An Indian-American doctor and professor of dental sciences has been elected vice-president of the prestigious International Association for Dental Research (IADR), a media release said today.
Rena N D'Souza, an alumni of Government Dental College - University of Bombay, is currently serving as the professor of dental sciences, neurobiology & anatomy, and pathology at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
D'Souza would later on serve as the president-elect, president and immediate past president of International Association for Dental Research, a media release said.
A past president of the American Association for Dental Research (2012-2013), she has been an active IADR member since 1984.
As a leader in the field, D'Souza has led an active research program for more than 25 years on tooth development and genetics, matrix biology and tissue regeneration, the release said.
She has also directed two comprehensive National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutional research training and development programs and served on several grant review panels.
She served on the NIH's National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council, the Physician-Scientist Workforce Working Group for NIH Director Francis Collins and as chair of its subcommittee on dentist-scientist training.
D'Souza is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, director on the Friends of NIDCR Board and member of the German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina).
Born in 1973, Khalsa moved to the US in 1996 after writing
four research papers, including on boundary disputes between Pakistan and India and environmental degradation in the Himalayas due to extensive deforestation.
Prior to moving to Indiana in 2008, Khalsa spent five years in the real estate, insurance and finance sectors in California. Since 2003, he has developed a chain of businesses throughout California, Nevada and Indiana.
His first encounter with Pence was during the 2012 gubernatorial campaign, when Pence agreed for a meeting to discuss some tax issues involving Indian gas-station owners.
Pence became the first sitting governor of any state to attend the Sikh Day parade and also bestowed the highest civilian award of Indiana state on KP Singh, Khalsa said.
In 2007, a TSA agent in Buffalo, New York refused to allow Khalsa on an airplane unless he removed his turban.
"This was a clear violation of Sikh religious practice," he argued, adding that he refused and took the issue before Congress, where he successfully lobbied for changes to the TSA headwear policy.
"Because of this effort, Sikhs are now allowed to wear their turbans through airport security," he said.
Now that Indian-Americans have proven their great skill as entrepreneurs and businessmen, Khalsa asserts that it is time for the community to step-up and serve in public office and the military.
"I mean, look, we have a rich history as soldiers and administrators in India," he said.
"At this time, Indians account for about 1 per cent of the US population and the United States is overall more diverse than it has ever been.
"This is an opportunity for both Indians and Americans. At the end of the day, Indians have done very well in the US in terms of business opportunities. SikhsPAC is a model for ensuring Indians have the resources they need to give back through service to their country. We're already seeing great examples of this with the US military removing restrictions on soldiers wearing the turban and beard. That is progress on which we need to build," Khalsa said.
