Sudhir M. Parikh: Doctor, Community Activist and Philanthropist

Sudhir M. Parikh, M.D., is the recipient of the prestigious, and Ellis Island Medals of Honor 2005 for his lifetime of community service, the highest civilian honor an immigrant can get in the United States of America for commitment to community and social service. With this award, Dr Parikh joins the elite list, joining such distinguished personalities as Presidents George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton, as well as Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Colin Powell, General Norman Schwarzkopf and boxing legend Mohammad Ali. The award is instituted by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO).

Dr. Parikh is also a recipient of this years prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest civilian honor bestowed on Non Resident Indians (NRIs) by Government of India.The award and the citation was given at a function held in Hyderabad, India. The US Congress has honoured this achivement with a speical mention in its congressional records. Congressmen Frank Pallone Jr and Joe Crowley inserted a statement into the Congressional Record honouring Parikh Highlighting numerous important accomplishments made by Parikh, who migrated to the US in late 1970s, the statement issued on Wednesday said, "Dr Parikh is an asset to the Indian American community, and his efforts are deserving of this great award. Sudhir fully embodies the commitment and values the NRI award presents."

Dr. Parikhis is a practicing Consulting Allergist in the United States. He has received international acclaim in the treatment of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and is listed in the Who’s Who in America in the Field of Medicine.

Apart from treating patients for more than two decades, Dr. Parikh fought social ills plaguing society by contributing in cash and time, besides using his influence, and collective efforts, doing it all without a tinge of selfish motive and with little regard for fanfare. It was in characteristic form, then, that the good doctor dedicated his most recent award to the community for which he has toiled tirelessly.

Dr. Parikh has long been at the forefront of a movement that seeks empowerment among Indian Americans, with a view towards securing more lobbying power in the US Government and Administration. On more than one occasion, he lobbied successfully in Washington DC when critical votes related to India were being discussed before Congress.

Currently serving on the board of Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), Dr. Parikh is the Patron and Trustee of the AAPI Charitable foundation and also the immediate past president of the Indian American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE).

As a community activist, Dr. Parikh has supported several charity organizations in India and the US through donations totaling over $2 million. However, it was his effort to help tsunami victims last year that brought him to the limelight. He not only personally visited the affected areas in Tamil Nadu, but also launched a partnership program with the Art of Living Foundation for providing humanitarian relief.

While traveling personally to the scene of tragedy is unusual for most philanthropic humanitarians, it was standard operating procedure for Dr. Parikh. When the killer earthquake struck Gujarat some years ago, the doctor was part of the high level delegation that accompanied President Bill Clinton to the area. Originally from Gujarat, the doctor was quick to respond yet never restricted himself to parochial considerations, spreading his efforts and activities across Maharashtra, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and New Delhi.

Dr. Parikh’s commitment to India has always been notable. He has put considerable effort towards developing trauma centers throughout India capable of handling response and emergency needs during natural disasters. Dr. Parikh also actively supports the Ekal Vidyalaya (One Teacher School) in tribal areas of India.

From the United States, he has worked closely with the powers in Washington and New Delhi to initiate a productive dialogue between two of the world’s largest democracies. Among his noteworthy diplomatic triumphs was the successful stalling of F-16 fighter aircraft sales to Pakistan on grounds that arms sales would heighten tensions amongst the two nuclear neighbors at a time when a thaw in relationship was evident.

If his political influence was strong, it was matched only by his charitable efforts. The American India Foundation, Share and Care, and the Nargis Dutt Cancer Foundation are just a few of the major foundations to which Dr. Parikh has made immense contributions. Dr. Parikh was even honored by the VRAJ Temple of North America, to whom he donated $151,000, a record of sorts. He was named as a Grand Benefactor to the Vaishnavante Temple, one of the largest temples in North America.

As part of his efforts to improve Indo-US relations, he’s also often been a Grand Sponsor for the annual Indian Independence Day parade, a massive community event held in New York City for the past 25 years. Its long-term commitments like these that influenced the 110 FIA member organizations to elect Dr. Parikh as President for year when FIA successfully celebrated the Silver Jubilee Parade in Manhattan, which created history by attracting over 100,000 people.

