Recognizing Doctors Mahender and Jayalakshmi Pampati

Floor Speech

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Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two remarkable physicians, a husband and wife, Mahender and Jayalakshmi Pampati, in recognition of their retirement from the healthcare field after nearly 33 years of dedicated service to the people of Eastern Kentucky.

Drs. Mahender and Jayalakshmi Pampati moved to Hazard, Kentucky in 1990 with a goal of providing high quality care to the underserved communities of Eastern Kentucky. Through their respective careers and the life they built together in Hazard, they became part of the fabric of the community. They raised three kids, Ashwin, Rudra, and Shivani, in Hazard, participating in the local Parent Teacher Association and engaging with their patients beyond their medical practices. For decades, both doctors centered their careers on providing quality care and service to their community.

Dr. Mahender Pampati, born in Hyderabad, India, son of Dr. Kishen and Mrs. Suwarna Pampati, started and grew a radiology practice upon arrival to Hazard. With his partner Dr. Ashok Patel, he built a radiology practice, Hazard Radiology Associates, that served the entire Appalachian Regional Hospital System in addition to Mountain Comprehensive Health Care. Mahender was the first specialty trained neuroradiologist in Eastern Kentucky and facilitated the installation of state-of-the-art CT and MRI equipment for more specialized care. Mahender also brought the first mobile mammography and MRI services to Eastern Kentucky to ensure all patients had access to adequate imaging and screening services.

Dr. Jayalakshmi Pampati, born in Chennai, India, daughter of Mr. G.C. Krishnamoorthy and Mrs. G.Y. Thilakam, led a successful and patient forward career as the region's only rheumatologist. As one of few female physicians of her generation, she continuously broke barriers throughout her career, from medical school to her practice. She started her own rheumatology practice in Hazard, Kentucky shortly after moving there. Jayalakshmi was the only rheumatologist within a 60-mile radius for her entire career, serving a significant portion of Eastern Kentucky. Jayalakshmi diagnosed and treated several debilitating autoimmune diseases for the first time in the region and treated many of these patients for many decades. Jayalakshmi treated all patients, both insured and uninsured, guaranteeing all patients would be treated and advised on the most cost-effective and quality treatment plan.

Together they broke many firsts. Most significantly, they opened the first after hours clinic in the region in 1996, the Mountain After Hours Clinic (MAHC). MAHC provided a range of care, from primary care services to pediatrics to mental healthcare services. This groundbreaking clinic brought access to healthcare for the many patients who were unable to take off work to receive care during the workday and accepted patients whether they were insured or not.

Dr. Mahender Pampati received his medical degree from Magadh Medical College in 1979, and completed his radiology residency at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan in 1987 with a fellowship in neuroradiology from Stony Brook University in New York. Dr. Jayalakshmi Pampati received her medical degree from Madras Medical College in 1981, and completed her residency in internal medicine at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, New York in 1988 with a fellowship in rheumatologv from Stony Brook University in New York.

Dr. Mahender and Jayalakshmi Pampati have dedicated their lives and careers to providing specialized, quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare to the people of Eastern Kentucky, and their work has critically improved the healthcare landscape in an under-resourced and underserved part of our state. Mahender and Jayalakshmi Pampati will continue to be stewards of public service through their work with community organizations in Kentucky, the Bluegrass Indo American Civic Society and the Bharatiya Temple and Cultural Center. What a wonderful vocation for a truly special couple. I know their patients, fellow healthcare workers, and colleagues in Eastern Kentucky will miss their service. I wish them all the best in retirement and hope they enjoy time with their children, daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. I ask that my colleagues here in the United States House of Representatives join me in thanking Dr. Jayalakshmi and Mahender Pampati for their lifelong commitment to serving Kentucky families and communities in need and congratulating them on their well-deserved retirement.

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