BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Atlanta/Washington DC, May 29, 2026: Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Global Eye Magazine recognized 20 distinguished Asian Americans from across the United States during a prestigious ceremony held on May 19, 2026, at the United States Capitol. Among the prominent honorees was Atlanta’s own Dr. Annapurna Bhat, CEO and Managing Partner of Bhat and Bhat Medical Center in Stockbridge, Georgia.
During the program, Global Eye Magazine Chairman Vijay
Prabhakar credited Congressman Jackson with envisioning the recognition
initiative, which began in 2023 and has expanded each year since. “It’s because
of Congressman Jackson’s vision that this celebration is taking place. It’s his
brainchild and it’s his gift to the nation,” Dr. Prabhakar said.
To mark the occasion, Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL) officially
entered a tribute to Dr. Bhat into the Congressional Record of the 119th
Congress, honoring her as “an extraordinary physician, philanthropist,
community leader, and servant of humanity.”
A distinguished rheumatologist, Dr. Bhat serves as CEO and Managing Partner of
the Bhat and Bhat Medical Center in Stockbridge, Georgia, and has long been
associated with healthcare institutions including Emory University, Henry
Hospital, and Southern Regional Hospital. Her medical journey began at Kasturba
Medical College before continuing through advanced training in New York and
Atlanta.
The record detailed her extensive medical journey, which began with a strong foundation at Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, India, followed by a residency at Woodhull Medical Center in New York, and a fellowship in rheumatology at Emory University in Atlanta.
The Congressional tribute highlighted not only her medical accomplishments but also her extensive community leadership. Dr. Bhat currently serves as President of NAVIKA for 2026–2027, Founder President of the Georgia Karnataka Doctors Association, President of the Bhat Foundation, and Chair of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin Alumni. She has also held leadership roles with the Indian American International Chamber of Commerce and numerous educational, cultural, healthcare, and faith-based organizations.
Congressman Jackson’s remarks emphasized Dr. Bhat’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian causes, including disaster relief efforts, scholarship initiatives in both Georgia and India, and charitable fundraising through her work with the Rotary Club of Atlanta Southern Crescent, where she is recognized as a Major Donor and Paul Harris Fellow.
The event also featured remarks from several elected officials, including Danny Davis, Suhas Subramanyam, and Shri Thanedar, who spoke about the growing contributions of Asian Americans in medicine, business, education, public service, and civic leadership.
Congressman Jackson reflected on the historical struggles and contributions of Asian Americans in the United States, referencing abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the landmark Supreme Court case involving Wong Kim Ark, whose 1898 legal battle established birthright citizenship protections.
“Asian Americans have paid the price to be United States citizens, so I congratulate all of you,” Jackson said during the ceremony.
The event opened with a prayer by Robert Sathuri, while Kathirvel Kumararaja delivered the vote of thanks. Eighteen-year-old Renee Indrupati delivered a youth call to action, sharing her experiences growing up as one of the few Indian American students in her school and creating a Bollywood dance group to help South Asian students feel included and represented.
