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AKUAANA-JRM Scholarship Recipients announced for 2020-21

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Dear All:

Since its inception AKUAANA-JRM Scholarships have had a wonderful impact on several AKUMC students in achieving their goals to pursue their electives in underserved areas within Pakistan and also at competitive institutions in USA.

Anticipating travel challenges due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, AKUAANA and JRM Foundation leadership adopted a new ad hoc strategy for this year and instead of selecting only 2 students to travel, they decided to recognize 5 recipients so that the AKUAANA-JRM award can help them defray their costs for future post-graduate training.

It is my immense pleasure to announce the AKUAANA-JRM Scholarship recipients for the year 2020-21:

  1. Asma Altaf Hussain, ’21
  2. Hamza Bangash, ’21
  3. Hussain Raza, ’21
  4. Muhammad Musaab Munir, ’21
  5. Russell Seth Martins, ’21

All recipients will be awarded U.S. $1,000/-, each.

I would like to extend my gratitude to JRM Foundation leadership (Drs. Fahim Rahim ’97, Naeem Rahim ’98, Haderline, Willmore, Mrs. Beenish Mannan, Mrs. Amna Rahim and Mr. Sanders) for their generous donation as well as AKUAANA’s JRM Committee members Dr. Faiz Bhora ’92, Dr. Namirah Jamshed ’96, Dr. Fahim Rahim ’97 & Dr. Naeem Rahim ’98 led by Dr. Ammar Asrar Javed ’13 for all of their efforts in this regard.

Once again, congratulations to all recipients of AKUAANA-JRM Scholarship. Continue to work hard and keep making your AKU family proud of your achievements.

Best wishes,

Faisal H. Cheema, MD | President, AKUAANA
Twitter: @DocCheema

On behalf of AKUAANA Executive Council:

Faisal H. Cheema, President | Abdul Waheed, Secretary | Tauseef Ur Rehman, Treasurer | Namirah Jamshed, Immediate Past President

Follow Us on Twitter: @AKUAANA

AKUAANA – JRM Scholarship Recipients: 2020-2021


Asma Altaf Hussain Merchant is a 4th year Medical Student who is passionate to pursue a career in surgery, specifically Cardiothoracic Surgery. Her interest lies in improving the quality of patient care and has co-founded “Multilingual Health”, an application focused on reducing the language barriers faced in healthcare. She is currently the Vice President of the Student Research Forum and the Society of Cardiac Sciences Collaboration, as well as the Director of Event Administration at the Surgery Interest Group. Her academic interests include surgical outcomes research and quality improvement.


Hamza Bangash is a Year IV MBBS Student who aims to pursue Internal Medicine and Healthcare Administration. Hamza has served as CEO of Quadragon, a student run NGO working to alleviate poverty in Pakistan, and currently serves as Treasurer at Falah, a student led non-profit organization operating within AKU.

 


Hussain Raza is currently a fourth-year Medical Student at The Aga Khan University who has a strong desire for pursuing medicine and academia. He is an active member of multiple student societies and holds leadership positions in Falah and Cardiac Sciences Collaboration. He is a passionate researcher who is still discovering his career interests, with cardiology being the specialty he is currently inclined towards. Hussain strongly believes in patient empathy and his goal is to become an academic physician who can make a difference in the field of medicine.


Muhammad Musaab Munir is a 4th Year Medical Student who is passionate about pursuing a career in General Surgery. He is interested in global surgery, surgical outcomes, disparities and inequities research. He is an avid reader who likes to read fiction, indulges in basketball, and enjoys travelling and exploring new cuisines.

 


Russell Seth Martins is a 4th Year Medical Student at The Aga Khan University with aspirations of a career in Surgery, Medical Education, and Public Health. He is an avid researcher, with interests in disparities in medical education and healthcare, and environmentalism in medicine. He currently serves as Director of the Research & Development Wing of the Society for Promoting Innovation in Education at the Aga Khan University.

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AKUAANA’s Request for COVID-19 Donations

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Dear AKUAANA Family:

During these unprecedented times that have engulfed the entire globe, we have entered an ever-changing phase of reality which shall continue to impact all aspects of our lives.

Many of you must already be fighting in the front-lines by taking care of your patients in these trying times. And some of you have been leading from the front within the domains of public health, policy making, social welfare and entrepreneurship. Our alma mater in Pakistan is also leading by example under its dynamic leadership.

