Community News (V12-I45)

Dr. Mehmood Khan, Chief Scientific Officer, Pepsico

Dr. Mehmood Khan is the chief scientific officer at Pepsico. He was appointed to the position in 2007. He has over 20 years of experience in the medical and pharmaceutical field. Most recently, he served as president, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Global Research and Development Center. He built Takeda’s U.S. medical affairs and global medical affairs functions, and helped develop the strong, scientific basis for launching the company’s major products as president of U.S. and European drug development.

As an M.D. with specialties in internal medicine and endocrinology, Dr. Khan has extensive academic and clinical experience. He served at the Mayo Clinic as the director of diabetes, endocrinology and nutrition clinical trial unit. He spent six years with the department of food, sciences and nutrition at the University of Minnesota. He also served as division chief of endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition at one of the main teaching hospitals of the University of Minnesota Medical School.

He guides the company’s long-term research strategy and agenda for business opportunities.

Dr. Khan earned his medical degree from the University of Liverpool Medical School, England, and completed a fellowship in clinical endocrinology in the department of medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. He has served on numerous state and national committees of the American Diabetes Association, the Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, he held several visiting professorships, has published extensively and presented at many medical meetings.

Mosque suit costs Rutherford County

MURFEESBORO,TN–The lawsuit over the Murfreesboro mosque is costing taxpayers thousands, Channel 5 reported.

Rutherford County leaders said the mosque lawsuit forced them to add $50,000 to the county attorney’s budget to cover the added expenses.

More money could be needed because the lawsuit over the proposed Islamic Center is still ongoing. Even before court proceedings started, the county racked up about $2,000 in legal bills from attorneys who worked researching the Islamic Center.

Stanford studies viability of opening a special diet cafeteria

STANFORD–World renowned Stanford University’s Dining services is studying the viability of converting an existing or building a brand new dining area to cater to the needs of Muslim, Jewish, and vegetarian students. The announcement came as it launched a pilot halal and kosher dining program at one of its dining halls earlier this month.

In partnership with students, Hillel and Residential Education, there will be kosher and halal options at three dinners per week to students who have signed up in advance for the pilot kosher and halal program. These three meals help students who maintain a strict kosher and halal diet, while also making the program manageable for the other students who keep a more relaxed form of kosher and halal.

Students participating in this pilot program are required to commit to the program for a minimum of one academic quarter.

A spokesperson told the student newspaper, ‘“The ultimate plan is to convert an existing kitchen (or possibly build a new one) and have that dining hall be the kosher, halal and strictly vegetarian dining hall…This is a model that can potentially be exemplary for other schools.’

Oshkosh mosque gets go ahead

OSHKOSH,WI–The Oshkosh Plan Commission has unanimously approved a plan to open a mosque on the city’s west side.A Muslim group wants to convert a former funeral home located on Eagle St. into a place of worship, WLUK-TV reported.

Neighboring property owners, however, have filed a petition opposing the request. They say it’s not appropriate for the residential neighborhood.

The Islamic group claims it will be accommodating to the community. If residents are too concerned the group says it will withdraw the application.

The mosque plan will now have to be approved by the full city council.

Muslims, Jews join hands in Savannah

SAVANNAH,GA–In a world riven by conflict there are still examples of friendship and solidarity cutting across all divides. The latest endeavor is by Savannah’s oldest synagogue and mosque to come together by holding joint services at each of the two places of worship this weekend, the Savannah Morning News reports.

Members of the Masjid Jihad mosque will join the congregation of Mickve Israel for Shabbat Services and dinner Friday at the synagogue. Imam Maajid Ali will speak.

Afterward, the group will go to Masjid Jihad, where Rabbi Arnold Mark Belzer will speak.

The group will reconvene at Mickve Israel on Sunday for lunch and a discussion.

The dual services are part of a “Weekend of Twinning Mosques and Synagogues” sponsored by The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, a New York-based nonprofit devoted to promoting ethnic harmony and strengthening inter-group relationships.

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