For years, the Indian Cultural Wing at Parker Jewish Institute in New Hyde Park has provided a safe space for Indians to receive care. Michael Rosenblut, Parker’s president and CEO, honored the people who made this happen.
Over 150 guests attended Parker Jewish Institute’s Indian Cultural Wing plaque dedication on Sept. 12. This dedication was in honor of Saroj Shah, a retired OBGYN, and her husband Indravadan Shah, a retired surgeon. They led a committee of local Indian doctors and professionals who worked on the development and planning for Parker’s Indian Cultural Unit.
The unit accommodates the rehabilitation, medical care and cultural needs of older adults in New York’s growing Indian population to achieve the best level of health possible. It was founded in 2017 with the mission of incorporating culturally sensitive health care into the institute.
The Indian Cultural Wing’s Advisory Committee includes Saroj and Indravadan, Ram Pardeshi, Mukund Mehta, Mohan Ramaswamy, Hiralal Patel, Dahyabhai Patel, Dilip Tolat, Rekha Tolat, and Harshad Shah. The committee members’ names were displayed on a plaque that was unveiled in the cultural wing.
Before the unveiling, there was a puja ceremony to bless the plaque. The ceremony is a form of ritual prayer involving symbolic offerings that represent love and devotion. It was then followed by a cultural dance.
“Dr. Saroj Shah called me in October of 2015. She introduced herself and requested a meeting,” Rosenblut said. “After meeting with Dr. Shah and initiating our first committee meeting, the Indian Cultural Unit, under her leadership, started to take shape.”
Rosenblut said Saroj, committee members and Parker’s Board of Trustees worked tirelessly to ensure that the Indian Cultural Unit remains successful today. He said many of the ideas and concepts implemented at the cultural unit exist today because of the “love that Dr. Shah has given to the residents and the committee.”
Saroj said the staff in the unit visit each patient daily and speak in their language to care for them in the best way possible. Parker also hired an Indian chef dedicated to the Indian unit who prepares Indian delicacies for the patients.
“We would not be here if it wasn’t for the vision and the foresight of Dr. Saroj and Dr. Indravadan Shah,” Mehta said. “It was this couple who conceived the idea, along with Dr. Pardeshi. They visualized that over a period of time, the Indian people who are settling in Nassau County, at some point in time will need some help — short term or long-term rehab, and Parker was the best place it can be.”
Saroj said many years ago, she and Indravadan dreamed of creating a place where the South Indian community could go when they aged and feel comfortable receiving rehabilitation. Saroj said she is very happy to see her vision come to life as the cultural unit is currently filled with 60 patients.
“We continue to grow and enhance our services and get new ideas,” Saroj said.
Within the next five years, Saroj said her dream is to make Parker a model for culturally sensitive healthcare. She said she would like to see Indians throughout the country receive the same care that they are getting at Parker. With the trust and partnership between her and Parker, she said she has “no doubt” that she will succeed.