Hailing from Pakistan and living in our adopted homeland of USA, our responsibilities are manifold. The needs are acute and the demands are inestimable. We have a sacred duty to rise up and address these challenges head on, together! At AKUAANA, we have identified the following platforms through which donations can be made:

1. AKU Foundation
• Regular donations can be made at AKU Foundation
• For Zakat donations, please donate at The i-Care Foundation (Choose “The Patients Behbud Society for AKUH” and add “COVID-19 Testing” as free text.)

2. Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America [APPNA]

Whereas AKU Foundation is helping with COVID-19 testing kits in Pakistan, APPNA is primarily helping with food pantries across USA as well as other relief efforts in Pakistan including providing PPE gear to the healthcare workers.

On behalf of the Executive Council of AKUAANA, I would like to urge all of you to support these relief efforts to the best of your abilities. Your donations will be of paramount importance in ensuring that all critical relief efforts continue, and that, as the demand grows, the capacity to help also does. All charitable donations will be considered tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

If you or anyone else you know, within AKUAANA family, is in need of help, please immediately inform us so that we can pool resources to help.

Keep working hard and stay safe. You all remain in our prayers and thoughts!

Most Sincerely,

Faisal H. Cheema, AKU ’2000 | President, AKUAANA

Secretary: Haresh Kumar, AKU ’03 | Treasurer: Tauseef-ur-Rehman, AKU ’07 | Immediate Past President: Namirah Jamshed, AKU ’96

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Recipients of AKUAANA-JRM Scholarship, 2019 announced

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The Aga Khan University Alumni Association of North America is proud to announce the two recipients of the AKUAANA-JRM Scholarship for the academic year 2019-20.

Congratulations, Mehdia Rajab Ali and Muddassir Ali Aftab for being the recipients of the scholarship for the year 2019-20. Mehdia and Muddassir will spend 8 weeks in the US for electives and receive mentorship from AKUMC Alumni. Prior to these electives, they will spend 4 weeks in an underserved area in Pakistan. Please join us in congratulating these two outstanding students from AKUMC, Karachi, Pakistan.

AKUAANA would also like to recognize our alumni, the selection committee members, for this year’s scholarship. Thank you Faiz Bhora ’92 (Past President, AKUAANA), Fahim Rahim ’97 (JRM), Naeem Rahim ’98 (JRM), and Ammar Javed ’13, for your time and commitment.

Most of all we are grateful to the JRM (Jamshaid-Rahim-Mannan) Family Foundation for the scholarship and for making it possible for these students the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and experience during their elective time.

We look forward to receiving applications for the academic year 2020-21.

Namirah Jamshed
President, AKUAANA (2018-19)

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AKUAANA announces first recipients of AKUAANA-JRM Scholarship

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The Aga Khan University Alumni Association of North America is proud to announce the first two recipients of the AKUAANA-JRM Scholarship.

Congratulations, Afshan Akhtar and Faryal Subhani for being the first recipients of this scholarship. Afshan and Faryal will spend 8 weeks in the US for electives and receive mentorship from AKUMC Alumni. Prior to these electives, they will spend 4 weeks in an underserved area in Pakistan. Please join us in welcoming and congratulating these two outstanding students.

AKUAANA would also like to recognize our alumni, the selection committee members, for this year’s scholarship. Thank you Faiz Bhora ’92 (Past President, AKUAANA), Fahim Rahim ’97 (JRM), Naeem Rahim ’98 (JRM), and Ammar Javed ’13, for your time and commitment.

We look forward to receiving applications for the academic year 2019-2020.

Namirah Jamshed
President, AKUAANA (2018-19)

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Establishing the AKUAANA-JRM Scholarship Fund

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Dear Alumni,

We are delighted to announce the AKUAANA-JRM Scholarship Fund for AKUMC students on Financial Aid that are seeking electives in North America. This fund has been made possible by a partnership between AKUAANA and the JRM Foundation for Humanity, a philanthropic organization established by two of our own alumni, Dr. Fahim Rahim, ’97 and Dr. Naeem Rahim, ’98.

Many AKU alumni have had the opportunity to do electives in the US as AKUMC students and remember these rotations as invigorating and eye-opening academic experiences. However, many others with otherwise excellent transcripts have faced significant financial constraints and have not availed these opportunities. The AKUAANA-JRM Scholarship Fund will provide financial support to such students seeking electives in North America in the future.

