Eighth annual BIMDA Medical Expo set for Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place — the event features continuing–education units for doctors,medical lectures, and exhibits; BIMDA gaining clout in community

BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth BIMDA will host its Medical Expo and Symposium April 10. Dr. Jashbhai Patel, right, of MIMA is president of BIMDA. Glad Kurian, center, of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Orlando is the honorary executive director of the nonprofit organization and Dr. Bhasker Patel, left, of MIMA is BIMDA secretary. BIMDA, growing throughout the county, gained 27 new members in 2009

Glad Kurian, the honorary executive director of BIMDA, says his organization uses a multi–prong approach in serving the community. “At this phase of BIMDA’s development, we are honored to be partnering and interacting with many other nonprofit agencies in Brevard that contribute to our growth.”“Through medicine, the arts, science, education, and fund–raising, and in many other ways, BIMDA has become a dynamic center of great interest and influence with the doctors and community leaders in Brevard,” said Kurian, a senior investment management consultant with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney at the firm’s Windermere office in Orlando. He’s a 1990 M.B.A. graduate of Florida Tech.

Dr. Ravi Shankar, a board–certified radiation oncologist with Cancer Care Centers of Brevard’s Melbourne office, says BIMDA is a well–known organization within the medical community. “When I moved to Brevard about three years ago, I knew of this organization,” said Dr. Shankar, who relocated from Tampa, where he was with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. “Hospital people I had worked with said it was an excellent organization doing good things in the community, so I did make it a point to become a member of BIMDA as soon as I got to town and settled into my position.” BIMDA gained 27 new members this past year, Dr. Shah said, bringing the total to more than 160.

For Expo sponsorship information, call Dr. Jashbhai Patel, BIMDA president, at 409–6800, extension 3131.
“Under the leadership of Dr. Patel and Glad (Kurian),” said Dr. Shah, “we are looking to attract a wide range of sponsors for our Expo,” including home health–care companies and durable medical–equipment firms.
Dr. Patel, a surgeon with MIMA in Melbourne, has been working with BIMDA’s executive committee planning the group’s annual Expo, its largest function of the year. The committee is presently recruiting a “distinctive” keynote speaker for the event.

The Expo, an all–day event, with registration at 8 a.m., brings together the medical community including health–care professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and like businesses, as well as other interested parties and organizations. “Continuing education is a key part of the BIMDA Expo,” said Dr. Patel, who has practiced medicine in Brevard or 25 years. “We are offering continuing education for both medical and dental professionals.”
The Expo’s “continuing medical education” coordinator is Dr. Mahesh Soni, the founding president of BIMDA. The CME program, which is offered to doctors free of charge, begins at 9 a.m. “We will offer a total of seven CMEs,” Dr. Soni said.

“One or two of them will be mandatory CMEs as part of the state of Florida requirement for physicians. Any physician in Brevard can participate in the CME program. Over the years, a lot of physicians have taken CMEs through the Expo. It’s always a well–received program in the physician community.”
BIMDA, open to all physicians and dentists in the region, recently assisted MIMA in raising funds for the Haiti Relief Effort. The event was held Jan. 24 at MIMA’s new Gateway Medical Center in Melbourne.
BIMDA worked closely with Dr. Peter Marzano of MIMA in organizing a special meeting for physicians and medical personal interested in getting involved with direct–mission trips, hands–on help, and assisting in other key areas of the relief work.

Dr. Joseph McClure, MIMA’s chief executive officer, “was instrumental in rallying multiple agencies and support groups in Brevard for a community–wide effort to organize the event,” said Kurian.
On another front, BIMDA is working to build its relationships with area colleges. Kurian and a team of BIMDA officers that included Dr. Visa Srinivasan and BIMDA philanthropists Mike and Rashmi Shah recently met with Dr. Anthony Catanese, Florida Tech president, to discuss areas of possible scientific cooperation. “BIMDA doctors are very interested in the several areas of research that Florida Tech has a sharp focus on, such as autism, biomedical engineering, and space sciences,” Kurian said. “We are exploring ways in whichwe can engage in being of assistance, especially with the new Biomedical Engineering program.”

At the invitation of Chris McAlpine, chairman of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra Board and senior vice president of professional services/administration at Parrish Medical Center in Titusville, Kurian attended a BSO board meeting. At this meeting, BSO members learned more about BIMDA’s diverse interests in the community, said Kurian, who has an extensive background in musical production, management, and composition.

BIMDA closed 2009 hosting its first Physician Social for United Way of Brevard. The event, which was held at Mercedes–Benz Porsche Audi in Melbourne, was a big success, Kurian said. The idea was born at a luncheon meeting between Suzanne Sparling of the local United Way and Kurian. The event centered on introducing United Way’s Tocqueville Society, UW highest level of giving, to the physician community. “Three of BIMDA’s Life members have joined United Way’s Tocqueville Society since that meeting, we’re proud to say,” Kurian said.