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February 2003
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Dr. Kang is a medical doctor practicing in the field of Internal medicine and has been residing in Yuba City, CA since 1991. He acquired his M.B.B.S. from the Government Medical College, Punjabi University, Patiala, India. While in medical school he excelled in sports by winning gold medal in All India University and National (junior) Cycling championships. Also represented University Chess team. He was President of Students, Junior Doctors Association and senate member of Punjabi university
In 1986 Dr. Kang moved to the United States in order to seek better opportunities and freedom as he describes in his
interview that was published in December 1999 in the well-known newspaper Appeal-Democrat. “My personal memory which changed my life was when the Indian army invaded the Golden Temple in 1984 and there were riots in New Delhi, Which really was the most dramatic memory. I never expected those things can happen in a democratic country.” He further adds in the same interview.
After moving to the United States he joined a three years Categorical Internal Medicine Residency Training Program in Cook County Hospital, Chicago. After completion of this program he joined the Peach Tree Clinic at Marysville, CA. Marysville is a neighboring town of Yuba City which is the home of a large Sikh farming population. It is also worth mentioning that Yuba City became the first home for Sikhs when they arrived in United States in early 19th Century.
In the year 1995, Dr. Kang opened up his own General Internal Medicine private practice in Yuba City, which he is still successfully running with special emphasis on management of Diabetes Type II.
Some of his medical affiliations have included:
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Diplomat, American Board of Internal
Medicine.
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Chairman, Department of Medicine at both local hospitals.
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Chairman, Utilization Review Committee, January 1999 to 2001.
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Member Medical Ethic Committee from 1999 to present.
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Chairman of ICU committee 1995
Apart from being an excellent medical professional, Dr. Kang has been an active community leader too. He has played a key role in mobilizing efforts to reach out to the mainstream Americans in the Yuba, Sutter area by undertaking various outreach activities and programs. He is a firm believer that culture is the cement for any faith that helps strengthen bonds and friendships between people of different communities and origins. He was the founding member of the Punjabi American Heritage Society, which is responsible for many educational and cultural initiatives such as the Annual Punjabi festival in Yuba City. This Mela has become one of the largest ticketed events of a minority group in the United States. Other than the festival the Punjabi American Heritage Society proudly hosted the Teachers appreciation evening to thank and acknowledge the contributions of Teachers in the Yuba City area.
He is also the founding member of Yuba Sutter Interfaith Council and the Vice President of “Friends of Yuba City Foundation”. Furthermore to promote better understanding and friendship between cultures and communities in the Yuba City area Dr. Kang and his brother Jasjit jointly operate a Punjabi Television program called “Apna Punjab”. He has frequently interviewed people of different backgrounds, opinions and shades. Diverse list of guests had included Mr.
Newt Gingrich, Punjabi films actor: Raj Babbar, Congressman Herger, Dr. N.S. Kapany, Punjab politician: Vinod Khanna and Justice Ajit Singh Bains.
In the above picture he is seen interviewing Ms. Kartar Dhillon, the
first born Punjabi in the United States. He further uses this program to educate people on community related issues and medical diseases. He has co-produced educational video on largest annual Sikh parade in Yuba City attended by 40,000 people and Punjabi American festival.
After the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 Dr. Kang has been actively organizing press meetings and candle night vigils to pray for peace and harmony in America. After the terrorists attacks many Sikh Americans were racially profiled and attacked. In order to handle this growing problem Dr. Kang worked rigorously as executive director with WLWD 2000 Inc. to produce a documentary entitled “Mistaken Identity” which features the plight of Sikh Americans during those days. During that time he was also frequently seen and heard appealing for peace on many radio and television news channels such as BBC, National public radio and Fox news. His
speech to Citizens of Yuba City and one given at Sacramento was widely covered by media. Furthermore he has been widely speaking and conducting multimedia educational presentations on history of Sikh migration, misgivings about Sikh appearance and basic concepts of Sikhism to the non-Sikh Americans with a purpose of creating better understanding.
Dr. Kang has authored many articles on diverse subjects including health & medicine, early Punjabi migration to North America, growing traffic problem in India, co-existence, human rights and issues faced by migrant Sikh youth. These articles have been published in many magazines, websites and journals.
He strongly believes that social justice and fairness is fundamental for success of any society. He thinks your professionalism (being a physician) comes before your
religion or any other kind of human affiliation. He feels blessed by being in a position to help the society through his education and medical skills.
Dr. Kang lives in Yuba City with his wife and three children.
Please click on the links below to read some of Dr. Kang’s writings.
Response
to N.B.C. Dateline
Early
Punjabi Migration
Taking Stock
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