K 153: Honoring Dr. Vertika Goel upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visionary Awards Gala on March 9, 2025

 Assembly Resolution No. 153 BY: M. of A. Cook HONORING Dr. Vertika Goel upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visionary Awards Gala on March 9, 2025 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and commend individuals whose leadership, dedication, and service have transformed communities and improved lives; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr. Vertika Goel upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visionary Awards Gala, to be held on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in celebration of Women's History Month under the theme "Women of Destiny"; and WHEREAS, Dr. Vertika Goel was born and raised in northern India in the capital city of New Delhi; she completed her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Physical Therapy at Rajiv Gandhi University in 2006 and 2007, respectively; she accumulated seven years of working experience from 2009 to 2016 as a senior Physical Therapist in India, including five years of experience handling the government physical therapy department independently in Delhi, India; and WHEREAS, In August 2016, Vertika Goel moved to the United States to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree; and WHEREAS, Currently, Dr. Vertika Goel holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree specializing in Geriatric and Pediatric Physical Therapy since 2017; with seven years of extensive hands-on experience, she takes pride in helping patients regain full mobility and independence following challenging injuries or surgeries; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, she has completed hands-on courses on vestibular rehab, lymphatic therapy, manual therapy, prevention of falls, occupational-related injury prevention, and is certified in primitive reflexology and applying sensorimotor strategies; and WHEREAS, In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Vertika Goel is the driving force behind RK Goel Care and Wellness, a non-profit medical charity; under her leadership, the organization has made significant global contributions, including providing aid to Amazon rainforest tribes in Ecuador, raising $45,000 for earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria, and offering crucial medical treatment and education on fall prevention for the elderly; she has also dedicated herself to addressing chronic pain within the community. Additionally, she hosted a fireside chat on mental health recently; and WHEREAS, Dr. Vertika Goel's efforts have been recognized and she was recently selected as a respected speaker and panelist at the 3rd Annual Key Elements of Success event; she was also honored as a Woman of Distinction by the New York State Assembly, and she received an award for her nonprofit medical charity work from Tamil Nadu Foundation USA; and WHEREAS, Dr. Vertika Goel exemplifies the spirit of leadership, resilience, and service, using her expertise to uplift communities, advocate for the underserved, and inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Dr. Vertika Goel upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visionary Awards Gala, commending her for her unparalleled contributions to healthcare, leadership, and community service; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Dr. Vertika Goel.