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North The Indian Eye

AMERICANNewsline

22 SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

AIA-NY honors six eminent persons with awards

at glittering Benefit Gala for Deepavali Fest

Highlights of the Deepavali Fest on October 1 released

Honorees with plaques: Arun and Asmita Bhatia, Sharda Kothawala (with Haridas Kotahwala), Dr. Jagdish Gupta & Dr. Samin Sharma,
Dr Subhash Kini, and Dr Saurabh Lodha with AIA-NY President Jagdish Gupta Chairman of the Board of AIA-NY

OUR BUREAU mologist, accepted the award. Ranga received the plaque. ulated the community as Diwali has
Dr Subhash Kini, Director, Cen- Dr Gupta, an eminent gastroen- been declared a school holiday in
Hicksville, NY
ter for Bariatric and Minimally Inva- terologist who took over as AIA-NY New York City. “Over the years, it
he Association of Indians in sive Surgery, Icahn School of Med- president on June 2, emphasized that has come to symbolize our culture
America (AIA-NY) held its icine, Mount Sinai (Morningside), “AIA-NY has been organizing the and heritage in the USA as Diwali is a
TBenefit Gala under the Presi- received the Excellence in Bariatric & Deepavali Festival in New York for manifestation of Indian culture.”
dentship of Dr Jagdish Gupta to raise Minimally Invasive/Robotic Surgery the past 36 years, and it has become an Dr Samin Sharma, Advisor and
funds for the iconic Deepavali Fest at Award. Businesswoman/Entrepre- iconic event, attended by thousands Chairman of the Board of Trustees of
South Street Seaport in Manhattan neur Award went to Sharda Haridas of people from the Tri-State area, in- AIA-NY, in his address, highlighted
on October 1. Kotahwala, for their family business cluding both Indians and non-Indians. the stellar achievements and contri-
The glittering gala was held on in Diamond & Precious Stone Jewel- Highlights of the free-to-public butions of Indian Americans, particu-
September 17 in the chandeliered ry business. Dr Saurabh Lodha, of the Deepavali festival at South Street Sea- larly in healthcare.
ballroom of the newly opened Pearl Department of Dermatology, Colum- port on October 1 include: Children’s Citations for AIA-NY from Indi-
Banquet Hall in Hicksville, NY. It was bia University, was given the Excel- Program (1.30-3 pm), Nach Inferno an Consul General Randhir Jaiswal,
attended by over 200 prominent peo- lence in Dermatology - Special Young (4-5.30 pm), VIP Hour (3.30 – 5 pm), Nassau County Chairman Bruce
ple including past presidents of AIA Physician Award. and the finale - Fireworks on East Riv- Blakeman, and NY State Senator Kev-
and advisory board members. New York Life Insurance Com- er at 7 pm. Many lawmakers, dignitar- in Thomas were received by Dr Gupta.
The Lifetime Achievement pany, a major sponsor of AIA’s Dee- ies and entertainers are expected to AIA Board members at the gala
Award was presented to Asmita and pavali Festival, was honored for Com- participate. Print and electronic me- included Dr Samin Sharma, Dr Nir-
Arun Bhatia, Founder and CEO of munity Service Excellence. NY Life’s dia are invited to cover the mega event. mal Mattoo, Animesh Goenka, Dr

the Arun Bhatia Development Or- Corporate Vice President, Srinivas At the gala, Dr Gupta congrat- Shashi Shah, Dr Buddhadev Manvar,
ganization. Excellence in Healthcare Sunil Modi and Smiti Khanna. Past
Administration Award was given to Presidents in attendance included
David Seligman, Deputy Regional Ex- Harish Thakkar, and Dr Narinder Ku-
ecutive Director for Northwell Health kar. Nilima Madan was the Gala Chair.
Western Region. Dr Gupta, former President of
Dr V. K. Raju, Clinical Professor IALI, AAPI-QLI and Nargis Dutt
of Ophthalmology at West Virginia Memorial Foundation, thanked Fare-
University was honored for Excel- portal-CheapOair/Qatar Airways Al-
lence in Ophthalmological Surgery & liance, New York Life, Mount Sinai
Prevention of Childhood Blindness. Hospital, and the Northwell Health
On his behalf, his daughter Dr Leela System for their generous contribu-
V. Raju, herself an eminent ophthal- tions toward Deepavali Fest.

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