Students being awarded scholarships will be asked to spend 4 weeks of their final year electives rotation at an under-served site in Pakistan and will be provided an amount of $2500 per awardee to defray expenses related to additional electives they arrange in North America. In addition to financial support, we will link these AKUMC students to alumni in North America to provide mentor-ship, advice and career guidance.

The JRM Foundation will provide $25,000 to AKUAANA to administer this scholarship fund initially and will make available an additional $25,000 dollar-for-dollar match for any funds raised by us.

Please contact us at secretary@akuaana.org if you are interested in mentoring or would like to help in any other way.

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AKUAANA Hurricane Harvey Task Force calls for unprecedented fundraising for flood victims

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Aga Khan University Alumni Association of North America (AKUAANA) Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund: Let’s make a difference!

Dear alumni and friends,

Hurricane Harvey’s unprecedented flooding and its catastrophic aftermath calls for urgent help. Southern Texas is home to approximately 100 AKUMC Alumni. While some AKU Alumni’s homes were flooded and several had to follow orders for mandatory evacuations, other AKU Alumni have already set highest examples of civic duties by opening their homes for friends and assisting other flood victims.

AKUAANA Hurricane Harvey Task Force has carefully deliberated the means by which to support and help those who are affected. Alumni directly affected were thankful for our outreach to them. They felt confident that they could cope with the damages and suggested that any fundraising efforts be extended to community in general.

The Task Force has recommended that AKUAANA, with the help of fellow Alumni, offer support to the City of Houston. As the initial phases of disaster recovery continue, this next phase of Community Development will support the local community and provide opportunities for long-term engagement. Mayor Sylvester Turner and County Judge Ed Emmett have established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund that will accept tax-deductible flood relief donations for victims affected by the recent floods. The fund will be housed at the Greater Houston Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity.

We have set an initial goal of $50,000/- – to be raised within 15 days due to the immediate need.

Suggested Minimum Donations

  • $500 [Practicing Physicians]
  • $100 [Fellows]
  • $50   [Residents]

Please note that all donations will be TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Credit Card: (Preferred)

  1. Visit: https://ghcf.org/hurricane-relief/
  2. To track our collective effort please MENTION AKUAANA IN THE FUNDRAISING CODE

Check

  1. Write checks to: GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
  2. For (MEMO): AKUAANA Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
  3. Mail to:

AKUAANA
C/O Faisal H. Cheema
1711 Old Spanish Trail, #130
Houston, TX 77054

We are confident and hope that all AKU Alumni will support us in this great opportunity to give back to our fellow citizens of our adopted homeland.

AKUAANA HURRICANE HARVEY TASK FORCE MEMBERS

Current Executive Council: Habib Chotani ‘95, Rehan Khan ‘94, Amber Syed ‘94, Namirah Jamshed ‘96
Incoming Executive Council: Noor Afshan Khan ‘96, Faisal Cheema ‘00 (Houston, TX)
Houston-based AKU Alumni: Abbas Jafri ‘97, Azam Kundi ‘92, Nooruddin Punjwani ‘95, Athar Qureshi ‘96, Homayon Sidiq ‘92
AKUAANA Web Manager: Abdul Basit Saeed ‘07
APPNA Secretary: Rizwan Khalid ‘99

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AKUAANA Hurricane Harvey Task Force: 08/30/2017 Update

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Dear alumni and friends,

The AKUANNA Hurricane Harvey Task Force continues to work hard to assist those affected by the flood. Following is an update of our meeting last night which included the Alumni residing in Houston.

PHASE 1 – Assuring safety of, and offering immediate assistance to our alumni 

With the assistance of the Houston Alumni, other alumni and AKU, we have identified those who reside in the affected area including Alumni, Fellows and Residents. We are also in the process of identifying any AKU medical students in Houston for electives.

94 Alumni have been identified who live in Houston or surrounding areas. Only 15 AKU alumni remain that we have been unable to contact. At least three Alumni have significant damage to their house. All three are safe, Alhamdulillah.

Alumni in the area continue to provide accommodation for any who need assistance.

PHASE 2 – Medical Volunteering

We are proud of our AKU Alumni who are assisting in rescuing people locally, and providing medical care at the local medical centers.

