Tim Shortt

June 21, 2025, 9:16 a.m. ET
Story By Florida Today: Link to photos

Students Matthew Garden, Madison McGrory and Suhina Mitra are pictured with Kamryn Young, associate executive director of the Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS), at a CHS Redefining Legacy fundraiser, hosted by the Mitra family in Indian Harbour Beach on June 19.

Among the highlights of the evening was honoring Suhina Mitra, a recent West Shore Jr./Sr. High School grad whose leadership as the first CHS Youth Ambassador for the state has helped students at Endeavour Elementary, a community partnership school in Cocoa, and aided in raising more than $30,000 for various CHS programs in Brevard. The CHS helps uplift children and families from cradle to career, from Early Head Start to behavioral health services to placement in the workforce.

Story Courtesy of:  TIM SHORTT/ FLORIDA TODAY

House of Representatives

recognizes SUHINA MITRA

Below picture of the Suhina Mitra, 2025 West Shore Jr./Sr. High School graduate and CHS Youth Ambassador for the state

Florida Today honors Dr. Mukesh Aggarwal ...

Merritt Island doctor and philanthropist who brought pioneering eye surgery to Brevard dies

Pioneering Merritt Island ophthalmologist and charitable organizer who provided free eye surgeries across the globe, dies

By J.D. Gallop @ Florida Today

The Merritt Island ophthalmologist and philanthropist who first brought the pioneering LASIK eye surgery to Brevard four decades ago and helped form the Brevard Indo-American Medical and Dental Association died last week. He was 75.

Dr. Mukesh Aggarwal took on the role of representing the interests of first-generation Indian-American and immigrant physicians and doctors in Brevard. He founded the Eye Clinic and Laser Institute in 1980, bringing the then-revolutionary LASIK technique to the Space Coast, helping countless residents improve their vision.

Aggarwal was born in the Punjab region of India. He trained to be a physician and arrived in the U.S. in 1974. He also traveled the world, from India to Central America, taking his expertise to villages where eyecare was largely unavailable.

"He just always wanted to help people. It made him happy. He was a very positive person," said Dr. Rajee Paul, a family physician who married Aggarwal 15 years ago.

Through those travels, Aggarwal provided thousands of free cataract surgeries across the globe to help restore sight to the blind.

“That was his passion,” said Glad Kurian, a longtime friend. “Dr. Mukesh Aggarwal was the single most impactful leader in the local Indian-American community since 1980.  His greatest passion was Charity Medical Missions in underserved parts of the world.  He performed thousands of cataract surgeries, giving sight to the blind and hope to the abandoned.”

Aggarwal also was the founding president of The Indian Association of the Space Coast in 1991. He also was instrumental in forming the Brevard Indo-American Medical and Dental Association, an all-volunteer organization made up of more than 180 dentists and physicians that provides cultural and philanthropic events helping the homeless population and others in need. The group would later be recognized by FLORIDA TODAY as Organization of the Year for its work helping others.

A memorial celebration of life for Aggarwal will take place Saturday beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Ammen Funeral Home, 1001 Hickory St., Melbourne. A funeral repast luncheon will be held from 12:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Brevard Hindu Mandir, 1517 Avenida del Rio, Melbourne.

Family members request that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Brevard Association for the Advancement of the Blind.

“Dr. Aggarwal leaves a lasting legacy of service to the community,” Kurian said. “He was a great eye surgeon, leadership role model and dear friend who will be greatly missed.”

J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Or X, formerly known as Twitter: @JDGallop.

Dear AAPI Member,
 
I would like to start by thanking all of you for your good wishes and prayers during my near-death experience with Covid last year. I have kissed death and been given a second chance.

The pain and suffering I have gone through gave me a new perspective and appreciation of life and renewed my belief in service and giving back to the community. When I first regained consciousness, my thoughts were about my family and  AAPI.

At this time, I have completely recovered and I have all the energy, resources and strength to fulfill my obligations if elected as Vice President of AAPI.

