Bhubaneswar, July 7 (UDN): Eminent educationist and social reformer Dr. Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT, KIMS and KISS, has been conferred the prestigious AAPI Award 2026 by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to social service, humanitarian initiatives and strengthening India–US relations.
The award was presented during AAPICON 2026, the 44th Annual Convention and Congress of AAPI, held in Tampa, Florida, from July 2 to 5. The honour was bestowed by AAPI President Dr. Amit Chakrabarty in the presence of nearly 3,000 physicians and healthcare professionals from across the United States.
One of the largest and most influential organisations of physicians of Indian origin, AAPI represents more than 120,000 Indian-origin doctors in the United States. The association recognised Dr. Samanta for his visionary leadership in expanding access to education and healthcare, his philanthropic initiatives for underprivileged communities and his continued efforts to strengthen collaboration between India and the United States.
According to the organisers, the award also acknowledged Dr. Samanta’s valuable support to the Global Health Summit 2026 and his sustained commitment to humanitarian causes through institutions such as the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).
Addressing the gathering after receiving the honour, Dr. Samanta urged members of AAPI to contribute to India’s healthcare sector by volunteering their expertise. He appealed to Indian-origin physicians to devote a few days each month to providing medical consultation and healthcare services in India, particularly in underserved regions.
Responding positively to the proposal, AAPI leaders expressed their willingness to encourage member physicians to participate in such initiatives, with many indicating their readiness to spend between one and two weeks annually offering voluntary medical services in India.
The latest recognition adds to Dr. Samanta’s long list of national and international honours and highlights the global impact of his work in education, healthcare, social empowerment and community development.