Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America

The Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) is an American physicians' not for profit organization headquartered in Westmont, Illinois. It was formerly known as the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America when it started in 1976 and was formally incorporated in 1977. It was formed by expatriate Pakistani Physicians to meet and further their interests in America. Today it is the largest and most influential Pakistani group in the United States.

The Association is organized for educational and scientific purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations which qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The organization holds numerous yearly conferences in different locations (the recent meeting took place in Washington D.C.; others---just to name a few---have took place in New York, Texas, California and Illinois) throughout North America and the Summer Conference is its largest convention every year. There are regional chapters for all major parts of the United States, with some states having numerous chapters. It has also developed alumni associations for all major medical colleges in Pakistan.

Aims and Objectives

* To support medical education and research.
* To advance the interests of medicine and medical organizations.
* To foster scientific development and education in the field of medicine for the purpose of improving the quality of medicine and delivery of better health care, without regard to race, color, creed, sex or age.
* To facilitate a greater and better understanding and relations amongst Pakistani physicians and between them and the people of North America.
* To support the efforts of those who would preserve, protect and enhance the reputation and services of the medical profession in general and Pakistani physicians in particular.
* To assist newly arriving Pakistani physicians in orientation and adjustment.
* To institute ways and means to cooperate with other medical organizations in North America.
* To encourage medical education and delivery of better health care in Pakistan, specifically by arranging for donation of medical literature, medical supplies, and by arranging lecture tours, medical conferences, and seminars in Pakistan.
* To participate in medical relief and other charitable activities both in Pakistan and in North America. [http://www.appna.org/About-Us.id.16.htm]

ApnaList:

Whereas a formal form of electronic communication such as a web based communication portal through the APPNA website does exist, it is barely used by the officials or the members .The portal is seldom used even for official communications by the organization .A Yahoo Group (R) called ApnaList or listserv http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ApnaList/ is run privately by a group of the organization's members. The current membership of this group is more than 508. The forum provides an avenue for dialogue among the APPNA members and free exchange of views. In contrast to the APPNA organization and its establishment, which has traditionally sided with all the undemocratic forces and regimes in Pakistan and worked as their proxy, this group also includes members who oppose the totalitarian rule in Pakistan and regularly protest the violations of the human rights, women's rights and rights of the minorities in Pakistan. All members, including even the ones opposed to having such a free dialogue, have equal opportunity to write on this forum.Pakistani Medical Graduates residing in USA can apply to join this list by sending a blank eMail to [e-mail].

APPNA SEHAT

APPNA SEHAT (Scientific Educational Health Administrative Training) is a subsidiary of APPNA that was established in 1989 and registered as Social welfare organization. In Urdu sehat means health. The main purpose of APPNA SEHAT was to develop a low cost model which could address health and related problems effectively and efficiently and to implement practically low cost primary health care projects based on the model for poor and marginalized segments of rural communities. APPNA appointed a team of health experts to investigate the health situation in Pakistan. SEHAT developed Health Education based low cost practical model for rural communities. The approach is aiming at behavioral changes through education, guidance and capacity building through trainings. The proposed model of self-help is a process of transformation of marginalized, un-served, and looking for ‘dole-outs’ communities into effective, independent, self-sustaining communities, meeting most of their needs especially the primary health care needs. The model was pilot tested from 1989 to 1992 in four topographically and culturally diverse areas of Pakistan from mountains of NWFP through hills and planes of Punjab to deserts of Sindh. It launched its first ever Primary Health Care project in 1989 as pilot project with 16,357 people living in 2,200 households of 15 villages at four places Mardan, Murree, Sahiwal and Badin. Through the policy of graduation out, which is the premise of the program, all those units which were on APPNA SEHAT financial support for more than three years or more, have been graduated out. The finances so spared will be used to include new communities waiting for technical and social guidance to improve their life style. So far 37 units at all locations have been graduated out of program and added 16 new communities. [http://appnasehat.org.pk/Introduction.htm]

PAKPAC

In 1990, Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC) was formed as the political arm of APPNA and it was registered as a separate entity. Though originally it was primarily composed of physicians, it has since become open for all Pakistani Americans.

The Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC) is a nationwide, membership based, not for-profit lobbying organization registered with the US Federal Election Commission. PAKPAC membership is largely dominated by nearly 10,000 Physicians of Pakistani descent that are established across United States and contribute more than $100 billion to the GDP. It’s membership is open to the entire Pakistani American community which is rapidly approaching the 1 million markPAKPAC's mission is to advance and strengthen U.S.-Pakistan relations, while working tirelessly to preserve, protect and promote ideals of civil liberties commonly cherished by all Americans. PAKPAC is organized to give voice to issues and concerns common to the Pakistani American community. It play's an important role in fostering greater political and civic engagement within the Pakistani Americans. PAKPAC is also focused in collaborating with other regional and national Pakistani American organizations, as it continues to serve as a watch dog for inaccurate and negatively biased media coverage about Pakistan and Pakistani Americans. PAKPAC is also involved in educating media outlets, political parties, academic institutions, think tanks, and Administration (US as well as Pakistani) about issues of concern and significance to the Pakistani American community, especially concerns of becoming a victim of hate crime on account of ongoing terrorist threats. (For more information on PAKPAC, browse our website (www.pakpac.net).

PAKPAC is also engaged in enhancing US image in Pakistan by creating awareness regarding the greatness of America that has provided majority of Pakistani Americans to realize the “American dream” by living in peace and prosperity without fear of persecution.

