appna journal A BI-ANNUAL publication of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani-Descent of North America Volume 9 number 2 Winter 2007 APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 1 Portrait of an artist

Ahmad Humayun

Ahmad Humayun was born in Lahore, Pakistan, in 1940. He studied fine art under the well-known Pakistani artist, A.B. Nazir of Karachi. While in Pakistan, till 1965, he participated in several group shows, using oils as his main medium. His current interest is prominently in portraits, landscapes and still life. His earlier painting career inclined towards portraits and figure Title: “Shahada” studies in pastels and watercolor. Artist: Ahmad Humayun Private Collection: Mr. and Mrs. Badar Siddiqui

ince his arrival in Canada, from 1965, some of his landscape Sscenes are depicted somewhat in the impressionist style, with many of them painted from real life scenes in and around the Ottawa Valley and Gatineau Hills. Ahmad’s artistic talent and natural interest in Ahmad Humayun was a toddler when his art is inborn and hereditary. His father, M. father died. His father’s entire art Private collections in Pakistan, Canada Abdul Ghani, was the Royal Painter of the collection was either destroyed during the and the United States hold many of Raja of Dharbhanga, north eastern India. In independence of India, or is in unknown Ahmad Humayun’s works. the court of the Raja he was required to private, royal, and company collections. paint portraits of the Raja’s family and Ahmad’s natural art aptitude and talent A member of the Canadian Society of courtiers, murals and other art for the palace manifested itself in his early childhood, Graphic Designers, he has considerable walls. He then went to Lahore as Art Director unknown to him that he was following in his expertise in graphic arts and has won for movie studios, working on movie sets in father’s famous footsteps. many awards for design and graphics of various parts of the country and providing publications. art direction.

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 2 Alone, I cannot fight the Fight APPNA JOURNAL PUBLISHER The Association of Physicians of Pakistani-Descent of Appna Time North America President ...... Nadecm Kazi, MD

Furrukh S Malik MD President-Elect ...... Mahmood Alam, MD Past President ...... Abdul Rashid Piracha, MD Dr. Malik is a graduate of King Edward Secretary ...... Shahid Usmani, MD Medical University class of 1988. He is Treasurer ...... Rizwan Naeem, MD an advanced heart failure and transplant Publication Committee cardiologist. Presently he is the Chair of the Cardiovascular Medicine and also the Chairperson ...... M. Shahid Yousuf, MD Chair of the Heart Center at the Co chairperson...... Shahab Arfeen, MD Centennial Cardiac Center of Excellence Editor ...... Furrukh S. Malik, MD in Nashville Tennessee. Urdu editor ...... Salman Zafar, MD Editorial Assistant & Designer ...... S. Rehman t was a usual crisp winter morning in mid America. The ordinary affairs of the day were interrupted by the sad news of a political Disclaimer: Iassasination in the country of my parents. I took the news and APPNA Journal is the Bi-Annual publication of the with outward calm I walked to my next patient. Ever since I took my Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North oath as a citizen of a new country, I have detached my self from the America (APPNA). The Journal is dedicated to provid- miss happenings of the country of my birth, or so I thought. All day ing useful information to the Association‘s members with my colleagues asked me about the uncertain situation. They wanted to special emphasis on organizational matters. The views know about my parents and my family. They wanted to know more expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily about the country I wanted to forget. I shared my memories of the represent the offi cial position of either the Association or the Editor. APPNA does not assume any responsibility country and tried to answer their questions with the detached noncha- for the authors’ assertions nor does it authenticate their lant. I tried to busy myself with the daily practice but by the evening validity. Products or services advertised in the Journal are I broke under a painful anguish. neither endorsed nor guaranteed by APPNA. Reproduc- tion in whole or in part of the materials contained in this November 2007, Lahore Journal without prior written permission from APPNA is My father is ill. He fell and bled in his brain. I could tell the fear in my prohibited . sister’s voice. He needed surgery and it was not safe to operate at his age. I took the first plane to be with him. I had to go, to hold his hand PostMaster and comfort him for this may be my last chance. He bravely withstood Please send address changes to: APPNA Journal, 6414 S. a craniotomy. The psychological trauma of gastrostomy tube was Cass Avenue, Westmont, IL 60559. worse than the throbbing blood in his head. As I cleaned his face he chinned up and asked about my long flight home. I choked. It was a Subscription breeze father. Free with APPNA Membership. To apply for member- ship please go to the APPNA Website at: December 2007, Nashville www.appna.org A colder night in Nashville. We had all gathered to light a candle at the Advertising, Submission of Articles and local library. People talked and gave a voice to their emotions. Some Correspondence cried. I lit another candle and my daughter held it. She later blew it off. Tina Cederberg, Secretary, APPNA Central Offi ce For her it was akin to blowing candles on a birthday. Like blowing a 6414 S. Cass Avenue, Westmont, II. 60559 year away. How ironic I thought. Suddenly the painful truth bore into Phone: (630) 968-8585/ Fax: (630) 968-8677 me. The country of my birth is like my father. Broken, maimed and E-mail: [email protected]. hurt. Yet resolute to withstand all the high winds and at the end off the day we call it home and family. Her pain is my pain and her grief The Editor reserves the right to edit all submitted rolls down as tears across people of her flock. The more I resisted this material. thought the more it engulfed me. Like my father the country of my birth is a part of me. His resolute composure is testament to the The deadline for submission of materials for strength of his commitment to the country of my birth. Her fight is the Spring 2008 issue of the Newsletter is the fight worth fighting. A fight I cannot fight alone. March 31st, 2008.

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 3 2008 Dignity Through Development!

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APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 4 appna journal A BI-ANNUAL publication of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani-Descent of North America Volume 9 number 2 Winter 2007

APPNA Organization President’s Message, Nadeem Kazi, MD ...... 6 President Elect’s Message, Mahmood Alam, MD ...... 8 Treasurer’s Report, Rizwan Naeem, MD ...... 9 Poem A New Beginning, Farah Aziz ...... 12 Committee, Alumni and Chapter reports KEMCAANA Report, Ijaz Mahmood, MD ...... 10 Photo Gallery, M. Shahid Yousuf, MD..32 FJMC Report, Naheed Chaudhry, MD ...... 11 SMC Report, Joseph Emmanuel, MD ...... 12 Urdu Section, Salman Zafar, MD ...... 36 Georgia APPNA Chapter Report...... 14 St. Louis Fall Meeting 2007 Report, Manzoor Tariq, MD ...... 14 APPSF Chapter Report 2007 ...... 15 APCNA Chapter Report 2007, Rizwan A. Karatela, MD ...... 16 The Social Welfare Disaster Relief Committee, Saima Zafar, MD ...... 17 Report of APPNA Election Reform Committee, Dr. S. Amjad Hussain, MD .....18 Title Page, Ahmad Humayun’s Art Work Election and Nomination Committee Report, Mohammad Suleman, MD ...... 19 Ahmad Humayun’s Bio ...... 2

Editorial APPNA TIME, Alone, I cannot Fight the Fight, Furrukh S. Malik, MD ...... 3

Academia and research APPNA Merit, G. Naheed Usmani, MD ...... 31

Articles Advertisements LA Pilot Tutoring Project, Asif Mahmood, MD ...... 8 HDF...... 4 Social Forum, Bushra Sheikh ...... 17 APPNA Spring 2008 Meeting ...... 13 APPNA’s Runaway Electioneering, Syed Nadeem Ahsan, MD ...... 21 KEMCAANA 3rd Annual Retreat...... 20 Is APPNA politics following in Pakistan’s footsteps, Mahjabeen Islam, MD ....22 Business As Usual, Syed M. Ahmad, MD ...... 23 Pediatrcian Needed ...... 21 Pakistani Americans, Politics and Pakistan, Syed Mansoor Hussain ...... 24 Mercy-USA for Aid and Deveopment ...... 5 A New Day in APPNA, Zeelaf Munir, MD ...... 26 APPNA Summer Meeting ...... 20 KEMCAANA Retreat 2008 in Chicago, Arif Agha, MD ...... 26 An Exemplary Act, Zeenat Anwar, MD ...... 27 A Dream Come True, Rizwan C. Naeem, MD ...... 27 Unique Opportunity for Muslims, S. A. Rahman, MD ...... 28 Bone Marrow Registry drive, Rubina Inayat, MD ...... 29 “Palestine Peace Not Apartheid.” Book Review, Mahmood Alam, MD ...... 30

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 5 President Report

reach me by e-mail to ([email protected]) or Higher Education Commission of Pakistan Dr Saeed Akhtar ([email protected]) will support this activity which can be tele- the name of the school contains the name vised in 18 universities throughout the of the person you are donating money for Pakistan. i.e., APPNA NAME Ranger school. I request you to donate for this project and God will We have registered the trademark “APPNA” bless you for this Sadqae Jarriah. with federal patent this year so no one can use or abuse “APPNA”. This year we com- We launched APPNA MERIT (Medical municated with our members frequently Education and Research Investment using blast email system, this saved us a sub- Taskforce) and APPNA Sukoon to help to stantial amount of mailing expenses. Mash promote the health care in Pakistan. I will Allah we have raised thousand of dollars take this opportunity to thank Nationwide from out side sources during each meeting. Nadeem Kazi, MD Insurance Company for the donation of seed money of $25,000 to launch this pro- Civil Rights Initiative gram. We have also started a free tutoring We have formed a coalition with other orga- Dr. Kazi is a graduate from Sindh pilot program in Los Angeles, CA. I hope nizations which are actively fighting for the Medical College class of 1986. He did that we continue to work towards this civil rights issues faced by Muslims after his Fellowship from Loyola University important issue. 9/11 in USA. The council approved a con- Medical Center IL. Curently practicing tribution of $100,000 to Muslim Advocates gastroenterology in Casa Grande AZ. We have arranged seminar according to one (MA) to fight for APPNA members’ rights He is the Chief of Internal Medicine particular theme during council meetings. in USA and advise us on a case by case basis at CGRMC AZ. He is also President The first one on leadership and the second if our members face any such predicament. of Pinal County Medical Society. one on coalition with other organization to This is the first time we have engaged in address our civil right issues and plan to some concrete active plan to fight for our streamline our efforts to fight our rights in civil right issues. So far MA successfully beat USA. the “mapping” or massive data and intelli- gence gathering plan by LA police depart- The social and personal education our ment. They are finalizing a DVD on racial ear Fellow APPNA members members and community needs to grow profiling. This DVD will explain the law and Asalaam O Aliekum and Happy with the changing landscape. As I alluded our rights and how to handle if our member DNew Year. It has been great privi- earlier we all have to match our economic gets involved in such situations. This DVD lege to serve APPNA as President. I would prosperity with our social and interpersonal will be launched by the end of February like to thank all the officers, Board of well being. We all to have to step out of our 2008 and will be linked to our web site. They Trustees, Council members, and the com- social ghettos and join our neighbors, col- also hired a full time lawyer with the help of mittee chairs and members of 2007 who leagues at work and participate in all the our funding who will lead the racial and reli- made it possible to achieve our goals. It functions that make our life so fruitful in our gious profiling project. seems like yesterday when the membership adopted country. It is imperative for our of APPNA elected and endorsed me with survival. We are also working with Muslim Public overwhelming support. I thank you for your Action Committee (MPAC) and ISPU. immense trust in me. Here are some of the APPNA center and Organization Recently Dr Zahid Imran psychiatrist from important high lights of 2007. This year we approved several policies and APPNA and Salaam Maryati, executive procedures for our committees to run the director of MPAC met with US Department Education organization smoothly. We have bought a of Defense to discuss the psychological The year 2007 was the year designated to be new building adjacent to the existing central need of the prisoners in Guantanomo Bay. a year of education. APPNA Pakistan started office building. The new building was inau- The joint statement is published by APPNA, primary school project together with dispen- gurated on December 16th 2007. This addi- MPAC and US Defense Department which sary in remote Sindh area. They have already tional space will serve as an APPNA Center. can be found on our website. started 8 schools with the help of private APPNA center will house APPNA archives donors. The teachers and compounders for and serve as resource center for interns, Social Welfare and Relief this school are provided by the Rangers. medical students and young physicians for The earthquake relief work continues. This Each school costs from $10,000 to $12,000. research purposes. In this center we will year we inaugurated the Police Hospital in If any one likes to donate in the name of arrange leadership seminars and live video Abbotabad on October 8th 2007 and Girls their parents or loved ones please feel free to conferencing for MERIT program. The School in Kathai on December 23rd 2007.

