Guest Author
By Sonali Sethi
On October 9, 2025, Dr. Vinod Jindal was presented with the 2025 Community Champion Award by the Triangle Business Journal. This distinguished award shines a light on individuals who lead with heart, vision, and unwavering dedication. It honors those who tirelessly lift up their community, turning compassion into action to make a positive and lasting impact.
Dr. Jindal received this award not only for his professional achievements as a respected ophthalmologist, but also for his humanitarian efforts through NCIAP.
NCIAP: People’s Medical Care is a nonprofit healthcare organization of medical providers supported by the Indian and South Asian community, dedicated to providing quality medical care. It began as Dr. Jindal’s idea and came to life with the collaboration of his colleagues: Dr. Vandana Devalapalli, Dr. Samudra Vijay, Gurjit Sawhney, and later joined by Sudha Rathie and the late Dr. Yash Kataria. They created a mission rooted in ‘hassle-free healthcare for all,’ offering both basic and specialized services to those in need.
This award celebrates the 14-year journey of how a group of compassionate, inspired individuals transformed healthcare access across the Triangle.
A Vision of Accessible and Hassle-Free Healthcare
The inspiration for NCIAP originated when Dr. Jindal and the other co-founders witnessed family and friends struggle to get basic medical care while visiting from overseas. A simple medicine refill, a sudden injury, or a routine diagnostic test could become emotionally and financially burdensome without insurance.
At the same time, local job market changes in 2011 left many Triangle residents unemployed and uninsured. Families suddenly found themselves unsure how to access essential care. Witnessing these challenges, the founding team felt compelled to act. They came together with a shared vision to bridge the gap between community needs and accessible, hassle-free healthcare, and NCIAP was born.
The co-founders contributed clinic space, medical equipment, and, most importantly, their time and clinical expertise.
From the start, NCIAP’s approach was simple: patients pay a nominal fee for a medical visit, removing insurance from the equation entirely. This accessible model serves uninsured and underserved individuals, as well as visitors from abroad—offering care to everyone, regardless of their ethnicity or financial status.
The first NCIAP clinic opened in Raleigh in 2011, becoming a beacon of light for those who often had nowhere else to turn. With each patient’s visit, the mission grew stronger: healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.
As the demand increased, in 2019, a second clinic opened in Apex to serve the growing community. With its continued service, NCIAP providers have seen more than 60,000 patient visits and counting. Each visit not only offers medical relief but also helps prevent unnecessary emergency room and urgent care costs. It’s proof that compassion and practicality can go hand in hand.
The Legacy of Service
What began as a vision of one man, a vision of hassle-free healthcare for all, has evolved into a vast network of physicians, volunteers, donors, and community partners who form the foundation of local accessible care.
The organization’s growth, day-to-day operations, and impact are now guided by its dedicated board members: Dr. Vinod Jindal, Sunny Surana, Dr. Deepak Pasi, Anu Mehra, Nishant Munjal, Dr. Bal Agarwal, Gurjit Sawhney, Samudra Vijay, Dr. Vandana Devalapalli, Malay Jindal and Dr. Renuka Kandula. They embody the value of seva (selfless service) and continue to drive NCIAP’s mission forward.
Every year, NCIAP hosts a fundraising gala that brings together volunteers and supporters to celebrate its community impact and renew its commitment to service. The event is a true testament to the unwavering trust the community places in NCIAP’s honorable mission.
NCIAP’s story is a reminder that the heart of healing lies within the community itself. Every donation, volunteer hour, and word of support helps ensure that someone in need receives medical care. The community can be a part of this mission by spreading the word.
For more details, visit nciap.org.
