Dear AKMG friends and family members,
I am sure that you are all as excited as I am about our fast approaching 46th Annual AKMG Convention. We are on a cruise convention again after the wildly successful 2011 Alaska Cruise Convention which took us all on the Pacific Ocean from the west coast, Seattle This time we are in the Atlantic Ocean, starting out from Orlando in the East Coast, on to the Bahamas. The Bahamas is a full member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Let us all work together to make this Bahamas/Caribbean Cruise Convention thoroughly enjoyable and unforgettable.
AKMG is blessed with a broad spectrum of members who are successful in various facets – academic, research, clinical. We are also an organization that boasts of outstanding performers in humanitarian, cultural and literary activities.
Social media and tools including WhatsApp, Facebook, X, Zoom, YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok have brought us all and the whole world closer to one another.
Our AKMG President Dr. Deepu Sudhakaran and Convention Chair Dr. Reena Kavilaveettil are taking us all on a fun filled cruise with various activities to keep everyone busily engaged. The very capable Cruise Convention Organizing Committee leaders with team members and subcommittee chairpersons describe in their articles in the following pages the feast that awaits us. Yoga, CME, cultural activities, literary sessions - the list of activities awaiting us is amazing.
There are quite a few successful continuing initiatives and activities that AKMG is involved in. The Mentorship Committee spearheaded by Dr. Neena Thomas-Eapen has been very successful in guiding many dozens of aspiring young medicos onto residency and fellowship programs in the US and Canada. Dr. Deepu Sudhakaran and several dedicated AKMG mentors form a formidable team in supporting this effort.
Manasanthi is yet another initiative led by Dr. Raji Menon, a very essential one in a high stress profession like ours. Kamar Amanulla and her Co-Chairs lead the AKMG Women's Forum organizing women centric focused activities during our conventions. Dr. Thomas Rajan chairs the AKMG Membership Committee. As we know, members form the strength of any organization. As you engage in your daily activities, encourage the new/young medical and dental professionals to join AKMG.
AKMG-HS {Humanitarian Services} led by Dr. Nigil Haroon gives you all the avenue to contribute tax deductible funds to help the less fortunate in Northa America and Kerala/India. Let us remember to share and give back to those we owe for our success in life.
Young AKMG is the "assembly line" for our future AKMG leaders. Dr. Teresa Varghese and Dr. Sheila Rajan, the energetic Chairs of Young AKMG has penned a thoughtful article in the following pages. Let us encourage all the youngsters including medical students, residents, fellows and young physicians to become members and safeguard our AKMG's future.
I am eagerly looking forward to seeing you all, meeting all the old friends while making several newer friends.
Jai Hind, God Bless America
Krishna. R Prasad MD
Editor, AKMG Reporter