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 6 The funds for Rawalpindi General Hospital constitution, was to have another election and further work is needed. Dr Alam APPNA orthopedic center is paid in full as which most of our members opposed and appointed an Adhoc committee for this per our commitment. The APPNA dispen- expressed their feelings through emails and project. This committee will review the work sary at Toopa Soon is to be completed in phone calls. I took the initiative to resolve done in past during Dr Hussain Maliks May of this year. The Citizens Foundation- this matter, requesting the candidates for presidency. The third is to obtain Tax- APPNA School in District Bagh is still their help. I appreciate and admire Dr. exempt status in Canada as several of our under construction and Inshalah will be com- Zeelaf Munir’s decision to withdraw her members in Canada are unable to donate for pleted this summer. We have already paid candidacy for the President-2008 in favor of APPNA projects. 50% of the cost and rest will be paid when Dr. Mahmood Alam in the larger interest of the project is completed. Mansehra the organization. I salute her exemplary lead- Once again, thank you for your support and Rehabilitation is functional since last year ership and grace for saving the Association trust. I hope I have met your expectations. and sponsored by APPNA New York from further divisiveness. My services to APPNA and our community Chapter and due to low patient load we will will continue. Finally I want to thanks central continue to support this project for three We have learnt a lot from the lawsuit of office staff especially Dr Tariq Cheema who years instead of two years. In November we 2006. Several remedial measures have been worked day and several nights to run the started a new project in Mansehra jointly undertaken, including membership verifica- office. I will always be indebted and grateful with Hope for Humanity, called Shamdara tion. I appointed an election reform com- to my wife Shani, my sons Faraaz and Farhan dispensary which also serves as mother and mittee and a detailed report has been pre- for their unconditional support due to which child care center. All donated equipment for sented to the Council for discussion on I was able to contribute to the betterment of earthquake relief is distributed to the December 15th. The report of this commit- the organization. Ministry of Heath in Azad Jammu Kashmir tee is printed in this journal. Dr Mehmood and NWFP. Alam has promised us that he will bring this report back to the first 2008 council meeting 2007 Highlights The Cytogenic Lab at National Institute of for approval. The report has its first hearing Children’s Health in Karachi was inaugu- in the council and some recommendation APPNA MERIT rated on December 27th 2007 by the chil- was given to this Adhoc committee. APPNA Sukoon dren who have received services by this Lab, The SWDR committee started several new The winter meeting was started on December APPNA Directory programs and APPNA donated $10,000 to 26th with the launching of APPNA Sukoon APPNA Center (New Building) Bangladesh Medical Association for flood in Karachi and on December 27th with the Policy and Procedures relief, $15,000 to LRBT (approx. 30,000 is CME. However, due to the unstable law and Record Membership matched by other donors), $15,000 for order situation the rest of the meeting was Pakistan flood relief ($10,000 to Red cancelled. However, we successfully launched APPNA Trade Mark Crescent and $5,000 to PMA). Another APPNA Sukoon project in Islamabad, Coalition with Muslim Advocates $7500 was given as a loan to young physi- Karachi, and Lahore. The APPNA EC Coalition with MPAC cians. The Red Crescent Pakistan is training decided to return the registration and dinner Handling Glasgow Incident our employee (Mr.Zeeshan Paracha) in ticket costs back to the registered members Pakistan for rapid response and planning of winter meeting. The CME hours will be Free Tutoring Program during disaster situation. given to the members who attended the Initiation of Election Reform meeting on December 27th and for this rea- Abbottabad Police Hospital Membership issues son CME fees will not be return to the reg- Toopa Soon Dispensary This year our membership reached record istrants. high of approximately 3000. The annual Kathai Girls School meeting was attended by a record number, There have been few of our plans that were APPNA Ranger School and 3020 attended the annual banquet. The not accomplished during this year. However, Inauguration of Cytogenic Lab annual meeting revolved around education, Inshalah Dr Mahmood Alam will continue Breast Cancer Awareness Program which included youth debates and discussion the process. First and foremost is the general on democracy and justice, coalition with body approval for the Constitution and Bone Marrow Registry for S. Asian University of Florida for CME and sports bylaws amendments. We have mailed and Hepatitis B and C project competitions. We have kept APPNA inde- emailed the recommendation several times Karachi Street Children Project pendent and not allowed any one to use this however, the response received were less Donation for Bangladesh floods platform to promote their political agenda. than the required quorum. The second is the establishment of the SWDR endowment Donation for Pakistan floods Election Reform fund and APPNA Foundation which was Donation to LRBT The re-election of President-elect 2006 was also suggested by Brother Hamza Yousuf Improve Media Relations a tie. This put APPNA in a very difficult during our Annual meeting. This was dis- situation. The only option, per our cussed in detail at the fall council meeting

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 7 President Elect’s Message

This work must continue with better assis- level. APPNA Chapters must function and tance and adequate funding in 2008 and promote their activities within the mandate beyond. The scope of work is enormous provided in the central APPNA constitution and esources are limited. Organization build- and Bylaws. All Chapters should follow the ing and resource development are needed to democratic principles and management of expand the horizon of our work. their finances should have professional assis- tance in order to maintain our legal status as First and foremost we need to get approval 501 (c) 3 organizations. APPNA is proud of of amendments to our constitution and our Alumni Associations. The smaller Bylaws from the General Body. These Alumni Associations need more assistance amendments were made in 2006 and 2007. from APPNA offices. I plan to streamline this issue with the help of our Executive The staggered term committee appoint- Director this year. Mahmood Alam, MD ments and changes in the election schedule initiation after summer meeting instead of We need to promote harmony and unity of spring are amongst those changes, which purpose in APPNA. This goal can only be need to be implemented as soon as possible. achieved with the will and conscious efforts PPNA has come of age to become The approval of the suggested changes in on the part of our leadership. We must the leading democratic grassroot the APPNA Election Code of Ethics and appreciate those leaders whose efforts organization of the Pakistani A the proposed change in the election schedule resolved the recent deadlock by putting Diaspora in North America. It is growing will together bring the reform needed to APPNA first. This is good news for APPNA. with 28 Chapters and the affiliation of 13 conduct our elections better. The staggered We have begun to learn to resolve our issues Alumni Associations at the present time. It term committee appointments should cer- within our organization. I will build bridges has made strides in the areas of medical tainly improve the governance as well as by reaching across the aisle to promote unity. relief, development, and philanthropy in the management of work planned by all the Officers come and go but the institution recent years both in Pakistan and in the committees. Moreover, it will boost very remains. Our unity will make the institution United States. It was the selfless work of our much needed institutional memory. of APPNA stronger. I look forward to volunteers that made it happen. We should working together with all the members be proud of our successful continued medi- The APPNA Chapters have been instru- regardless of their political affiliation to take cal educational programs. The passionate mental in establishing APPNA at the grass- this great organization to the next level. I help for the young physicians and the advo- roots levels. These chapters provide us with have no doubt in my mind that future of cacy for our civil liberties have been the the window of opportunity to communicate APPNA is bright and promising. areas of more focus in the past few years. with our membership at the community

LA Pilot Tutoring Project Asif Mahmood MD

lhamdo Lillah, the Pilot Tutoring We came up with first Pilot Project to help kids are already showing improvement. Project has been started. The poor and deprived school going kids with There will be a half yearly report by the end Athought initially came when we real- after school tutoring. I picked up Elmonte of January or beginning of Feb 2008. We ized that inspite of a wonderful Pakistani CA school district. I personally met with plan to have an open house at the same time community in US, there is not much recogni- superintendent of school district then with where we will invite kids, parents, teachers tion in general public. Pakistanis and spe- school principals and Mayor of the city. We and local APPNA members to review and cially APPNA have done lots of social wel- discussed the project and it was appreciated interact with each other. fare, humanitarian and charity work in much by all. Local community and school is already Pakistan and other parts of the world but praising the efforts of Pakistani doctors and not much in US. We thought that it is our I did home work in spring and summer and inshallah Allah almighty will bless more for moral responsibility to invest our services placed everything together. Tutors were the great cause. and give generously to the deserving areas in hired from AmeriCorps, Kids were selected US because we work here and earn here. Our by class teachers after assessing their perfor- I think, if this project can show better results next generation is going to be mostly doing mance and potential for improvement and both in improving poor kids per-formance everything here and we need to prepare domestic situation. Finally 5 kids were picked and make better impression of Pakistanis on grounds for them. What we do today will from each grade 5th & 6th. Tutors have been local community then we should plan to help coming generations. working with them on individual basis and extend this project to more areas. APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 8 Treasurer Report End of the Year Treasurer and Finance Committee Report

financial reports available to any member activities including Police Hospital in who is interested. In addition all APPNA Abbotabad, orphanage in Rawalpindi, related reimbursement are now done via and girls’ middle school in Kathai Azad proper documentation and signed MOUs. Kashmir are few of them.

Meeting Account Management a Total Finance committee decided to keep the Turn Around: same investment goal as of the last year. 1. In the 2006 spring meeting APPNA lost $34,661.00. This year APPNA has made Real Estate Investment: With the approval over $13,000 in proceeds from our first of the EC we bought a building next to our meeting of 2007. current building. This is the comment from 2. In summer 2007 APPNA made net profit our financial advisor Mr Hank Bashore on of $106,495 in general funds and lost this transaction. “This transaction further $30,838 in CME funds. This is a significant diversifies your portfolio of investments Rizwan C. Naeem, MD improvement from last year. into what we call a non-correlated asset class Treasurer 2007 3. In fall of 2006 APPNA lost about to the stock and bond markets, real estate. $1000.00. In fall 2007 Arizona meeting When non-correlated assets are added to a Chair APPNA Finance Committee 2007 APPNA made a net profit of $6,942 in portfolio they actually can reduce the volatil- general funds and $4,450 in the CME ity or risk to the overall portfolio due to how funds. their valuations are likely to move in oppo- 4. In Winter 2006 APPNA lost over $30,000 site directions as the economic environment Transparency has changed the trend in in 2007 we did not loose any money as part changes, therefore offsetting both gains and the financial outlook: of the meeting was canceled. losses and resulting in lesser extremes of net gains and losses to the overall portfolio.” Written Policies and Procedures are in These numbers speak for themselves for the Place. fiscal responsibility of our organization this The new asset allocation of the $1,434,426 year. This is a total turnaround in APPNA APPNA portfolio including the real estate Rotary Matching Grant for the finances of meeting management and con- as of November 28, 2007 held at Smith Cytogenetic Laboratory Project deliv- gratulations to the local host committees of Barney is as follows: Real Estate $208,000 ered. spring, summer, and fall meetings. (14.5%), Cash and equivalents $134,863 (9.4%), Fixed Income $316,183 (22.0%), In a total turnaround spring, summer Written Policies and Procedures: This and Equities $775,380 (54.1%). and fall 2007 Meetings brought signifi- year we have also developed APPNA cant proceeds. accounting methodologies and policies and In the end I wanted to thank you all for your procedures for avoiding errors and improv- trust in me and as always I am a worker and Over $50,000 proceeds from improved ing revenue collections. This will be a long my services to APPNA will continue. I also financial practices. lasting document to be followed by all in wanted to thank and appreciate our execu- future. This document will help us to be in tive director Dr. Tariq Chema without his Completion of many EQ related compliance with the new IRS requirements help this financial turnaround was not pos- Projects. on financial issues. sible. Please do contact me directly for any question or suggestions. Projected over $50,000 from Improved ear APPNA members: Return in Checking and Saving Account: [email protected] It was my pleasure to serve you as This year have moved most of our accounts 832-646-4363 Dthe treasurer and update you on into a high yield sweep account. This move the APPNA financial picture. One of the is now giving us a return of about 5% on goals we achieved this year is to make most of the money we have in the bank. APCNA 5th APPNA finances transparent for the entire This is an innovative approach for improv- membership and improve financial prac- ing APPNA’s financial health, as I believe Annual Meeting tices. every dollar in our account should yield a higher interest then checking or classical sav- at ACC Chicago Transparency in APPNA Accounts: With ing account. We expect to earn over the help and approval of the Executive $50,000.00 from the money in the bank. March 28-31 Counsel this year we have made all APPNA Timely completion of many EQ relief

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 9 KEMCAANA Report

Inaugural Session was co-chaired by requires tremendous overhauling. Professor Mumtaz Hassan, Vice Chancellor KEMCAANA hosted dinner in the honor of King Edward Medical University, and Dr. of faculty and staff of Mayo Hospital and Ijaz Mahmood, President KEMCAANA, King Edward Medical University, which was with Mr. Aslam Hamayun, honorable attended by almost 500 guests. This fun Minister of Health Punjab as chief guest. filled evening also featured a music program KEMCAANA presented plaques to by Khalil Haider. KEMCAANA computer Professor Mumtaz Hassan, Vice Chancellor, lab and computer facilities in boys and girls and Professor Riaz Bhatti, Staff President, in hostels are utilized and appreciated by stu- appreciation of their tremendous efforts dents and faculty tremendously. towards propagation of Postgraduate CME Program in addition to achievement of ele- KEMCAANA Executives had meeting with vation of King Edward Medical College to Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohammed Awais Ijaz Mahmood, MD, FACP King Edward Medical University. Two days regarding curriculum development and post- Hematologist/Oncologist of very successful CME Program featured graduate programs. King Edward Medical FACP, President KEMCAANA 2007 speakers from United States including Dr. University is starting about 30 new post- Raza Dilawari, Dr. Mubashar Rana, Dr. graduate programs and disciplines, which Naheed Usmani, Dr. Adeel Butt and myself. have been submitted to Higher Education Executive Committee Members: Representative of King Edward Alumni Council for approval and will be started as Mohammed Haseeb, MD, Secretary Association of United Kingdom and Saudi early Higher Education Council. Admission Naheed Usmani, MD, Treasurer Arabia also participated in the event. Two tests for candidates have already been given. Mubashar Rana, MD, President Elect workshops were held on December 18. First King Edward Medical University asked Khalid Mahmood, MD, Immediate Past one on ventilator management in critically ill KEMCAANA to communicate with APPNA President patients and second workshop included can- officials for hosting 2008 Annual APPNA cer care in Pakistan, and a Tumor Board Winter Meetings at KEMU Campus in he year 2007 started with Second which was very well attended by surgeons, Lahore. KEMCAANA Endowment Fund Annual KEMCAANA Retreat held radiation oncology and medical oncology is reaching million-dollar goal. Currently, we Tin New York City in March 2007. fellows and staff oncologists. Experimental are offering 35 scholarships to needy stu- Annual Dinner in Orlando featured Mr. protocols were reviewed and prospectus of dents, and the number will be increased to Mark Salley Vice President of Operations lending expert hand to the oncology unit 50 this year in addition to the loans offered ECFMG as keynote speaker, honorable Mr. through merit program and Pakistan Society to needy physicians to help them take entry- Durrani Ambassador of Pakistan as chief of Clinical Oncology were discussed. level exams abroad. guest. Dr. Raza Dilawari was the recipient Availability of chemotherapy agents on and of lifetime achievement award for his innu- off protocol was very impressive. Needs New KEMCAANA officials for 2008 Dr. merable services to APPNA and and pitfalls of the system were discussed and Mubashar Rana, President Elect, Dr. KEMCAANA, which are well known to will be presented in the Planning Session of Mohammed Haseeb, Secretary, and Dr. Pakistani American Medical Community. next KEMCAANA teleconference. Naheed Usmani, Treasurer, and Dr. Tariq KEMCAANA Winter Meeting in Lahore KEMCAANA officials also visited highly Jamil, Secretary, and Ijaz Mahmood, was held on December 17th and 18th. utilized Burn Unit at Mayo Hospital, which Immediate Past President.

