Odisha-born entrepreneur Bikram Kumar Mohanty has been chosen by US President Barack Obama as the Democratic Party candidate for Georgia state's senate elections to be held on July 31 and November 6.
The 45-year-old Indian-American is a native of Chandabali area in Bhadrak district, around 100km east of Bhubaneswar. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Innovative Rehab Solutions, a healthcare company based in Georgia's Valdosta city.
After graduating from Bhadrak College, Mohanty joined the National Institute of Orthopaedics in Kolkata in 1988 and then migrated to the US in 1994.
In an emailed message to HT, Mohanty said as a student he got an opportunity to serve in the Missionaries of Charity as a clinical intern.
"I do know that my experience and proven record in healthcare industry will facilitate achieving the milestone of balancing the state budget and creating jobs," he said.Mohanty, who has been living in Valdosta for the last 17 years along with his wife and three children, was appointed to the 'White House Conference on Aging' as an alternate delegate from Georgia in 2005.
He also served in Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce from 2002-2003 and worked as the licensure liaison to the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapist.
{{/usCountry}}He also served in Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce from 2002-2003 and worked as the licensure liaison to the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapist.
{{/usCountry}}"To pursue my passion to help all people, I recently founded a non-profit organisation, Mother Teresa Foundation, that thrives to serve healthcare and disease prevention issues that plague low-income and homeless Americans," Mohanty said.
Mohanty's family members in Bhadrak are excited about his achievements. "It is a moment of pride for us, as my brother has been chosen by President Obama's party to run for the Senate," said his brother, Biswakeshari Mohanty.