2023 Meeting Schedule
NASMDA 2023
Theme: Sikh Healthcare Professionals: More Effective Together
Location: Charlotte Hilton 2800 Coliseum Centre Dr, Charlotte, NC 28217
Friday March 3rd
1:00 pm – Registrations and Networking/Introductions
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm — NASMDA Membership and Leadership Meeting with Workshops
Moderated by Dr. Jaspal Singh, Jasleen Kaur (OH), Gurpreet Kaur Padam, Karanveer Singh
Want to understand what NASMDA has done and then what to consider moving forward? Come shape the future of the organization.
All are invited to this session that will briefly review the history of NASMDA, recent meetings, current challenges and opportunities, including a workshop style session aimed to prioritize the work of NASMDA. This session will highlight other healthcare organizations and efforts and what they are doing, where/how NASMDA might fit in to support efforts, and discuss strategies in alignment. Participants will include leaders from Sikh Coalition, SALDEF, Sikh Health Network, Sikhs in Business of Healthcare, Sikhs in Clinical Research and other organizations that have interest in the potential success of NASMDA.
Key questions related to mission, vision, scope of the organization will be discussed by the membership in this meeting, with the goal to emerge with greater organizational clarity.
4:15 pm to 5:00 pm — Innovations in Device development
Speaker: Dr. Dave Singh
Want to learn how to take a device or idea you have through product development?
Dr. Dave Singh is a dental specialist and Adjunct Professor at Stanford Medicine. He is the inventor of 2 FDA cleared devices for treating sleep apnea.
6:00 pm to 6:30 pm – Rehraas Sahib Paath in the Hospitality Suite
6:30 pm to 10:00 pm — Dinner and Entertainment
Keynote Speaker: Vishal Bhalla, Chief Experience Office, Advocate Health
Title: Optimizing the Patient & Clinician Experience
So much has changed in healthcare that has left many frustrated, so it’s good to understand what is happening in the space to make healthcare better from a patient, family and clinicians’ perspectives. Better yet, from a leader in this space of one of the largest healthcare systems in the United States.
Entertainment: We welcome you to join us for an entertaining evening of singing and dancing poetry, led by Dr. Jasleen Kaur Gill & Dr. Harmohan Singh . The night will also include live music by professional musician Tapas Sarkar as well as other talented local artistes. NASMDA members who have prepared performances can showcase their talent after the main event.
Dinner will be catered by Saffron.
Saturday March 4th
6:30 am – Paath in the Hospitality Suite
7:00 am to 7:45 am – Registration and Breakfast
7:45 am to 9:00 am — Lessons Learned from the Pandemic, New Networks, New Opportunities
NASMDA COVID debriefing together, and prepare for current and future challenges.
Brief overview of COVID response efforts, what the Sikh Healthcare community did, and what could have gone better. This session will also review some of the newer healthcare-related networks that have arisen in that time. This session will then set the stage for the remainder of the talks and sessions throughout the day.
Moderated by: Gurpreet Kaur, Jaspal Singh, Jasleen Kaur (OH)
Panelists: Karanveer Singh, Ekta Grewal, Amrit Singh, Anisha K. Singh, Jasneet Kaur and Rucha Kaur
9:00 am to 10:30 am – Healthcare Innovation and Impact
Come see the amazing work being done in the healthcare technology sector by Sikh leaders.
This session will provide a brief presentation on several key innovations in healthcare technology by Sikh leaders in this space. This will be followed by a panel discussion by the speakers of their healthcare technology journey,, including entrepreneurship, overcoming bias, balancing work/life, and discussion how NASMDA members may be able to provide synergy.
Moderated by: Pawanjit Singh, Randeep Singh, Dilpreet S. Sahota
Panelists: Kulmeet Singh, Harjinder Singh, Amarjit Kaur, Dr. Chirinjeev Singh Kathuria, Mini Kaur Suri
10:30 am to 10:45 am – Break
Optional: Book Signing with Simran Jeet Singh coordinated by Charlotte Khalsa Darbar Gurmat School leadership class.
10:45 am to 11:45 am – The Light We Give: a conversation with Simran Jeet Singh
Learn how to inspire others and connect from a Sikh NY Times’ Bestselling author.
Simran Jeet Singh, author of The Light We Give and Fauja Singh Keeps Going, talks about civic engagement, developing interfaith relationships, and shares tips on writing narrative stories.
