Cast your vote by Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 4:30pm CST

All Active AINA Members have been sent an email including the link to vote for the 2023-2025 Executive Committee Members.  Please find each candidate's current CV and statement of interest. Terms will begin following the Annual Meeting in April 2023 and conclude at the Annual Meeting in 2025 (2 year term).

For President-elect:

Thyagarajan Subramanian, MD; University of Toledo View CV
I have a deep commitment and successful experience in advancing neurological care, training, research and service in India and in the United States. I like to lead AINA by advancing all its missions via application of my strategic management skills and enlisting the help of AINA membership. Specific areas of growth are to develop collaborative projects with Indian neurologists, develop collaborative projects between Indian origin neurologists in USA, increase membership of Indian origin neurologists in AINA, lobby for additional funding from both US and Indian governments to support advanced training in neurology, provide opportunities for AINA members to advance care in India and for make scientific advances in collaboration with Indian neurologists and neuroscientists. I will specifically focus on making AINA attractive for the younger generation of neurologists as a resource to get mentorship from more senior AINA members and to use the organization to foster a network that builds organically to greater strength. To facilitate such growth, I will engage them in social media platforms, organize virtual speaker programs that highlight the best talents within and outside AINA. I have successfully used such a strategy to grow non-profits organization such as the American Parkinson’s Disease Association. I am confident that the enormous talent we have amongst Indian origin neurologists in America can be tapped to our collective good as well as to advance neurology in India.

Chirag Shukla, MD; Capital Health System View CV

I am writing to apply for AINA Board position -president-Elect. I have been serving as team player in AINA Board last 10yrs as Executive committee, Treasurer and at present secretary.  I would like continue work with focusing in expansion of membership to younger Neurologist of Indian origin as well as continue promoting patient care by organizing neuro clinic seasons and teaching in our motherland.

For Secretary:

Ram Mohan Sankaraneni, MD; CHI Health View CV
It was a great pleasure in working as a Treasurer for AINA during the past 2years. It was a great opportunity to be part of the AINA team during this challenging time and experienced how good leadership can make great advances no matter the situation in front of us. Would like to further contribute my services in the role of secretary for the next term.

Sumul Raval, MD; Garden State Neurology & Neuro-Oncology View CV

As Secretary, my goal is to manage and maintain organized and consistent financial records. I will collaborate with the executive team and our partners to ensure that our mission, vision, and values are being met from a financial standpoint

My ultimate goal is to engage and empower all Indian-American physicians in local, state and national legislatures

I look forward to serve AINA with great success as I have served through my roles as Treasurer of AAPI, Regional Director of AAPI and as Vice President and President of MOCAAPI (a subchapter of AAPI) as well.

For Treasurer:

Geetanjali Rathore, MD; University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska View CV
I am a current member of the AINA executive committee. During my term, I have participated in the working of the organization, planning of new initiatives, including chairing the Educational initiatives subcommittee. I have presided over the Pediatric Neurology section of AINA and helping lead the collaboration between our organization and the APNI (American Pediatric Neurologists from India). As an initiative to highlight our exceptional members and their great contributions to neurology, I have started the monthly podcasts, ‘Reflecting with AINA’ (https://www.4aina.com/page-1857956) . I am a proud member of the very talented and outstanding Indian Neurology community and envision the community continuing to encompass this position internationally, leading the field of Neurology. In addition to increasing collaborations, networking internationally and increasing member engagement, now I intend to serve as the Treasures for AINA. With the support of the board, executive committee and the esteemed members of AINA, I plan to increase opportunities for fundraising and AINA scholarships. A financially strong organization will benefit all members and help us expand initiatives in the US and in India. As a member of the Executive committee of the Epilepsy foundation, I have led many fundraising initiatives, which have been extremely successful. I hope to get the opportunity to serve as the treasures for AINA and use my experience to continue to magnify our organization.

For Executive Committee Member:

Shubhi Agrawal, MD; University of California Davis View CV
I have been a member of AINA for over past 7 yrs and am very vested to see this organization grow. Representing a minority but high performing group of physicians, this organization has great potential. For over 1 year, I have been leading the Womens' chapter of AINA. Through quarterly virtual meetings we have discussed topics like negotiation, fair compensation, compassion & empathy etc. As part of EC I want to take forward the new initiatives to increase engagement within the society and the value it brings to the community.

Rajeev Garg, MD, MS FANA; Rush Medical Center View CV
I humbly submit my name for consideration to be re-elected as an Executive Committee Member to the Association of Indian Neurologists in America (AINA). I am an Associate Professor of Neurology in the Sections of Critical Care Neurology and Cognitive Neurosciences at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. I am board certified in General Neurology, Vascular Neurology, and Neurocritical Care. I joined Rush University in 2010 after completing my residency and fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago. I obtained my medical degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago where I graduated with Honors as Alpha Omega Alpha and as a member of the James Scholar Program for Independent Study-a specialized curriculum for the top 5% of students. I also have a Master’s in Clinical Research that I obtained after joining as faculty. While at Rush, I have been the Director of the Neurocritical Care Fellowship Program and have been principal investigator for several funded research studies at Rush. Currently, I am the President-Elect for the Neuroscience Committee for the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and an Executive Committee Member on the Midwest Chapter of SCCM.