Dr. Mushtaq Sheikh with Presidentail Candidate and KEMCAANA Annual Meeting 2007. Dr. Ijaz Mahmood, a guest , Drs. Arif A. Toor and Senator Ms. Hillary Clinton, Orlando, FL 2007. Prof. Mumtaz Hasan APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 10 FJMC Report

Dr. Sarwat Iqbal (Secretary) has done a won- Dr. Shaheen Mian, for her support and won- derful job in outlining the details of our derful ideas and of course Dr. Rubina Inayat, activities since the beginning of this year. for re-grouping us, putting us on track and She personally visited FJMC, Lahore, met connecting us via teleconferences and web- with Dr. Rakhshanda Tayab as well as other site. I am especially grateful to Dr. Nosheen faculty members and assessed the areas Mazhar for her voluntary participation. where our efforts are most needed. I also want to share with you, that some of I will briefly outline our accomplish- our colleagues ( FJites) have done amazing ments, goals and visions: work outside of APPNA. Dr. Noreen Zafar 1. Inception and maintenance of the schol- was in the very first group of physicians arship program. $7700 were contributed for arriving in Muzafferabad after the earth- 14 scholarships this year. quake. What an example of humanitarian Naheed Chaudhry, MD 2. Investment of the Endowment Fund, in service. President 2007, FJMC order to move towards financial stability of our organization. Another young physician from our college 3. Contribute to the AFJOG projects (please Dr. Lubna Kamal is involved in numerous check website (www.fjmcna.org) for details). local community projects. We are proud of ear friends, $2000 were donated to Behbood Vocational their accomplishments & congratulate them The year 2007 has gone by so fast. most fervently. The sad events of December ‘07 in Centre. D 4. Initiate and contribute to the educational Pakistan have been shocking, leaving us wor- Dr. Rubina Inayat is involved in the cause of activities at FJMC in the way of courses such ried, bewildered and on edge. young physicians and in projects of social as ACLS, ATLS, ALARM, as well as some welfare committee of APPNA, while she interactive teaching on the Internet. Our Let us all try to contribute as best as we can and Dr. Fauzia Rana are initiating a breast parent organization has initiated the MERIT and as much as we can to help improve the cancer awareness at local level and in Pakistan program. Dr. Sarwat Iqbal and myself have plight of the unfortunate people in Pakistan. at our Alma-matar. Let us also strengthen our resolve to help volunteered to work in the MERIT pro- gram. educate the less privileged in our communi- Again, I sincerely hope you will get in touch ties and back in Pakistan. This will be the 5. Support HDF and ANNA. Drs. Shahnaz with us via list serve or even spare just a few first step in eliminating poverty and despera- Khan and Dr. Zeenat Anwar have done minutes to join us in teleconferences and tion in these human beings, hopefully lead- wonderful work for HDF and Dr. Amna give us suggestions. Your involvement will ing to a more humanitarian society for Butter, the founder of ANAA has worked take us a long way in making a small contri- everyone to live in. relentlessly for women’s rights. We salute bution to FJMC & the less privileged people them and would love to make regular dona- in the country that gave us so much. We are a small Alumni Association in its tions to these charities. infantile stage but together we can accom- 6. Fundraising activities. This year we are One of our objectives this year was to make plish a lot. working towards arranging a musical event the Annual Summer meeting a fun get in Spring 2008. Please, send us suggestions together. We therefore tried to introduce In order for our Alumni Association to sur- for fund raising. some entertainment as well. Our sincere vive in APPNA, we have to maintain a mem- 7. Increase membership and improve com- bership of at least 25 & every year we barely thanks to Dr. Roohi Khalid and her husband reach this number. There are over 1500 munication amongst members, using the Dr. Khalid for brightening up the evening FJItes in USA according to AMA database, website, list-serve and teleconferences. with their Karaoke singing. out of which only slightly over 200 have been our alumni association’s members since In order to accomplish these goals, we need Please join us on June, 2008. I’m sure that its inception. We request the FJ graduates to your help and support. Please come forward our team will make this evening even more become members of our alumni association. and join us. The friendships that we have fun and entertaining for you all. I urge you I request you to PLEASE at least renew your developed will be cherished for life. to PLEASE register before March ‘08 so memberships, although we would love to see that you can participate in the election pro- you at least once a year, in one of the meet- I truly had a wonderful year serving you all. cess as well. ings. There is strength in numbers and we My special thanks to Dr. Sarwat Iqbal for her cannot accomplish our goals without your passion and dedication, Dr. Manzar Shafi, Regards, help. for her participation and sincere suggestions, Naheed Chaudhry, MD

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 11 SMC Report

the process once we received the documents most through ECFMG and FCVS”. 6. SMCAANA has announced the merit scholarships for SMC Medical students, but the Vice Chancellor of DUHS, Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, MD. Masood Hamid Khan requested to amend SMCAANA President 2007. the program as merit and in need basis. The numbers and amount is being discussed, the selection committee will include the ear All: members from Karachi and North It was December 26th 2007. The America. DKhwaja Moin Hall of SMC was 7. The SMC visiting faculty program was jam packed with students, teacher and col- discussed and has been approved by Dr. leagues. We were warmly received at the gate Masood Hamid Khan, and with grace of and escorted to the hall by local security. God the first participant will organize the A New Beginning After many years I was in familiar surround- lectures, seminars, workshops, clinical rota- ings. It was unforgettable and priceless tion for Students of Dow university of May each heart be fi lled with hope, moment. I was overwhelmed. I think Javed, Health sciences in March, 2008. Love knock at every door. Farrukh, Friya, Ejaz, Kamal, Rizwan, 8. The SMCAANA president for 2008, Dr. Nadeem, Viqar, Mohsin Haidri and others Ejaz A. Khan has agreed to continue all May the children’s tears stop fl owing, had similar feelings. SMCAANA 2007 projects and SMC win- The poor hunger no more. ter meeting in Karachi, endowment fund SMC Winter meeting 2007 was one of the etc. I have extended full support to New May the greedy fi nd a conscience, successful events of SMC. Academic ses- President of SMCAANA. sion was excellent. Many academic SMC May we all learn to forgive. alumni including Dr. Viqar Qureshi from I am personally thankful to Dr. Sameer May we realize that we are One, England, Dr. Majid Rana from Karachi par- Qureshi, the President of SMCAA Pakistan Learn to live and let live. ticipated. The evening program was well and his team for organizing such a successful organized and well attended. We had healthy event in coordination with SMCAANA. Let discussion with the vice Chancellor of us continue SMC Winter meeting May your sorrows hurt me more. DUHS and the Director of JP MC. and SMCians will be more supportive in Your joys make me smile. coming years. Following are high points of my report. May we make this a peaceful world, 1. Dr. Jumma agreed to keep providing the If only for a while. clinical teaching, training and clinical rota- The Publication tion to medical students of SMC. May creed and color count no more, 2. Dr. Masood Hamid Khan is working to Committee 2007 Borders fade away. build the Teaching Hospital for SMC; the probable site is the hostels of SMC which would like to Make room in your hearts for everyone, have been vacated. We are told that the It is the only way. grant for the hospital is in process of thank all approval from Higher Education Com- Poet: Farah Aziz mission. contributors for their 3. Dr. Farooq Sattar announced the contin- ued support of SMC cause and said “we will active participation raise SMC issue in national and provin- The following beautiful pic and the dua cial assemblies”. and wish the poem was sent by a friend Arif Khan 4. I was surprised to see the 60 computers Written on 31 December 2007, partly in terminals in SMC digital Library. 2008 committee response to the recent horrible events 5. I discussed the issue of verification of in Pakistan The poet is also a potter and credentials, documents and transcript with a successful year an educator based in England. student section in charge Mr. Rashid. I was informed, ”Now there is no fee for verifica- of publication. tions of documents so we have expedited APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 12 Save the Date!

APPNA

Spring Meeting 2008

March 21-23

Louisville, KY Marriott Downtown

CME Activity Council Meeting Current Affairs Dinner at Derby Museum Banquet & Entertainment

Mahmood Alam, MD President

Zaka u Rahman, MD Meeting Chair

Syed A. Samad Sajid Chaudhary Manzoor Tariq Nadeem A. Kazi President-Elect Secretary Treasurer Past-President

Association of Physicians of Pakistani-descent of North America T: (630) 968-8585 F:(630) 968-8677 E: [email protected] W: www.appna.org Registration is Open!

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 13 Georgia APPNA Chapter Report

eorgia APPNA chapter annual fall for the President 2008 was followed by a At the conclusion, new members were meeting on Nov 17 2007 at Holiday presentation on malpractice, HIPAA and enrolled, existing memberships were renewed GInn Select was a great success. The liability by Mr. Christopher Simon, a lawyer. and a large number of doctors became life credit goes to Dr.Khaliq Rehman, the current Dr. Michael Lyles, a psychiatrist talked about members. Every year the fall meeting will be Georgia APPNA chairman, Dr. Yaseen depression. A large number of psychiatrists held in the weekend before Thanksgiving. Abubaker, Dr. Adnan Abbasi, Dr. Waheed and internist in the audience were enthralled Georgia APPNA will have a Women’s Forum Malik, Dr. Shirazi, Dr. Farzana Bharmal and and asked very relevant questions, this part also, they will have their own activities, Dr. last but not the least Dr. Shahid Rafi q. In the of the program was beautifully conducted Farzana Bharmal and Dr. Roohi Abubaker last 10 years Atlanta has become a thriving by Dr. Roohi Abubaker, a psychiatrist. Dr. have some exciting events planned for 2008. city, with a large infl ux of population. There Khaliq Rehman, President of GA-APPNA, Georgia Chapter of APPNA hopes to host are close to 300 Pakistani descent physicians presided over the business meeting and the annual summer meeting in Atlanta very in Georgia, with 150 in Atlanta area alone. announced the names of the nominees for soon. Georgia happens to be the home town of the 2008 cabinet. Dr. Mohammed Yaseen Coca Cola, CDC, CNN and proud of having Abubaker, a rheumatologist, was elected the one of the most prestigious Universities, the President, Dr. Adnan Abbass the original Emory University. nominee for Secretary General withdrew at the last moment lending some drama during The meeting’s agenda was to revive the meeting but we are sure that he will APPNA forum in GA, bring GA APPNA agree, for the treasurer Dr. Wahid Malik was members together, and support our parent elected. After a sumptuous dinner, the local organization, to discuss the new project and artist Azhar and Laxmi performed. Azhar to hold the elections and announce the cabinet sang Mehdi Hasan’s golden old ghazals but for the year 2008. One hundred physicians he stole the show when he sang with great attended the meeting. The welcome address pathos late Amanat Ali national song, “Aye given by Dr. Yaseen Abubaker, the nominee watan pyare watan, pak watan”.

St. Louis Fall Meeting 2007 Report

evening had a full agenda including great Zaki Taji and Hamnawa was very well CME, a business meeting, election for the received, and the food catered by Saffron 2008 Executive Council, and an excellent restaurant was excellent. Qawwali program. My heartiest congratula- tions go out to the newly elected Executive With the record profitable Spring APPNA Council of APPNA-St. Louis Chapter: Executive Council meeting, and along with this latest most successful fall meeting, President: Shazia Malik APPNA-St. Louis has set new benchmark. General Secretary: Nadeem Ahmed This is entirely to members of the St Louis chapter and office bearers. Their efforts Treasurer: Mujtaba Qazi must be applauded and thanked. Members at Large: Junaid Syed, Jamshaid I am confident that the newly elected Agha, Mohammad Haseeb Executive Council of 2008 can build upon Manzoor Tariq, MD this success and take our chapter to new One of our greatest accomplishments dur- heights. ing this meeting was fund raising for APPNA he year 2007 has been a remarkable sehat. Over $35,000 was raised used for Wassalam, and dynamic year for the St. Louis humanitarian efforts. This is an historic Manzoor Tariq APPNA Chapter. The year ended amount raised by any APPNA Chapter or T Alumni. It also helps cement St. Louis with the fall meeting which was held on November 17, 2007 at the Hilton at the Chapter’s status as a leader within APPNA. Ballpark in downtown St. Louis. The The entertainment by Qawwal M Zaman

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 14 APPSF Chapter Report 2007 “APPSF DAY” Proclaimed in the City of Miami by the Mayor.

PPNA-South Florida Chapter The APPSF Second Annual Youth Debate Dr. I. Zafar Hamid, President of APPSF (APPSF) is a professional, secular, was held on May 22, 2007 at the Broward welcomed the elected offi cials from the offi ce Aand non-political organization. Community College Campus. The topic of Congesswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, of Our main goal is to bring the community for the High School debaters was “ Islamic 18th district of Florida, representatives of together along with keeping up with our own Institutions have failed the American Muslim the Mayor of Miami City and the Mayor of professional activities. Youth”. The topic for the Middle school Miami-Dade County, offi cers from the Miami youth was “Is America ready for a woman offi ce of Homeland Security, members of The organization provides a platform in the president”. Indeed, the debate was very APPSF, SMC graduates from across the South Florida community. We, Pakistani- engaging. country, their families and friends. He spoke origin citizens should be an active part of about the need to provide the environment our adopted land. In order to achieve this, The fi rst ever APPNA Youth Debate 2007 for physicians to get together. He also the community must fi rst be strong. Our and participation of our youth in different emphasized the need to bring the Physicians community will be strong, if we as individuals SAYA activities in our Annual APPNA and the community together. play our part fi rst. Let’s pool our resources Meeting in Orlando, under the leadership and help our community collectively with of President of SAYA, Najia Hamid was On behalf of APPSF, he received the sincere and open hearts. For, if our hearts outstanding. proclamations from the offi ce of Mayor of are in the right place, everything is possible. Dade County and from the offi ce of Mayor The APPSF Annual function 2007 was of Miami. Both Proclamations appreciated APPSF, although in infancy, had a very busy held on the fi rst weekend of November at and recognized the services of APPSF in and rewarding year in 2007. The membership Marriott Hotels and Resort, Miami, FL. The regards to social, medical and community increased and the membership along with turn-out was great with over 450 (in state and projects. Manuel A. Diaz, Mayor of the City the help of the community was able to bring out of state) guests attending this wonderful of Miami declared Saturday, November 3rd as about a number of activities. event. “APPSF DAY” in the City of Miami and it is recorded in the city history books forever. We were able to hold multiple General On Friday, November 2nd,2007 the Body Meetings over the year which proved medical lecture/dinner was held at the The leading Urdu singer in North America, to be very productive for the organization. Bay Grill Marriott. Dr. Suhail Punjwani Mr. Javed Raza was welcomed with thunderous Medical Lectures /Dinner arranged by Dr. delivered a lecture on the “Management of applause and in return he captivated the Sabiha Rehman were all very well-attended Schizophrenia”. The APPSF general body audience with his wonderful melodious voice. and informative events. meeting was conducted by Dr. Rahat Abbas, The female singer from California was a big General Secretary of APPSF. Dr. Zafar surprise of the evening. She sang superbly On social and welfare front, our support in Hamid, MD, President APPSF encouraged all and harmonized elegantly with Javed Raza in the relief efforts for Earthquake in Pakistan the physicians to become APPNA members all the songs. All through the evening, the and the Katrina victims have been shining and support the parent organization APPNA. guest enjoyed the steady supply of Starbucks moments of this organization. One of the The members and the guests enjoyed a very Coffee and Tea. The kulfi and paan was again projects APPSF is supporting, is the skills family oriented musical evening later in the a pleasant surprise available for the guest cum education, “One Rupee School” in Khuda evening. throughout the evening. From 10 pm until Ki Basti in Surjani Town, Karachi. During the 1 am in the morning, the duet enthralled the past holidays season, our toy drive, headed by On Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 in Annual audience with their performance. Dr.Iftikhar Hanif and his team was very well Function the guests entered the Marriott’s appreciated by the young and sick patients of Grand Ballroom, to a presentation of APPSF Miami Childrens’ Hospital. last year’s events in pictures with elegant sitar music. To highlight the importance of being The innovative program, , “Ek Sham Urdu ke part of the adopted land as the productive Naam”, a tribute to Urdu, in the spring, was community of USA while keeping their a great success. The program highlight was a heritage, a DVD presentation depicted with small Urdu play, “Pehchaan” by our children. wonderful nostalgic and patriotic pictures It depicted the importance of keeping Urdu of Pakistan and USA with moving music complementing the contents. The audience alive in our lives so that our children will not Working Committee, APPSF Annual Function 2007 forget their language and heritage. enjoyed the presentations.

