VCOM - Carolinas 2017 Yearbook

IMA Islamic Medical Association

Mohammad Ahmad, President; Mahum Inam, Vice President

T he purpose of the Islamic Medical Association (IMA) student organization is to promote brotherhood and sisterhood amongst medical students of diverse backgrounds, while educating individuals about the principles of Islam, its influence on medicine and the importance of community service. This year, IMA volunteered at a local mosque to offer medical services to those who may not be able to afford healthcare, while supervised by VCOM faculty member Doralyn Jones, DO. The organization also hosted a webinar with Husain A. Sattar, MD, founder of Pathoma. Dr. Sattar spoke about his life as a clinical pathologist and a scholar of Islamic spiritual studies, as well as how his faith positively influences

the way he practices medicine. He stressed the importance of respecting the autonomy, cultural and religious beliefs of all patients. IMA hosted a Cultural Diversity Event at VCOM-Carolinas along with members of the HCMO and SNMA student organizations. This dinner event educated fellow students about the importance of cultural competency, especially when serving communities that often face health disparities. In honor of Ramadan, IMA members hosted a dinner event to raise students’ awareness about global poverty. Several students fasted during the day of the event to empathize with people who are unable to afford food. At the conclusion of

Ramadan, IMA hosted a banquet on Eid-al-Fitr, where members discussed the topic of spirituality and its importance for patient healing, the importance of humility in physician- patient interactions, and how medical students can interact with members of the Islamic community to better understand their patients’ needs. IMA plans to continue hosting interfaith dialogues with fellow student organizations, along with providing free clinics to the local mosque. In the future, the organization will offer Muslim students a weekly Friday prayer service.

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