Chakrabarty’s Year at AAPI Focused on Advocacy, Young Physicians and Global Health
BOSTON–When Dr. Amit Chakrabarty took over as president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in July 2025, he set out to focus the organization on physician advocacy, professional development and global health initiatives.
During his one-year term, Chakrabarty, a urologist with nearly three decades of involvement in AAPI, oversaw programs addressing immigration and workforce issues, expanded opportunities for younger physicians and international medical graduates, and helped strengthen the organization’s healthcare partnerships in the United States and India.
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One of the administration’s key areas of focus was advocacy. AAPI increased its attention to issues including physician burnout, healthcare workforce shortages, immigration, green-card backlogs and the role of international medical graduates in the U.S. healthcare system. The organization also worked with government officials and other stakeholders on visa issues affecting physicians and trainees.
AAPI said its efforts helped facilitate access to the United States for more than 165 physicians and trainees through J-1 visa programs. The organization also expanded observership, research and mentorship opportunities for international medical graduates.
Chakrabarty placed particular emphasis on bringing medical students, residents, fellows and young physicians into AAPI’s leadership structure. During his tenure, younger members took on greater roles in scientific presentations, organizational activities and leadership programs.
“We must invest heavily in the Medical Student/Residents and Young Physician section,” Chakrabarty said during his presidency, arguing that the organization’s long-term future depends on developing its next generation of leaders.
Medical education was another major component of the year. AAPI’s programming addressed topics ranging from artificial intelligence and digital health to cardiology, primary care, women’s health, substance-use disorders and the human microbiome.
The organization also expanded its international health activities. In January 2026, AAPI held its 19th Global Health Summit in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, bringing together U.S.-based physicians and healthcare professionals from India. The meeting focused on cancer, cardiovascular disease, emergency medicine, artificial intelligence, medical education and healthcare workforce development.
The summit also included public-health initiatives, including CPR training, emergency medicine workshops, HPV vaccination awareness and stem-cell donor registration efforts.
Chakrabarty’s year concluded with AAPICON 2026 in Tampa, Florida, where more than 1,000 physicians, researchers, healthcare leaders, educators and trainees participated in educational and leadership programs. The convention also featured the launch of the AAPI Global Foundation, intended to support international healthcare projects, medical education, disaster relief and community outreach.
AAPI also announced a collaboration with the Reliance Foundation during the convention, with plans to work on areas including rural healthcare, women’s and children’s health, telemedicine, preventive care and capacity building.
For Chakrabarty, the year was also an effort to bring AAPI’s diverse membership together across medical specialties, generations and regions. His administration emphasized greater communication with local chapters and broader participation in the organization’s activities.
As his term ended, Chakrabarty handed leadership to the next administration after a year centered on physician advocacy, leadership development, medical education and expanding AAPI’s connections between the U.S. and India.
