SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORT

Zoom Meeting held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 8 pm CT

Attendees: Drs. Hetal Gor, Narendra Maheshwari, Syamala Erramilli, Amit Chakrabarty, Sunil Kaza
AAPI office staff: Ms. Vijaya Kodali

Subject: Internal Audit and Focus Review on concerns raised by Dr. Shirish Patel, AAPI Treasurer 2024-25 and previous Covid Committee chair
Committee Formation: The special committee was constituted by Dr. Sunil Kaza as follows:
• Dr. Hetal Gor (Chair) (Board of Trustee)
• Dr. Narendra Maheshwari ( Board of Trustee)
• Dr. Syamala Erramilli ( Board of Trustee)
• Dr. Amit Chakrabarty (President-Elect)
Observers:
• Dr. Satheesh Kathula (AAPI President 2024-25)
• Dr. Sunil Kaza (Chair, AAPI Board of Trustees 2024-25)
Standby:
• Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda (AAPI President 2020-21)
• Dr. Anupama Gotimukula (AAPI President 2021-22)

Objective: To address and investigate the questions raised by Dr. Shirish Patel, the Treasurer of AAPI 2024-25, regarding four specific financial transactions.

Bank Accounts Designated:
• Account ending with 5353 – Covid Fund Account
• Account ending with 6069 – Atlanta Convention Account
• Account ending with 2868 – San Antonio Convention Account

History: Account ending with 5353 was opened on 11/15/2019 and designated as “Chase Benefactor Fund Account.” Later in April 2021, this account was converted to “Covid-19 Oxygen fundraising account” and continued to be the same until the account was frozen in August 2024.

Summary of Transactions Reviewed:
1. Transaction of $25,000:
o Paid by Rigel Pharmaceuticals towards the 2021 Atlanta Convention.
o Rigel Pharmaceuticals wired the 2021 Atlanta convention sponsorship funds to the account ending with 5353.
o Incorrectly wired to the account ending with 5353 (Oxygen (Covid) Account) on 6/3/2021.
o Later rightfully transferred to the Atlanta Convention Account on the same day 6/3/2021.
o Verified evidence of deposit and transfer.
o Committee members on the Zoom meeting unanimously agreed on the validity and appropriateness of the transaction.

2. Transaction of $2,500 (VIP Package):
o Dr. Arvind Gupta’s check #1025 for the VIP package was wrongly deposited in the Covid account (5353) on 5/26/2021 and later corrected by transferring it back to the Atlanta Convention account on 6/9/2021.
o Incorrectly deposited into the Oxygen (Covid) Account.
o Later rightfully transferred to the Atlanta Convention Account.
o Emails and the memo on the check indicated it was for a VIP package.
o The transaction was handled diligently and in a timely manner.
o Committee members on the Zoom meeting unanimously agreed on the validity and appropriateness of the transaction.

3. Transaction of $10,000:
o On 7/12/2021, Subbu Kota’s charitable donation intended for the convention was wrongly deposited in the Covid account (5353).
o On 7/19/2021, these funds were transferred to the San Antonio convention account ending with 2868.
o On 7/19/2021, these funds were again transferred to the Atlanta convention account ending with 6069.
o Incorrectly deposited into the Oxygen (Covid) Account.
o As per donor memo, these funds were allocated to the Atlanta Convention Account.
o Mistakenly transferred to the San Antonio Account instead of the Atlanta Convention Account.
o Transferred from San Antonio Account to Atlanta Convention Account.
o Evidence of deposit and correction was presented.
o Committee confirmed the appropriate rectification of the transfer.

4. Transaction of $2,500 (VIP Package):
o Dr. Somayaji Ramamurthy’s convention check was wrongly deposited in the Covid account (5353) on 8/17/2021 and later corrected by transferring it back to the San Antonio Convention account on 8/23/2021.
o Incorrectly deposited into the Covid Account.
o Transferred to the appropriate San Antonio Convention Account.
o Verified evidence and process compliance.
o Committee confirmed the appropriate rectification of the transfer.

Conclusion: The committee thoroughly examined each of the four questioned transactions. Detailed explanations and supporting evidence were provided by the AAPI office. All committee members unanimously agreed that there was no misappropriation in any of the transactions. Each transaction was handled in a timely and diligent manner.

Acknowledgment: Special commendation is given to Ms. Kodali for maintaining proper accounting practices and ensuring meticulous record-keeping.

Final Recommendation: The Special Committee, led by Chairperson Dr. Hetal Gor, recommends that the Executive Committee review this report promptly. The report is to be presented to the Governing Body scheduled for March 29th, 2025, in Nashville, TN.

Respectfully Submitted,
Dr. Hetal Gor
Chair, Special Committee