&A at the end of the presentation by Dr. Bailey.
The session was organized by AAPI in affiliation with Chicago Medical Society and Indian American Medical Association of Illinois IAMA (IL.)
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