New York: New York City Mayor Eric Adams awarded the 'Key to the City of New York' to distinguished Indian American physician, professor, and humanitarian, Dr Hari Shukla at an event hosted at the historic Blue Room of City Hall in Lower Manhattan on December 29, 2025.
The Mayor in his speech said, “I want to first start with Dr Shukla. He’s a titan in medicine, a man whose work has changed medical science across the entire globe. When I was reading up on what you have accomplished in the lives that you have saved, every child that you save, that child goes on to have families and contribute to our society, and so you can’t just look at what you did in medicine as just saving the life of a family member, but you have really saved the lives of what we will become as the entire Human race, and I cannot thank you enough for helping our children.”
Mayor Eric Adams, Dr. Shukla with his family and friends. (Photo courtesy: Onik Rahman, Photo provided by South Asians of New York)
Mayor also mentioned Dr Shukla’s community work for children and South Asian community in America through two of his not profit organizations namely South Asians of New York Inc and New American Voters Association.
Dr. Shukla is triple board-certified (Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, and Forensic Medicine) and clinical associate professor at NYU School of Medicine. With a legacy of training physicians (over 300 residents) and advancing neonatal care globally, Dr. Shukla’s innovations in Pediatric medicine have shaped modern pediatric practices and followed throughout the world and millions of sick infants have been benefitted.
Dr. Shukla is a pioneer U.S. physician (and first Indian physician worldwide) to use surfactant in preterm infants in 1987—now a global standard.
Dr. Shukla’s research on Umbilical Catheter Equation was published in 1986. It is used in majority of the hospitals in United States and throughout the world. It is estimated that over four hundred million sick infants have umbilical catheter insertion using Dr Shukla’s equation in the world. His work is registered with American Medical Association Journal and is free to all to use.
He is recipient of an award from ‘Pasteur Mérieux Connaught' company that makes Polio vaccine for his commitment and dedication to Polio eradication.
Dr. Shukla has been honored with numerous prestigious awards for his work in medicine and community service in the past. He is the first South Asian physician to receive “Life Time Achievement Award” from the President of the United States(2025).
He is the first South Asian to receive New York State’s highest civilian award – “Liberty Award” (2024). He has also been felicitated by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Governor Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine and Gujarat Governor Hon. K.K. Viswanathan.
The ‘Key to the City of New York’- the highest City honor – makes Dr Shukla one of the first Indian American physicians to receive the honor.
