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Meher Medavaram takes over as new AAPI president
Medavaram intends to strengthen AAPI's advocacy for Indian American physicians on critical issues
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Ishani Duttagupta - Thu, 09, Jul 2026
- 01:35 EDT
- 20
Meher Medavaram / Courtesy photo
The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic medical association in the United States, has a new leader. Dr. Meher Medavaram officially assumed office as president for the 2026-27 term during a ceremony on July 1 at the AAPI headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois, according to a press release from AAPI.
Several other key leaders took office alongside her: Dr. Vijay Maurya assumed office as chair of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Krishan Kumar as president-elect, Dr. Sreeni Gangasani as vice president, Dr. Soumya Neravatla as secretary, and Dr. Raghu Lolabhattu as treasurer.
Dr. Medavaram's association with AAPI has spanned her entire professional career. She joined as a patron member in the 1980s and has since held nearly every major leadership position—regional director, secretary, vice president, president-elect, and the only woman convention chair in AAPI's history.
AAPI represents more than 120,000 physicians, residents, fellows, and medical students of Indian origin. Indian American physicians have a deep impact on the U.S. health care delivery system and care for one in every seven patients.
One of the few women elected to lead AAPI, Dr. Medavaram brings extensive clinical, administrative, and academic experience across the Chicago region to the role. She currently serves as president of Naperbrook Medical Center and as a medical staff physician in the Department of Family Medicine at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Edward Hospital, and University of Chicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook. She is also a clinical preceptor at the University of Illinois Chicago and the former medical director of the Mount Sinai Hospital FQHC Center.
Her diverse background across underserved communities, academic institutions, and private practice gives her a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing physicians and patients today. With more than 35 years of clinical experience, decades of organizational service, and a leadership philosophy rooted in integrity and collaboration, she is seen to bring depth and clarity to AAPI, which has emerged as one of the most influential physician associations in the United States.
"My vision is to lead with unity, integrity, inclusion, and purpose," Dr. Medavaram said about her appointment. Her medical journey began at Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad. After immigrating to the U.S., she completed her residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago, where she later served as faculty and assistant director of the Family Medicine Residency Program. Her early years in academic medicine shaped her enduring commitment to mentorship and education. "Teaching and mentoring are not separate from patient care," she reflects. "They are extensions of our responsibility to build a stronger and more compassionate health care system."
One of Dr. Medavaram's foremost priorities is fostering cohesion across AAPI's vast network of local chapters, alumni associations, specialty societies, and international partners. "AAPI's strength lies in its collective voice," she explains. "We must work together—respectfully, constructively, and with a shared purpose."
Dr. Medavaram is also deeply committed to mentorship and leadership development, viewing AAPI's Young Physicians Section (YPS) and the Medical Students, Residents, and Fellows Section (MSRF) as essential to the organization's future. "We must empower young physicians, residents, fellows, women leaders, and medical students through mentorship and leadership opportunities," she says. Her plans include building structured leadership pathways, expanding mentorship programs, and increasing visibility for emerging leaders.
Additionally, Dr. Medavaram intends to strengthen AAPI's advocacy for Indian American physicians on critical issues, ranging from immigration and international medical graduate equity to physician wellness and health care reform.
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