Orange County physician Satinder Swaroop, M.D., received the 2018 Physicians for a Healthy California Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Leadership Achievement Award. The award is presented annually to an individual or organization that has demonstrated extraordinary interest and efforts in improving community health to champion improved individual and community health through a partnership of leaders in medicine, related health professions and the community. It was presented at the 2018 Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO) annual Summit in Pasadena.

Dr. Swaroop has worked tirelessly to advocate for patients and physicians not only in California, but also across the country and around the world. Between 2006 and 2008 Dr. Swaroop singlehandedly mobilized physicians in Southern California to advocate for patients’ rights when the federal and state government threatened access to health care with the plan to place all Medicare/Medi-Cal dual eligible patients into a few HMO and IPA’s. Dr. Swaroop organized meetings with federal and state officials to educate them about the huge problems faced by ethnic communities if the plan was allowed to proceed. Partnering with Orange County physicians, pharmacists, and ethnic physician groups, Dr. Swaroop led a successful grassroots campaign against the plan. Ultimately, the state changed the mandatory enrollment to voluntary, allowing patients to opt out of the program.

Dr. Swaroop is also a champion for physician wellness and serves on the the Physician Wellness Committee of the Orange County Medical Association. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Brahmanada Saraswati Foundation, a global peace initiative that promotes health and wellness through meditation and achieving harmony with nature.

Dr. Swaroop grew up in India and graduated valedictorian from Gandhi Memorial Science College. He was second on the list of successful examinees for the J&K State University in Premedical Science Examination in 1960. He went on to finish his training in internal medicine and cardiology in the United States and became board certified in internal medicine and cardiology.

Dr. Swaroop is also a physician leader of his community, holding key leadership positions at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and City of Hope Medical Center. He was very active with NEPO, serving on the NEPO Steering Committee and NEPO Summit Planning Committee.