Lodi, California: The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) successfully hosted its inaugural West Coast Retreat on March 8-9, 2025, at the Wine & Roses Hotel in Lodi. The event attracted over 130 physicians, primarily from the West Coast, and featured national AAPI leaders, aiming to engage members and raise funds for the organization.
Key Facts:
- Event Dates: March 8-9, 2025
- Location: Wine & Roses Hotel, Lodi, California
- Attendance: Over 130 physicians
The retreat offered a blend of continuing medical education (CME) sessions, networking opportunities, gourmet dining, a winery tour, a grand gala, and vibrant entertainment. Dr. K. Srikar Reddy, Consul General of San Francisco, graced the event as an honored guest.
CME sessions were led by esteemed medical professionals, providing insights into modern technology and health. Dr. Bhavin Parikh from Kaiser Permanente's Psychiatry Department in Sacramento discussed "Suicide Prevention, Understanding the Science and Learning How to Help."
Dr. Sangeeta Aggarwal, specializing in Hematology and Oncology in San Jose, addressed "Genetic Mutations and Family History in Breast and Ovarian Cancers: What’s Next?" Dr. Jincy Clement from Turlock presented "Breast Cancer 2025: Novel Approaches."
Recalling how the entire event came about, Dr. Sujeeth Punnam, convenor of the event, said, “What started as an experiment with expected attendance of 40 Doctors in a quiet and beautiful boutique hotel Wine & Roses in even quieter town of Lodi, CA, grew to about 130 Doctors. We were able to share pure joy and world-class educational lectures with the audience glued to the seats and yearning for more, even though the surroundings and the weather being beautiful.”
The retreat also celebrated Women's Day with a Pink/Red theme, honoring the achievements of women in medicine. A unique "Hearts of AAPI" art session allowed doctors to create heart-themed artwork, an initiative led by Dr. Jignesh Patel, an Interventional Cardiologist.
Do You Know? AAPI represents a vast network of physicians of Indian origin in the United States, serving as a platform for professional development and community service.
Key Terms:
- Continuing Medical Education (CME): Educational programs that help medical professionals maintain competence and learn about new developments in their field.
- Hematology: The branch of medicine concerned with the study of blood, blood-forming organs, and blood diseases.
- Oncology: The field of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.