Additionally, AKU Alumni have volunteered in the local cities to assist with medical care for the evacuees at the Convention Center and others are raising funds through the city and local mosques.

APPNA continues to provide opportunity for volunteering as well for the same purpose.

PHASE 3 – Public Donations

AKU Alumni have donated to multiple organizations to assist with flood relief. With our assistance, APPNA is able to provide food bags for those affected and seeking shelter.

The AKUANNA Hurricane Harvey Task force, with the Houston Alumni’s help, is also identifying any further funding needs for the local community. We will keep you updated regarding this effort.

Thank you to all those who have assisted us in making this happen, especially the alumni in Houston. We are proud of what you do.

Stay Safe.

AKUAANA Hurricane Harvey Disaster Task Force

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AKUAANA Hurricane Harvey Task Force

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Dear alumni and friends,

Hurricane Harvey has brought devastation to Texas of a magnitude not seen before. It has affected many, including our AKU Alumni and the Pakistani community. As the storm continues, our thoughts are with them and all affected by the hurricane. A large number of people are displaced and seeking shelter in other cities. Hospitals are being evacuated in an effort to keep patients and the vulnerable safe.

The AKUAANA Executive Council had an emergency meeting tonight, which was also attended by the incoming Executive Council. We were also able to get a few Alumni from Houston on the call, including Nooruddin Punjwani (’95), Faisal Cheema (’00), Athar Qureshi (’96) and Rizwan Khalid (’99). An AKUAANA Hurricane Harvey Task Force has been formed on an urgent basis, which is in communication with alumni in the affected areas around the clock, and are working on supporting our alumni who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey. The Task Force has formulated a working plan, divided into two phases.

PHASE 1 – Assuring safety of, and offering immediate assistance to our alumni

AKUAANA’s immediate response is to make sure our alumni are safe and to help them in any way possible in this difficult situation. AKU Alumni residing in Houston have volunteered in helping other AKU alumni with immediate relief including accommodation. Nooruddin Punjwani ’95, Athar Qureshi ’96, Faisal Cheema ’00 have volunteered to help in this regard. Any AKU alumni in need of help or who would like to volunteer, please contact me directly at president@akuaana.org

We are also developing a list of all the AKU alumni in Houston and surrounding areas. We would greatly appreciate if alumni living in the affected areas who get our message to please reach out to us with their information and also give information of other alumni in their area. This will help AKUAANA’s current efforts to reach out to our alumni by calling them individually, and making sure that they are safe or whether they need help and assistance.

PHASE 2 – Medical Volunteering

Some of us may want to participate in medical volunteering. For those who do, one option available to us is through APPNA via their Medical Corp Volunteer Program which may include medical assistance or distribution of goods etc. To sign up as a volunteer, please visit: APPNA Medical Corps Volunteer Registration for Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief (link expired).

PHASE 3 – Public Donations

If you wish to support relief efforts in the region you can donate through APPNA and indicate your AKU alumni status at:

https://www.instantreg.com/appnatemplate2/public-donations-2017

OR

There are several reputable organizations accepting contributions. These include:

American Red Cross
United Way of Greater Houston
The Dallas Foundation
SPCA of Texas

Our thoughts are with the AKU families and thousands of people who have been directly impacted, as well as with those whose families and friends live in the region.

Stay safe.

AKUAANA Hurricane Harvey Disaster Task Force

Habib Chotani: President, AKUAANA

Namirah Jamshed: President Elect, AKUAANA

Rehan Khan: Secretary, AKUAANA

Amber Syed: Treasurer, AKUAANA

Noor Afshan Khan: Incoming Secretary, AKUAANA

Faisal Cheema: Incoming Treasurer AKUAANA (residing in Houston)

Athar Qureshi: AKUAANA member (residing in Houston)

Nooruddin Punjwani: AKUAANA member (residing in Houston)

Abdul Basit Saeed: Web Manager, AKUAANA

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February ’17 Update on AKUAANA Initiative for 2016: The Ibrahim Haidri Outreach Clinic

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Ibrahim Haidri

Dear Alumni,

The AKUAANA Executive Council, after working for well over 6 months with consensus, decided to partner with AKU to support the “Ibrahim Haidri Outreach Clinic” in Karachi, Pakistan. The clinic will provide treatment for anemia in pregnant women, directly impacting infant mortality and perinatal morbidity. Our AKU Alumnus Anita Zaidi, ’88 is helping us at the location. Our estimated cost to support the clinic is $17,000 per year.

