Mission Statement

The National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) is a nonprofit, nonpolitical, educational and humanitarian organization. Its members are medical professionals of Arab descent, or have a close affinity with individuals of Arabic origin, or demonstrate a commitment to the mission and organizational objectives of NAAMA.

The objectives of NAAMA encompass a wide range of professional, educational, charitable, humanitarian and cultural activities.

Professional and Educational

To enhance the medical knowledge of the members of NAAMA, to contribute to the medical profession, and to support continuing medical education and research.
To promote professional relationships among members and organizations of the medical profession in North America and the Arab world.
To create friendly relationships among health-field professionals who share a common background and who wish to perpetuate pride of heritage.
To print an official membership directory which can serve as a source of references and information.
Charitable and Humanitarian

To support professional and educational activities aimed at health education and disease prevention in cooperation with community-based organizations and to support general humanitarian activities.
To provide and to help coordinate routine and emergency medical care in support of those in need in the Arab world.
To provide assistance where possible and to serve as an educational resource for medical students and health field-related post-graduate trainees of Arabic descent.
To sponsor speakers, grants, textbooks and other learning materials for medical schools in the Arab world.
Cultural Enhancement for Members and their Families

To create activities and programs for NAAMA''s youth which highlight their shared Arabic heritage, and to foster community spirit.
To encourage and promote role models among the health care profession who can help inspire and guide the direction of NAAMA''s youth.
To recognize Arab artistic efforts and endeavors.

Projects
Under the umbrella of the NAAMA Foundation, created in 1990, NAAMA''s humanitarian programs include providing medical education tools and medical equipment and supplies to institutions in acute need throughout the Arab world. Generous members and friends supplement the funds that are available from the Foundation. In 1992, the Board created Liaison and Relief Committees for each of eight major Arab countries or geographic areas and for Arab America. These committees research all proposals submitted for educational and humanitarian projects before requesting a Foundation grant. If a grant is approved, the committee''s responsibilities include supervising and monitoring a project''s implementation, and evaluating its effect.

Highlights of NAAMA''s most recent educational and humanitarian programs are described below and grouped by recipient countries and charitable issues.

Egypt hosted NAAMA international medical conventions in 1985 and 1998 and NAAMA''s Symposium on Epidemiology: The Key to Egyptian and Global Health in 2002 with the cooperation of the Ministry of Health and medical schools in Cairo. In 1998, NAAMA donated $18,000 to provide wheelchairs for needy diabetic amputees in Egypt. NAAMA also maintained subscriptions to U.S. medical journals for Cairo University and the National Cancer Institute. In 2000, NAAMA contributed $8,500 to the Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak Project for Treatment of Cancer in Children in the Governorates. This special fund was created to provide medical supplies for pediatric cancer patients in treatment at the National Cancer Institute''s satellite treatment centers outside Cairo. In 2002 more than 70 Egyptian specialists attended the Symposium on Epidemiology presented by U.S. experts. Part of the proceeds from the symposium provided the seed money for NAAMA''s Egyptian Children''s Cancer Project. This ongoing project, begun in 2003, seeks to standardize the protocols for pediatric oncology treatment in Egypt and to develop the Nasser Institute into the country''s model treatment and research center for pediatric oncology.

Medical schools in Iraq were the recipients of NAAMA''s donations of computers, software, and medical texts in recent years. Members who visited Baghdad shared clinical know-how and delivered lectures on medical advances to the faculty and students at Baghdad University School of Medicine. NAAMA''s Liaison Committee for Iraq is currently organizing plans for future educational and humanitarian aid for that country. Funds are provided by the Foundation and by donations from members. Approximately 40 members have volunteered to travel to Iraq and use their medical skills to help the Iraqi people. NAAMA sponsored 4 physicians from Iraq to attend the Jordan convention in 2006.

During the 2006 international convention in Jordan, ACLS course equipments (value 15,000 dollars) were used to certify physicians and instructors in advanced life support courses during the Jordan convention and were donated to Universities for future use.

Aid for Lebanon has focused on tools for medical education. NAAMA pledged and donated $50,000 to the University of Balamand for its laboratory over a three-year period from 1998-2000. Lebanese University was the recipient of a $10,000 grant for textbooks in 2000. Grants to the Red Cross and to several smaller charities for medical equipment were implemented from 1997-2000. Following the war in 2006, NAAMA members conducted a national fundraiser that supported the Lebanese Red Cross. NAAMA chapters also contributed in response to the turmoil in Lebanon, the MI, OH, Houston, Toledo, IL and DC chapters among others held fundraising events benefiting Lebanon medical relief efforts.

In recent years, donations of medical relief supplies to Palestine have been significant. NAAMA works closely with relief agencies such as American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) in Washington, D. C., to stretch its donated dollars and facilitate the timely delivery of donated medical supplies. Numerous projects have been implemented since October 2000. For example, NAAMA has upgraded the burn unit at Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem and the emergency room at Ramallah Hospital, and has provided ambulances, equipment, and pharmaceutical supplies for hospitals in Gaza, Tulkarem, and Jenin. NAAMA''s Michigan Chapter and the Mosaic Foundation partnered the establishment of a burn unit at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus and are sponsoring training in burn care for a physician and two nurses from the hospital. Assistance was provided to Ghassan Kanafani Children Foundation to benefit the toddlers attending pre-school nurseries in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. In early 2003, outdated computers, printers and copiers were replaced at AlQuds Medical School in Jerusalem and milk drinks were provided daily for several months for preschoolers and kindergarten students in Gaza''s poorest neighborhoods. The Milk for Preschoolers program was expanded to supply milk and high-energy biscuits to 325 children in four preschools in Nablus for six months beginning in late 2003. In April 2003, Geraldine Shawa, executive director of the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children in Gaza City, wrote: “Your help comes at a time when the children are very much in need of nutrition for the proper development of their bodies and minds. The administration and staff of Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children and the 40 deaf girls and boys registered in the society kindergarten and their parents send their most sincere gratitude to NAAMA for including our kindergarten children in the Milk for Preschoolers program being implemented by ANERA.” In response to the violence in 2006, a national fundraiser was launched to boost the Palestine Medical relief fund.  The Committee also sponsored 4 Palestinian physicians to attend the Jordan convention, performed and donated equipments for ACLS, PALS courses during an intervention held prior to the Jordan convention in the West bank. The committee also helped ship medical equipments through ANERA in 2006.

Syria has been the site of three NAAMA international conventions and multiple workshops on cardiology and cancer. Clinical workshops were held in Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia in September 2003. In addition, NAAMA has participated in bringing medical professionals from Syria to the United States for specialized training in cooperation with both Wayne State University of Detroit and Physicians for Peace of Norfolk. Donations have included medical journals and texts for the medical schools, medical equipment, and emergency medical supplies following the flood resulting from the collapse of the country''s fourth largest dam in June 2002.

In the United States, NAAMA supports professional and educational activities aimed at Arab American health education and disease prevention in cooperation with the community-based organizations. NAAMA supported social and human service organizations such as the Community Health Center built by the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) in Dearborn, Michigan. NAAMA also donated to help the relief efforts following Katrina/Rita hurricanes aid. Several NAAMA members contributed their time and expertise to help the hurricane relief efforts.

NAAMA also joined worldwide efforts in 2006 to help the unfortunate victims of south Asia devastating Tsunami waves in Srilanka. NAAMA also assisted in the relief efforts following Pakistan Earthquake in 2006.

Medical Student Scholarships are granted yearly. Small educational grants are awarded to qualified Arab American students enrolled in recognized North American schools of medicine and health care. Application forms are available on NAAMA''s web site.