The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), led by President Dr. Satheesh Kathula, is spearheading a national initiative to promote bone marrow and stem cell donor registration, focusing on increasing the donor pool for South Asians. Recognizing the challenges faced by patients of Indian descent due to limited donor matches, AAPI has partnered with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) to create awareness and enroll more potential donors.
Dr. Sashi Kuppala, Chair of the AAPI Stem Cell Drive, highlighted the importance of HLA typing in matching donors, emphasizing that ethnicity plays a critical role in finding matches. Dr. Sunil Kaza, Chair of AAPI BOT, stressed the life-saving potential of donations, urging participants to make a firm commitment when registering.
Registration is straightforward: interested individuals (aged 18-40) can join the NMDP registry via a QR code, receive a cheek swab kit, and submit it for HLA typing. The donation process, explained by Dr. Raj Bhayani, involves no cost to the donor, with expenses covered by the NMDP.
Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, AAPI President-Elect, underscored the urgency, noting that 70% of patients rely on unrelated donors for survival. This initiative aims to increase the pool of Indian donors, potentially saving many lives.
Since its founding in 1982, AAPI has represented over 125,000 Indian-origin physicians in the U.S., continually advocating for healthcare advancements and strengthening Indo-U.S. relations.
