ABOUT
Our History
1977
ΑΑΟΙ
The American Association of Otolaryngologists from India (AAOI) was founded by Dr. Hemendra Narain Bhatnagar in Waterville, Maine in 1977. Dr. Hemendra Narain Bhatnagar served as Secretary and Treasurer from 1977 to 1994. AAOI was established to bring together Otolaryngologists of Indian Heritage practicing in the United States and Canada for Scientific, educational, social, cultural, and charitable purposes and to promote understanding and cooperation between AAOI and other Otolaryngology societies in the USA and Abroad
Dr. Yash Pal Kapur, a distinguished Chairman and Professor in the Dept. of Otolaryngology at Michigan State University played a pivotal role in the early years of AAOI. Serving as the President from 1977 to 1994, Dr. Kapur was instrumental in organizing various courses in India in collaboration with Michigan State University, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, the Association of Otolaryngologists of India, the Medical Council of India, and AIIMS of New Delhi, India. His efforts extended beyond AAOI, as he contributed significantly to the ‘Hearing International’ organization.
1994
AAOIH
Dr. Hemendra Bhatnagar served as President of AAOIH from 1994–1998. Dr. Dinesh Mehta served as Secretary and treasurer from 1994–1999 and President from 2000-2003. In 1994, to broaden the scope of AAOI, the name and Bylaws of the organization were amended to AAOIH, “American Association of Otolaryngologists of Indian Heritage.”
2015
AOIH Inc
In 2015 Dr. Dinesh Mehta, under the Presidency of Dr. Satish Govindaraj and with the approval by the Governing Board of AAOIH, registered this organization in New York State with the Attorney General’s Office as a new entity titled American Otolaryngologists of Indian Heritage Inc. (AOIH Inc.) Under the direction of the Initial Board of Directors of AOIH Inc., a new set of By-Laws was formed by NY State Corporate Lawyers (Accumera LLC). A copy of the By-Laws and the application for registration to the Attorney General’s Office were submitted. AOIH Inc was later registered with the IRS Office as a 501 (c) 3 Not-for-Profit Tax-exempt charity organization. Dr. Dinesh Mehta served as Treasurer and Executive Director of AOIH Inc. from 2013 to 2017 while transferring Treasury from AAOIH to AOIH Inc.