Wayne T. Price , FLORIDA TODAY11:46 a.m. EST November 18, 2016

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Dr. Gobivenkata Balaji, Dr. Aravind Kumar and Glad Kurian are all key leaders of the Brevard Indo-American
Medical and Dental Association. For the last two decade, BIMDA has been force in the local healthcare
community.

(Photo: Craig Bailey, Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY)

 

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How does someone in the financial services industry become so important to the local healthcare community?

He develops a passion for a cause and surrounds himself with the right individuals to make things happen.

That's pretty much the modus operandi of Glad Kurian, a one-time rock-and-roll aficionado and mechanical engineer from India who has helped turned the Brevard Indo-American Medical and Dental Association in the last two decades into a notable presence in the local healthcare community.

On Saturday BIMDA holds its 21st annual gala at The Raddison at the Port in Cape Canaveral. More than 350 people are expected to attend including numerous officials and community leaders like State Attorney Phil Archer and Sean Gregory, chief executive officer of Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center, Brevard's single largest hospital.

BIMDA almost started as a fluke, or at least more of a social gathering.

"After leaving home and coming to America, I was at a loss for a major hobby," said Kurian, a vice president at Morgan Stanley's Melbourne-Suntree office. "BIMDA filled that void. It started off as fun, organizing medical dinners, concerts and get-together dinners. Today we organize medical conferences."

Kurian, a Florida Tech alum, said he attends numerous medical conferences to make sure he's up-to-date on issues affecting hospitals, doctors and health care delivery.

His latest interest is the Florida Hospital Association.

"It's a great group of leaders from various hospitals in Florida and many physicians are slowly rising through the clinical ranks to manage hospitals as chief executive officers, chief medical officers, etc. At my latest experience at FHA last month, I was pleasantly surprised to see many physicians in attendance, many who hold senior positions in hospital leadership."

And, ironically, it doesn't hurt that Kurian is something of a medical outsider so he can see how issues impact everyone - from hospitals, to physicians to patients.

"In healthcare today, reimbursements are down, co-pays have gone up," he said. "There is a whole new system that is taking over how medicine is being practiced and compensated. CMS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is developing an entire new system of payments. Medicine will never be the same again."

That's where BIMDA can play a leading role, said Dr. Aravind Kumar, BIMDA's current president.

"BIMDA has nearly 200 physician members in Brevard County and is growing every year," Kumar said. "BIMDA is so intimately involved in not only educating physicians about the newer advances in medicine by bringing speakers from reputed Universities , but also educating them about the newer regulations that is hitting health care."

And there's the community aspect of the BIMDA.

"Bimda strongly believes in giving back to the community be it through our organisation and or organizing events through our members," Kumar said. "All this makes me proud being a part of BIMDA."

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Sara Paulson , FLORIDA TODAY8:43 a.m. EST March 11, 2016

(Photo: MALCOLM DENEMARK/FLORIDA TODAY)

Harris, Craig and Weatherman to also be honored by Eckerd Kids March 12

Think astronauts and pop stars.

Nope, you might not expect Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Backstreet Boys performer Howard "Howie D" Dorough to be chillin' with Brevard's business and community leaders. But they will be Saturday.

The two will be honored — along with Harris Corp. CEO Bill Brown, Brevard County School Board member John Craig and Space Coast EDC President Lynda Weatherman — at the sixth annual Brevard Walk of Fame. Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon and founder of the Share Space Foundation. Dorough is the founding member of Dorough Lupus Foundation.

The red carpet rollout is set for 6 to 9 p.m. March 12 at the Radisson Resort at the Port. The black-tie gala benefits Eckerd Kids, a nonprofit family service organization that serves Brevard's at-risk youth. It's a chance to shine a spotlight on those who have made helping children in need their passion — and bring a little star power to the celebration.

"Every year we try to up it a little bit," said Stanley Brizz, Eckerd Kids' director of community services.

"We've had names that have been huge," Brizz added, noting Sen. Bill Nelson's honor one year. "This year, we're definitely excited to have so many in one group. Because the more attention that gets for the event, the more it helps the cause and the community partnerships we're trying to inspire."

The whole point of the shindig — to inspire people to be more community-minded and cheer those who are. The five recipients chosen contribute in many ways to the community's betterment — through monetary support as well as the growth of social services in the area and inspiring volunteerism, Brizz said.

A "Children's Hero of the Year" will also be named that night.

 

(Photo: MALCOLM DENEMARK/FLORIDA TODAY)

 

Last year’s event raised money to help re-house 80 homeless families through Eckerd’s Family Support Services program. Besides honoring these local stars and helping that cause again, money will aid services that target preventing child abuse, substance abuse, as well as intervention programs. More than 1,000 children in Brevard are being helped today through the program, Brizz said. The 501 (c) 3 was founded in 1968 and operates in 14 states and the District of Columbia.

George Mikitarian, president and CEO of Parrish Medical Center, said his hospital signed on as a presenting sponsor since the nonprofit's goals are in line with Parrish's.

"They do what we do — go out, find the resources that already exist in the community, and bring people together," Mikitarian said. "Unless our communities are healthy, which translates to unless families are healthy, we don't have a chance of healing the community the way we set out to do."

That stance — which includes fellow lead sponsor Brevard Indian Medical and Dental Association (BIMDA) — makes for "a very symbiotic relationship," he said. "When we are successful, we share it with other people," Mikitarian said. "BIMDA and Parrish see that equation — not just fulfilling the mission and vision, but sharing the lessons learned."

Dr. Ashok Shah, sponsorship chair and BIMDA board member, said the event always impresses. But beyond that, the community needs resources — and Eckerd delivers.

"It'll be a success," he said of the gala.

BIMDA honorary Executive Director Glad Kurian has been a longtime fan of the event, especially organizers' attention to detail.

"Each year I've see the level of execution go higher and higher," Kurian said of the Walk of Fame. "The 'wow' factor. You walk into the room and it's like, 'Holy cow. I thought we were good.' They didn't cut corners."

Contact Paulson at 321-242-3783 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you go

What: Brevard Walk of Fame

When: 6 to 9 p.m. March 12 (5 p.m. is cocktail hour)

Where: Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral

Info: Tickets are $125 per person, with black tie/formal attire. Call 321-253-0032 or visit brevardwalkoffame.com.

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Compliments of Space Coast Living February 2016.
Photo credits Amanda Stratford.

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