Chicago, IL – The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) announced the results of its 2025-26 leadership elections, ushering in a new slate of leaders who will guide the influential organization into 2026 and beyond.
Leading the newly elected team is Dr. Krishan Kumar, who will serve as Vice President of AAPI. Dr. Kumar, who won in a direct contest against Dr. Raj Bhayani, brings with him a long-standing record of medical service and organizational leadership within the Indian American physician community.
Joining him in key executive roles are Dr. Seema Arora as Secretary and Dr. Soumya Neravetla as Treasurer. Dr. Arora secured the position following a competitive race against Dr. Malti Mehta and Dr. Shirish Kumar Patel. Dr. Neravetla made history by becoming the first-ever second-generation Indian American physician elected as Treasurer in AAPI’s 43-year history, winning against Dr. Leena Gupta.
The Board of Trustees will see the addition of Dr. Anjali Gulati, Dr. Sunitha Polepalle, and Dr. Srini Gokarakonda. Meanwhile, Dr. Hetal Gor has been elected as the Chair-Elect of the Board of Trustees and will play a pivotal role in shaping long-term strategy and governance.
These newly elected leaders will join the current executive team in July 2025, when Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, currently President-Elect, will take office as AAPI President. Dr. Meher Medavaram, the current Vice President, will step into the role of President-Elect.
Regional leadership also saw appointments in several uncontested races. The newly declared Regional Directors include:
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Dr. Annu Terkonda (NW Central)
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Dr. Sharma Prabhakar (SW Central)
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Dr. Mohan Kesani (NE Central I)
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Dr. Dharmesh Gandhi (NE Central II)
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Dr. Shashank Ponugoti (SE Central)
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Dr. Madhavi Gorusu (New England)
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Dr. Inderpal Chhabra (Mid-Atlantic I)
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Dr. Avinash C. Gupta (Mid-Atlantic II)
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Dr. Uma Jonnalagadda (South-Atlantic)
The Regional Director roles for the Pacific and Mountain regions remain open for further contests.
As AAPI prepares for its 43rd Annual Convention in Cincinnati, OH, this July, the newly elected leadership team is poised to continue AAPI’s legacy of representing over 125,000 physicians of Indian origin across the U.S.
