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By I.S. Saluja
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Dr. Hari Shukla, a highly reputed pediatrician based in Queens, New York, was on December 29, presented with the prestigious Key to New York City by Mayor Eric Adams at a special ceremony honoring his lifetime of service to children, community welfare, and humanitarian causes. The award recognizes Dr. Shukla’s groundbreaking and compassionate contributions to pediatric healthcare, which have improved the lives of countless families across New York City.
Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Adams recognized Dr. Shukla as a renowned medical expert, celebrated for his groundbreaking immunization strategies, and his pioneering work in neonatal care, which is now standard globally. He also recognized Dr. Shukla for his humanitarian efforts, including disaster relief in India, Haiti, Sri Lanka, and co-founding a free breast cancer clinic for South Asian women. Mayor noted that Dr. Shukla has enrolled over 3000 children in public health insurance programs and advocated for various social causes. Mayor then presented Dr. Shukla the key to the city for his extraordinary public service and impact on global medical science and community welfare.
Dr. Shukla’s professional journey spans decades of clinical excellence. Beyond his medical practice, he has been socially and politically engaged, advocating for public health awareness, education, and the wellbeing of immigrant communities. Widely known for his generosity, Dr. Shukla has extended liberal financial assistance to numerous charitable organizations and institutions dedicated to education, healthcare, and cultural promotion—quietly transforming lives far beyond the walls of his clinic.
It may be of special interest to readers of The Indian Panorama that Dr. Shukla now joins a rare and illustrious group of global figures who have received the Key to New York City over the decades. Among past recipients are Nelson Mandela, honored for his historic struggle against apartheid and reconciliation; Mother Teresa, recognized for her selfless service to humanity’s poorest; Pope John Paul II, for his spiritual leadership and message of peace; and Dalai Lama, for championing compassion and non-violence worldwide.
The honor has also been bestowed upon cultural and social icons such as Muhammad Ali, celebrated for both athletic greatness and moral courage, and Oprah Winfrey, recognized for her transformative influence in media, education, and philanthropy. In more recent years, recipients have included Narendra Modi, for strengthening India–U.S. ties; Malala Yousafzai, for her courageous advocacy of girls’ education; Angelina Jolie, for her extensive refugee work; Serena Williams, for excellence in sport and philanthropy; and Jon Bon Jovi, for his commitment to hunger relief and community service. The City has also honored frontline heroes, including healthcare workers and first responders, for extraordinary service during times of crisis.
By welcoming Dr. Hari Shukla into this distinguished company, New York City affirms that service to humanity—whether on a global stage or in a neighborhood clinic—deserves its highest civic honor. The Indian Panorama warmly congratulates Dr. Shukla on this rare and well-earned recognition.
Read below the full speech of Mayor Eric Adams.
“To put the conclusion of the amazing run of being a mayor of this amazing city, I am here today to give the key to the city to Dr Hari Shukla, and you know, just my good friend Fernando Mateo, both of you have made a mark on our city. And 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.
A proud Indian American humanitarian and a true New Yorker, Dr Hari, I’ve said this before, not all heroes wear capes. They wear white hospital gowns, police uniforms- all the other items that we show every day, and you win a lab coat using your skill as a doctor to save our families. And you are a true hero. Born in India, Dr Shukla, pursuing a career in medicine to serve others, he answered the higher calling to help his brothers and sisters in need with his polio research in India, leading to revised immunization strategies in developing nations. Immigrating to the US in 1980 he continued this groundbreaking medical research, from pioneering medical advances that are now the global standard to his work to help premature infants that is now used in the majority of hospitals in United States and throughout the world, helping countless sick infants to being triple board certified in pediatrics, neonatal parent, prenatal medicine and forensic medicine, and serving as a professor at the NYU School of Medicine, Dr Shukla has changed the face of medical science for 60 years, with passion, integrity and scientific curiosity. His dedication to medical science is only matched by his dedication to helping his fellow, brothers and sisters, giving back to his community through his humanitarian work, leading relief efforts in India, Haiti, Sri Lanka, and response to floods, earthquakes and tsunamis, and co- founded a free breast cancer clinic for South Asian women, and helped enroll over 3000 children in public health insurance programs, as well as advocating for gun violence prevention, drug addiction prevention and flood victims through his nonprofit organizations, which included South Asia of New York, incorporation in the new American voters Association. Incorporation. His extraordinary medical work has touched the lives of so many children and families. The children of New York City and the world are healthier, stronger and safer because of him. And to be able to save a child is probably the most God like effort you can ever do, and you’ve done that, and as we continue to lift up great New Yorkers, I’m just so proud that at the end of my term that I can give you the key to the city for your extraordinary public safety service and for working to better the lives of our precious children, and now for this lasting impact in medicine on the globe, in New York City, it is my honor to present the key to the city of New York, to a New Yorker, a Queens legend. You have opened our hearts, and we’re going to give you the key because we want to open your heart with the love and admiration we have for you.”
