Dear APPNA Members,

Greetings to everyone, 2019 will be full of positive energy, excellence, new initiatives and growth for our organization! Our success will be based on your teamwork, unity, partnerships and creativity. I have outlined some of our 2019 core initiatives and objectives.

APPNA Institute of Innovation and Research. As a team, our main goal is to build institutions; we will be launching a project to build an APPNA Institute of Innovation and Research (AIIR). With this initiative, AIIR, will provide more philanthropy activities and promote knowledge to benefit humanity. Innovation and research are central pillars of our religion and AIIR will promote an advancement in education, research and a long-term solution with critical thinking.

Strengthening the infrastructure of APPNA will position us for more participation and growth. Understanding and acknowledging the skills and contributions of all members, will bring out innovation among our membership. There are numerous successful projects occurring, such as; APPNA MERIT, APPNA Clothing Drive, and APPNA Cornea Transplant Program. To improve effectiveness and efficiencies, we will reduce the number of committees, as needed.

Develop advocacy in the healthcare system and be an active voice in medical education. Medical education is a high priority that not only includes general CME, but also work-shops on a variety of topics. We will review the need for streamlining medical education and establishing standards.

Effective conflict resolution process. Efforts will be made through arbitration to determine the most effective and objective approach of resolving internal issues to mitigate escalation of problems. The leadership will be asked to take a more proactive role in resolving issues.

Transparency is being honest at all times, regardless of favorable or unfavorable results. Our goal is to have financial transparency and disclosure to avoid situations which can hurt the bottom line of APPNA.

Additionally, APPNA’s goal is to help and assist in Pakistan’s healthcare and medical education and strive to have a merit in each and every field especially in the admission policy of state-run medical colleges. We must build and mentor a solid future leadership, recruit new members, be open to all minorities and women issues, and make it simple for young physicians and medical students to join APPNA.

LET’S WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Naseem Shekhani, M.D.
President: Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America, 2019.