Om P. Ganda, M.D., a physician and researcher at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, has been appointed a Commissioner of the Massachusetts Asian American Commission.  

Created by state legislation in 2006, the Asian American Commission's goal is to recognize and highlight the vital contributions of Asian Americans to the social, cultural, economic and political life of the Commonwealth; to identify and address the needs and challenges facing residents of Asian ancestry; and to promote the well-being of this dynamic and diverse community and thereby, advance the interests of all persons who call Massachusetts home.

A board-certified specialist in internal medicine, endocrinology and metabolism, and clinical nutrition, Ganda is a senior physician in the section on adult diabetes at Joslin and an associate clinical professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.  

Ganda has been engaged in clinical diabetes research for more than three decades. He was a co-investigator in the landmark Diabetes Control and Complications Trial completed in 1993, and is currently co-investigator of Epidemiology of Diabetes Intervention and Complications, an ongoing long-term follow-up study. In addition to his clinical research and teaching, Ganda directs the Lipid Clinic at Joslin, where he treats patients with disorders of cholesterol and triglycerides.

"There has been an alarming increase in diabetes in Asia during the past decade, with more than 160 million people with diabetes currently in China and India combined; more than 50 percent of those with diabetes are still undiagnosed," said Ganda.  "At Joslin, as part of our global efforts under the Asian American Diabetes Initiative, we are committed to help empower Asian patients with diabetes to live healthier lives, through early diagnosis, education, and treatment."

"Joslin is pleased to have Dr. Ganda serve on the Massachusetts Asian American Commission," said Joslin Diabetes Center President and CEO John L. Brooks, III.  "We look forward to continuing our work with the Commission to reduce the impact of diabetes on the Commonwealth's Asian American community, which is disproportionately affected by this growing health crisis."

"I am honored by the opportunity to work with Dr. Om Ganda," said Jason Chou, executive director of the Asian American Commission. "His expertise and guidance will pave the way for the Commission to address the health disparities within the Asian American community."

Ganda received his medical degree from the S.M.S. Medical College of the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur, India, and completed a rotating internship at the S.M.S. Hospital. He completed a residency in medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Science in New Delhi, and a residency in medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Ganda subsequently completed a clinical fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at Tufts University and a research fellowship in medicine at Joslin and Harvard Medical School.