NEW YORK, April 1,2004
IANS

Five physicians of Indian origin have been recognised for their leadership qualities at a training programme conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA).

Rajendra Gupta of New Jersey, Marella Hanumadass of Chicago, Nick Shroff and Nalin Tolia of Texas, and P K Vedanthan of Colorado were among the 10 physicians selected by the AMA for the award at a Leadership Training Programme in Washington DC in March.

The AMA, the largest organisation representing doctors in the US, has a membership of 240,000 of which 40,000 are international medical graduates (IMGs).

According to Jay Jayasankar, chair of the IMG section at AMA, training future leaders was an integral part of the AMA's activities and the leadership programme was a special opportunity for doctors to sharpen their skills and to network with their peers.

Over the last six years, the AMA has selected medical students, resident doctors in training and young physicians for special recognition and encouragement through the leadership programme.

"At the instance of the AMA-IMG section, this year for the first time, 10 outstanding IMGs were selected for a similar recognition. Five out of them are physicians of Indian origin," Jayasankar said.

"Each of them is a leader in the truest sense of the word and has done so much for so many. I know they will mentor the many whose lives they will touch," he asserted.