Dr KK Aggarwal, current National President, IMA, handed over the baton at a ceremony held in Mumbai
New Delhi, December 31, 2017: Dr Ravi Wankhedkar was sworn in as the 89th National IMA President at a ceremony held on 28th December at 4 pm at hotel THE LALIT, Andheri East, Mumbai. Dr Wankhedkar will take up the reins of the National IMA office for a year hereafter. IMA is the largest association working for doctors practicing modern medicine. Dr Wankhedkar will assume the responsibility of the presidentship of this association representing 3 lakh doctors.
Dr Wankhedkar is a leader par excellence and has assumed a prime role in many activities of the IMA in Dhule, Maharashtra. As the National President of IMA, he aims at a healthy profession for a healthy nation. He plans to direct all activities of IMA to protect and benefit the members so as to bring back the prestige and glory of the medical profession.
Speaking about this, Dr Ravi Wankhedkar, National President IMA, said, “It is indeed a privilege and an honor for me to assume this extremely responsible and challenging position. I am thankful for the huge support received in electing me into office as the National President, IMA for the year 2017/18. Dr KK Aggarwal leaves behind a legacy and has been instrumental in bringing about many positive changes and policies in the IMA. My priority areas would be to strengthen our organization and make it the sole voice of the entire fraternity on health policies of India. I will also work towards highlighting the good work of our fraternity, branding of IMA, and converting our issues into public health issues. Although there are many challenges, I am sure of standing the test of commitment and responsibility. I will continue to strive to maintain the tenets the IMA stands by.”
Due to his relentless efforts towards making IMA stronger, Dr Wankhedkar was chosen unopposed as the Presidential Candidate for IMA for the year 2017/18.
Handing over the term, Dr KK Aggarwal, Immediate Past President, IMA, said, “Today marks the culmination of my time in office in the IMA. I am overwhelmed emotionally as I prepare to relinquish charge to the incoming President, my friend Ravi. I am grateful to the Almighty for having had the privilege and the honor to lead and serve the IMA. These years have been a period of self-learning and I now pass on the baton to Dr Wankhedkar.I congratulate and wish him all the best in fulfilling his responsibilities.”
Welcoming Dr Wankhedkar, Dr R N Tandon, Secretary General, IMA, said, “Dr Wankhedkar is not only a renowned surgeon but also a very versatile person. Although he hails from a humble background, his innate attributes like honesty, determination, perseverance, and diligence are commendable. I welcome him into the IMA and am sure he will be an asset to the working and policies of the Association.”
Dr Ravi Wankhedkar is a Consulting Surgeon and Coloproctologist. He completed his schooling from Canossa Convent, Dhule and MBBS & MS (General Surgery) from the renowned BJ Medical College, Pune. Dr Wankhedkar was sure of the district of Dhule as his area of work even before starting college, having witnessed poverty and other related health problems in the district.
Since 2003, Dr Wankhedkar started taking a proactive role in the initiatives at IMA Dhule. He was instrumental in IMA Dhule’s proactive participation in providing physical and monetary aid to the victims of Gujarat and Nepal Earthquake, Kashmir Floods, and to the families of martyrs. It was his idea to start ‘UbhariAbhiyan’, a helping hand from IMA Dhule to the farmers affected by drought and hailstorm. He is also the Founder Coordinator of Mission Pink Health, an ongoing community health project for Adolescent Tribal Girls. More than 25,000 girls have benefitted from this mission thus far. Dr Wankhedkar started the ‘SHET SHIVAR DAVAKHANA’, a free clinic at his farm for poor farm workers and labourers.