I would like to especially thank Mohsin Ali, Aneel Chowdhary and Namirah Jamshed (all from ’96) who helped the Executive Council in reviewing the project specifics. Their input was vital in moving the project forward. In fact, the Class of ’96 took the lead and adopted the project for their Class Gift. Additionally, I would like to thank the Class of ’94, who helped in the vetting of the project and gave us major insight.

As a first step, on May 21st, 2016 at the Regional AKUAANA Reunion in Virginia, we did a silent auction of paintings from renowned Pakistani artists. These paintings were acquired by support of a number of sponsors, and luckily we were able to jump start the project by raising $5,800.

Since the start of the project, we have collected $68,895 till December 2016. The project was officially launched on August 15th, 2016 at the Ibrahim Haidri site. As per our understanding and commitment with the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, a six-monthly impart report for the project will be shared with the donors by the end of February, 2017.

The AKUAANA Executive Council is looking at the alumni to support AKUAANA in moving this project forward, and hope you can help us in this endeavor.

Click here to send your donation directly to AKU. While donating, please don’t forget to designate the donation to “AKUAANA fund” and to mention your year of graduation under the Donation Information section.

Let us show the power of our alumni body and help fund this project!

Habib Chotani: President
Faisal Qureshi: Immediate Past President
Rehan Khan: Secretary
Amber Syed: Treasurer
Abdul Basit Saeed: Web Manager

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AKUAANA Outreach Clinic Initiative, 2016: a collaborative effort with AKU

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Ibrahim Haidri

Dear alumni,

Over the last several months, the AKUAANA Executive Council has been working on identifying a common project in Pakistan to adopt and support. We looked at various potential projects including those within AKU, as well as non-AKU programs like The Citizens Foundation.

We have kept the alumni in the loop by discussing with them via teleconferences (led by Rehan Khan ’94, Secretary AKUAANA), individual discussions, and sharing pertinent information on Facebook to keep this process as transparent as possible.

The Council, after getting input from the Alumni body, felt that as a first project of AKUAANA we should collaborate with AKU. In the future, however, we would also like to consider projects that may be outside of AKU, if that is what our membership recommends.

Some valid considerations voiced out by our alumni regarding doing a project with AKU included:

  1. “We are from AKU and we want to give back to AKU!”
  2. selecting a project that supports educational activity of AKU medical students
  3. supporting primary care
  4. having an AKU alumnus on the ground to help with the project
  5. that the project not be outrageously expensive

We had multiple meetings and discussions with the Resource Department at AKU to identify a project that would have the above mentioned goals. Once we identified the project, we then worked with the AKU Resource Department on its details, especially its budget. Mohsin Ali, Aneel Chowdhary and Namirah Jamshed (all from ’96) helped the Executive Council in reviewing the project specifics. Their input was vital in moving the project forward. After an intense review and many discussions with the AKU Resource Department, we are confident with our choice and are now moving forward with the project.

The AKUAANA Executive Council, with consensus, has decided to partner with AKU to support the “Ibrahim Haidri Outreach Clinic” in Karachi, Pakistan. The clinic will provide primary care to women and children, with special focus on anemia treatment in pregnant women, directly impacting infant mortality and perinatal morbidity. Our AKU alumna Anita Zaidi, ’88 is heading the research program at the location, so we have feet on the ground as well. At a cost of $17,000 per year to support the clinic, the Council does not find this project to be outrageously expensive. Further details are given in this presentation.

As a first step, on May 21st at the Regional AKUAANA Reunion in Virginia, we did a silent auction of paintings from renowned Pakistani artists. These paintings were acquired by support of a number of sponsors, and luckily we were able to jump start the project by raising $5800.

Now the AKUAANA Executive Council is looking at the alumni to support AKUAANA in moving this project forward, and hope you can help us in this endeavor.

Click here to send your donation directly to AKU. While donating, please don’t forget to designate the donation to “AKUAANA fund” and to mention your year of graduation under the Donation Information section.

Let us show the power of our alumni body and help fund this project!

Habib Chotani
President AKUAANA

Faisal Qureshi
Immediate Past President

Rehan Khan
Secretary

Amber Syed
Treasurer

Abdul Basit Saeed
Web Manager

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