IMANE Celebrates 40th Anniversary, Holds Its Annual Meeting on Saturday

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IMANE President Dr. Vikas Merchia, MD
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FOXBOROUGH, MA—The Indian Medical of Indian Medical Association of New England (IMANE), the oldest organization of physicians of Indian origin in the United States, will celebrate 40th anniversary and hold its annual meeting on Saturday, Nov. 10, to elect new office bearers for 2019.

“We are extremely excited and pleased with celebrating 40 years of Indian Medical Association of New England,” said IMANE President Dr. Vikas Merchia, MD. “This organization preceded the national organization of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI).”

Dr. Pramod Shah, MD, chairman of the Board of Trustees of IMANE, told INDIA New England News that not many people know that IMANE was founded much before the national organization of physicians of Indian-origin.

The original founders of IMANE were: Dr. Narendra Shah, Dr. Teju Shah, Dr. Dinesh Patel, Dr. Bhagwan Shahani, Dr. Maya Shahani. Early supporters of the founders’ vision were: Dr. Yogesh Dayal, Dr. Shyama Dayal, Dr. Manorma Saini, and Late Dr. Virendra Saini. Dr. Shahani served as the first president of IMANE, followed by Dr. Patel.

Dr. Pramod Shah, MD, chairman of the Board of Trustees of IMANE

“IMANE was started by some very visionary physicians,” said Dr. Shah. “The organization has gone up and down in the past. Now we have got some younger physicians and we hope to get some more involved in IMANE. We are trying to make IMANE more social and networking-oriented.”

He said a very large number of physician burnout is happening right now not only here but all around the country, and “we hope that at networking opportunities physicians will meet each other share their pain and experiences.”

“There are tons of Indian-origin physicians here. Potentially, they provide a huge opportunity for IMANE to get them involved in the organization,” said Dr. Shah.

Dr. Merchia, who is completing his one-year term at the end of this year, will be replaced by President-Elect Dr. Saraswathi Muppana, MD in 2019. She will be sworn-in at IMANE’s annual gala on Saturday that will be held at Olive & Mint Banquet Hall, located at 2 Washington Street in Foxborough, MA. The registration at the gala will start at 4:00 pm.

Dr. Amita Chopra [Photo: Facebook]
“We are privileged to have Dr. Amita Chopra be our keynote speaker at this hallmark event bridging the chasm between East and West by discussing meditation in an evidence-based manner and how it is extremely necessary and applicable in everyone’s lives including those of doctors, as their lives continue to become more stressful and issue of physician burnout becomes more prevalent,” said Dr. Merchia. “We look forward to having members of the community join us in celebrating this landmark occasion.”

He said IMANE is at a point in time where it is re-discovering itself and its role and need in society.

“It’s role is evolving from what was mostly a social organization to a service organization providing care and need where needed.  I believe IMANE has a bright future capable of great heights and accomplishments to continue to serve the community,” said Dr. Merchia. “The greatest challenge we all face is finding the resolve and time to do the things we want to help and take care of our patients.  As a greater burden of administrative work is placed on physicians it detracts from the more desirous and rewarding element of actually providing patient care.  It will be great to return to providing more patient care and less other stuff.”

The current IMANE officers are: Vikas Merchia, President; Saraswathi Muppana, President-Elect; Sameer Kapasi, Past President; Dhrumil Shah, Secretary; Akash Patel, Treasurer.

IMANE Board of Trustees are: Pramod Shah, Chairman; Kishor Mehta, Treasurer; Vikas Desai; Ashok Joshi and Rajendra Trivedi.

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