I have tremendously enjoyed collaborating with my fellow Executive Members on AINA these past two years. My primary contribution to AINA has been the development of the “New Initiatives” program to help spearhead engagement and creativity within the organization. This program will be selecting its first committee members within the coming weeks, which will provide an opportunity to develop new activities that strengthen the organization here in the US and increase ties with our neurology colleagues in India. As Chair of the Research Subcommittee within the “New initiatives”, I look forward to developing the foundation and network to study neurologic diseases in Indian Americans. This is an exciting next step and one I believe will provide new stimulus to the growth of this dynamic organization. I strongly believe in the mission of AINA and would like to continue contributing my efforts to grow this organization. Coming from a family of neurologists (my father and 2 brothers), I have a strong passion for the field—especially its overlap with critical care medicine. If re-elected as a member of the Executive Board, I would like to continue developing new ideas for the organization that fosters membership engagement and increase the value of membership. As a 1st generation Indian-American, I have immense pride in my culture and heritage. I will provide my best efforts within the executive committee to ensure the goals of AINA are met. I would be honored for the privilege to serve AINA. I have attached my curriculum vitae for review, and thank you for this opportunity.

Atul Kalanuria, MD; The University of Pennsylvania View CV
Over the last year or so, it has been a pleasure to have been part of some of the discussions regarding next frontiers that AINA is exploring. One of those avenues that I have chosen to contribute to has been AINA-advocacy and creating a digital AINA footprint on social media channels. As a professional organization, there is an immediate need for AINA to increase visibility and gain traction, whether that means increasing membership or announcing achievements. There is also tremendous scope in this sphere to disseminate a variety of proprietary content. A concerted social media effort can have far reaching implications for AINA’s popularity and influence and if elected, this is where my effort will be focused. I have been part of several national and international organizations and held leadership positions within them and this is the experience that I bring to this committee. Additionally, I have the necessary executive skills that in my opinion AINA can use as it moves into the next phase of expansion.

Nishant Mishra, PhD; Yale University View CV
I first attended AINA in 2008. I was in the second year of my stroke fellowship at CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland. That was the first time I visited the USA. I was impressed by the science presented at the AAN, Chicago, that year. I met with many senior neurologists during the AINA dinner. AINA felicitated Dr. Bradley that year for his contributions to Neurology and strong support of Indian neurology. I was then a young neurology fellow and used to read his textbook in Lausanne. My interactions with leading scientists at the AAN and AINA motivated me to stay active in academic neurology. I have been following the activities of AINA since then and am excited that I am now applying for a more significant role in this organization.

I am grateful that several funding mechanisms supported my education. Ratan Tata trust scholarship supported medical school; Swiss Government funding supported the Swiss fellowship; British and University of Glasgow funding supported my Ph.D. Fortunately, I had several career opportunities and met with inspiring role models. I aim to support trainees worldwide and promote Miller Fisher's philosophy (Fisher's rules by Louis Caplan) as a clinical scientist. I aspire to leverage my role at AINA to make meaningful contributions, mainly to promote neurology education in India. Many terrific physicians in India can significantly benefit from international exposure to medical sciences, and we ought to create that opportunity early in their lives. Health is a global issue; we all want more incredible collaborations with colleagues worldwide, particularly in India. In my role at AINA, I will support AINA's mission and closely collaborate with its members.

Kiran Rajneesh, MD MS; The Ohio State University View CV
As a dual board certified Neurologist and Pain management specialist, I think AINA is a unique position to enhance neurological and pain management care in USA and India. Pain is a common complaint in 70% of office visits in US irrespective of the specialty. As Neurologists we understand pathophysiology of headaches and pain. We are well versed in non-opioid neuropathic pain medications. Opioid epidemic is a growing healthcare concern nationally and worldwide. CME activities as well as training activities to enhance neurology pain care through AINA would be a great opportunity. Creating webinars for PCP and Neurologists in India which has a younger demographics would be another avenue to decrease the incidence of opioid mortality and dependence worldwide. Also, as neurologists we interface with older patients and polypharmacy is a growing concern in this population. Advocacy through AINA at national funding organizations and policy making entities is another need to better understand pharmcodynamics and epigenomics in Indian population in US as our numbers grow. This data can help us optimize treatments to improve safety and efficacy. I believe I can help AINA move the needle forward on these above issues working closely with my other esteemed colleagues at AINA.

Abhishek Singh, MD; CHI health/Creighton University School of Medicine View CV
During my constant exchanges with my colleagues of both Indian and American origin, I have always tried to find a niche, a conduit to express this desire, and was able to do successfully in the last few years as my family is settling in Omaha Nebraska. Coming to Omaha was a pivotal movement as Dr. Sanjay Singh our past president was my chair and under his guidance, I joined the AINA recently. I plan to use this platform to start collaborating with major neurological practices and hospitals in tier 1, 2, and 3 cities to develop systems of care where there is a lack of knowledge and skills. To start with I am planning to get to know the challenges at present in these identified cities and the resources available to us. This will help us to detect and diagnose Neurovascular conditions and bring the patients to the well-established Neurovascular center which is supported by local neurologists, stroke doctors, and interventionists. If successful I will be arranging in-person or remote training and proctoring using my own skills and my fellow neurologist here. I will support neurology aspirants in America where we can collaborate with academic institutions here in the united states. This will include research assistant jobs available throughout the country and other clinical research papers( case reviews, case reports, and poster presentations at national and international conferences.

Prasanna Kumar Reddy Tadi, MD; Geisinger View CV
I am very interested in serving AINA. I have an experience of serving on various committees and work groups at multiple organizations like AHA, AAN, NIH, ABPN etc. I am looking forward to bring the experience and enthusiasm to fulfill the AINAs goal of promoting patient care, teaching and research. I am also interested in the volunteer work. I am looking forward to expand current programs and create new programs on behalf of AINA to serve fellow neurologists here and build relationships with the our neurology colleagues in India.