As-Salāmu `Alaykum

It is my distinct pleasure and a privilege to address you as the new President of the Islamic Medical Association of North America. As it is with most organizations, IMANA’s strength is in its membership. The more members we have and the more involved the membership, the stronger the organization. As a President I would like to see IMANA have a place in mainstream medicine. I would like you to become involved not only in IMANA but also in AMA and your specialty societies. IMANA has embarked on two new forums for its members. First is IMANA Specialty Section where IMANA members would dialogue and meet within their specialty, and second is IMANA Ambassadors program. Our Ambassadors will play a key role in exchanging information between local communities and IMANA. These two avenues would expand our mission.

We have adopted and opted to live in this country by choice. We are ambassadors of our countries. Our noble profession is unique in that it does not differentiate in providing service to the poor, the rich, the sick or the healthy with any prejudice of race or color. Each one of us has to be an example for others to follow irrespective of being a Muslim or non-Muslim.

The Rights of a Muslim over another are five: To respond to the greetings, to visit the sick, to attend the funeral, to accept the invitation and to bless him/her when he/she sneezes.

IMANA is making an impact in its medical relief efforts and disaster assistance. IMANA provides a forum for learning and education of its members, friends and families. Our educational workshops will be continued as long as there is an interest. IMANA has expanded its wings to collaborate with International Medical Universities to enhance knowledge exchange programs.

Please feel free to get in touch with us at any time. It is your society and when you have some news to share, let us know. Our committees are task oriented committees I would like to see them do well in the coming years and our office will assist them achieving their goals. Engaged members are vital to our success. To preserve stability of our income we need to develop strategy to make our conferences successful.

Please contribute to our newsletter; let us know about your activities in your communities. We must not ignore our youth and keep them involved in decision making, it is they who will come in the future years to make IMANA viable.

I pray to Allah swt to guide me during my tenure as your President.

Ayaz M. Samadani M.D.