APPNA has been involved with programs supporting both undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.
Every year, many medical students in Pakistan, are not able to join the medical college due to financial constraints. I Care Foundation in Pakistan has recently started this project where such students from government medical colleges were identified and financial support was given. There were around 400 medical students who needed this help. The screening program is conducted by a committee and documents and family income are reviewed and the average monthly family income has to be 250 dollars or less. The student is then sponsored at 600 dollars per year and funds are given quarterly and close monitoring is done of the exam scores and performance.
APPNA initiated this program during Ramzan and we were able to raise funds for 30 students during Ramzan and another 20 recently. Many of these students are are from smaller medical colleges and alumni here and our generous members stepped forward to help them. We are grateful to National Health Foundation for sponsoring 15 students from Bolan Medical College.
The students sponsored were from all over Pakistan and belonged to government medical colleges.
You can help us make a difference in the life of these young people!
Aisha Zafar MD.
Chair Swdrc.
APPNA 21st International Meeting -
Tanzania & Safari
APPNA organized one its most enjoyable international meetings in September. 80 members and spouses gathered in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania from all across the US and Canada.
11 Jeeps were contracted to take this group on an unforgettable journey. The group started with a tour to the local markets in Arusha for bargain hunting for "Tanzanite", a unique blue/violet gemstone found in the hills nearby. Our first stop was Lake Manyara, where we were greeted by a troop of Baboons just as we entered the National Park. It was amazing to see thousands of flamingos in the middle of Africa, a sight more common in Florida. Next stop was the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is the worlds largest Caldera (crater). It measures 100 square mils and was voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders. To allow all of us to stay together the organizers were able to arrange accommodations at Lobo Lodges. Each morning we were treated to a lavish breakfast which included "paratha", omelets and chanay ! The evening entertainment, other than the professional African singers and dancers, was the nostalgic rendering of ghazals and songs by our members. Many stayed up at night to watch Pakistan beat West Indies in UAE and the First US Presidential debate.
The Host Committee of APPNA Winter meeting will like to invite our esteemed members to 2016 APPNA Winter Meeting in Karachi Pakistan. APPNA will host the meeting in collaboration with Dow University of Health Sciences. The meeting will be held arachi on December 22-23-24, 2016.
We have invited national and international scholars in their respective fields for CME program. The attendees will be able to participate in Break Away Sessions of their interest where they will be able to interact with e
xperts in small groups. Participants are expected to come from different parts of Pakistan, Great Britain, UAE, United States and Canada. There will be Hands on Seminars in Cardiology, Pain Management, etc.
DOGANA (Dow Graduate Association of North America) will have their separate programs in Break Away Sessions. A dinner and entertainment program is being organized on the evening of December 24th.
Winter meeting will provide a little bit of everything for everyone. Come visit Uroos ul Bilad, The biggest metropolis of Pakistan, see the metamorphosis of Dow Medical College into Dow University of Health Sciences.
Message from Dr. Aamir Ehsan - Chair, Host Committee
On behalf of South Center Texas Chapter (host chapter), we would like to congratulate President of APPNA - Dr. Nasar Qureshi, Executive Council, Board of Trustees, host committee, APPNA members, chapter and alumni presidents, the San Antonio community, our donors/sponsors and volunteers for making a very successful and historic APPNA fall meeting in San Antonio. The theme of fall meeting was "It is Possible". Our dynamic and diverse host committee (comprised of nine medical schools) worked tirelessly for hundreds of voluntary hours for last 18 months and making this possible. The venue was Hyatt Regency, Riverwalk (October 20 to 23rd, 2016). It was attended by 500+ physician delegates from all over the United States, Canada and Pakistan.
Meeting started with highly informative CME session presented by renowned physicians from all over the United States. It was followed by Breast Cancer Walkathon at Travis Park in the heart of Downtown, attended my multitude of Breast Cancer survivors, physicians, families and representatives of Baptist Breast Cancer Center, South Texas Veterans Health Care System and APPNA President. Dr. Lubna Naeem the current President of SC-TX APPNA has been organizing this Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign for several years.
Friday evening was a magnificent colorful line up of the events one after the other. Guests reached the venue at the Briscoe Western Art Museum on beautifully decorated horse carriages (Bhagees) to experience the spectacular cultural extravaganza. Attendees were greeted by Mexican folk dancers in bright colors of rain bow and Mariachi band .........
APPNA Adopt-a-Doc Program
