Dr. Satheesh Kathula, immediate past president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), has been recognized as a Champion of Hope, Person of Inspiration by Premier Health Partners in Ohio. Dr. Kathula was chosen for the award along with several community leaders, for his contributions to the country, particularly in the field of healthcare, and his dedication to his patients and the broader community.
Dr. Kathula has dedicated over 23 years to serving as an oncologist, providing compassionate care to cancer patients and advancing the field of oncology. A graduate of the Global Healthcare Leaders Program at Harvard University, he has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the U.S. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. In December 2024, he was honored with the Inspirational Award given by Raising Awareness of Youth with Autism (RAYWA) Foundation during a glittering Inspirational Award Gala at New York’s iconic Pierre Hotel by Taj Hotel. And, in May this year, he was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award by The Indo-American Press Club.
Dr. Kathula, a board-certified hematologist and oncologist from Dayton, Ohio, practicing Medicine for over two decades, in his response after receiving the award, said, “I am truly humbled to receive this Honor alongside several other remarkable individuals. This really inspires not only me, but the people who are actually serving the community and society at large. Inspiration is the spark that ignites our potential and drives us to do more, to be more. It comes from many sources—nature, people, art, even from small things- but its power is immense.”
Dr. Kathula has dedicated his career to treating patients and actively supporting various nonprofit organizations. Dr. Kathula has served AAPI in various capacities. He was the Regional Director, a member of the Board of Trustees. He was elected overwhelmingly by AAPI members as the national Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice President of AAPI, and has served as the President-Elect of AAPI during the year 2023-34, prior to assuming charge as the President of AAPI in July 2024.
He strongly believes acquiring new knowledge is crucial for professionals, especially physicians with a changing healthcare environment. Recently, Dr. Kathula acquired a certificate from Stanford University in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. He graduated in May 2024 from Harvard University completing a “Global Healthcare Leaders Program.”
Dr. Kathula was the President and founding member of the Association of Indian Physicians from Ohio, President of the Miami Valley Association of Physicians of Indian Origin as well as the President of the ATMGUSA (Association of Telugu Medical Graduates in USA). In addition, he has worked with the Ohio State Medical Association on various issues.
He has been actively involved in community service locally, nationally, and internationally for the last two decades. He was awarded ‘Man of the Year – 2018’ by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Among many others, Dr. Kathula has initiated a bone marrow drive, as the donor pool among South Asians is very limited, Dr. Kathula said. “So, we are trying to recruit potential donors in the stem cell or bone marrow transplant donations. Because people are getting affected by lymphomas and leukemias, and they need transplants. Since they do not get the matched donors in this country, we are trying to increase that pool.”
Under his leadership, AAPI launched a program called “Million Miles of Gratitude,” to honor veterans by promoting physical activity. Participants can log their walking or running miles, with each mile serving as a tribute to the veterans. The goal is to collectively reach a million miles in the coming year. Dr Kathula’s love for his motherland has manifested in him setting up humanitarian and medical projects in India. The most important of them is establishing a state-of-the-art pharmacy college in Warangal in Telangana, where he grew up.
Named Pathfinder Institute of Pharmacy and Educational Research (PIPER), the non-profit with Dr Kathula as the Chairman provides quality education and has already graduated over 1,000 students who are now working in different parts of India and abroad. He conducted several medical camps close to his native place and donated a defibrillator, water purification plant, and library to his native place.
Dr. Kathula, who graduated from Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India in 1992 is a clinical professor of medicine at Wright State University-Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Kathula is a Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. He has authored several papers and articles in medical journals and is in the process of writing a book, describing his journey as an immigrant physician.
“For the past 23 years, I’ve been proudly serving as a Hematologist and Oncologist in the Dayton community, considering it my home.” This latest honor reflects Dr. Kathula’s lifelong commitment to patient care, medical leadership, and community service.