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 15 APCNA Chapter Report 2007 APCNA Annual Winter Meeting 2007 December 17 – 26 2007- Peshawar

The Interventional Workshop: Live from Cardiology Supplies Donation: Half a Rizwan A. Karatela, MD FACC, Cardiac Cath lab Million Dollars Worth of Supplies President APCNA (www.apcna.net) The workshop was conducted by Drs. The cardiac supplies collected and brought by APCNA members were officially donated he Fourth APCNA (Association of Arshad Rehan and Javed Suleman. The to Lady Reading Hospital. The supplies Pakistani-Descent Cardiologists of arrangements for the direct telecast from included; permanent pacemakers, coronary North America) annual winter meet- cath lab to lecture room were made by the T stents, cardiac catheters, guide wires, CVP ing was held on December 17th, 2007 in special team of audiovisual experts brought catheters, sheaths and others total worth Peshawar. APCNA hold its annual winter in from Karachi. During this workshop, for meetings in various medical colleges and about half a million dollars. The President the first time in Peshawar, Intravascular affiliated teaching hospitals on a rotational APCNA, Dr. Rizwan Karatela presented the basis with Core Curriculum Didactic teach- Ultrasound (IVUS) device was used during donation of supplies to Professor Hafizullah ing lectures for medical students and house- the intervention. Three cases of elective who thanked the APCNA members for staff and Cardiology Hands-on Workshops PTCA and Stenting were performed by Drs. these valuable supplies which are needed for for the house-staff and faculty. The first Javed Suleman and Arshad Rehan with live non-affording and deserving patients. meeting was held in NICVD/Dow in telecast of the cases as they were being per- APCNA renewed its commitments to bring- Karachi, in 2004, the second meeting in formed for teaching and discussion in the ing the cardiology supplies every year for the RMC & AFIC, Rawalpindi in 2005, and the deserving patients. third meeting was held in KEMC & Mayo lecture hall. Hospital, Lahore in 2006. This year APCNA members who traveled to Pakistan for the meeting included; Professor Sultan Ahmed (NJ), Dr. Wajid Baig (RI), Dr. Naeem Khan (IN), Dr. Arshad Rehan ( OH), Dr. Javed Suleman (NY), Dr. Rizwan Karatela (FL), Dr. Nadeem Afridi (MA), Dr. Agha Waquar Haider (PA).

Cardiology Lectures, Core Cardiology Lectures at Lady Reading Hospital. The venue of annual winter meeting was Lady Reading Hospital and Khyber Medical College. Drs. Naeem Khan and Arshad  Rehan were the co-chairs of the meeting. The faculty headed by Professor Hafizullah   welcomed the visiting APCNA members.  From right Dr. Arshad Rehan and Dr. Javed Suleman performing Eight lectures were delivered by APCNA PTCA with local faculty.  members on current cardiology topics. The  lectures were geared towards the core cardi-   ology topics for the junior faculty and medi-  cal students. Each lecture was followed by Q  & A sessions. 

 Dr Naeem Khan Speaking on PVD APCNA Donation of Cardiology Supplies   APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 16      

 The Social Welfare Disaster Relief Committee

A TV program, Safeer-e Pakistan, was pro- The cyclone in Bangladesh was another duced on Breast Cancer Awareness, funded calamity that struck our part of the world. by the Committee members, Dr. Naser We again sought the help of our member- Qureshi and Dr. Omar Atique. ship and received $10,000, that was given to Bangladeshi Medical Association in USA to A Bone Marrow Registry for individuals of be passed on for the rescue and relief Pakistani origins was initiated, as a first one efforts. A generous APPNA member on behalf of APPNA. This was done in donated $100,000 to the 300,000 Pakistanis partnership with SAMAR (South-East Asian who are stranded in Bangladesh and are liv- Marrow Registry). ing in deplorable circumstances. They are deprived of food, shelter and basic necessi- Saima Zafar, MD We started the ground work on establishing ties of life on most days and the presence of Chair, Social Welfare and Disaster an endowment fund for our committee. This health care and education is non-existent. Relief Committee 2007, APPNA is still in the process and will be completed, God willing, in 2008. We raised $16,000 from our membership for he Social Welfare Disaster Relief Layton Rahimtoola Benevolent Trust (LRBT) Committee (SWDR) began 2007 Hepatitis B and C prevention education in (Pakistan), a great organization that helps Twith a hope to follow the wonderful Pakistan is another project we developed treat blindness free of cost in Pakistan. We accomplishments of the past year. Our with the help of a transplant hepatologist had another APPNA member who matched committee members worked with dedica- trained at University of Pittsburgh, Dr. this donation 100%, we were therefore able tion as we brought up new projects, essen- Shahid Habib. This is being piloted in part- to raise a total of $32,000. Over the years tially on a monthly basis. We set targets for nership with The Citizens’ Foundation, using different sums have been donated to LRBT. their completion and formed subcommit- their secondary school teachers and children, tees so that some of us could focus closely as the first group who will be educated on Young physicians come to USA from on each facet of the project. Hepatitis B and C prevention. Pakistan with meager means and lots of I am happy to say that we collected approxi- dreams. We have established a fund that will Other important projects included Street mately $200,000 combined for the 2007 provide them interest free loans that can be projects, mainly from our membership. The Children in Karachi, where 20 children were paid off two to three years after they start SWDR committee members donated gener- sponsored for a year to get free education training. This will help create a cycle that will ously each time we asked for funding, and supplies. This will help them to stay off continue to bring and nurture talent from whether it was for Street Children in Karachi, the streets of Karachi and away from sexual our country and into APPNA. or the Cyclone in Bangladesh. We launched exploitation and child labor. a website for Breast Cancer Awareness We thank all the members for their support http:appnahayat.org. This was an important The floods in Baluchistan received immedi- and participation and look forward to any milestone for us. APPNA operated a booth ate attention with the membership donating ideas and help we can get from you in for breast cancer awareness at ISNA 2007 a total of $37,000. This was distributed to future. convention to educate the Muslim women Pakistan Medical Education, Edhi founda- from all ethnic backgrounds. tion and Red Crescent Society.

Bushra Sheikh Committee of Alliance got its independent exceptionally good I was very impressed by President status according to Mrs. Razia Chisti (First their acedemic achivements, personalities, Social Forum Chair Person) but still, it has a strong bond ideas and concerns. Girls and boys were with Alliance. Function of this committee is roughly in equal numbers. The meeting was to introduce our young professionals to each very successful. As parents we can only First of all, I would like to thank Drs. other for matrimonial purposes, many par- guide our children and pray for them, the Nadeem Kazi, Mahmood Alam, Shahid ents feel that it is the hard felt need of rest is in Allah’s will. Usmani and Tariq Cheema for their help and APPNA. It certainly needs lot of work to be Many concerned parents showed interest support and then I am very obliged to my successful. and many of them were in favor of creating committee Co Chair Dr. Riffat Qureshi and In summer 2007 most of the registration a website for pre introduction. Large num- members Dr. Roh Afza Afridi, Mrs. Shafqat was done in Florida but eventually 60 young ber of members and officials volunteered to Khan and Mrs. Sajida Arain for their Professionals attended the Friday evening help. I hope every year it will grow bigger Cooperation. Social Forum off shoot meeting. All the participants were and will be one of the best committies.

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 17 Report of APPNA Election Reform Committee December 2007

It has also been noted that candidates spend The Committee met by conference call with up to $100.000 in order to get elected and Dr. Nadeem Kazi, President and Dr. Tariq as such to contest APPNA elections has be- Cheema, Executive Director APPNA on come an expensive and for some members a November 18 and November 25, 2007 to prohibitive preposition. discuss terms of reference and to obtain background information. In addition Dr. Many members drew comparisons with Kazi was requested to seek the input from other professional organizations where such APPNA Executive Council in this process. practices are not allowed. They also pointed out that even ethnic professional organiza- Terms of Reference tions like American Association of Physi- After due deliberation and discussion the cians of Indian-Origin (AAPI) and ethnic committee agreed to following terms of ref- professional organizations of Philipinos, erence: Bangladeshis and Latinos do not indulge in 1. The committee will recommend a code of Dr. S. Amjad Hussain such practices. ethics for candidates seeking APPNA leader- ship positions. Such complaints have been heard many 2. The code will have clear and unambigu- Dr. S. Amjad Hussain served as the 4th times in the past and on occasions APPNA ous guidelines and proposed action in case president of APPNA (1982-83). He is an leadership has recommended guidelines to of violation of Code of Ethics. 3. The Code of Ethics will have a clear emeritus professor of thoracic and clean up the election process. The following documents are part of APPNA records and mechanism for the redress of possible com- cardiovascular surgery at the University of were studied by the committee. plaints and grievances arising during election Toledo, College of Medicine and an op-ed process. columnist for the daily Blade of Toledo. 1. The Constitution and Bylaws of APPNA 4. The code of conduct would have to be Among his eight published books include pertaining to elections (Chapter 20). endorsed and approved by APPNA Execu- APPNA Qissa: A History of the 2. Code of conduct for APPNA elections tive Council. By virtue of being the legisla- Association of Pakistani Physicians of North dated October 2, 2004. It was signed by Dr. tive body of APPNA, the approval of this America (2004) and Dar-e-Maktab (2005). Omar Atiq (President APPNA 2004). document by the Executive Council will have 3. Code of conduct for APPNA elections the force of bylaw. compiled by Dr. S. Sultan Ahmed (undated 5. The committee will submit its report to president Nadeem Kazi before December r. Nadeem Kazi, (president AP- document) 15, 2007. PNA 2007) appointed an ad hoc 4. APPNA election policy and procedure Election Reform Committee (re- February 25, 1997. D Deliberations ferred to in this document as Committee) in In all, the committee met four times by tele- early November 2007 to look into current Unfortunately because of lack of will by AP- PNA leadership and Executive Council the phone conference call and discussed previ- election procedures and recommend guide- ous guidelines and adopted the following lines to streamline the process. Dr. Kazi fur- existing guidelines and proposed reforms were never put in practice. Consequently the document called APPNA Nomination and ther assured the Committee that he would Election Guidelines Document. This docu- practice of intense and intrusive electioneer- present the report of the committee to the ment is in conformity with the Constitution ing continues. Executive Council of APPNA soon thereaf- and Bylaws of APPNA. ter for approval. Committee During the last meeting on December 9, Background 1. Dr. S. Amjad Hussain, chair Founding 2007 Dr. Sultan Ahmad could not attend be- There has been a general impression among member of APPNA and past President cause he was traveling overseas. He did give APPNA members that election process 1982-83 his consent to the committee after discussing has, over the years, become cumbersome, 2. Dr. Aslam Malik APPNA President broad outline of the document during previ- expensive and unclean. There are an ever- 1984-85 ous meetings. increasing number of mailings being sent 3. Dr. Khalid Riaz President APPNA to membership by candidates. In addition 1993-94 Only one communication was received re- the members have also complained about 4. Dr. S. Sultan Ahmad Chairman AP- garding proposals for election reforms. Most repeated unsolicited phone calls. To many PNA Constitution and Bylaws Committee of the suggestions were outside the scope of members the practice of using commercials 1981-82 this committee. However those pertaining on ethnic TV cable outlets is unprofessional 5. Dr. Irfan ul Haq Past president APPNA to election process were taken into consid- and distasteful. Chapter New Jersey eration. APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 18 The APPNA Nomination and Election Re- 6. The NEC shall follow the rules of pro- jurisdiction of APPNA to resolve all dis- form Guidelines Document has the unani- cedures as outlined in APPNA bylaws and putes and grievances. Furthermore all can- mous agreement of the Committee. rules and regulations approved by the Execu- didates shall agree that upon conclusion of tive Council. Any proposed changes in exist- APPNA procedures for dispute resolution APPNA Nomination and Election ing rules or adoption of new rules shall be the decision arrived at by APPNA shall be Guidelines Document approved by APPNA Executive Council. FINAL and shall not be subject to any re- All dates pertaining to nomination and elec- 7. No candidate or his/her supporters shall course outside APPNA whether juridical or tion process shall have prior approval of indulge in any electioneering or canvassing extra juridical in any state of the union. APPNA Executive Council. APPNA mem- except what is outlined under item #8 below. 14. The following shall be the mechanism bers contesting for any position in APPNA These shall include advertisements of any for addressing complaints and grievances shall abide by the following guidelines. kind, television and radio commercials, and arising out of Nomination and Election pro- appearance on radio and television shows to cess: 1. Candidates shall fi le the offi cially ap- promote directly or indirectly a candidacy or a. The complaint is lodged with Nomi- proved form with the Nominating and Elec- a candidate. The only exception would be ad- nation and Election Committee. If the is- tion Committee (NEC) by the date set by vertisement in APPNA Journal and publica- sue is not resolved to the satisfaction of the NEC. tions of APPNA chapters. person lodging the complaint, it should be 2. The application shall be accompanied by 8. Telephone calls, direct mailings and faxes appealed to: formal nominations as required by APPNA to members shall be permitted as long as b. Ethics and Grievances Committee. If bylaws and rules of procedure. The Nomi- the member is not on a NO Call, No Mail, the issue is still unresolved the person lodg- nating and Election Committee may at its No Fax list maintained by APPNA. The list ing the complaint should appeal to: discretion nominate additional candidates if shall be made available to candidates free of c. The Board of Trustees. The decision the Committee thinks that to be in the best charge by APPNA. of the Board of Trustees shall be fi nal and interests of APPNA. The NEC would not 9. No candidate shall indulge in any nega- binding and shall not be subject to judicial or have the authority to reject a candidate as tive campaigning. This includes mentioning a extra judicial review or recourse. long the person fulfi lls the nomination re- candidate’s name directly or indirectly. quirement as set in APPNA bylaws and elec- 10. Any violation of the Code of Conduct It is emphasized that the above process tion rules of procedures. shall be ground for removing a candidate’s shall take precedent over other business and 3. NEC shall obtain in writing the candi- name from the election process. should be conducted expeditiously. While date’s consent that this code is biding under 11. A candidate may be held responsible for the complaint resolution is in motion next all circumstances. the violation of this code by his/her sup- step in the nomination and election process 4. NEC will announce the slate of candidates porters. shall be withheld till the resolution of the to membership in timely fashion as outlined 12. Any APPNA member who indulges in complaint. in bylaws and election rules and procedures. campaigning on behalf of a candidate or 5. NEC shall circulate among APPNA mem- does so independently may be suspended Respectfully submitted. bers brief and concise bio data of candidates. from membership and/ or denied the privi- S. Amjad Hussain MD, FRCSC, This bio shall conform to a standard format lege to vote in the election. FACS Chair, APPNA Election Reform for all candidates. 13. All candidates shall acknowledge the sole Ad Hoc Committee December 12, 2007 Election and Nomination Committee Report ear APPNA Members, tentative schedule was also provided if the ASAK council recommended reelection. APPNA As you all know APPNA’s reelec- Executive Council had an emergency meet- D ing and with a close vote recommended to tion was held last November as was man- dated by Illinois Court, for the position of have a shared presidency if both candidates President elect 2008. The Ballot counting agreed with it (a shared presidency still had was done on December 1 after another delay to be approved by the general body). of 2 weeks after objections of the candi- Dr. Nadeem Kazi did an excellent job in dates. After counting on December 1, 2007 convincing both candidates to come to an both candidates Dr. Mahmood Alam and amicable decision. Dr. Zeelaf Muneer with- Mohammad Suleman, MD Dr. Zeelaf Muneer both got 612 votes. drew in favor of Dr. Mahmood Alam mak- Chair, Election Committee There were over 110 votes discarded either ing him President of APPNA for year 2008. thank the President Dr. Nadeem Kazi for being postmarked late or having no signa- I congratulate Dr. Zeelaf being magnani- giving our election and Nomination tures on the envelopes. The report was pre- mous for the sake of APPNA and thank her Committee to serve APPNA. I also want to sented to the APPNA Executive Council for for her services to APPNA and wish her thank my committee members for their valu- their consideration with the recommen- good luck for her future endeavors. I con- able advice and help in the election process dation of either a shared presidency or a gratulate Dr. Mahmood Alam for being (Dr. Farooq Mirza, Dr. Mufiz Chauhan, Dr. reelection, According to the bylaws if there elected APPNA president for year 2008. I Ishaq Chishti, Dr. Shaukat Khan. Dr. Aftab was a tie vote reelection is mandatory. A am sure he will do an excellent job. I want to Ahmad and Dr. Raza Hassan. APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 19 Hewlett-Packard Company

