The intersection of global and American health is coming into sharp focus as two major developments—one in India and the other in the United States—underscore both the progress and persistent challenges facing public health in 2025 and beyond. While the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) prepares for its 19th Annual Global Health Summit (GHS) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, spotlighting India’s most urgent health issues, U.S. health officials are grappling with a dramatic rise in food allergies and chronic diseases linked to diet and environmental changes.
The AAPI summit, scheduled for January 9 to 11, 2026, is set to address a broad spectrum of health concerns ranging from Tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes to the integration of traditional Ayurvedic medicine with contemporary healthcare and the adoption of cutting-edge health technologies. According to a media release cited by India West, the summit’s mission is ambitious: to make quality healthcare affordable and accessible across India, with a special emphasis on underserved and tribal communities.
“Our goal is to strengthen medical collaboration and foster innovation that truly impacts lives,” said Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, President of AAPI and Chairman of the summit. The organization’s commitment to the national TB-Free Tribal India campaign, spearheaded by Dr. Manoj Jain, is a testament to this mission. “Our collaboration aims to accelerate progress toward a TB-free India, especially in tribal communities,” Dr. Jain emphasized.
Diabetes, another major concern in India, will be at the forefront of the summit, with initiatives led by Dr. Smitha Joshi highlighting advances in both management and prevention. Meanwhile, the Ayurveda Consortium, coordinated by Dr. Amit Shah and Dr. Arti Prasad, will delve into the potential synergy between ancient practices and modern medicine. “We believe Ayurveda can complement modern medicine and help address chronic diseases more holistically,” remarked Dr. Shah.
Innovation is more than just a buzzword at this year’s summit. Sessions will shine a light on the transformative role of artificial intelligence and digital health tools in revolutionizing diagnostics and patient care. “Technology is transforming healthcare delivery, enabling us to reach more patients, faster and more effectively,” stated Dr. Santosh Kumar Dora. The program will also cover topics such as new medical advancements, Continuing Medical Education (CME), Evidence-Based Learning (ELS), research methodology, and scientific writing.
But the summit isn’t stopping at clinical medicine. Looking ahead, the 2026 event will expand its scope to tackle chronic disease prevention, rural health disparities, the effects of climate change, and other pressing global health concerns. The CEO Forum will confront issues like healthcare equity, ethics, and physician burnout, while the Women’s Forum will focus on gender bias and leadership challenges in medicine. “We are committed to addressing not just diseases, but the systemic challenges that impact health outcomes,” affirmed Dr. Meher Medavaram, President-Elect of AAPI.
Special sessions are planned to address mental health, childhood obesity, non-communicable disease prevention, and community CPR training—reflecting AAPI’s holistic approach to public health. The summit will also showcase the Collaboration to Eliminate TB in India (CETI), supported by the CDC and USAID, sharing updates on TB elimination strategies and future engagement.
Global collaboration remains a cornerstone, with alumni networking, strategic partnerships with Indian institutions, and recognition of outstanding achievements through the AAPI awards. With hundreds of U.S. and international physicians expected to participate, new alliances and projects are anticipated to emerge from the summit. Community outreach will be integral, featuring public health education, preventive screenings, and awareness campaigns, particularly targeting underserved rural and tribal populations. “Improving health outcomes requires engaging communities directly,” Dr. Arti Prasad noted, underscoring AAPI’s ongoing commitment to social responsibility.
While India’s medical community rallies to address communicable and non-communicable diseases, the United States faces a different, but equally urgent, set of public health challenges. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of food allergies in the U.S. has skyrocketed by 50% since the 1990s, making it a serious public health concern as of 2023. Peanut allergies, in particular, have become especially prevalent—a trend highlighted by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a recent Food Allergy Fund Forum.
“I had 11 siblings and around 70 first cousins and I didn’t know anyone in my school....I went to a bunch of different schools, camps...I had never heard of anybody with a peanut allergy,” Kennedy remarked, reflecting on the dramatic change within a single generation. He also revealed that five of his seven children have allergies and announced a new initiative to more thoroughly study the causes and solutions for food allergies.
Experts point to the American diet and the microbiome—the vast array of microorganisms in our environment and gut—as possible contributors to this alarming trend. “We’re not treating the microbiome with respect; it may be because we don’t understand it,” said Dr. Marty Makary, the FDA Commissioner. He described the microbiome as “the frontier of health,” and cited research from Harvard Medical School suggesting that certain microbes may be deficient in people with food allergies. Dr. Makary also noted, “If you go to Fairfax County School District (in Virginia), you’ll notice that the occurrence of peanut allergies is extremely high, but not among the international students, not among students from families that recently immigrated to the United States.”
The Trump Administration has turned its attention to food dyes and, more pointedly, to ultra-processed foods. A recent study published in JAMA Oncology found that those with the highest intake of ultra-processed foods had a 45% higher risk of developing cancerous growths by age 50. These foods have also been linked to increased risks of diabetes, particularly in poor and rural areas. “We’re giving the poorest Americans diabetes from when they’re little and we’re paying for the diabetes through Medicaid, so it makes no sense,” Kennedy argued.
In response, several states—including West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah—have signed waivers that, starting in 2026, will ban SNAP benefits from being used to purchase soda, candy, and other junk food. Top Trump Administration officials hope all 50 states will eventually sign on to this program, aiming to curb the chronic disease burden linked to poor diet.
While the health crises in India and the U.S. differ in their specifics, both underscore the need for comprehensive, collaborative approaches that address not only the diseases themselves but also the broader social, economic, and environmental factors that shape health outcomes. Whether it’s leveraging technology and traditional knowledge in India or tackling the root causes of food allergies and chronic disease in America, the challenges are daunting—but the resolve to meet them is unmistakable.
As the world’s health leaders gather in Bhubaneswar and policymakers in Washington push for reforms, the hope is that innovative solutions and global partnerships will lead to healthier futures for all.
