President of 2012 Konkani Sammelan, Dr. Gopal A. Bhandarkar was born & bought up in Mumbai. He received his Bachelor of Science degree at The Institute of Science. He received his Medical degree from Grant Medical College & J.J.Group of Hospitals, in Mumbai. He came to the United states in 1967. He did his residency in Anesthesiology from Nassau County Medical Center. He completed his Fellowship in Anesthesiology from Albert Einstein College of medicine and Bronx Municipal Hospital center.

After completion of his studies he started private practice at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in 1971. In 1985 he was elected president of District VIII ( Long Island ) of NewYork State Society of Anesthesiologists.  In 1989 he was elected President of Suffolk County society of Anesthesiologists. In 1992 he was elected president of the Medical staff at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center. In 1995 he was named Director of Anesthesia. In 2002 he was named as one of the trustees of the medical center. In 2003 the hospital honored him with Jacob Dranitzke award for distinguished service to the Hospital and the community. The ceremony  and the Ball was held at Waldorf Astoria Hotel's Grand ballroom. From 1990 to 2002 he was a member of board of directors of American society of Indian Anesthesiologists.  In 2006 he retired from private practice.

He lives with his wife Pratibha  on Long Island. They are married for 45 years. Pratibha is very active in volunteering & fund raising for the Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center.In 2005 she was honored by the hospital as "woman of the year " for her outstanding volunteer work.They have two sons and a daughter. Deepak, the first son, is a  an accountant & partner in Price Waterhouse Coopers, is married to Protima who is a pharmacist and have two children. Sunil, the second son, who is an Ophthalmologist, specializing in Refractive & Lasik surgery, practicing in Santa Monica,CA. Kalpana, the daughter has completed her MPH and MBA from Johns Hopkins University, is married to Vinodh Bhat ( Son of Vasanth & Poornima Bhat of Texas ) and has a daughter. Kalpana is associate vice president at Maiminides Hospital in Brooklyn.

 In April 2011 Dr  Gopal Bhandarkar accepted the post of President of Konkani Sammelan 2012 and quickly put together a hard working and innovative group of bright young as well as experienced volunteers for the Sammelan, which was just 14 months away.  He and his team is working very hard to make this Sammelan a success!

Ravi Shenoy P.E.
Vice President of Konkani Sammelan 2012