Dr. Resham Khan: A Muslim Woman to be Honored

by TMO Staff

Helping a community stay healthy, Dr. Reshma Khan is someone to acknowledge and celebrate during Women’s History Month. Dr. Khan is noted in the community as a woman fulfilling her dream through her positive contributions to contemporary society.

Influenced by her faith, Dr. Khan is the founder and executive director for the Shifa Free Clinic, a program of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Relief USA in Mount Pleasant. The clinic offers those in need health care at no cost. Dr. Khan parted ways from a private gynecology practice to establish a free clinic.

The clinic opened in 2012 as a four-hour long clinic on Saturdays but has grown today to be a full-time clinic, open Monday to Friday, accommodating thousands of patients annually. The clinic provides advanced GYN services, vision care, vaccines, mental health assistance as well as pediatric services and onsite dispensary for free medications.

The clinic provides these services to uninsured individuals regardless of his or her religion, race and ethnicity. According to ICNA’s website, Dr. Khan’s “burning desire to have medical services for [individuals] uninsured at the same level as those who have insurance” led her to devote her time and efforts continue on a volunteer basis.

August of 2017, Dr. Khan was awarded the 2017 Leadership in Diversity Award by the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. Established in 2011, the award honors individuals or organizations that have played an important role around leadership and diversity.

Dr. Khan was also awarded the Nonprofit leader award by Charleston’s community organization Trident United Way as mentioned on ICNA’s website.

Dr. Khan once explained on Charleston’s local WCBD the name of the clinic.

“Shifa is an Arabic word which means healing through God. Every step that I took, it was not an easy step, because I had a lot of work to do to accomplish one step. I prayed hard. I said god if you think I’m sincerely doing justice for you, you have given me so many blessings, I want you to use me for you.”