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APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 20 APPNA’s Runaway Electi oneering A Plea for Reform

services to APPNA, they are also sent Even conservative estimates suggest that subliminal messages about whether the the cost for running these campaigns can candidate was a Jamati or a Surkha in college, run into the hundreds of thousands of whether he or she is from Lahore or Karachi, dollars. In a free country what Pakistani whether his or her native tongue is Urdu or physicians should do with their money Pashto etc. should of course be up to them, but, that said, when their extravagance, exuberance The recent ruling by a court of law declaring and lust for offi ce starts to become the an APPNA election null and void is only the source of so much angst and embarrassment for the Association’s hapless members then most recent indignity that this Association has there is indeed need for there to be some suffered at the hands of offi cers and ethically- introspection on the part of the Association challenged candidates. In the past, rumors itself. stoking the fi res of seeming indiscretion Syed Nadeem Ahsan, MD have included a successful candidate’s offi ce The following then is a proposed Code of manager paying for the membership dues of Ethics for Elections that could serve to dozens of new members. No substantive bottle up the genie again. ver the years APPNA’s ranks have investigation of this very serious allegation been growing steadily. With this was ever conducted. At least none was 1. It will be considered in poor taste and growth has come a new trend that O communicated to the membership. There unbecoming a member of the Association of ever intensifying electioneering activity have apparently been recurrences since for a candidate, or any other member of the amidst constantly reverberating rumors then, with unqualifi ed people being inducted Association on behalf of a candidate. of improprieties. What makes APPNA into membership without their credentials a. To send or forward a letter, email, or any unique in this regard is that no other medical being checked. And thus far no offi cer of other form of communication regarding the ‘professional’ society in the US appears to the Association has been chastised for his or election that (i) is not individually addressed; have so many aspiring offi cers willing to her role in the perpetuation of this badness. (ii) is to a member who does not have a invest so much of their own time, money Accountability is obviously not something personal relationship with the sender; or (iii) and reputation into running for intra-mural APPNA wishes to take overly seriously at is regarding a candidate who does not have a elections. this point and even in the aftermath of the personal relationship with the sender; recent legal debacle that has laid bare the b. To directly distribute any item, irrespective It is not clear why the stakes appear to be Association’s inadequacies, no effort appears of its value, that refers to or that otherwise so high in this particular game. Is it that to have been made to discipline errant promotes a member’s candidacy. the candidates are just burning up with the offi cers such that recurrences of these lapses c. To sponsor in any way the membership of new and pre-existing members by way of desire to serve their community? Or is it can be discouraged. that they are quite desperate for whatever garnering their votes for the candidate. little refl ected glory can be garnered from The Associations’ own Journal reads like holding APPNA offi ce for a year; the chance the election pamphlet of a political party, for otherwise irrelevant men and women with just about every other page adorned to be photographed with important people by the earnest faces and bios of aspirants J-1 PEDIATRICIAN both here and in Pakistan? Or does APPNA to the Associations offi ce. And as if the Needed offi ce lead to stature in Pakistan that could barrage of electioneering emails, letters and for LaFollette, Tennessee then be traded for lucre or ministerial rank phone calls wasn’t enough, we frequently there? For as Faiz said ... kuchh tau hai jiss se see the campaigning for APPNA offi ce hui jaati hai chilman rangeen! spilling over to lay Pakistani TV channels Full time J-1 position available and publications as well, where befuddled lay for a Pediatric Clinic in In this seeming free-for-all, much of the community members get a substantially less LaFollette, Tennessee. atavism that we were supposed to have left than heartwarming display of the free-for- behind in the motherland has resurfaced with all melee that goes by the name of APPNA Kindly e-mail SHAHID HASNAIN, a vengeance. Voters are expected to consider, Elections. That much of the content of these MD, MPH at [email protected] amongst other things, the candidate’s ethnic, campaigns ranges from mildly unsavory to linguistic, college and party affi liations. So downright nasty most certainly does not help OR call 423-562-4149 for further details. while the general membership is reminded bolster the image of Pakistani physicians in ad nauseam about the candidate’s wonderful the US. APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 21 Is APPNA politics following in Pakistan’s footsteps

Time was that APPNA’s presidency was a bit When the ties happened even the most tena- of a low profile, low key position. People cious can tire. Maybe many of us look at life just rose through the ranks of treasurer and events as little messages from God. Perhaps secretary and became president. Over the based on this when the pressure came from last 10-15 years or so, the desire to become various quarters, both candidates were forced APPNA president has become, for some of to look at a solution other than the constitu- us, the be-all and end-all of living. We take tion-enshrined one of a third election. sabbaticals from our practices and spend incredible sums of money, in the realm of A vociferous objection is that when trouble $100,000-$250,000, for a one year term as shooting meetings were held why was so and APPNA president. This is spent on satellite so not invited. To me the answer is self-evi- television ads, personal appearances at din- dent. And perhaps that is so because I am a ners and bashes across the nation, four-color participant in the APPNA listserv and know glossy ads in magazines and mailings to the that it can be entirely cacophonous. The Mahjabeen Islam, MD general membership. more the merrier true, but not when one has to find a solution, for then the larger a group Caught in the Catch-22 of processes, consti- the more unwieldy it becomes and a solution Dr. Mahjabeen Islam is a freelance columnist, tution, bylaws and committees, we have not proportionally remote. family physician, addictionist, palliative care and been able to pass Election Reform with the hospice specialist practicing in Toledo Ohio. rapidity that the organization so desperately In the discussions between Drs. Munir, needs. Alam and Kazi, Dr. Munir decided with tre- mendous grace and magnanimity to with- PPNA members speak with pride This last election between Dr. Zeelaf Munir draw from the election, allowing thus Dr. of APPNA’s democratic underpin- and Dr. Mehmood Alam was unique to the Alam to become president APPNA for nings. With everything touched by point of being downright eerie. In the “first 2008. A election” apparently individuals that were Pakistani hands though, APPNA politics threatens to weaken the organization to the not physicians ended up voting, and upon I found out when I was in Pakistan and will point that instead of associating ourselves this discovery, APPNA was taken to court admit that it precipitated a brief vertigo. proudly with it, we may find ourselves dis- by Dr. Munir. The court upheld the chal- This happening in APPNA? People give up owning it. lenge and ordered a second election. Dr. their dreams and their dollars so easily? You Alam filed a stay order of sorts which the mean there are people alive that actually look “A social club” is one label for APPNA. court denied, and ordered that the second at the larger good of the organization and prevent it from bleeding from election, after “Diamonds, Jaguars and bhangras” is all they election proceed. There was a tie after the election after election? Especially a third one indulge in has been another lament. “They general membership voted, and again when in which a large number of the membership just come to get their children married” the Council voted. The choice by the would not have voted, for they were so dis- complain the children. And the irony and Constitution and Bylaws is to hold another pain hurts anew, for the collective financial enchanted with this sordid saga by now election. A significant number of vocal anyway. My vertigo turned into euphoria. and political strength of 3000 physicians is APPNA members, especially those on the so great and yet so untapped and so disorga- APPNA discussion groups sent letters to nized that dwelling on it is excruciating. But I am in dire straits again. Ever since I APPNA president Dr. Nadeem Kazi that it returned I hear that some quarters in would be very wasteful of APPNA resources When the pain got severe, us devoted APPNA, albeit a minority, feel that this if another election were held. That some APPNA types would reach for the demo- meeting between the APPNA president and other solution ought to be found. cratic processes and principles record of the two candidates to obtain a solution, was APPNA and take resuscitation. We have a a clandestine deal, and that it violates committee for almost everything, even our Some editorializing of the above is in order. APPNA’s constitution. And worst of all that fights can go to Ethics and Grievance. We Many an eyebrow rose when the organiza- for 2010, instead of Dr. Munir by rights have an oversight entity in the Board of tion was taken to court. Some look at it as being the only candidate for APPNA presi- Trustees; our meetings are held under wholesale greed for office and others, like dent, there would be those that would chal- Robert’s Rules of Order, our track record me, admire Dr. Munir immensely for her lenge her, and of course spend that uncon- for responding to humanitarian crises, our courage, tenacity and financial generosity to scionable amount of money to fulfill that APPNA Sehat and now our APPNA Sukoon want to right what could well have been for sole dream. APPNA the equivalent of the spread of programs are marvelous. What more could (Continued on page 24) one want? MRSA within its body politic. APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 22 Business As Usual

