APPNA NOW - September 2020 Newsletter: 2.7 million dollar landmark project of APPNA, APPNA Academy launched, Karachi flood relief and more

September 2020 Edition

Publication of APPNA Communications Committee

President Update
APPNA Scholarships-2.7 million-dollar landmark project of APPNA
APPNA Advocacy at its best
APPNA Stories from frontline - Dr. Jamal Nasir, Dr. Scharukh, Dr. Yusuf Khan
Karachi Flood Relief
Real Happiness - A poem by Dr. Salim A. Khan
APPNA Academy launched
APPN Social Forum Webinar
APPNA COVID Efforts
APPNA Chapters and Alumni Efforts

President Update


Dr. Masood Akbar Chair - Scholarship Committee

Dr. Ghulam Qadir

Co Chair

APPNA Alumni Scholarship Project was started in 2013 with a pledge of generous donation by an alumni member in the amount of ONE MILLION DOLLARS. The Scholarship Program is intended to help deserving students enrolled at respective medical colleges in Pakistan to defray some of their educational expenses.

This is a way for us to Thank God Almighty for all the blessings we have had and help future students with their studies. The money is distributed from the appreciation and income of invested funds and we are hoping that this program will be continued for years to come. The Scholarship Committee Members, in collaboration with the respective Alumni, have worked very hard to raise funds for this noble cause and have been able to raise 1.1 million dollars in addition to the initial donation of one million dollars.

All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE. This is the best way to donate your Zakat funds.

Please visit appna.org/projects/1065/
to donate online or to download and print the pledge form to make your payment by check or credit card.

APPNA Advocacy at its best


Abdul Rashid Piracha, MD, FACC Chair Advocacy Committee

A total of 209 Pakistani Descent applicants were accepted in different J-1 or H-1b residency programs.

Unfortunately Corona virus pandemic started around the match time in mid march.The newly matched applicants faced many challenges. Advocacy Committee contacted the state department ,ECFMG,US Embassy in Pakistan, the Association of Program Directors. Health ministry of Pakistan and PMDC.

It gives me great pleasure to let you know that none of the visas got refused this year.

APPNA Stories from frontline

Dr. Jamal Nasir

Tribute by:

Habib Khan MD

September 10th, 2020

Phoenix Arizona

"Which one do you have to call me"

In memory of Dr. Jamal Nasir......

The D-87 people have sworn to make them cry. Today Jamal Nasir left. Friends, I could not heal many wounds in the past, so that you also gave me the stains. As far as my memory works, I saw Jamal Nasir for the first time in the debate competition in Habib School. I don't remember the topic of speech but his blind statement was heart touching.

This introduction in DMC turned into a relationship and got a chance to know Jamal Nasir closely. As it used to be, the first two years of DMC used to pass in shaking. Something like this happened to us. It was the time of student unions and like other extra-curricular activities, the activities of the looterry and debating society were at its peak and Jamal Nasir was not their part, how could it be? In this era of DMC where Umar Nazim (late) Zia Moiz, Jamil Azam Farooqi, Khalilullah Shibli and Syed Raza Muhammad were appointed as a place for himself was a commendable act.

Dr. Scharukh Jalisi

Chief of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery and Residency Program Director at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/ Harvard medical school.

Reporting from the COVID Frontlines - My journey as a Covid survivor

It was the beginning of COVID-19 in my institution in late March 2020. We were requesting the system to make it mandatory for all patients undergoing any airway surgery to have a preoperative Covid test but due to the shortage of swabs and tests this request was under consideration. We were maintaining usual mask, face shield, N 95 and gown precautions. I unfortunately got exposed in the operating room while performing a robotic otopharyngeal cancer resection.

At the conclusion of the case the patient had a violent wake up from anesthesia resulting in him vomiting on me and need for me to take a shower. I suspect it was during this act of taking my Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) off that I must have gotten the virus into my nose or mouth.

Dr. Yusuf Khan

By: Tayyib Rana, MD, PCEO, APPNA Lifetime Member

Dr. Yusuf Khan, an American Pakistani Descent Physician who has dedicated his career to primary care in public health clinics and fought his own battle with Covid19.

Dr. Yusuf Khan was born to Pakistani Parents, Dr. Jamal Khan and Mrs. Qamar Khan, in Beckley, WV. He was subsequently raised in the capital city of Charleston, WV where his father, a King Edward graduate of 1961 and APPNA Lifetime Member, started his own Cardiothoracic surgery practice in 1971. His father's 33 years of dedication to his patients (second busiest practice in terms of cases behind the Cleveland Clinic in 1997) continue to serve as the backdrop of Yusuf's own genuine care of his patients today.

Karachi Flood Relief


Dr. Aisha Zafar Chair Social Welfare Disaster Relief Committee

The recent monsoon rains in Karachi and other cities of Sind, resulted in massive flooding and thousands were affected.

APPNA SWDRC and COVID 19 teams were already raising funds to provide food in this area, but overnight, the need became enormous as flooding affected homes of thousands and food and clean water was a major need.

Our donors were very generous and due to their support, APPNA has raised 85,000 dollars so far. The DMV and PPS chapters were in the forefront and raised the most funds which were matched by APPNA. Other chapters like South Florida and Richmond, Virginia chapters are actively raising funds also.

Real Happiness

Saleem A. Khan, M.D.

9/20/2020

We may live in a nice big house

And wear the best of best dresses

But we may still be unhappy.

We may drive expensive cars

And have big bank balances

That may not bring happiness either.

We all know those rare individuals,

Who do not have much at all

But still they are always happy.

Sooner or later, we start realizing,

We cannot buy happiness in stores

Nor can we order it online.

When we share what we have

And are always willing to help others

That is when we experience real happiness.

APPNA Academy Launched

Welcome to APPNA Academy: We are reaching a big milestone in the history of APPNA MERIT with launching of APPNA Academy, an online comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS) with potential to develop hundreds of online short and long courses, certificate programs and skills workshops for large audience nationally in Pakistan.

Please click here to watch other APPNA MERIT webinars

APPNA Social Forum Webinar

Pleas click here to watch the webinar

APPNA COVID Efforts

APPNA/ICNA Relief mobile clinics continue serving our communities.

On Thursday, September 17th, 2020, APPNA/ICNA Relief mobile clinic free community health fair was organized along with food and home supplies distribution on North Texas Giving day in Dallas, Tx.

APPNA COVID-19 food/ration distribution to Christian families in Pakistan.

On September 10, 2020 APPNA (Association of Physicians of Pakistani descent of North America) in collaboration with URI (United Religions Initiative) Lahore distributed food supplies among 50 Christian families affected by COVID 19 pandemic in Bilal town Lahore.

APPNA Chapters and Alumni Efforts

KEMCAANA: donated a generous amount with matching funds from APPNA under the leadership of Dr. Waseem Aziz to salute and honor our medical profession, essential workers, and ER responders and local front line health care workers. Since May of this year, 2,500 hot meals have been distributed on multiple occasions.