BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
What began as a shared vision among a small group of individuals grew into a day of healing, education and service for hundreds of families.
The Atlanta Indian Women’s Forum, in collaboration with GAPI and leading medical and community organizations, hosted the AIWF Mega Health Fair 2026 on July 18 at DeSana Middle School in Alpharetta. The daylong initiative brought together more than 60 physicians and healthcare professionals representing a broad range of specialties.
With more than 400 pre-registrations and over 850 physician consultations and screenings, the fair brought together more than 60 physicians representing a wide range of specialties, free screenings, basic and advanced laboratory tests at free and subsidized rates, medical seminars, a panel discussion, nutrition and fitness activities, Ayurveda and homeopathy consultations, and a blood donation drive conducted by LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.
The event was presented in collaboration with medical organizations including the Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage, Association of Kerala Medical Graduates, Georgia Kannada Doctors Association and Mosaic Health Center.
Photo credit: Reva Rajasekaran
Georgia State Representatives Michelle Au, representing District 50, and Todd Jones, representing District 25, attended as guests of honor.
More than a collection of medical services, the fair demonstrated what becomes possible when leadership, compassion and community partnership come together with a shared commitment to serve.
A Forum Rooted in Empowerment, Leadership and Sisterhood
Officially formed in March 2026, the Atlanta Indian Women’s Forum provides a safe, inclusive space where women can connect, collaborate and thrive. Guided by the pillars of Empowerment, Leadership and Sisterhood, AIWF equips women with knowledge and resources, creates opportunities for meaningful leadership and fosters supportive relationships across diverse backgrounds.
Founded by Chand Akkineni, Suma Potini, Gita Vemparala and Jyothsna Hegde, AIWF is built on the belief that empowered women strengthen families and strong families build resilient communities.
In just a few months, the forum has established a growing record of service. Its International Women’s Day conference celebrated accomplished women and inspired personal and professional growth. A Father’s Day program recognized the vital role of fathers, while a term life insurance awareness campaign encouraged families to prioritize financial preparedness.
AIWF’s vision also includes expanding access to healthcare through regular community clinics. The Mega Health Fair marked the first major step toward that goal, connecting residents with physicians, screenings, diagnostic services, health education and wellness resources.
In keeping with AIWF’s commitment to responsible and community-centered service, Malini Devi helped make the Mega Health Fair a more sustainable event through her initiative.
“The Mega Health Fair is not the culmination of our journey, but the beginning of a sustained commitment to community wellness,” the co-founders said. “We hope to build on this momentum through regular health clinics, educational initiatives and programs that make reliable healthcare resources more accessible.”
How did the team manage the huge turnout?
The scale of participation significantly exceeded the organizers’ initial expectations. While the team had anticipated approximately 200 pre-registrations, the number quickly surpassed 400. To manage the increased demand efficiently, the organizers used artificial intelligence to match each registrant’s requested medical specialty and selected tests with the physicians and service providers who had volunteered for the fair. The system helped allocate consultation times based on physician availability, ensuring that doctors’ time was used effectively while reducing unnecessary waiting for attendees. AI-assisted scheduling was then used to send each registrant personalized time slots for their physician consultations, screenings and laboratory tests, helping create a more organized and coordinated experience throughout the day.
Physicians volunteer their time and expertise
A defining feature of the health fair was the participation of physicians who generously volunteered their time to meet with attendees, listen to their concerns and offer medical guidance.
The participating physicians represented family and internal medicine, cardiology, gastroenterology, oncology, psychiatry, endocrinology, ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynecology, nephrology, pulmonology, dermatology, anesthesiology, dentistry, pediatric dentistry, otolaryngology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthopedics, neurology, rehabilitation medicine and other specialties.
Volunteering physicians and specialties
Physicians missing in the photo: Dr. Shebna Unes Kunju — Gynecology/OB-GYN, Dr. Nirmala Bangalore — Geriatrics, Dr. Suresh Enjeti — Pulmonology, Dimple Kriplani — Nurse Practitioner, Family/Internal Medicine, Dr. Madhavi Devaraju — Family Medicine, Dr. Geetha Soodini — Endocrinology, Dr. Thulasi — Dentistry, Dr. Ramani Gowducheruvu — Dentistry, Dr. Kiran Kamdar — Pediatric Dentistry.
Through these consultations, attendees had an opportunity to discuss health concerns, ask questions and receive guidance about appropriate follow-up care. Although the consultations were not intended to replace a complete medical examination or an ongoing relationship with a primary-care physician, they offered an accessible first step for individuals seeking direction.
Preventive screenings and affordable laboratory testing
The fair provided free and subsidized health screenings and laboratory services, with basic laboratory testing offered for approximately $15 by TestGo and iHealth.
Free Tests and screenings by Care Access at the event included screening for Lipoprotein(a), HbA1c, lipid panel, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and estimated glomerular filtration rate, along with pTau testing for eligible participants between the ages of 55 and 75.
Vision, dental and other specialty services further expanded the range of care available.
The fair focused on early awareness, professional guidance and informed healthcare decisions. For many, it offered reassurance or encouraged follow-up care, further testing or healthier lifestyle changes.
Medical seminars make expert knowledge accessible
The fair’s medical seminar program transformed professional expertise into practical information that attendees could understand and use.