A tireless advocate for both the community’s interests as well as India’s global interests, Dr. Sudhir Parikh is a staunch ally to Indians everywhere. Working as a strong proponent of India’s interests, Dr. Parikh has provided needed support, guidance, and funding to countless worthy causes and organizations and continues to do so.

He is married to Sudha S. Parikh, an Anesthesiologist in the United States, and they have two children.

Philanthropic Highlights

• Dr Parikh has received honors for his philanthropic work from various American and Indian American Community organizations, including: State of New Jersey Senate, Gujarat Samaj of New York City, Vishva Gujarati Samaj, Indian Cultural Association of New Jersey, Federation of AAPI, Indian American Forum for Political Education, and Association of Indians in America.  Throughout his illustrious career, few have matched Dr. Parikh’s commitment to philanthropic issues, and the many honors and awards he’s received as a result of his endeavors are a testament to this.
• As a community activist, he worked hard to support several charity organizations in India and the US by donating $2 million.  American India Foundation, Share and Care, Nargis Dutt Cancer foundations are some of the organizations that Dr Parikh supports regularly. 
•  As patron and chair of the American Associations of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) charitable fund, he helped raise enough money by conducting a 10-city event with Rajya Sabha member Hema Malini. The funds would be used to support AIDS awareness in India.
•  He received the National Excellence Award from former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao a recognition for his philanthropic and community activism, at the 6th annual meeting of the Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC) at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. in June of 2002. 
• The Gujarat Cancer Society in Ahmedabad, India honored him after he provided invaluable support in raising over $150,000 from the B.J. Medical Alumni Association in the USA.
•  VRAJ Temple of North America honored him after he contributed $151,000 to the Temple, a record donation. He was also named as a Grand Benefactor to the Vaishnavante temple – one of the largest temples in North America. 
• The Share and Care foundation, a non-profit organization helping the poorest of the poor in India, similar to the Salvation Army in the United States, honored Dr Parikh on four occasions. He has also been Grand Sponsor of Charitable Events during the past 18 years. 
• From 1995 through 2005, Dr Parikh has funded a scholarship that provides undergraduate studies in Indian Communities throughout the United States via the Share and Care Foundation. 
• The Nargis Dutt Foundation, a premier charitable foundation helping the cancer patient in India, has honored Dr Parikh as Grand Sponsor. 
• Dr Parikh was honored by FIA as Grand Sponsor for his philanthropic work to preserve and propagate Indian culture in the US by sponsoring the annual India Day Parade.

Professional Achievements

• Currently President of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) for tri-state area, an umbrella body of over 110 member organizations. 
•  He was the immediate past president of the Indian American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE), the largest and oldest organization working toward political empowerment of the Indian American community. 
• Serving as Consulting Allergist at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and other teaching hospitals throughout New Jersey. Member of the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology. 
• Diplomat of the American Board of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, as well as a Fellow of the American College of Allergy and Immunology.
•  He is a member of the prestigious New Jersey Licensing Board of Physicians. He contributed significantly to protect the interests of Physicians in the State of New Jersey. He was a prominent Board member to help resolve the Pre-Medical deficit issue in New Jersey for Indian American Physicians, which resulted in a large number of Foreign Medical Graduates receiving their licenses in the State of New Jersey. 
•  Appointed in 2001 as the founding Vice Chairman of the Indian American Republican Council, which was formed at the request of the Bush White House and the Republican Party to help bring more Indian Americans into politics.
•  Currently Clinical Associate Professor at UMDNJ-Rutgers Medical School. Was appointed Clinical Assistant Professor at the NY Medical College in 1980.
•  Became the first president of the AAPI Federation of NY/NJ/Pennsylvania, which has over 6,000 Physicians of Indian Origin in the Tri-State area; during his tenure in the early 1990s, he enriched the organization by serving the professional needs of its membership.
•  Was instrumental in creating a liaison between AAPI and the President of the Federation of the State Board of medical Examiners, which led to a significant impact of AAPI into the policy of the Federation of the State Board of medical Examiners. 1995-98- Chairman of AAPI Licensing Board Committee.
•  Served as the Regional Director of Mid-Atlantic AAPI during 1995-96.
•  In 1997, became the first Indian to be appointed member of the New Jersey Task Force to formulate Tele-Medicine Licensing. 
• Was appointed to represent of the IMG section in the New Jersey Medical Society in 1998. 
•  As member of the AAPI-PAC in the last decade, he motivated the powerful Chairman Emeritus of the House International Relations Committee Benjamin Gilman to address issues impacting Indian physicians. 
• As past President of B.J. Medical Alumni Association, he was instrumental in helping the Alumni raise over $100,000 to ensure better quality care in Ahmedabad. The association is the largest Alumni Association of Indian Physicians in the United States. 
• Co-chairman of AAPI National Convention in 2000 in New York City, which helped raise over $2 million dollars and netted a profit of over $700,000 to AAPI and former Trustee of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin

