IMANA 46th Annual Convention a Success!

Press Release

The Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) 46th Annual Convention on a Cruise to Alaska was memorable and educational for IMANA members and their families. On June 23rd, 275 IMANA members boarded on the Oosterdam Cruise Ship in Seattle for a one week Alaskan Cruise.

IMANA members and their families enjoyed the scenic route through Tracey Arm, Alaska and they enjoyed the tours on land in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. A few of the excursions our members enjoyed included dog sledding, whale watching, zipline expeditions, glacier trek hiking, salmon bakes, helicopter rides and wild life tours. IMANA members enjoyed Alaska’s pristine wilderness scenery.

Over 90 IMANA members actively participated in the CME program, “Clinical Updates 2013.” IMANA Ladies enjoyed the game night and IMANA children enjoyed the all fun kids programs. The maître d’ served delicious halal meals for the IMANA group to enjoy within an eloquent private dining room.

Ninety percent (90%) of the Holland America Oosterdam ship crew was Indonesian Muslim staffed. IMANA attendees were warmly received and excellently serviced by the crew. The highlight of the cruise was the combined Friday prayer service (Jumah) on board the cruise ship alongside the Indonesian Muslim crew.  IMANA’s annual convention banquet took place in Victoria, British Columbia in Canada, where we welcomed our new President Dr. Ismail Mehr along with our new executive committee members.

Dr. Ismail Mehr, incoming President and Chairman IMANA Medical Relief (IMR) in his remarks invited all healthcare professional to join IMANA and its medical relief work. He gave a brief overview of IMR medical missions. He reported that currently IMR has over 25 active projects worldwide, including in countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Haiti, Gaza, Syria, and Turkey just to n name a few. These projects involve Schools, Clean water projects, Health Centers, Mobile Health units, Surgical and Medical missions, disaster relief and emergent response to tragedy e.g. Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, Moore Oklahoma tornado damage, transfer of technology projects, and Continuing Medical Education for physicians in third world countries. He congratulated IMANA supporters to help start and sustain 28 Basic Health Units and 6 IMANA Hospitals around the world.

Dr. Mehr shared results from IMR’s annual cleft lip and cleft palate surgical missions to Sudan and its plan to expand these missions to other countries under the banner of SaveSmile. He also encouraged all to support and volunteer in IMR’s SaveHaiti mission that includes a clinic and quarterly missions of IMR medical teams to Haiti to provide primary care and minor procedures. IMR is developing an ophthalmology mission to Haiti for cataract procedures in the last quarter of 2013.  Overall, IMANA’s 46th Annual Convention was a success and many new members expressed their appreciation and support to IMANA and IMR alike. Pre-Registration for the 12th International and 47th Annual Convention in East Africa in August 2014 has already had an enthusiastic response. This meeting will be combined with the delegates from the Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA) representing 33 Muslim countries.

Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) Selects a New Executive Committee at its Annual Meeting : 

Ismail Mehr, MD – President, Anesthesiology
Hornell, New York
president@imana.org

Asif Malik, MD – President-Elect, Anesthesiology
Troy, Michigan
president-elect@imana.org

Imran Qureshi, MD – Vice-President
Interventional Radiology
Plainfield, Illinois
vice-president@imana.org

Kanwal-Shazia Chaudhry, MD – Treasurer, Emergency Medicine
Metuchen, New Jersey
treasurer@imana.org

Lubna Zahir, MD – Secretary
Internal Medicine
Mclean, Virginia
secretary@imana.org

Ayaz Samdani, MD – Immediate Past President, Family Practice
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
immediatepast-president@imana.org

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