Honor Dr. Bala's Achievement

Senate Resolution No. 80 BY: Senator BRESLIN HONORING Dr. Virinchi R. Bala upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Living the Legacy Award by the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those outstanding individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citizenry; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr. Virinchi R. Bala upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Living the Legacy Award by the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center, to be celebrated at its 2018 Annual Legacy Event on Thursday,

September 20, 2018, at Brown's Revolution Hall, Troy, New York; and WHEREAS, The Living the Legacy Award is given annually to a community leader who has made a difference in the Capital District; and WHEREAS, Since July 19, 1971, the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center's mission has been to provide residents of the Capital Region access to consistent quality healthcare without regard to income; for almost five decades, this vital organization's vision has been to serve as a community leader committed to delivering dependable, compassionate, high quality health care which enhances the well-being of its diverse and changing communities; and WHEREAS, In 1963, Virinchi R. Bala earned both his bachelor's degree and his master's degree from Madurai Medical College of the then Madras University in India; after completing his internship training at Government Erskine Hospital in Madurai, he joined the Tamil Nadu State Government Medical Services and served as a physician in Primary Care Centers in remote villages and also in District Head Quarters hospitals; and WHEREAS, He later completed his post graduate residency training in pediatrics at the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children in Madras; he received his diploma in Child Health after the first year of training and in 1972, he earned his Master's degree in Pediatrics; and WHEREAS, Dr. Virinchi R. Bala joined the faculty of Pediatrics as the Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the University of Madras and served in this capacity until 1982; later that same year, he moved to the United Kingdom after acquiring his license from the General Medical Council; and WHEREAS, He received his diploma in Child Health at the University of Glasgow and joined the National Health Services where he worked as a clinical medical officer in Child Health; his stint as a family practitioner at Lancashire District was not for long; he and his wife wanted greater opportunities for their children and decided to move to America; he took the Federal Licensing Exam to practice medicine in the United States and, in 1988, he and his family moved to Florida; and WHEREAS, While residing in Florida, Dr. Virinchi R. Bala worked as a staff physician at the Primary Care Center in Marion County; after approximately 18 years in pediatrics, he joined Residency Training in Internal Medicine at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, and got Board Certified in Internal Medicine; and WHEREAS, In 1993, Dr. Virinchi R. Bala joined the LifeTime Health organization of Excellus Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rochester as a staff physician with hospital privileges at Rochester General Hospital; and WHEREAS, Dr. Virinchi R. Bala retired in 2007 after more than 44 years of practicing medicine; to satisfy his desire to travel the world and to help underserved areas where he was born, he went back to India and worked in different charity organizations as a physician in the State of Tamil Nadu, India; and WHEREAS, Dr. Virinchi R. Bala and his wife, Dr. Mangalam Bala, whom he married in 1969, moved to Albany, New York, to be near their two sons, Karthik and Guha, and their five granddaughters; in 2009, he had the privilege of joining Whitney M. Young Health Services as a staff physician; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Dr. Virinchi R. Bala upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Living the Legacy Award by the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Dr. Virinchi R. Bala.