THE KERALA CENTER – AWARDS 2021

Dr. George M. Abraham –Medicine and Professional Services

Dr. George M. Abraham is the President of the American College of Physicians (the largest internal medicine organization in the world with 161,000 members in 145 countries). He is a Professor of Medicine at the Univ. Mass Medical School, Chief of Medicine at St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, MA and Adjunct Professor at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease; he is the Immediate-Past Chair of the Infectious Disease Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He has received several awards, AOA Volunteer Faculty Award and the Outstanding Primary Care Educator Award of UMass Medical School, the Phi Lambda Sigma honorary membership, MCPHS and most recently the John H. Clarke Outstanding Leadership Award (national) from the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB).  His research interests include hepatitis C and B disease, travel medicine and infection control, as well as medication safety and systems improvement. He has authored over 100 publications, abstracts and book chapters, and is an invited speaker at national and international meetings.  A graduate of Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, India, Dr. Abraham completed his residency and chief residency at Saint Vincent Hospital and received his master’s degree in public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Mayor Robin Elackatt –Political Leadership

Mayor Robin J. Elackatt was sworn in as the 12th Mayor of City of Missouri City, Texas in December 2020. Holding MBA and MHA degrees, he served as the Healthcare Administrator of one of the largest Healthcare systems in Houston for over 24 years and have won the 2012 Healthcare Executive of the year award. Mayor Elackatt public services started by serving on the city’s Parks & Recreation Board from 2007 – 2009 and as (District C) Council member from 2009-2015. After taking over as the Mayor, he signed the 2nd biggest deal with Amazon for building a 1.9 million square foot facility in Missouri City which is the largest in the Southwest region of the USA and was opened in September 2021. In August of 2021, during his first State of The City address, he announced a $600 million town center in Missouri City, Texas. Another major achievement was to put in term limits for elected officials in Missouri City. He has been on the front cover of Houston Chronicle as the “People’s Mayor.” 

Dr. Devi Nampiaparampil –Public Service

Dr. Devi Nampiaparampil is the Republican nominee for NYC Public Advocate. Dr. Devi is a pain physician and scientist, a small business owner, and a union member. She is a SAG-AFTRA member who played a doctor on General Hospital before becoming a doctor in real life. Dr. Devi did her residency and fellowship training at Harvard Medical School and is currently an Associate Professor at NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Devi spent several years at the Veterans Affairs Hospitals treating combat veterans returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Landstuhl. She has treated patients throughout the COVID pandemic– even at the height of it. Dr. Devi also holds a Masters in Journalism from Columbia University, and has been a medical news contributor for Fox 5 New York and done hundreds of on-air interviews for Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and other national networks. 

Chandrika Kurup –Performing Arts

Chandrika Kurup, the director of Noopura Indian Classical dance school started her dance career under the guidance of late Kalamandalam Kalyanikutti Amma, a pioneer in Mohiniyattam. Later she was introduced to other dance styles like Bharatanattyam, Kuchipuddi and Odissi. Ever since starting her school in New York in 1989, she has continued to teach these various forms of Indian Classical dance thereby passing along our rich, unique and valuable art, culture and history to our youngsters and has trained more than 2000 students by now.

Mary Philip, RN, MSA, CNOR –Nursing and Community Service

Mrs. Philip’s nursing career spans over 30 years.  It began as a nurse in the Indian Defense Force.  During her time there, she reached the rank of Lieutenant.  Since then she has held several different positions in the nursing field, including at the clinical, educational, and administrative levels.  In addition to being an asset to the field of nursing, she has used her skills to assist fellow nurses in the Indian community.   As a past President of the Indian Nurses Association of NY, she helped our nurses with various educational and professional opportunities, including scholarships and academic financial support to nursing students in India.  Mrs. Philip has contributed her skills to serve not only the Malayalee community, but also the local and national community at large by working as an executive member of several local and national associations.

Nandini Nair – Legal Services

Nandini P. Nair is a partner and co-chair of the Immigration and Naturalization practice group and serves on the Management Committee at Greenspoon Marder LLP. Ms. Nair focuses her practice on the analysis and processing of U.S. visas, employment-based and family-based applications, naturalization applications and other immigration benefits. She is regularly called upon to speak on immigration issues, and has been quoted in various publications including the New York Times, CNN, and Bloomberg Law, among many others. Additionally, Ms. Nair was featured on TV Asia’s weekly series, “Bridge to Immigration”, which she co-wrote, and is ranked among the “Top Lawyers in New Jersey Immigration” by Chambers & Partners.

Dr. Sabu Varghese and Dr. Blessy Mary Joseph – Special Award for Notable services during the Pandemic in 2020 and 2021

Dr. Sabu Varghese, MD, is a graduate of a medical school under Kerala university. He did residency at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Currently, he is teaching and attending at Brookdale University Hospital and is doing his private practice at Wholesome Medical PC (former Queens Nassau Cardiology). He has affiliations with Northwell Systems and Catholic Hospital Systems. During the Pandemic, Dr. Varghese went out of his way to treat his patients.

Dr. Blessy Mary Joseph, MD, is a graduate of Manipal University Medical School. She did residency at Brookdale University Medical Center and is currently doing private practice at Wholesome Medical PC (former Queens Nassau Cardiology). She has affiliations with Northwell Systems and Catholic Hospital Systems. During the Pandemic, Dr. Blessy Joseph went out of her way to treat her patients.