Candidate Statement: For the past 15 years, I have practiced rural medicine, navigating the frontlines of complex medical inequities, severe physician shortages, limited resources, and health literacy gaps. My dedication to organized medicine spans over a decade of leadership across various American College of Physicians (ACP) committees and leadership positions at my workplace. The ACP, particularly the NYACP, has been a vital catalyst for my professional growth and global healthcare perspective. Fully aligned with ACP's mission, I am honored to be a candidate for Governor. I would welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively to champion health equity, expand regional workforce recruitment and retention, and advance health literacy. I am committed to overcoming these systemic barriers to elevate the standard of care for our patients.

Medical School Education: Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College, Ahmedabad, India

Post-Doctoral Training: Internal Medicine, Bassett Healthcare Network; Clinical Hematology, University at Buffalo; Medical Oncology, University of Arizona

Board Certifications: Internal Medicine (MOC), ABIM Certificate; Hematology (MOC), ABIM Certificate; Medical Oncology (MOC), ABIM Certificate

Present Employment Position: Chief, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Bassett Healthcare Network; Medical Director, Medical Director-Anticoagulation Program, Lung Cancer Screening

ACP Chapter and Leadership Activities: Councilor-at-Large; Member, Wellbeing Committee; Poster Judge, Annual Scientific Meeting, NYACP; Presenter and Moderator, Annual Scientific Meeting, NYACP 2022; Past District President and Councilor, Hudson Valley Capital

ACP National Activities: Fellowship 2013; Poster Judge, Internal Medicine Meetings

Other Appointments/Activities: Conceptualized and formed a recurring community gathering: Welcome Home Cooperstown; Volunteer Fire Police, Village of Cooperstown; Chief, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Bassett Medical Center (BMC); Chairmen, Retention and Recruitment Committee, BMC; Member, Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, BMC; Medical Director, Lung Cancer Screening Program, BMC; Medical Director, Anticoagulation Service, BMC; Executive Vice President, Bassett Alumni Association, BMC

Areas of Professional Interest and Expertise: Rural Healthcare Advocacy: Dedicated to expanding access, improving quality of care, and driving health equity in rural populations; Community Engagement: Passionate about launching innovative community outreach programs, such as integrated "Pets and People" health screenings; Workforce Development: Focused on designing strategic recruitment and retention initiatives for underserved rural and urban healthcare facilities

Candidate Statement: I’ve been a leader at the Chapter level for many years but am interested in having a more national role. Being a Governor gives me an opportunity both to represent NYACP and interface with other Chapter leaders. Particularly in the current, politically precarious times, it is especially important to strategize, innovate, and commiserate with folks on how to protect our patients, preserve funding, and maintain integrity with guidelines and clinical research. I have significant leadership experience spanning many years. I have been a NYACP Council Board member for 3 terms. I led the Pain Management task force for the most recent iteration of the course. I have served on multiple committees of NYACP. I currently serve on the Education Committee, the Well Being Committee, and the Health and Public Policy Committee. I am comfortable and adept at engaging with many individuals of differing viewpoints and working towards common goals.

Medical School Education: Case Western Reserve University

Post-Doctoral Training: Internal/Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center

Board Certifications: Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine

Present Employment Position: Kelly S. Ramsey Consulting, LLC

ACP Chapter and Leadership Activities: District Councilor at Large 2017-2021; Member, Education Committee Member since 2017; Judge, Poster Contest since 2017; Member, Health and Public Policy Committee since 2017; Well Being Champion, NYACP since 2018; Member, Well Being Subcommittee (previously Well Being Taskforce) since 2018; Central District Councilor 2022-2026 (office term) 2023-2027; Faculty Member, Pain Course Task, Force NYACP since 2016 (Development of the online and live course, Managing Pain and Opioid Use: An Educational Program on Compliance with NYS Prescribing Laws, created in conjunction with Boston University’s Scope of Pain Course, a 3-hour course offered free or low cost online to all NYS prescribers to fulfill a NYS mandate); Chairperson, Pain Management Task Force 2025-2026; Recipient, Excellence in Public Health Award, NYACP 2024; Presenter, Multiple NYACP Annual Scientific Meetings; Facilitator, Several Small Feedings for the Soul Webinars

ACP National Activities: Fellowship 2010 (Inducted April 2011); Invited Participant, Well Being Champion Training 2018; Well Being Champion 2018-2021; Recipient, Distinguished Contributions to Behavioral Medicine Award 2023 (This award is bestowed for distinguished contributions to the science of, or care delivery in behavioral medicine as a component of the treatment of internal medicine diagnoses. Awardees should be College members, any class, who have made significant contributions to the science of behavioral approaches to treatment of internal medicine medical illness including substance use disorders, or a College member’s practice, practice group, or integrated health system which has developed and integrated innovations related to behavioral health into the practice of internal medicine for their patients.); Recipient, Laureate Award 2017 (Awarded to members, who have demonstrated by their example and conduct, an abiding commitment of excellence in medical care, education, or research, and in service to their community, their region, and the ACP)

Other Appointments/Activities: Distinguished Fellow, American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM); Board of Directors, ASAM 2021-2025 (Elected as the Regional Director for Region 1 representing NYS); Constitution and Bylaws Subcommittee, ASAM since 2023; Member, Annual Conference Planning Committee, ASAM since 2023; Member, Legislative/Public Policy Committee, ASAM since 2023; Selected Member, Drug Testing Clinical Guideline Committee, ASAM/ACMT since 2024; Member, Membership Council, ASAM since 2025; Appointee, Nominations & Awards Council, ASAM 2025-2028; President, NYSAM 2022-2024; Immediate Past President, NYSAM 2024-2026

Areas of Professional Interest and Expertise: Provision of culturally competent care to people who use drugs (PWUD); Addiction Medicine; HIV and Hepatitis C; Innovative overdose response