New York City Mayor Eric Adams presented the “Key to the City of New York” to Indian American physician, professor, and humanitarian Dr. Hari Shukla during a ceremony held on December 29, 2025, in the historic Blue Room at City Hall in Lower Manhattan. Dr. Shukla is the first Indian American physician to receive the city’s highest civic honor.

In his remarks, Mayor Adams described Dr. Shukla as a “titan” in medicine whose work has transformed medical science worldwide.

“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,” he said. “I cannot thank you enough for helping our children.”

The mayor also commended Dr. Shukla’s longstanding community service, particularly his work supporting children and the South Asian community in the United States through his nonprofit organizations, South Asians of New York Inc. and the New American Voters Association.

According to a statement from South Asians of New York, Dr. Shukla brings more than four decades of contributions in pediatrics. He is triple board-certified in Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, and Forensic Medicine, and serves as a clinical associate professor at the NYU School of Medicine.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Shukla has trained more than 300 medical residents and played a significant role in advancing neonatal care globally. His innovations in pediatric medicine have influenced modern practices worldwide, benefiting millions of critically ill infants.

Dr. Shukla’s research on the Umbilical Catheter Equation, published in 1986, continues to be widely used in hospitals across the United States and internationally. It is estimated that more than 400 million sick infants worldwide have undergone umbilical catheter insertion using his equation. His work is registered with the American Medical Association Journal and is freely available for use.

The statement noted that Dr. Shukla was a pioneer U.S. physician, and the first Indian physician globally, to use surfactant therapy in preterm infants in 1987, a practice that has since become a global standard. He is also a recipient of an award from ‘Pasture Marriuex Connout,’ a company that produces polio vaccines, in recognition of his commitment and dedication to polio eradication.

“Many Congratulations on receiving the Key to the City of New York—an extraordinary honor that reflects a lifetime of service, compassion, and leadership. The entire South Asian community is so overflowing with pride! You embody the best of medicine and humanity, bridging cultures while advancing health, dignity, and hope for millions and millions more,” District Leader and former Queens Deputy Borough President Rhonda Shamin Binda told South Asian Herald.

Binda added that Dr. Shukla’s recognition honors not only his professional achievements but also his enduring commitment to “service, equity, and the well-being of our global community.”

Dr. Shukla has received numerous prestigious honors, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025 and New York State’s highest civilian honor, the Liberty Award, in 2024, for his contributions to medicine and community service. He has also been recognized by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, and Gujarat Governor K.K. Viswanathan.

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