New York City, New York: Established in 1967, the Association of Indians in America (AIA) holds the distinction of being the oldest nationwide nonprofit formed by and for Indian Americans.
On May 3, AIA resumed its long-dormant Medical Council Awards Gala after a 15-year pause. The purpose of the event was to celebrate and honor second-generation Indian American doctors and surgeons for their accomplishments in both their careers and academic pursuits.
Hosted at a historic New York City venue inspired by Italian Renaissance architecture, the gala drew a diverse crowd. Notably, half of those in attendance were young professionals, reflecting the growing influence of the next generation of Indian American medical practitioners.
Since its founding in 1967, AIA has transitioned from helping early Indian immigrants adjust to life in the U.S. to focusing more on serving the evolving needs of their children and the broader second-generation Indian American community.
AIA national president Gobind Munjal explained that reinstating the awards was a strategic effort to recognize rising stars in the medical field and to foster a deeper connection with younger members. "The reason behind organizing this Medical Council Awards Gala," he noted, "is to highlight the excellence of the second generation of Indian-origin physicians and surgeons, who are excelling professionally and academically—just as their predecessors once did."
Describing the evening as a significant milestone, Munjal praised the active role younger members played in bringing the event to life. "This Gala represents a turning point," he said. "It’s encouraging to see younger AIA members stepping into leadership roles and helping organize such an impactful event, while senior members lend their support. In fact, half the attendees were from the younger demographic."
Munjal also revealed plans to make the gala a recurring event. "Given its overwhelming success, younger professionals are strongly interested in getting involved with AIA," he shared. "We aim to host this gala every two years, and we’re also revamping our website to better appeal to younger generations."
The gala’s planning committee was led by Dr. Dolly Manvar as chair of the medical council, with four next-gen vice chairs: Dr. Atul Kukar, Dr. Pallavi Manvar Singh, Dr. Aprajita Mattoo, and Dr. Pratichi Goenka. Munjal commended their dedication, crediting them for the gala’s resounding success.
Dr. Samin Sharma, chair of the AIA board of trustees, described the event as the most successful he had witnessed in his 15-year tenure with the organization. "Never before have we seen such a large turnout from young professionals at an AIA event," he remarked. Dr. Sharma also proposed launching a charitable effort to support communities in India and pledged $100,000 to initiate the project.
The evening’s honorees included Dr. Deepak Bhatt (recognized for research), Dr. Latha Chandran (education), Dr. Chethan Sathya (public health and gun violence prevention), and Dr. Shuvendu Sen (literary contributions). Each was acknowledged for excellence in their respective fields.
A special Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred upon Dr. Nirmal Mattoo, a former AIA national president and current chair of the Indo-American Arts Council. He also heads the Mattoo Center of India Studies at the State University of New York.
