The Atlanta Indian Women’s Forum (AIWF), in collaboration with the Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage (GAPI) and other medical and community organizations, hosted the AIWF Mega Health Fair 2026 on July 18 at DeSana Middle School in Alpharetta.
More than 400 people pre-registered for the fair, which brought together more than 60 physicians and healthcare professionals representing a broad range of specialties and provided over 850 physician consultations and screenings. Services included 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.
Georgia State Representatives Michelle Au, representing District 50, and Todd Jones, representing District 25, attended as guests of honor.
The fair combined medical services, health education, and community partnerships.
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.
The forum was founded by Chand Akkineni, Suma Potini, Gita Vemparala, and Jyothsna Hegde. It is built on the belief that empowered women strengthen families and strong families build resilient communities.
In its first few months, the forum organized several community initiatives. Its International Women’s Day conference celebrated accomplished women and focused on personal and professional growth. A Father’s Day program recognized the role of fathers, while a term life insurance awareness campaign encouraged families to prioritize financial preparedness.
AIWF’s plans also include 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.”
Managing a Larger-Than-Expected Turnout
Participation significantly exceeded the organizers’ initial expectations. The team had anticipated approximately 200 pre-registrations, but the number surpassed 400.
To manage the increased demand, organizers used artificial intelligence to match each registrant’s requested medical specialty and selected tests with physicians and service providers who had volunteered for the fair. The system allocated consultation times based on physician availability, helping use doctors’ time effectively while reducing unnecessary waiting for attendees.
AI-assisted scheduling was then used to send each registrant personalized time slots for physician consultations, screenings, and laboratory tests, creating a more organized and coordinated schedule throughout the day.
Physicians Volunteer Their Time and Expertise
A defining feature of the health fair was the participation of physicians who volunteered their time to meet with attendees, listen to their concerns, and offer medical guidance.
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.
Physicians and healthcare professionals who participated but were missing from the group photo included Dr. Shebna Unes Kunju, gynecology/OB-GYN; Dr. Nirmala Bangalore, geriatrics; Dr. Suresh Enjeti, pulmonology; Dimple Kriplani, nurse practitioner in family/internal medicine; Dr. Madhavi Devaraju, family medicine; Dr. Geetha Soodini, endocrinology; Dr. Thulasi, dentistry; Dr. Ramani Gowducheruvu, dentistry; and Dr. Kiran Kamdar, pediatric dentistry.
Through the consultations, attendees could 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 provided by Care Access included Lipoprotein(a), HbA1c, lipid panel, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and estimated glomerular filtration rate testing, along with pTau testing for eligible participants between ages 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 attendees, the services offered reassurance or encouraged follow-up care, further testing, or healthier lifestyle changes.
Medical Seminars Make Expert Knowledge Accessible
The medical seminar program provided attendees with practical health information across several specialties.
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 the increasingly common health condition.
Dr. Padmavathi Pagadala, an 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 were followed by Q&A sessions and 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 and mental wellness consultant and 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
According to 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.
The donations demonstrated how a single act of generosity can contribute to another person’s care.
Community Partnerships Power the Initiative
The event involved 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.
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 organizing team included Chand Akkineni, Suma Potini, Gita Vemparala, Jyothsna Hegde, Sagar Shah, Sonali Kulkarni, Madhavi Kattela, Pavithra Prakash, Neeta Shenvi, Kavita Kalathoor, Sushma Gajakas, Surya Pandiri, and Priti Naik.
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, 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, reflecting the forum’s plans to continue its community health initiatives.
Photography/Video Credits: Reva Rajasekaran