Boston Cardiac Foundation Launches CPR Training Program at Arpana Hospital in Haryana, India
KARNAL, HARYANA, INDIA— The Boston Cardiac Foundation (BCF) has launched a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education program at Arpana Hospital in Karnal, Haryana, India. The initiative brings together medical volunteers from Boston, Seattle and Hyderabad to train hospital staff and local villagers in CPR techniques based on American Heart Association (AHA) standards.
The program is intended to improve awareness of cardiac emergencies and equip healthcare workers and community members with the skills needed to respond to sudden cardiac arrest.
The launch is part of the foundation’s broader international work in cardiac care and medical education, which has included free cardiac procedures, physician training and community health initiatives in underserved regions.
More Than 35 Years of International Medical Missions
Founded and led by Dr. Salil Midha, the Boston Cardiac Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides cardiac treatment and medical education to underserved communities. Its work includes free pacemaker and defibrillator implantations for patients who cannot afford the procedures.
Over the past 35 years, BCF volunteers, including physicians, nurses and medical technologists, have participated in medical missions in India, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Haiti, Paraguay and Cape Verde. The foundation reports that its teams have helped provide more than 1,000 cardiac procedures worldwide.
In February 2026, Dr. Midha completed his 46th international medical mission.
Recent Missions Focused on Cardiac Procedures and Physician Training
During its February 2026 mission to New Delhi and Meerut, the BCF team performed pacemaker and defibrillator implantations at no cost to patients. The mission also included training for local cardiologists in left bundle branch pacing, an advanced technique used in selected patients to improve the coordination of the heart’s contractions.
The team worked with Sitaram Bhartia Hospital in New Delhi and Jaswant Rai Specialty Hospital in Meerut. Dr. Leon Ptaszek of Massachusetts General Hospital joined the mission, assisting with cardiac procedures and physician education in collaboration with local medical teams.
The foundation’s approach combines direct patient treatment with professional training intended to strengthen the capabilities of local healthcare providers.
CPR Training Expands the Foundation’s Work in India
The new program at Arpana Hospital extends BCF’s activities beyond cardiac procedures to include emergency response education at the community level.
Through CPR training for hospital personnel and villagers, the initiative aims to increase the number of people equipped to respond when someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest. The training is being conducted in accordance with American Heart Association standards.
Volunteers from three locations—Boston, Seattle and Hyderabad—are participating in the initiative.
“Taking care of patients with serious heart disease free of cost around the world has been one of the most satisfying things in my life. I am truly excited to start new programs and advanced education,” said Dr. Midha.
Corporate and Hospital Partnerships Support Medical Missions
BCF’s international programs have received support from medical device companies, hospitals, individual donors and volunteers.
Medtronic has donated more than $4 million in medical devices and supplies to support the foundation’s work. BCF also acknowledged the contributions of local representatives from Medtronic and Abbott.
Participating and supporting hospitals include Arpana Hospital in Karnal, Jaswant Rai Specialty Hospital in Meerut, Sitaram Bhartia Hospital in New Delhi and Global Hospital in Mount Abu.
The foundation also recognized the contributions of Dr. Leon Ptaszek, Dr. Carl Turrisini, Brenda Houde, Dr. Timothy Hudson, Greg Simokonis, Norris Edwards of Medic One, Ravinder and Priya Dayal, Dr. Panda, Ish Bhatnagar, Dr. Maheshwar Reddy, Dr. Rohit Reddy and Anupam Sachdev, along with the physicians, trustees and volunteers involved in its international missions.
In 2011, Dr. Midha and members of the foundation’s team were recognized in the Limca Book of Records after implanting 11 charitable pacemakers in a single day.
The CPR training program in Karnal adds a community education component to the Boston Cardiac Foundation’s longstanding international cardiac care initiatives.