PAKPAC is currently focused on promoting the following legislative agenda:

1. Civil Liberties: The pursuit of civil liberties remains an unfinished business. PAKPAC continues to strive to ensure that Pakistani American community continues to enjoy the principles of free society through our role in remaining engaged with executive and the legislative branch of the government. 2. Economic Development: The Pakistani American community is endowed with entrepreneurial spirit and if given the optimum chance can contribute immensely in creating employment opportunities for all Americans. We envision that at least $100 million every five years be earmarked for Pakistani Americans to seek through various SBA programs available with commercial banks, or grants and interest free loans available through Federal and State agencies; this would undoubtedly catalyze creation of skilled as well as unskilled jobs, especially in the healthcare and general services sector. 3. Education Credits: Pakistani American community is very committed to encouraging its children to receive formal education. Most of the Pakistani American children finish graduate school. We believe that amongst the immigrant communities in the US, Pakistani American parents largely participate in defraying college education for their children. We hope that the US congress will consider offering $5000 in tax credit per child per year for Americans of Pakistani descent who is at least defraying 50% cost of their child's college education. 4. AID to Pakistan: United States should begin to equate similar importance to Pakistan in Southeast Asia, as we offer to State of Israel in the Middle East to ensure global peace. PAKPAC envisions an additional $100 million per year to be allocated over next ten (10) years in aiding Pakistan to overhaul her primary education infrastructure, catalyze cultural evolution and welcome tourism. 5. TRADE with Pakistan: Stimulating US-Pakistan trade is essential to create a sustainable economic growth in Pakistan. PAKPAC envisions US congress to pass legislation offering Federal corporate tax holiday for five years to small and mid size US companies that do business with Pakistan.

The 2006-07 Board of Directors of PAKPAC consist of:

1. Raza Bokhari, MD, MBA (Pennsylvania) President2. Saud Anwar, MD, MPH (Connecticut)President-elect3. Parvez Shah, MD, (Maryland)Treasurer4. Saquib Khan, MD (New York)5. Hassan Bukhari, MD (Texas)6. Mohammed Suleman, MD (Louisiana)7. Rafiq Rehman, MD (Kentucky)

AYA/CAPPNA

In 1990 the group organized CAPPNA (Children of Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America) to plan and promote programs for the members' children. Numerous activities have been planned to promote education and fun for the youth of APPNA. However, in 2004 CAPPNA dissolved and remained unactive until the 2007 conference in Orlando, FL. The attempt to rejuvenate the organization had mild success due to the efforts of president Farah Nawaz and Vice President Hana Ahmed.

In 1993, SAYA was organized as the Society of APPNA's Young Adults. SAYA, is, as the name suggests, the youth group under the larger APPNA (Association of Physicians of Pakistani-Descent of North America). SAYA is now an autonomous organization with college and graduate students. SAYA puts on numerous successful events during the annual APPNA summer convention, which the youth of APPNA greatly anticipate throughout the entire year. The members of SAYA are highly active, working together throughout the year to make each summer conference enjoyable and memorable. SAYA's events and concerts have become famous with both the adults of APPNA and children of CAPPNA and members of both strive to emulate SAYA's success in events and concerts.

The elections for the SAYA board of 2008 proved highly successful. Former president Najia Hamid accepted several nominations for the 2008 executive board. In July 2007 SAYA members elected Amna Bajwa, as president. Bajwa then held elections for the remaining board positions of Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Host Committee Chair, and Design Chair. The position of Vice President also went to an extremely involved member of SAYA, Nadeem Mirza, and the position of treasurer went to Zarmina Khan. On the ballot there were multiple nominees for secretary which lead to Shazia Siddiqui and Sarah Laila Ali receiving equal votes and each accepted the position of co-secretary. Again, both Siddiqui and Ali were active members of SAYA. Ali Reza Malik was elected as Design Chair and Ammar Waseem was elected as Host Committee Chair. The 2008 Board is responsible for SAYA's events during the Summer 2008 APPNA Convention in Washington, D.C.

As written on the SAYA website, "SAYA is moving towards a more philanthropic, mature, and responsible position while still providing the entertainment the younger adults love. This is the stance that SAYA believes Pakistani youth should take in their respective communities, so SAYA would like to emulate that. As SAYA rolls onto the future, SAYA hopes to extend its reach beyond the borders of the "APPNA weekend" every summer."

Entertainment

APPNA yearly entertains the families of the physicians that attend the meetings. Fashion shows have been organized, comedians such as Dan Nainan have been hired, and innumerable singers and actors have performed, such as, Hadiqa Kiyani, Faakhir Mehmood, Jawad Ahmad, Josh, RDB, Haroon, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Anwar Maqsood, Moin Akhtar, Alamgir, Junoon, as well as others. Pakistani singer Sarmad Sufian hosted a show along with Anoushe and Alize from MTV Pakistan in the 2007 Orlando meeting.

External links

*[e-mail]
* [http://www.appna.org/ APPNA website]
* [http://appnasehat.org.pk/ APPNA SEHAT website]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/cappna/ CAPPNA website]
* [http://www.pakpac.net/ PAKPAC website]
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/audio/2005/09/23/AU2005092301253.html WP Website Musharraf Voice Clip]
* [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C09%5C08%5Cstory_8-9-2006_pg7_29 Daily Times Article about lawsuit against APPNA]