Medical oncologist Dr. Jayanthi Srinivasaiah, also known as Dr. Jay, of Georgia Cancer Specialists presented “Cancer Risk Among Indians,” drawing attention to cancer awareness and prevention within the Indian community.
Psychiatrist Dr. Ritu Chaddha spoke about adult mental health, addressing emotional well-being, stress and the importance of recognizing when professional support may be needed.
Dr. Nalini Saligram, founder and CEO of Arogya World, led a session on diabetes, emphasizing prevention, healthy living and the importance of everyday lifestyle choices.
Dr. Ravi Vora presented “Fatty Liver Disease Demystified,” helping attendees understand the causes, risks and management of an increasingly common health condition.
Dr. Padmavathi Pagadala, OB-GYN, addressed general women’s health issues.
Dr. Laxmi Naik , Board Certified in Obesity Medicine, AIHM, IFM, and emergency medicine discussed obesity, weight loss and menopause.
Endocrinologist Dr. Rachna Relwani presented “Beyond Cholesterol,” focusing on endocrine, metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors that may not always be reflected by cholesterol numbers alone.
Dr. Medha Pradhan presented a session on pain management, offering information about the evaluation and treatment of persistent pain.
The presentations followed by Q&A encouraged attendees to view health education as a form of prevention. Understanding risk factors, recognizing symptoms and knowing when to seek care can help individuals take a more active role in their health.
Raising resilient children in a changing world
One of the central educational programs was a panel discussion titled “Raising Resilient Children in a Chaotic World.”
Moderated by journalist and AIWF co-founder Jyothsna Hegde, the panel featured Dr. Deepti Talluri, Behavioral & Mental Wellness Consultant Healthcare Administrator; Dr. Hetal Patel, LPC, CPCS, MAC and CPRP and child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Nirupama Natarajan.
The discussion explored the emotional and psychological pressures facing children and teenagers, including anxiety, social media, cyberbullying, academic expectations and changing family dynamics.
Panelists discussed how parents can distinguish normal developmental behavior from signs that a child may be genuinely struggling. They also addressed the importance of emotionally safe homes, open communication, healthy boundaries, resilience-building and timely professional intervention.
Nutrition, movement and wellness
The wellness program featured “Yoga: A Path to Wellness” by Murali Mohan Gunashekaran, “Breathing into Calm: The Art of Pranayama and Meditation” by Usharani Puranam, “Nourish to Flourish: Foods That Power Your Everyday Life” by Priti Subramanian, and “The Role of Nutrition in Adult Obesity and Diabetes” by Dr. Swati Zaveri. Ekta Madan presented “From Pain to Purpose: A Wellness Journey” and offered gut-health consultations, while Priti Subramanian provided weight-management consultations.
The program also included sessions on neck and shoulder pain by Dr. Ram Shahani, back pain and posture by Navalatha Vemuluri, hand arthritis management by Ruchika Bawa, physiotherapy by Meenu, and “From Surgery to Strength: Massage Therapy for Recovery” by Karishma Virani. Ayurveda consultations were offered by Dr. Rupali Biradar, and homeopathy consultations by Dr. Hemalatha Kandimalla.
Blood donations could help as many as 41 patients
Per results provided by LifeSouth, 31 potential donors registered. Eighteen were deferred because of time constraints, travel restrictions or hemoglobin levels.
The drive collected 12 units of whole blood and one unit of double red cells.
Once processed by LifeSouth’s components team, the donations were expected to be distributed to local hospitals and could support as many as 41 patients in need.
“This is an amazing contribution, and you should be very proud of your community!”, LifeSouth said in appreciation.
These donations were a reminder that a single act of generosity can become part of another person’s healing.
Community partnerships power the initiative
An event of this scale reflected extensive cooperation among medical associations, healthcare organizations, laboratories, sponsors, supporting organizations, speakers, vendors and volunteers.
The medical organizations involved included the Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage, Association of Kerala Medical Graduates, Georgia Kannada Doctors Association and Mosaic Health Center.
Supporting organizations included UPNAA, Hanuman Mandir and KHGA, and Divyang Network.
AIWF also expressed its appreciation to the event sponsors: Care Access, Sumana Moole, Atlanta Retailers Association, Shree Guru, Lexan AI, TestGo, MAA, Charminar, Seva and AbToday. The team also thanked Dr. Gulshan Harjee, Dr. Indira Menon, Dr. Anu Bhat and Prakash Srivastava for their support.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the participating laboratories, healthcare organizations, sponsors, supporting organizations, speakers, vendors, volunteers and every member of the organizing team,” the co-founders said. “So many people worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the event possible, and we are deeply grateful to each one of them.”
The co-founders also thanked attendees for participating and for taking advantage of the physician consultations, health screenings, medical seminars, nutrition and fitness activities, and wellness resources offered throughout the day.
“An initiative of this scale is possible only when people and organizations come together with a shared commitment to service,” they said. “Every physician who volunteered, every speaker who shared knowledge, every sponsor who offered support and every volunteer who gave time helped transform a vision into a valuable community resource.”
When leadership becomes service
“The Mega Health Fair demonstrated what can be accomplished when people come together across professions, organizations and backgrounds,” the AIWF co-founders said. “When leadership is rooted in compassion and service, its impact extends far beyond the individual. It strengthens and heals the entire community.”
For AIWF, the Mega Health Fair was both a milestone and a beginning—a visible expression of what inclusive leadership, collaboration and service can accomplish, and a promise that the work of community care will continue.