Now what? A third election! Yes, that is from the candidacy for the presidency and exactly what the constitution of APPNA opted not to contest the election for a third dictates. According to books another re- time. Consequently Dr. Alam was given the election was in order. (Article 10.3.1: In walk over to become the 30th president of case of a tie, a run-off election will be con- APPNA. ducted amongst the candidates receiving equal votes. No new names will be either While one would like to hail this magnani- sought nor will be added to the list of candi- mous decision by Dr. Munir, one wonders dates) what it will do to the thus far sacredly safe- guarded democratic principles of APPNA. Syed M. Ahmad, MD I pause to think here. As a member I feel like asking myself. Is APPNA asking too How would the fact that an incumbent president and an incoming president pledged hen a group of 20 some physi- much? Why should the members be expected open support for her as a candidate in the cians of Pakistani origin gathered to pay $125 each year, bombarded by almost in St. Louis Missouri, 30 years obnoxious stream of telephone calls and next election, holds up under the scrutiny of agoW they had no idea that the organization bundles of mail from candidates before each ethics and moral principles? Most important they were going to create would become the election, cast their vote, and still go through of all, the fact that many deserving and most prestigious association of Pakistanis it again and again. We already support hardworking volunteers are expected to not west of the Atlantic. APPNA by attending its meetings, not trivial contest in the upcoming elections because it expense and spent thousands of dollars to jeopardizes this autocratic arrangement Jury is still out on whether the Association support various projects of APPNA. between the two candidates and the outgo- of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North ing president. What should the next genera- America (APPNA) is also the most repre- Why not just hand pick a slate of executive tion of officers, working their way up the sentative organization of 10,000 Pakistani officers each year and forget about election ranks, moving up the ladder do in the pres- processes and democratic rights of the physicians in the USA. It has gone through ent circumstances? Should the clock of membership? We probably don’t do it many phases of evolution, some of them political progress and training of the future more tremulous and unnerving than others. because living in one of the largest demo- leaders be halted so that the two candidates Along the way, the organization and it’s cratic countries we realize the strength of and the king makers can cut a deal? members discover their strengths and weak- democracy. We compare the state of our nesses, overcame the hurdles and obstacles motherland with our neighboring country from within and established itself as the where democracy thrives and so does the Should the APPNA membership allow itself largest democratic organization Pakistani nation, while in Pakistan roots of demo- to be disenfranchised in toto by going along expatriates. cratic processes have been not allowed to with this arrangement of the chosen few or take hold resulting in chaos and destruc- let the democratic process roll on? Should The most tremulous episode of APPNA tion. we continue to encourage drawing room history started in 2006 after the elections. politics, arm twisting future candidates to When Dr. Zeelaf Munir went to illinois Coming back to APPNA, yes it has certainly compromise for the whim of the few, or court to challenge the results of 2006 elec- attained recognition not only in the political expect the upcoming candidates to stand up tions, there was a division within the mem- and social avenues of Pakistan but also in for the principles of morality and democ- bers about her decision. Many of us asked the US State Department and the Capitol. racy? Should they let the membership ourselves about the indispensability of this Members and executives of APPNA often decide the fate of APPNA and its next step, was APPNA not mature enough to visit Washington to make the case for young presidency or just back down meekly under handle it’s affairs outside the court of law? physicians, aid for earthquake victims in the shroud of magnanimity, ignoring the A year later the court had decided in favor Pakistan or discuss the state of civil liberties rights of the members? of Dr. Munir and members were asked to in USA. exercise their democratic right to vote once So many questions and we have to hear what How can an organization of such signifi- again and they obliged. Everyone was look- the common members say. Whatever the ing forward to a result, not only to see their cance forgo the principles of democracy and outcome of this quagmire is, it is a test of candidate in the presidential seat of APPNA egalitarianism and allow a few people to integrity, uprightness and honor of the but also to move onwards from status quo. decide its fate on their own? Decisions members of APPNA, because they are no one would have guessed that APPNA made in secrecy and behind close doors was destined to go through another phase don’t hold upright in the light of truth. APPNA. Will APPNA come out a winner of trying time and the second election However, that is exactly what happened a or will this be THE BUISNESS AS would end in a tie! few weeks ago when Dr. Munir withdrew USUAL? APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 23 Pakistani Americans, Politics and Pakistan

Internet have brought us all closer, perhaps Unfortunately, many members of APPNA closer than we wish to be, politics has use connections they build with Pakistani become increasingly internationalised. politicians as members of the APPNA hier- archy for personal or financial gain in For US citizens of Pakistani heritage, inter- Pakistan. This has happened in the past and est in Pakistan is immediate and at times very nothing can be done to prevent it from hap- personal. A majority of us are first genera- pening again. Besides some reflected glory, tion Americans who have parents, siblings such advantage is all that most ‘influential’ and close family members still living in Pakistani Americans also want when they get Pakistan. As such many among us have a involved in Pakistani politics. significant personal stake in what goes on in Pakistan. As far as ordinary Pakistani Americans are concerned, clearly if they wish to live in the As far as APPNA’s involvement in Pakistani US and have children that will continue to Syed Mansoor Hussain politics is concerned, it becomes a dicey live in the US, they should become involved MBBS, FACC, FACS. proposition. Since APPNA has Pakistan in in US politics. Frankly and sadly, they can Professor and Chief of Cardiac Surgery, its name it must therefore stay involved with also do more for Pakistan by becoming play- KEMU. the Pakistani establishment to some degree. ers on the American political scene. More importantly, if APPNA wishes to have an impact in the health care field in Pakistan Any involvement in Pakistani politics for olitics is the art and science of gov- it will need the good offices of governmen- most Pakistani Americans is essentially dilet- ernment. It determines by whom, tal agencies. tantism unless they wish to return to Pakistan Pwhy them, and how they govern us as and participate in it directly. Indeed a few a people. As such it is both the right as well APPNA as an organization must however Pakistani Americans including physicians as an abiding obligation of all citizens to be not become directly involved in Pakistani have returned to Pakistan over the last year involved in politics, at least if they wish to politics, either for or against the government or so to take part in the electoral process. have a say in such matters. of the day. It should however support Politics, especially electoral politics is a con- human rights and oppose injustice in tact support and not just another video Tip O’Neill, a former speaker of the House Pakistan. This is important for its image. As game. of Representatives once said: “All politics is a Pakistani origin organization in the US this local.” It is a truism that still stands but in a will give it greater credibility when it deals shrinking world where the media and the with the US politicians.

Is APPNA politics following in Pakistan’s footsteps

(Continuing from page 22) Everything in an organization is not spelled A one year delay in the achievement of attempt to nudge APPNA consciences, Dr. out in its constitution and bylaws. We must presidential office by those waiting eagerly in Munir is challenged for the 2010 presidency, not have a blinkered, myopic approach and the wings in APPNA is not going to be the it behooves us collectively to bear down on stolidly refuse to give the other the benefit end of the world. Conversely, not waiting that unfortunate soul and have them with- of the doubt. To call the meeting between and contesting election against Dr. Zeelaf draw. If we do not, then it may be the mortal the President of APPNA and the two candi- Munir for 2010 might as well be the end of blow that APPNA will not recover from. A dates a “deal” is to analogize it to Pakistani the world for APPNA. We might as well huge price, indeed, for the egos of a few. politics and make a slur out of it. Dr. Kazi then let it resemble Pakistani politics where was the outgoing president and had nothing there is always self before state, no integrity, Mahjabeen Islam, M.D. to gain from this solution. I was not made no perspective, no sense of the larger good Her email is [email protected] privy to any of the negotiations and all this and no patriotism except for singing the is educated guess, some of it retrospective national anthem loudly. report by Dr. Kazi. And if despite articles such as these that

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 24 Somali Children and Their Families Need Your Help Now!

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In USA: 44450 Pinetree Dr. Ste. 201, Plymouth, MI 48170-3869 In Canada: Fiesta R P O, P O Box 56102, 102 Hwy # 8 Stoney Creek, ON L8G 5C9 AP Contribution Form ______Somalia Relief $______Card No. Security Code Expiration Date ______Somalia Health Program $______Authorized Signature Date Zakat ul-Mal $______Sadaqa & Other Donation $______Name (Please print) ______Total Enclosed...... $______Address My check is enclosed ______Please charge my gift using: City State/Province Zip/Postal Code ______Daytime Telephone Evening Telephone ______US Tax No. 38-2846307, Canada Tax No. 89458-5553-RR0001 25E-mail A New Day in APPNA

Over the past three decades, APPNA has professionalism cannot be compromised. It established itself as one of the most impor- is both ironic and surreal that as the move- tant Pakistani-American organization. It has ment for the supremacy of the rule of law done and continues to do valuable work. was unfolding in Pakistan, APPNA is under- What has kept it going was the vision and going its own transformation. hard work of its founders, its democratic traditions and a genuine desire amongst An Op-ed in New York Times quoted Juan many in the diaspora to payback their debts Bautista Alberdi- a nineteenth century to the homeland. Argentine constitutionalist and liberal as say- ing “Nations, like men, do not have wings; It maybe the very same reasons that make they make their journeys on foot, step by APPNA such an attractive platform to want step.” I believe vibrant organizations do the to influence or control by a few; whether same and APPNA is one of them. Zeelaf Munir, MD from within by the nebulous and changing so-called establishment and power brokers, A well-respected senior APPNA member ecently I received an e-mail from the or without by the political and ideological and historian, in a recent article wrote “In gracious editor of this journal asking influences in Pakistan. Then of course there the annals of APPNA there has not been Rme to write my thoughts on the are those who still dream about a comfort- another example when someone being a hair APPNA election sagas and my decision to able retirement in Pakistan. These in my breadth’s distance of APPNA’s Presidency withdraw my candidacy for the re-election opinion could be some of the major reasons has let it go for the greater good of APPNA.” for 2008 Presidency. Having been a candi- why the stakes are so high and the APPNA I fought when I believed it was the right date for change, my views cannot be expected elections have become so heated up and thing to do and I withdrew when I felt it to be conventional or universally popular. over the top. would set the right example. I am hopeful it However, they would be a reflection of me was a step in the right direction…… the and my actions- straightforward and bold. Democracy is messy and some of this is struggle will continue! expected. However, what we cannot tolerate A previous editor of the APPNA journal is dishonesty and corruption- intellectual or (The author has served as the Treasurer and had opined that APPNA is a microcosm of otherwise. I am not at all suggesting that it is Secretary of APPNA. She can be reached at Pakistan. “We can take the boy out of the widely prevalent in APPNA. Nevertheless, I [email protected]) village but we cannot take the village out of believe we have to proactively guard against the boy”- maybe he is right or maybe not. it. Decency, transparency, accountability and

Arif Agha, MD education. The Association is consider- Friday evening. An elegant sit down din- Chair Local Host Committee ing deliberating on many a new imitative ner on Saturday banquet night will be including a Visiting Faculty Exchange followed by unorthodox Bhangra dance KEMCAANA is the largest Alumni Program, Elective Rotations for King (tentative) contrasted by a musical eve- Association in North America of all Edward Medical University (KEMU) ning by a renowned artist. Children will Medical Schools of Pakistan and is one students in North America, developing have their own separate DJ and dinner in of the major component societies of an advanced medical education syllabus a separate hall. On Sunday afternoon, APPNA. This year, on Memorial Day for KEMU and many other subjects. the guests will have a choice to join the Weekend (May 23-25), KEMCAANA will The windy City is planning on adding its annual picnic of Pakistan Physicians hold its 3rd Annual Retreat at the own flare to the KEMCAANA retreat. Society, the Chicago Chapter of APPNA. Rosemont Convention Center, Chicago, The retreat will be featured by a 4 hour All in all, the whole event will be like a IL. Category 1 CME program and two ses- mini-APPNA meeting. Retreat, in the spiritual sense, is a term sions of deliberations on KEMCAANA Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with for time to reflect and mediate. Some are affairs. Exhibits with a variety of ven- your friends, celebrate class reunions held in silence yet others are more inter- dors will provide an onsite shopping and contribute with your thoughts to active, communicative and dialogue opportunity for spouses and members. A improve KEMCAANA projects here in based. The KEMCAANA retreat is late night Mushaira following a dinner at the US and back home at KEMU. The designed to focus on key issues such as the culture-rich Devon Ave and a Boat meeting registration and hotel reserva- strategic planning, enhancing communi- tour featuring architectural and histori- tion (at discounted rate) is available on cation and collaboration and promoting cal landmarks of the city will highlight line at www.KEMCAANA.net. APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 26 An Exemplary Act

Munir’s sacrifice to step down in the favor extreme poverty. I have seen tears in her eyes of Dr. Mahmood Alam, particularly when when she saw the plight of school children she had the same number of votes and the struggling for basic necessities. She delivered same claim to the presidency of APPNA on her promise of giving monetary as well as 2008, is indeed exemplary, admirable and material supplies such as biscuits and milk praiseworthy. This may have come as a sur- for school children in HDFNA administered prise to many but not to those of us who areas for many years. I know her family has have built up APPNA over the years. supplied the SIUT wards amongst other Sacrificing our lives, money and time comes things biscuits for years as an ongoing com- naturally to those of us who consider the mitment. Her accomplishments do not need well being of APPNA first and foremost. to be repeated and anyone who has been on We come after APPNA. Our personal wishes the electoral rolls of APPNA has received and ambitions must become secondary to information about her in many mailings. Zeenat Anwar, MD the well being of APPNA. Dr. Zeelaf Munir’s actions bode well for the future of What many may not know is when in the ecent tie in the Presidential elections APPNA. beginnings APPNA was being formed, I did of APPNA and the prospect of yet not know the tremendous role women mem- Ranother attempt to find the President Being involved with APPNA from its infancy, bers would continue to play in the affairs of for 2008 was worrisome. It was to be done I have seen many ups and downs. While it APPNA. I salute the women foot soldiers of under the auspices of the court order of seemed that we were going down in trying to APPNA whose contributions form the back- State of Illinois Judiciary could have shaped resolve 2006 elections, the peaceful and bone of APPNA’s spirit and soul. Unlike up to be a very divisive exercise. This would mutually agreed stepping down to claim many other expatriate Pakistani American have been the third attempt to resolve the 2008 APPNA Presidency by Dr. Zeelaf organizations which become defunct within vote of 2006. Time and resources of our Munir sets a new model of harmony amongst a few months, APPNA has prospered organization were being stretched to the the upcoming leadership of APPNA. I have because of its equal participation from all limit. No committees could be appointed known Dr. Munir from the very beginning. members, all alumni and all chapters. Above unless the President’s office was occupied by January 2008. With only days to spare, She has also been active in HDFNA and all men and women of APPNA stand shoul- APPNA’s leadership came to an amicable other civic roles for the safeguarding if inter- der to shoulder. Harnessing this treasure of solution. ests of the expatriate Pakistani Americans. energy, dedication and enthusiasm will pro- She was with me during HDFNA field trips pel APPNA well into the third millennium. While I wish to praise everyone including to the remote villages in Pakistan. Both of us It is my hope that Dr. Zeelaf Munir is very Dr. Mahmood Alam whose acceptance of sat on bare floors in the huts of peasants much a part of it and leads APPNA to the formula was necessary, Dr. Zeelaf and listened to accounts of struggle and greater heights.

A Dream Come True An Ever lasting Project To Save Lives of Young and Poor Rizwan C. Naeem, MD enetic diagnosis is an essential element government partnership to support public establishing a Cytogenetics department at Gfor treating childhood leukemia. sector and facilitate technology transfer. the NICH was discussed and subsequently Patients at NICH cannot afford either to pay launched with the cooperation of the for the investigations and/or treatment. The most common blood cancer in children Director NICH, The Child Aid Association if detected correctly can be cured in 90% of (CAA), The Association of the Pakistani APPNA members donated time, expertise, cases in west. Physicians of North America (APPNA) and and money for a genetic diagnostic labora- the Director of Cytogenetics at the Texas tory at the National Institute of Child Cytogenetics helps in accurately diagnosing Children Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA. In Health (NICH). various cancers and some congenital malfor- 2006 a matching grant of $60,000 was writ- mations. Cytogenetics is also very helpful in ten with the help of three Rotary Clubs two This laboratory will assist in correct diagno- other conditions like infertility and multiple in US and one in Karachi. With the help of sis and the treatment. This is a combined miscarriages. many local donors building was completed effort of APPNA, Child Aid Association in 2006 and testing was started in July 2007. (NGO), Rotary International, and the NICH In December 2003, when APPNA members Let’s hope that it will serve our children bet- highlighting a public, private and visited Karachi and NICH the project of ter for a curable cancer.