I believe in servant leadership comprising of empathy, compassion and emotional intelligence. My motto has always been to engage and  bring to the forefront the other highly talented members and experts in our organization.

Since the time I have been a part of AAPI I have worked hard regardless of whether I have held any position or not. As treasurer of AAPI, Regional director, and Women’s forum Chair I have always tried to bring new ideas on the table and execute them. My work ethics and service in the past should speak for itself. I therefore humbly appeal to you to consider these factors and review the candidates based on actions instead of mere words.

It would mean a lot to me if you can vote and support me during this election as the Vice President of AAPI and as in the past I will give my heart and soul to the organization to make it stand out nationally and internationally.

Dr. Anjana Samadder

Visit Our Website

 Please consider offering your support for Dr. Anjana Samadder

https://www.orlandomedicalnews.com/article/4199/moving-on

Reposted January 2021 by Orlando Medical News, Original print date: September 1, 2011

Moving On

Satisfied with CAPI’s growth,
Glad Kurian pursues other
professional interests

By Lynne Jeter

At the Central Florida Association of Physicians from the Indian Subcontinent (CAPI) Leadership Development Seminar in Orlando on March 3, retiring honorary executive director Glad Kurian was honored for his work growing the chapter from conception to a thriving organization of some 500 members, while also connecting CAPI chapters statewide and nationwide.   

“Gladwyn Kurian has been associated with CAPI for over 15 years. CAPI appreciates his work and efforts and wishes him the best in his future endeavors,” said 2012 CAPI president Nikita Shah, MD.

Among the many community outreach projects Kurian initiated in his role with Orlando’s CAPI, the group has been hosting health fairs at Indian temples around the metro area for the last several years. Open to the public, the health fairs are held every April and September and provide valuable, affordable services to the uninsured and underinsured population.  

Kurian began his career as honorary communications director with Doctors of South Asia (DOSA) in the late 1990s. Based on his talent for organizing events and facilitating communications between physician members, he was quickly tapped to lead the predecessor organization of CAPI as its inaugural executive director.  

Through the years, Kurian’s marketing expertise and networking capability made DOSA/CAPI a household name with Indian physicians statewide. From 1999 to 2003, he was instrumental in networking similar groups in Florida in preparation for the national AAPI convention that was hosted by Orlando's DOSA and other state groups.   

Kurian’s work has had a significant impact in every corner of Florida. With AAPI leader Kiran Patel, MD, and Mahesh Soni, MD, of Melbourne, the three toured various cities, bringing cohesiveness to physician groups. Eventually, Kurian served as honorary executive director for five of the state's six AAPI chapters, connecting Jacksonville, Orlando, Melbourne, Fort Lauderdale, Port St. Lucie and the Tampa Bay area.

When asked about his retirement from CAPI, Kurian said he simply needed to scale back.

“Every group has become self-sufficient and strong in its leadership ranks,” he said. “While I’m retiring from several non-profit associations, I’m also being invited to join new groups in diverse fields.”

Kurian serves on the Brevard Symphony Orchestra Board, the audit committee for Brevard Schools Foundation, honorary executive director for BIMDA (www.bimda.com) in Melbourne and TIPS (www.tipsfl.com) in Port St. Lucie.

“I continue to volunteer my time as needed,” he said. “I’ll always be available for CAPI and any other physician association as needed. Now I want to just kick back and enjoy being a regular member.”

A few prominent leaders who have watched Kurian’s activities over the years discussed his spirit of volunteerism.

“Glad Kurian is an unselfish, dedicated worker,” said the late Akshay Desai, MD, MPH, a prominent medical leader in Florida, and CEO of St. Petersburg-based Universal Health Care Group Inc., parent company of Universal Health Care Inc. “I admire his strong commitment to the Indian American community throughout the years.”  

Florida Board of Medicine Chairman George Thomas, MD, FACC, said Kurian has a commendable record of service to the Indian American Medical community in Florida.

“From what I’ve seen, the passion and diligence he brings to everything he does is most inspiring and refreshing,” said Thomas. “His interest and involvement in the community as a volunteer is a model for others; he has done a remarkable job.”