New York, NY: Health and well-being are central to the lives of all people and a key to societal development. Across the globe, all countries are striving to improve the health and well-being of their populations in terms of both outcomes and equity. By and large, the conditions that make people healthy are those which result in them being more likely to be employed, more productive in the workplace, and to have healthier children who reach higher levels of educational attainment. People in work that they actively enjoy, who live in communities they support and that support them, and whose children flourish, tend to be in better health. It is also known that empowering people to have control over their lives is a very important factor in creating social cohesion and enabling them to act for their health. Social and technological advances have created unprecedented opportunities for health improvement, yet at the same time all European governments are facing dramatic global, regional and national challenges that may affect the health and well-being of their populations unless serious efforts are made to counteract them. In recent months, the new legislation by the US on healthcare has opened up new avenues and poses several challenges, especially to women. “In response to these changes and challenges, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (www.aapiusa.org), in association with the New York City Metro AAPI (www.aapinycmetro.org) and the New York County Medical Society (www.nycms.org), and Pranna Restaurant, is hosting an educational symposium,” says Ami Shah, National Women's Forum Chair. “Designed to educate all physicians about changes impacting women’s health care, the symposium is aimed at educating women physicians about the opportunities and challenges they face within a dynamic and changing healthcare landscape.”

“We at AAPI recognize the lack of women physicians in leadership positions in organized and academic medicine,’ says Dr. Juhi Chawla, New York Metro Women’s Forum Chair “We recognize the potential for women to develop our own leadership opportunities, especially during a unique time of significant changes in the healthcare arena under the “Affordable Care Act.” “The inaugural Women Physicians’ Leadership Symposium titled, “Women’s Health and Wealth: Leadership in the 21st Century” will be held at Pranna Restaurant, located at 79 Madison Avenue at 28th Street in New York City from 8:30am to 12:30pm on Sunday, August 18th,” adds Dr. Chawla. While lauding the initiatives of Women’s Forum, especially the newest of all Chapters of AAPI around the nation, Dr. Jayesh Shah, president of national AAPI, said, “AAPI New York City Metro is one of our youngest chapters in AAPI and we are proud of Dr. Ami Shah and Dr. Juhi Chawla, our young physicians, for their leadership. Women's health and leadership is a key initiative of AAPI.” Women’s Forum has signed up prominent women leaders in the health field to be speakers at the symposium. Healthcare industry leader Dr. Poonam Alaigh joins the conference to speak about “Medical Entrepreneurship in A Dynamic Healthcare Landscape.” Dr. Alaigh, CEO and President of Alaigh Care Associates, LLC, a national healthcare consulting company leading in the implementation of healthcare reform, is a member of the Board of Directors of The Common Sense Institute of New Jersey- a nonpartisan think tank that conducts scholarly research and analysis of New Jersey public policy. Dr. Alaigh is the former Commissioner of Health and Senior Services for New Jersey where she had responsibility for direct operational oversight and management of the Department of Health and Senior Services with a budget of $3.8B, and 1,700 employees. Author and business leader Monica Mehta will educate the audience on “Learning to Take Entrepreneurial Risks”.

Ms. Mehta is a sought after small business and finance expert with 15 years of hands-on experience and is the author of The Entrepreneurial Instinct (McGraw-Hill Sept 2012), which explores the connection between behavior, brain science, and entrepreneurial success. She has appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher, The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Cavuto, Fox & Friends, Fox Business, MSNBC, Bloomberg TV and ABC News. A prominent leader in pain management, Dr. Devyani Nampiaparampil, or “Dr. Devi” will speak about leadership and personal branding in the healthcare arena. She has been featured as a medical expert on CNN, Fox, and CBS. Additionally, she regularly appears as an expert on the Dr. Oz Show. A dedicated leader in the Indian Foreign Service, Dr. Devyani Khobragade is a physician by training, who has devoted her career to foreign diplomacy. She is currently Deputy Consul General in the Consulate General of India and will speak about her broad range of experiences in leadership abroad. The inspiring symposium will include the U.S. Anthem performed by Megha Desai of Desai Family Foundation, the Indian Anthem performed by Dr. Gaurav Shah, who is Secretary of AAPI NYC Metro and will conclude with a live performance by comedienne Qurrat Ann Kadwani. Ms. Kadwani is an actress, producer and philanthropist, who has most recently won the Best Actress and Best Play Awards for her solo play, "They Call Me Q!" According to the organizers, the conference will include breakfast and lunch to all participants, who are members of AAPI, AAPI NYC METRO and The New York County Medical Society, with a recommended minimum donation of $20, which is in support of local charities focusing on South Asian Health and Wellness. Proceeds raised will benefit various non-profit organizations which address the personal, health, and educational needs of South Asian women, children and families. All donations will be matched. In order to participate at the conference, please register by writing to aapinycmetro@gmail.com or vkodali@aapiusa.org. Registration is also available at www.womenandfamilylife.org. For additional information, please contact either Dr. Ami Shah at amishhamd@yahoo.com , Dr. Juhi Chawla at jchawla@att.net or Vijaya Kodali at the national AAPI office at 630-990-2277 or visit the national AAPI website at http://www.aapiusa.org