11:45 am to 1:00 pm – Lunch and Viewing of the SEVA Documentary
Exclusive Screening of the SEVA Documentary on the worldwide Sikh Response to COVID + Sneak Peek Into SALDEF’s Sikh American Health Survey Findings
By: Kiran Kaur Gill, Sharan Kaur and Rhea Singh
Get an exclusive preview of SEVA, a celebrated youth-led documentary created by SALDEF’s SikhLEAD interns and Nishkam TV. Watch to see how Sikhs worldwide stepped up to respond to the needs of the COVID crisis by redefining what seva looks like to help those in need. Plus, learn about the nation’s first Sikh American health survey directly from those involved in the initiative.
1:00 pm to 1:45 pm – Sikh Health Network (SHN) – enabling Gurdwara-based clinics
Speakers: Armaan S. Johal, Sehej S. Johal, Sumer S. Johal
Learn how to lead our community health at the local Gurdwara
Youth leaders Armaan and Sehaj talk about how they helped to create Gurdwara-based clinics and even scaled this at multiple sites. Logistics and legal solutions will be highlighted.
1:45 pm to 2:45 pm – Advocacy Workshop by Sikh Coalition
Speakers: Anisha K. Singh, Rucha Kaur
Frustrated with Healthcare legislation? Learn how to be a part of the solution.
Members of Sikh Coalition will highlight how the process of advocacy works, guiding healthcare professionals how to be involved in healthcare-related and other advocacy efforts.
2:45 pm to 3:00 pm – Break
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm – College and Young Professional Counseling
Optional Workshop for All
Moderated by Jasleen Kaur (NC), Harjas Kaur
Panelists: Manjot Singh Virdee, Navdeep Singh Jassal
Not sure how to best develop your career or to whom to go for help?
Panelists and Faculty from the day will be available for career counseling and tips for those interested in career counseling, how to seek mentorship/sponsorship opportunities, and considerations in career planning.
4:00 to 4:30pm – Dasvandh Network / Ek Manzil
Mandeep Singh
Want to learn how to generate support for projects from small to large?
Hear about the efforts from Dasvandh Network to provide a source for project support, including questions about how to join Ek Manzil to help catalyze larger scale projects with others that are Gurmat-focused servant-leaders.
6:00 pm to 6:30 pm – Rehraas Sahib Paath in the Hospitality Suite
6:30 pm to 10:00 pm – Dinner program
Emcees: Sirtaz Sibia, Navinderdeep S. Nijher
Keynote Speakers:
S. Bhavdeep Singh
Title: Leading Healthcare Transformation: the Shackles are Off
S. Bhavdeep Singh is a leader in healthcare innovation and in retail health. He will share a bit of his life in a transformational journey to inspire leading change in an evolving landscape. He will also share his vision for international collaboration and impact.
Dr. Jasmeet Kaur Bains
Title: From Clinical Practice to State Politics: A Sikh Woman’s Journey
Dr. Jasmeet Kaur Bains, a family medicine physician from Bakersfield, California, was elected in 2022 to the California State Assembly. She will talk about her life journey and how the Sikh community can inspire and shape the change that is needed in healthcare. As a family practitioner who specializes in the care of patients with mental health and addictions, hear her perspectives of how we can help move the community forward one sangat at a time.
Dinner Catered by Blue Taj restaurant
Music by DJ Lalit Hemnani
Sunday March 5th
7:00 am to 8:30 am – Breakfast and Executive Board Meeting
7:30 am to 8:30 am – Optional Social Media Workshop and Networking
Speakers: By: Amrita Kular, SALDEF Communications Director, Dilpreet Singh Sahota, Mandeep Singh
Fact vs. Fiction: Fighting Against Social Media Misinformation
In this presentation, you will learn how to avoid spreading misinformation on social media and be a source of fact instead of fiction. Based on the significant research SALDEF has conducted on disinformation and misinformation specifically targeting Sikhs, hear from those on the front lines of combating this issue. Don’t miss out on the chance to empower yourself with the best tools for combating false and harmful narratives online.
9:00 am to 11:00 am — Optional Gurmat School program – Youth leaders Nimmer and Sehaj Johal present their efforts to students from Charlotte Gurmat School at Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar (12 minute, 5.4 mile drive from Charlotte Airport Hilton).
11:00 am to 1:00 pm – Keertan program and Diwaan. NASMDA members interested in performing keertan are invited to perform at the local Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar. Please contact S. Pawanjit Singh if you would like to perform Keertan sewa.