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 27 Unique Opportunity for Muslims in America and the World to Serve Humanity

the results are very promising. There is a and small cities and they do charge a small fee S. A. Rahman MD dilemma how to harvest the stem cells. What’s for storing, processing, and delivering the cord being done right now is extracting a few stem blood. People can pay this fee comfortably (20 cells and discarding the rest of the embryo. to 30 dollars a year per specimen) and if there This results in killing a potential human being, are any financial difficulties local charitable “To those who do right is a goodly (reward) yea, more a practice abhorred and condemned by all the organizations (Islamic Centers) can pick up (than in measure)! no darkness nor shame shall Abrahamic religions. the tab. cover their faces! they are companions of the garden, they will abide therein (for aye).” The other source is amniocentesis which is Donating cord blood to everyone for research Surah Yunus Verse 26 withdrawing some amniotic fluid from the and therapy for everyone who needs it in the pregnant mother’s womb but the stem cells world irrespective of their race, color, religion, here are many diseases like Alzheimer’s, from this source are scanty and there is a or ethnicity will not only be sadqa-e-jarria but Parkinsonism, spinal injury, strokes potential danger to the life of the mother this will also be an effective and welcome form Tand heart attacks resulting in massive and the baby. of dawaah. We need to establish a national injury to the heart muscle resulting in chronic database in the United States and Canada but congestive heart failure resulting in premature The other sources are fat deposits from which also in Europe and other countries in the death (becoming quite common in young and the stem cells can be extracted by liposuction Middle East and Asia. Since Muslims have middle aged men and women). Also in various and yet other source is the bone marrow. large families there will be no shortage of chil- leukemia’s and cancers there is a need to sup- However, both of these sources do not yield dren in the foreseeable future. plement the current therapies with gene ther- enough stem cells. There is a very simple and apy or even stem-cell implantation. very practical solution that is drawing blood The IMA should spearhead this project work- from the umbilical cord of the new born baby. ing with the ISNA, ICNA, and relevant organi- “ And if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved This is a rich source of stem cells. If the blood zations in Middle East and Asia. The emphasis the life of the entired humanity.” is drawn from the umbilical cord with proper should be to educate the scholars and physi- Surah Al-Maeda verse 32 hygienic technique it can be safely stored and cians, midwives, and the community at large. frozen in special cord blood banks and can be The topic should be discussed in the Juma The stem cells are special totipotant embryonic made available for use in the next two to three Khutba and Sunday Tafaseer and other religious cells (the cells fully capable of developing into years. discussions at all the centers big and small the complete human being) when implanted into participation in the program should be wide- diseased organs and tissues can help replace the The umbilical cord and placenta get discarded spread so that we can show to the world that diseased organ into a healthy viable and fully anyway, so why not make use of this vital Islam is Mercy to the entire mankind. functional organ as if it gets a second life with source. Scholars of the three Abrahamic normal life span. Of course, all this is in faiths find no objection to this procedure and “We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures.” experimental stages the research being carried have given their blessings. The cord blood Sura Al-Anbiya, verse 107 on in many countries in the world and so far banks have now been established in all large

Drs. Sajid Chaudhary and Rubina Inayat visiting the APPNA Rehab Hospital in Pakistan.

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 28 Bone Marrow Registry Drive APPNA Social Welfare and Disaster Relief Committee

The difficulty faced by ‘AG’ in matching a Join us in our efforts to save a life. donor occurred because there is no marrow It takes just 10 minutes for potential donors donor registry in Pakistan, where a pool of to fill out a form and give a buccal swab for substantial number of potential donors HLA typing. The donor information and would be available for patients with serious HLA typing results will be entered in the blood disorders. In USA there are only national marrow registry. Should a patient 55,000 South Asian registered donors like ‘AG’ need a marrow transplant, a donor presently. is located whose HLA type matches the patient’s HLA. The donor will undergo a The Social Welfare and Distaster Relief health screening and then go through a Committe of APPNA has embarked on brief and painless process of marrow dona- supporting the National Marrow tion which can be done by bone marrow Registry Program for South Asians, in an aspirate or peripheral blood stem cell dona- Rubina Inayat, MD effort to increase the donor base. tion by intravenous method at no cost to the donor. By spending a few minutes of Co-chair, SW&DR committee The National Marrow Donor Program your time, you can become a bone marrow & Constitution and by-Laws committee of (NMDP) was created in 1987 to provide donor, and make a glorious gift of life to APPNA 2007. She has been associated marrow transplants to patients in need. someone whose only hope to life is a with committee of young physicians for last 4 Presently, it maintains a registry of 5.3 mil- benefactor like you. years. She is in private practice as Child and lion HLA typed volunteers for potential marrow donation, but only 55,000 are of Adolescent Psychiatrist in Orlando Florida. At present, committee is looking to recruit South Asian origin. This might seem like a more volunteers from different regions of significant number, but the probability of USA. APPNA chapters are a special focus finding a match for a recipient is 20,000 for this endeavor as Chapter presidents PPNA has taken up many charitable from the same racial group. It is vital that and active members can take a lead and projects in past and its efforts for South Asians make a personal commitment spearhead drives during the local events in the aid of earthquake victims of to become involved in saving the lives of our the area. They in turn can also recruit mem- A patients. Pakistan and Kashmir are known to many. It bers of local community to participate in the is time like these when the members come project and raise awareness. Team from closer to fulfill a humanitarian duty and In March of 2007, the Social Welfare SW&DR committee will coordinate the Committee of APPNA started working with make APPNA proud. As physicians, health efforts at the central level and maintain com- the South Asian Marrow Association of care and concern for ailing humanity always munication with the chapter volunteers. The Recruiters (SAMAR) to increase the number takes precedence for us. Similar feelings were volunteers will need to do a 20 minute train- of South Asian Donors in USA. SAMAR invoked when the case of “AG”, a young ing session, which can be done via internet. has recruited more than 50,000 volunteer medical student from Khyber Medical This will ensure that volunteer’s participa- College surfaced and KMC Alumni associa- marrow donors and has facilitated 35 actual transplants. tion is according to the standards of tion first became involved in her care. She NMDP. had been diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia APPNA and its Social Welfare Committee and needed a bone marrow transplant to We also request the members to let us know save her life. The Social Welfare Committee takes pride in being a part of this wonderful initiative. Our volunteers have held drives at when there is an event by their local chapter, pledged to raise funds after her alumni took alumni association or local community and the initiatives and fundraising began. APPNA’s local chapter and alumni events in we can assist them in arranging a bone mar- However, while money was a necessity, it Dallas, TX. Edison, NJ. Phoenix, AZ., St. row registry drive at the event. became evident that, another significant Louis, MO, Orlando FL and Louisville, KY, problem had emerged. None of her relatives Indianapolis, IN, Tampa, FL during which Call us at 407-963-3390 or e-mail at pas- or friends matched as a donor. Her class- 170 members became donors. The efforts [email protected]. mates and medical college alumni launched a of fundraising and registry drive came about concerted effort, but a donor could not be due to combined efforts of Dr. Mohammad found in Pakistan. Finally, a donor was Taqi, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Dr. Aisha Zafar, Dr. found in USA through NMDP, but time had Babar Cheema, Dr. Sophia Janjua and Dr. run out by then. It was a heartrending Sajid Chaudhary. Chair of Social Welfare moment for everyone when they heard committee, Dr. Saima Zafar has supported about the death of ‘AG’. the project whole heartedly.

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 29 Palestine Peace Not Apartheid Author Jimmy Carter Book Review By Mahmood Alam, M.D.

On the other hand, Palestinian-American Jerusalem Post, David Harris, head of the Sherri Muzher, writing in the Jordan Times, American Jewish Committee, called the book welcomed Carter’s apartheid analogy. “How “a crude polemic that compromises any pre- are the situations similar? Well, in a 2002 tense to objectivity and fairness.” speech in the United States, South African “A quick and superficial scan of the book Bishop Desmond Tutu said he saw ‘the turns up no new or inflammatory disclo- humiliation of the Palestinians at check- sures, but it does contain some particularly points and roadblocks, suffering like us harsh criticism,” wrote Haaretz blogger when young white police officers prevented Shmuel Rosner. us from moving about.’ Back in 1999, for- mer South African statesman Nelson Carter criticizes Israel for building what he Mandela told the Palestinian Assembly: ‘The describes as an imprisonment wall through histories of our two peoples correspond in the West Bank. He accuses Israel of stran- Mahmood Alam, MD such painful and poignant ways that I intensely feel myself at home amongst my gling the residents of Gaza where the pov- compatriots.’” erty rate has reached 70 percent and where the malnutrition rate mirrors countries in “Palestine Peace Not Apartheid” is a chal- Sub-Saharan Africa. And Carter is critical of lenging, provocative, and courageous book. Gulf News columnist George Hishmeh In this book President Carter shares his inti- praised Carter for “unflinchingly” stating his Washington’s role. He writes, “The United mate knowledge of the history of the Middle determination “to let the people of America States is squandering international prestige East and his personal experiences with the know that there are two sides to many issues and goodwill and intensifying global anti- principal actors, and he addresses sensitive in the Middle East and that in order ever to American terrorism by unofficially condon- political issues many American officials have peace for Israel, Israel will have to com- ing or abetting the Israeli confiscation and avoid. Pulling no punches, Carter prescribes ply with international law.” colonization of Palestinian territories.” steps that must be taken for the two states to share the Holy Land without a system of Al Hayat’s Jihad el-Khazen wrote that This is a 288 page hardcover book that can apartheid or the constant fear of terrorism. Carter’s book “shows that Israel has not be a valuable addition to your bookshelf. offered, contrary to its claims, a deal for the You may purchase this book in less than President Carter, who was able to negotiate withdrawal from all the occupied territories $20.00 from any bookstore. It is an easy peace between Israel and Egypt, has remained except for 5%.” reading of historical facts about perhaps the deeply involved in Middle East affairs since most troubled land in the world. The bot- “Carter falls short of a full critique of leaving the White House. He has stayed in tom line is this, as put together by President Israel’s treatment of non-Jews under its touch with the major players from all sides in Carter in the summary section of his book. rule,” wrote Lena Khalaf Tuffaha in the the conflict and has made numerous trips to The general parameters of a long-term, two- the Holy Land, most recently as an observer Palestine Chronicle, “but his book chal- state agreement are well known, the presi- in the Palestinian elections of 2005 and lenges Americans to see the conflict with dent writes. There will be no substantive and 2006. eyes wide open.” permanent peace for any peoples in this troubled region as long as Israel is violating Carter’s book has won him praise in the Carter’s critics fault him both personally and international media and scathing criticism politically. Harvard law professor Alan key U.N. resolutions, official American pol- from U.S.-based Israel supporters. In the Dershowitz said the apartheid analogy “is icy, and the international “road map” for Israeli media, the reaction to Carter’s defense especially outrageous, considering his peace by occupying Arab lands and oppress- of Palestinian rights has been more tem- acknowledgment buried near the end of his ing the Palestinians. Except for mutually pered. In the United States, Carter’s linkage shallow and superficial book that what is agreeable negotiated modifications, Israel’s of Israeli policy and the now-defunct South going on in Israel today “is unlike that in official pre-1967 borders must be honored. African system of racial apartheid was criti- South Africa -- not racism, but the acquisi- As were all previous administrations since cized by the Democrats including House tion of land.... It’s obvious that Mr. Carter the founding of Israel, U.S. government Speaker Nancy Pelosi. just doesn’t like Israel or Israelis.” leaders must be in the forefront of achieving this long-delayed goal of a just agreement “It is wrong to suggest that the Jewish peo- Writing in the New Republic magazine, for- that both sides can honor. ple would support a government in Israel or mer publisher Marty Peretz declared Carter anywhere else that institutionalizes ethnically “will go down in history ...as a Jew hater.” based oppression, and Democrats reject that By comparison, the reaction in the Israeli allegation vigorously,” Pelosi said. media was mild. In a column for the APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 30 APPNA Merit Medical Education and Research Investment Taskforce

medical faculty to serve 2-or-more-weeks assignments, year- G. Naheed Usmani, MD round, in Pakistani teaching institutions. To date 5 APPNA members have gone to different institutions. 2. The Government of Pakistan National Talent Pool’s Visiting Expatriate Pakistani Consultant program has processed 6 APPNA consultants for sponsorship who have gone or are going to Pakistan. 3. Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) has incorporated sponsorship of APPNA MERIT as a specific line item in their budget for the fiscal year that started in July 2007. HEC has now submitted the TOR for final approval to their Management Committee. Subsequent to such approval, we will dhoc Health Education Committee (also called APPNA be able to send a large number of visiting faculties. MERIT) was formed in 2007 to enable APPNA to contrib- 4. In annual APPNA summer meeting 2007, the CME MERIT ute in a systematic way to the improvement of medical Symposium was very well received and the Visiting faculty pro- A gram was presented. A new APPNA MERIT brochure describ- education in Pakistan. The committee held extensive discussions with Pakistani stakeholders including Medical university vice ing the APPNA Visiting Faculty program with a sign-up tear- chancellors at University of Health Sciences (Lahore), Dow off was distributed at the Summer meeting. We received 50 University of Health Sciences (Karachi), King Edward Medical written inquiries from members regarding participation in the University (Lahore); Post-graduate medical institution heads and visiting faculty program at the Summer meeting. medical college principals at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences 5. APPNA SUKOON (APPNA MERIT Palliative & Hospice (Islamabad), Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Center (Lahore), Care Educational Program): Dr Mahjabeen Islam was appointed Rawalpindi Medical College, Allama Iqbal Medical College (Lahore), the program director. Aim of APPNA SUKOON is to educate Lahore Medical College, and Wah Medical College; Leaders at the medical system and increase the awareness in the lay public regulatory and funding bodies, including Pakistan Higher about palliative medicine and hospice care; introduce Palliative Education Commission, College of Physicians and Surgeons of and hospice care into medical curriculum and develop the sub- Pakistan, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Pakistan Medical specialty for CPSP. Association, Federal Ministry of Labor’s National Talent Pool 6. APPNA MERIT also sponsored travel for Dr. Tariq Iqbal, VEPCON program, and Federal Ministry of Health. A large number Associate Professor of Surgery, Director Burn Center, PIMS of issues surfaced during initial meetings: for two weeks training at John Hopkins Burn Center • Medical education curriculum reform and need for continuous 7. APPNA MERIT was funded with private grant $15,000 and updates. APPNA SUKOON independently with $5000 grant. • Uneven quality and lack of standardization of health educa- Finally as Chairperson, I would like to thank the hard work, input tion. and support of Dr. Rizwan Naeem, Co-chair, Dr. Nadeem Kazi, • Medical colleges given university charter status struggling to President APPNA 2007, Dr. Tariq Cheema, ED APPNA, my com- develop research capabilities. mittee members Dr. Raza Dilawari, Dr. Aisha Zafar, Dr. Nasrum • Lack of planned programs and system for continuous medical Iqbal, Dr. Syed Wamique Yusuf, Dr. Furrukh Hashmi and Dr. education (CME) Shahid Rafique. • Lack of systems to measure quality and outcomes in teaching hospitals. • Lack of linkages between major medical training centers and community and district outreach hospitals. • Multiple layers of bureaucracy throughout health education. • Need for Observer ships for Pakistani medical students in US hospitals. • Lack of international linkages in research and shortage of basic science researchers and faculty. The committee also elicited ideas on how APPNA can contribute in a substantial and meaningful way to the improvement of medical education and research in Pakistan. The following are the few high- lights. 1. Visiting Faculty Program for Centers of Excellence in Medical Education: APPNA MERIT has designed a Visiting Faculty Program for A earthquake survivor, now APPNA center Inauguration in Pakistani-American physicians and other US & Canada-based working at APPNA rehab hospital. Westmont IL. APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 31 2007 Fall Meeting, Phoenix Arizona Oct 19th - 21st, 2007 (Photos by M. Shahid Yousuf except as otherwise acknowledged)

