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MESSAGE FROM DR. ELIZABETH MAMMEN PRASAD

Hello AKMG family, I have to make a very special mention. Last night, after I got home from the convention, literally exhausted, I got a message from Dr. M.P. Ravindra Nathan, who was unable to attend the convention due to health reasons and had just been discharged from the hospital, was following us through chats on how our convention was going, he was genuinely happy to see the immages and videos and it lifted his spirits. He really wished he could have been there.He already supported our convention tremendously by donating in several ways without even asking. But last night he sent an additional $1000 to cover the costs of convention. I was deeply moved and literally in tears for the love and affection he showed us through this selfless act of support for the AKMG NJ convention. We really missed Dr. Nathan at our convention, as he was to be honored as a past president of AKMG and co chair of the souvenir committee. I am literally lost for words because of his g...

Rosy Bee-eater (Merops Malimbicus): Blog post by Dr. Sunny Kurian

The Rosy Bee-eater is one of Africa’s most spectacular and highly specialized bee-eaters. It is the most aerial member of its family, spending hours soaring gracefully above forests and rivers with its long, pointed wings. This frisky and energetic bird rarely sits still, constantly flying, twisting, and chasing insects in mid-air, making it one of the most challenging bee-eaters to photograph. Like other bee-eaters, it skillfully removes the venom and stinger from bees and wasps before swallowing them, and during the breeding season thousands gather on river sandbanks to dig nesting tunnels. Its beautiful rosy plumage, striking carmine-red eyes, and long tail streamers make it one of Africa’s most elegant birds. When I planned my Gabon trip, this was one of my target species. On my first day in Loango, just as we were finishing the boat trip, I saw more than a hundred of them flying over the water, but the light was poor, so I couldn’t take any photos. Days passed without anot...

What is Mentorship? Blogpost by Dr. Azif Safarulla

I am an Assistant Professor in Neonatal Perinatal Medicine at University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. As part of that I serve as the medical director of the NICU at Saint Anthony's Hospital. What is mentorship ? Granting observerships, reviewing personal statements, conducting mock interviews, recommending for interviews is part of it. Really it is a resolve that one makes - I want to make it easier for another who comes along the same way. A mentor opens doors for a mentee, allows them to get from Point A to Point B faster and benefit from their own previous experience. The photos I share are two people who played a key role at the start of my journey in the US. Of course the common people in both pictures are me and my Dad - Dr.Safarulla Khan whom I am forever thankful to for granting me the opportunity to come to the US. One is Dr.Krishna Prasad (KP) who made a call to his friend D.Kumar in Houston. The second picture is Dr.Kumar who allowed a stranger (m...

Using Google AI C0-scientist: Blog by Dr. Johnson Thomas

I had early access to Google’s AI Co-Scientist and have been exploring its use for medical problems. This made me think about how the tool could potentially be used to address health issues that affect our local community. After considering several possibilities, I was drawn to alpha-gal syndrome because it appears to be more prevalent in our region and, to my understanding, currently has limited options for symptom control or cure. The following parameters were provided to the system: Prioritize oral medications over injectables. Aim for a treatment duration of 3 to 6 months to achieve clinical tolerance. Target a medication cost under $100 per month where feasible. Focus on the adult population aged 18 to 65. Accept manageable side effects with appropriate patient counseling. Avoid common immunomodulatory treatment like steroids and antihistamines. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-10439106/latest The results are in the above paper. These are hypothetical options with...

Blog post by Dr. Neena Thomas

It is a true privilege to celebrate a pillar of our medical community—Prof. Roy Varghese, an esteemed, longstanding AKMG member and proud alumnus of Trivandrum Medical College. For many years, Dr. Varghese has served as Chief of Staff in the Department of Medicine at Mary Breckinridge Hospital in Hyden, Kentucky. In his roles overseeing General Medicine and Infectious Diseases, he has been far more than a department head: he has been a beacon of hope, opportunity, and guidance for scores of young doctors navigating their way into the American healthcare system. For International Medical Graduates (IMGs), breaking into the U.S. healthcare system can feel like an uphill battle fraught with uncertainty. Dr. Varghese recognized this challenge and chose to take action. Under his direct tutelage, more than 50 Kerala medical graduates served as externs, taking active, hands-on roles in patient care. His program offered young doctors an invaluable, first-hand look into the intricacies of U....

My Jungle Garden: Blog post by Dr. Rosalind Pallivathucal

Every morning, I walk into my garden with a cup of coffee, and my roses remind me of one thing—nothing beautiful comes easy. People think growing roses is simple. It's not. Roses need patience, attention, and sometimes a little stubbornness. Maybe that's why I like them. Now, if you ask my daughters, Leena and Letha in Irvine, they'll tell you they love their mother. They'll proudly say, "Our mom is a hardworking doctor." But ask them about my garden, and immediately they'll say, "Amma, this is not a garden... this is a jungle!" Apparently, because I don't believe every plant has to stand in a military parade, my garden has lost all respectability. According to them, a proper California garden should have neat rows, perfect lawns, and not a banana tree waving at the roses. But here's the funny part. While my own children tease me, complete strangers stop outside to admire the garden. Some even ask if they can take pictur...