Awards, Decorations, Citations bestowed
 
FEDERAL AND STATE:

• 2005 Ellis Island Medal the highest civilian honor an immigrant can get in the United States of America for commitment to community and social service. 
•  Appointed member of the National Leadership Advisory Committee of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans in 1999 by the Chairman of the India Caucus, U.S Congressman Gary L. Ackerman (D) of New York.
• · Recognition by the State of New Jersey.  Received a Senate citation for contribution to Indian Community in 1999.
•  New Jersey Congressman Bob Frank (R) presented him a special American Flag that had flown over Capital Hill in Washington DC. Representative The honor was in recognition of his contributions in the field of medicine and in particular working on a measure to protect Indian American Physicians from de-selection in the House Medicare-Managed care bill as well as his contributions to Politics and Community services. 
•  In 1995, New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman appointed him a member of the State Board of Medical Examiners (a medical licensing board) making him the first Indian American physician to hold the position in New Jersey.

 INDIA CENTRIC ACTIVITIES / COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

•  Received the National Excellence Award in recognition of his philanthropic and community activism, at the 6th annual meeting of the Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC) at Capitol Hill in June 2002. 
•  The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) bestowed “The most distinguished service award” in 2000.
•  Scroll of appreciation from Gujarat Cancer Society for immense contribution to cancer research and relief presented in 1996. 
•  Recognition of excellence awarded by the Indian American Friendship Council in 2002.
•  North American FIA honor for community activism presented in 2003.
•  Received the Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation for significant achievement in the field of medicine and generous contribution towards medical care in India in 1993. 
•  Share and Care foundation bestows recognition for his compassion to contribution to the betterment of human suffering in 1994. 
•  VRAJ Temple honors its grand benefactor in 2001 for contributing $150,000 to build a community center and temple.
•  B.J Medical College Alumni Association, the largest medical alumni organization in USA, honors him in 1994.

BUSINESS & TRADE

• Initiated a high-level delegation to India in 2004 comprising members from the Indo-America Chamber of Commerce and U.S Congressmen. Besides participating in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi, the delegation visited Bangalore and the facilities of software giants Infosys and Wipro. Aimed at creating awareness among US lawmakers about India’s potential, the delegation was headed by Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., a founder of the India Caucus in Washington. 
• Worked with Clinton administration to lift several sanctions imposed on India after the nuclear tests of May 1998.
•  Instrumental in driving health care and Pharma companies to set up shop in India. Evangelizing the concept of outsourcing to India in the Healthcare industry. 
•  Set aside parochial considerations and spread his charitable and social efforts to states other than his home state of Gujarat. He contributed to relief in Maharashtra, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi. 

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

• Worked tirelessly to develop trauma centers in India capable of handling response and emergency needs in the case of natural disasters.
• Actively supports the Ekal Vidyalaya (One Teacher School) concept in tribal areas of India since 2004. 
•  A Grand Sponsor for the Indian Independence Day parade, a massive community event held in New York, for the past 20 years.  
• Played a key role in arranging a Diwali celebration at the White House in 2003 and later mobilized political and community support that resulted in a Diwali stamp being released by the US Postal Service in 2004. 
•  Mobilized the Indian community to raise funds and support to help earthquake victims in Gujarat, going so far as to accompany President Clinton on his second visit to India. 
•  Helped Indian Americans in United States with visa and immigration issues by taking it up with the administration and garnering support from lawmakers.