(Above) (L-R) Dr. Rizwan Naeem (Treasurer 2007) and Dr. Akhtar (Above)Dr. Nadeem Kazi, APPNA President opens Saeed Hamidi ( AZ) prepare the computer for display. Dr. Abdul Rashid Piracha (Immedi- 2007 Fall Session in Phoenix, AZ. << (Left) Dr. Mahmood Alam President APPNA 2008 (Below) Dr. Sajid Chaudhry (Secretary 2008) ate Past APPNA President 2006)

(ABOVE ^) (L- R) Dr. Tariq Cheema (Executive Director) and Dr. Shahid Usmani Secretary APPNA 2007). <

(L- R) Dr. Naheed Chaudhry (Ont. Canada) President Fatima Jinnah Alumni Association, Dr. Sophia Janjua, Dr. Fariha Agha (IL) and Mrs. Javed Iqbal (KY) (L-R) Mrs. Tanvir Nazeer (IL), Mrs. Shani Kazi (AZ) and Mrs.Farah Ahmad (IL)

Fall meeting attendees enjoy conversation before tea break. (L-R) Drs. Adeel Butt, Omar Atiq, Mufiz Chauhan (on cell phone), Dr. Khalid Mahmood, Shabbir Safdar, Farooq Mirza,?, Azam Khan, Aqsa Khan, Mrs. Azam Khan, ?, Mrs Manzoor Tariq, Dr. Manzoor Tariq (in red) Dr. Riaz Chaudhry (blue) ?, Dr. Sajid Chaudhry and Dr. Abdul Rashid Piracha (extreme right). APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 32 2007 Fall Meeting, Phoenix Arizona Oct 19th- 21st, 2007 (continued)

(L-R) Dr. Akhtar Hameedi (AZ) Dr. Asim Khwaja Arizona Chapter. (Photo Below) Dr. Latafat Hamzavi (MI), Dr. Mahmood Alam (NY) and Dr. Salman Zafar Urdu Section Editor.

Mrs. Hamida Tariq (St. Louis, MO) (L-R) ISPU delegation Mr. Muzammil Ahmed, Fakeha Rashid and Saeed Khan who was President APPNA Auxillary 2008 the keynote speaker at the banquet night.

(Photo Below) (L-R) Drs. Raza Dilawari (Memphis TN), Khalid Mahmood (Dallas TX), Ijaz Mahmood (KY)

Hasan Bukhari (Dallas, TX)

(L-R) Drs. Ijaz Mahmood (KY) President KEMCAANA 2007, Pervez Rasul(IL) APPNA Board of Trustees , Arif H. Agha (IL) and Mr Nazir Ahmed.

(L-R) Dr. Farid Qazi (Dublin GA), Dr. Mahjabeen Islam (Toledo,OH) and Dr. Saima Zafar (W.Des Moines IA) Chair of Social Welfare and Disaster Reief Committee 2007.

(L- R) Dr. Sohail Siddiqui (Whittier CA) President elect SMC Alumni Association, Dr. Javed Suleman (Roslyn, NY) Dr. Joseph Emmanuel ( Washingtonville, NY) Dr. Rizwan Naeem (Houston, TX)

Dr. Rashid Ahsan, Chair Elections and Nomination Committee 2007 PHOTO RIGHT>> Dr. Rubina Inayat, Co chair Social Welfare and Disaster Dr. Omar Nasib (IL) Dr. Syed Samad, President Elect 2009 Relief Committee 2007

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 33 (Above ) Dr. Nadeem Kazi, President APPNA at the opening ceremony of APPNA Kathai Middle Girls School. This was sponsored by Arizona Chapter of APPNA which in spring 2007 handed over $ 90,000 of the $140,000 collected for this school. APPNA is contributing 100% towards the project estimated as $175K This middle school built on the government property is 3 times larger than the earthquake demolished old structure, previously insufficient to accommodate over 300 students. - Building structure is complete whereas all the finishing/furnishings will be done before the new academic year beginning April 2008. - Classroom size is 18x24 feet. - The structure is made of heavy steel,brick and wood in full compliance with ERRA’s newly enforced construction standards. It is therefore seismic proof. - The school which belongs to the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has boys & girls (up to grade 5) and girls (up to grade 8 )(Photo Right) A large number of students greeted APPNA president and participated in the festivties. Kathai is close to the Indian border. (Photos Dr. Nadeem Kazi)

Dr. Nadeem Kazi performs the opening ceremony of the APPNA Police Hospital in Abbotabad, Cytogenetic Laboratory inauguration at the National Institute of Child Health, Karachi. Five children who Pakistan. This hospital built with APPNA Earthquake Relief Funds out of which APPNA donated are the very first beneficiaries of genotyping of their cancers perform the opening ceremony by cake cutting. This lab $250,000. It is a 12 bed , brand new facility with a maternity ward. The water supply, building, furniture was possible through the joint efforts of APPNA, Child Aid Association (Pakistan), Rotary International (through and equipment has been provided by APPNA. The facility is now owned by the Government of NWFP. the efforts of Dr. Afzal Arain) which matched the $60,000 raised by APPNA. Dr. Nadeem Kazi, APPNA President It is run by the Hazara Division Police Headquarters. Nine paramedics work under a senior medical 2007 (3rd from left) prefers to let the children be in the spotlight. Dr. Rizwan Naeem (first left) APPNA Treasurer officer. (Photo Dr. Nadeem Kazi) 2007 and Director of Cytogentetics Texas Childrens Hospital, Houston, TX lent his expertise in the area. Numerous (Below) Dr. Nadeem Kazi inspects the facility. The effort took some two years from intial consideration donors of APPNAwere responsible for this. Drs. Afzal Arain, Nadeem Zafar, Social Welfare and Disaster Relief Com- by the Social Welfare Disaster Committee (SWDRC) of APPNA of 2006 and continuing through mittee Chairs for 2006 Dr. Javed Akhtar, for 2007 Dr.Saima Zafar lent their support.Photo shows back row (L-R) Dr. SWDRC of 2007. (Photo Dr. Nadeem Kazi) Nadeem Kazi in center Prof. Nizamul Hasan and Mr. Aziz Memon. Front row (L-R) Dr. Uzma Iman, Master Hasan Sher, Baby Umme Hani, Master Azhar and Baby Andaleeb in extreeme right. Baby Kiran Bano (centermost in front row) (Photo courtesy Dr. Nadeem Kazi)

APPNA Sukoon (L_R) Drs. Mahjabeen Islam, Naheed Usmani and Nadeem Kazi inaugurating this project at the Pakistan Medical Association Headquarters in Karachi. Palliative care is therapy that focuses on decreasing pain and suffering by providing treatments for relief of symptoms along with comfort and support for patients of all ages. Palliative care uses a team approach that involves the treating doctor, the family, and other health care professionals and social services. (Photo Dr. Nadeem Kazi)

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 34 (ABOVE) )L-R) Drs. Nadeem Kazi, Tariq Cheema (Executive Director) Iltifat Alavi, Omar Nasib and Rasul Pervez at the inauguration of the 1500 sq feet APPNA Center. It provides a semnar room with 30-40 seating .and audio-video-internet streaming video capacity. There is space for a small library Dr. Nadeem Kazi addresses the gathering at the inauguration of the Cytogenetic Laboratoryin Karachi,(Photo Dr. Kazi) with two computers. The center will expand archival capacity of APPNA as well as improve the ergonomics of the office operations (Photo Dr. Nadeem Kazi)

(L-R) Mrs. Ayesha Samad, Dr. Syed Samad, Dr. Nadeem Kazi and Mrs Shani Kazi at theme restaurant (Photo Dr (L-R) Dr. alskdjalskfdj Dr. Manzoor Tariq , Mrs. Hamida Tariq and Dr. Abdul Rashid Piracha NKazi) “Rawhide” a wild West themed restaurant

( BELOW) (L-R) Dr. Afzal Arain (CA), Dr. M. Babar Cheema (KY) ? rear, Dr. Arif Muslim (NY), Dr. Nadeem Kazi (AZ) Dr. Mufiz Chauhan (AR), Dr. Arif Qureshi (NY) and Dr. Shahid Usmani (FL) (PHoto Dr. N. Kazi)

Dr. Mohammad Afzal Arain of Madera Awards has been recognized for significant public and service, volunteerism and contributions to Appointments humanity. He received the Jefferson Award, certificates of excellence and congressional recognition by Ken Mallov and Lucy Ruiz of Channel 47 during a private ceremony in Fresno.Dr. Afzal Arain has undertaken many medical humanitarian missions including to the Tsunami ‘04 in Indonesia and 2005 Kashmir earthquake (Above Right) Carson City: Nevada Governor Jim Gib- “Arain has been credited for setting up por- bons announced January 16 that he has named Ikram table hospitals after a tsunami hit Indonesia, Khan, MD as an advisor on healthcare issues. Dr. Khan Dr. Farid Qazi presents Dr. Raza Dilawari (on right), the earthquake in Pakistan, the hurricane in will advise the Governor on healthcare policy and issues Chair Research Education and Scientific Affairs 2007 an New Orleans and the war in Bosnia. Working concerning healthcare providers, purchasers of healthcare, award of recognition at the DOGANA banquet during with Sunrise Rotary Club and Wheelchair Dr. Zeenat Anwar (FJ 1956) (above) is the recipient of consumers, and health insurers. 2007 APPNA annual summer meeting. Dr. Dilawari Foundation, Arain and other Rotarians “Woman Of the Year” award from “Safeer-e-Pakistan” Dr. Khan has over 25 years of exceptional leadership in the has recently been appointed as Vice Chair, Department have taken wheelchairs to those who need of GEO TV for 2007. She has been one of the founding area of healthcare policy and strategy, both in the private of Surgery, University of of Tennessee at Memphis. them worldwide. His service to the Madera members of APPNA and FJ Alumi Association (APPNA and public sectors, and has served on several prestigious APPNA’s authority to grant CME 1 educational credits community has also been noticed.” Madera afilliate). She was the1st president of APPNA Michigan boards, commissions, and committees throughout the state was initiated by Chair of RESA Committee Dr. Shabbir Tribune, CA Chapter, and 1st president of APPNA FJ Medical Alumni of Nevada. Dr. Khan was nominated by the President of the Safdar 1997. Over the years RESA has been sustained Dr. Afzal Arain has served APPNA in Association. She is also one of the founding members of United States, and confirmed by the US Senate, to serve largely through the efforts of Dr. Dilawari under whose numerous capacities including Treasurer and Human Development Foundation of N. America (HDFNA) as a member of the Board of Regents for the Uniformed leadership APPNA’s CME category 1 granting authority Secretary as well as member of the Board of and has served on the board of directors for 10 years. Services University of Health Sciences - an advisory board was renewed in 2007. (Photo M. Shahiid Yousuf) Trustees. (Photo M. Shahid Yousuf) (Photo M. Shahid Yousuf) to the US Secretary of Defense. (Pakistan Link)

APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 35 APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 36 APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 37 APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 38 APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 39 APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 40 APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 41 APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 42 APPNA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2007 43 APPNA 31STANNUALSUMMERMEETING JUNE25Ͳ29,2008 WardmanParkMarriott WASHINGTON,DC

ContinuingMedicalEducation (CME)Activity

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Exhibitions

Dr.MahmoodAlam Entertainment,Mushaira President &CulturalShow Dr.HameedPeracha MeetingChair SAYA&CAPPNAActivities HostCommittee MohammadAkbar,ShaziaAlam,MasoodAnwar,HabibBhutta, APPNAProfessionalNetwork ArshadCheema,YasminCheema,AtiyaKhan,TariqKhan, andSocialForum MubarakKhan,FarihaKhan,TariqMahmood,SohailQarni, ShahidRafiq,TayyibRana,ManzarShafi,TariqShahab Socializing,Shoppingand andmanymorevolunteers Sightseeing SyedA.SamadͲPresidentͲElect SajidChaudharyͲSecretary ManzoorTariqͲTreasurer ASSOCIATIONOFPHYSICIANS OFPAKISTANIͲDESCENTOF NadeemA.KaziͲPastPresident NORTHAMERICA P:(630)968Ͳ8585 F:(630)968Ͳ8677 RegistrationstartingFebruary1,2008 www.appna.org