RMCAANA Newsletter

President RMCAANA Dr Sophia Janjua's letter Feb. 2010
President San Francisco APPNA Meeting Report
RMCAANA Alumni Dinner Program Friday, July 3, 2009
President RMCAANA letter 2009
Class of 1984 Reunion in December 2009 in Rawalpindi/Islamabad
APPNA Summer Meeting June 2008 at Washington, DC
President RMCAANA, letter March 2008
RMCAANA Newsletter, September 2007
Fundraising for RMCOF Burn Center, Louisville, KY on Aug. 17, 2007
APPNA summer meeting, Orlando, FL 2007
APPNA summer meeting, Houston, TX 2005
APPNA summer meeting, Washington, DC, 2004
Prof. Mussadiq's letter to Dr Amer Nawaz, Past RMCAANA President

Dear Rawalian,

It has been more than a decade since the inception of Rawalpindi Medical College Alumni Association of North America (RMCAANA). During this decade, the Rawalians in North America have been active in humanitarian causes, both in the US, and in Pakistan. The graduates of Rawalpindi Medical College in North America are also dedicated in helping their alma mater, and to this end have been involved in various medical projects in Pakistan.
The Rawalian Burn Center, was an initiative undertaken by Rawalians all over the world, and is entering its fourth year. Located in the basement of Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, the Rawalian Burn Centers serves the indigent population of Rawalpindi and neighboring towns. It has provided care to many victims of burn injuries, and has a state of art OR and Hydrotherapy Unit. It is sustained by the Rawalians and care is provided free of cost. Surgeons and anesthesiologists have the opportunity to work there when they travel to Pakistan. Please visit http://rmcof.rmcdocs.com for more details on the Burn Center.
Last year, another healthcare initiative was undertaken by RMCAANA in collaboration with Dr. Fareed Minhas, Professor of Psychiatry, at Rawalpindi General Hospital. The Rawalian Child Development Center is aimed at creating, and increasing awareness for developmental, and pervasive disorders among children. This particular project is spear headed by Dr. Shahida Rahmani, President-Elect RMCAANA. Besides providing educational material and videos, the Rawalians, have also funded two psychologists who work at the Rawalian Child Development Center to provide services, like speech or behavior therapy to the children. Dr. Waqar Azeem, a RMC graduate, in the US, has also gone to the Center and given lectures and conducted workshops at RGH with Prof. Fareed Minhas. Please visit RMCAANA website at www.rmcdocs.com for more details on the alumnus.
We are also in the process of starting a RMCAANA Scholarship Fund, that will fund the education of deserving medical students at RMC from the first to final year.
These are some of the endeavors that the Rawalians are involved in. There is a lot more that we can do, and to accomplish this, we would need your help, and participation. As the President of RMCAANA this year, I would like to ask you to join your alumnus organization, and be a part of it. We will be having our annual alumni dinner on July 1, 2010, in Dallas, at the Gaylord Convention Center. Faryal Gauhar is going to be our Key Note Speaker. Our seniors have done an admirable job for the alumni, and it is now incumbent upon us to carry it forward, and to continue the efforts made by them. Please join me in supporting our alumnus, and our alma mater. Please visit APPNA web site to become a member of APPNA and RMCAANA, and also for the details of APPNA summer meeting. Click APPNA Membership Application to apply for membership on line or alternatively, you can complete the enclosed application form and mail it the APPNA office. Looking forward to seeing you all in Dallas.

Sophia Janjua
President RMCAANA 2010

PRESIDENT’S REPORT SAN FRANCISCO APPNA MEETING
Also submitted for publication in fall APPNA journal

The annual summer meeting at San Francisco was a great success. I would like to share with you the highlights of RMCAANA activities at the annual alumni dinner program. We raised over fifteen thousand dollars for the Child Development Center (CDC) located at Rawalpindi Medical College. We have hired two full time psychologists at CDC. Their job will be to act as liaison for RMCAANA physicians in the US and their counter parts in Pakistan to conduct web base video teleconferences, didactic sessions as well as participate in psychotherapy sessions.
Rao K Baber (Chairman of RMCOF, a non for profit 501c3 organization) gave an excellent presentation on the burn center located at Rawalpindi. The yearly cost to run this project is $77,000. Please review the breakdown of the services delivered at the burn center for the year 2007.

# of patients Inpatient care                                              117 Outpatient                                                                   2,569         Major surgeries                                                                403 Hydrotherapies under anesthesia                                         444        Minor surgeries                                                              1,422

Salam Al Marayati, the founder of MPAC Foundation, gave a thought provoking speech on civil rights. He urged everyone to participate in the civic duties at the local as well as central level. Our presence at Capital Hill is of paramount importance when the law makers are at work. In the end, I thank all the RMCAANA members for enthusiastic participation and generous donations for the worthy cause.

Tanveer Ahmad MD
President RMCAANA 2009.

APPNA Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA July 2-5, 2009

Thursday July 2, 2009:
For the first time in APPNA history a live web cast on Neurology was done for audience in Pakistan. Dr Nadeem Shabbir, Child Neurologist, a 1984 graduate of RMC gave a talk.
Friday July 3, 2009:
RMCOF board of directors met in the morning to discuss the situation arising from delay in handing over the Rawalian Burn center to the government of Punjab. Decision was made to continue funding the Burn center in Rawalpindi, Pakistan until government of Punjab takes over. The board very much appreciated the dynamic leadership of Dr Babar Rao. Click here to see the photos from this occasion

RMCAANA alumni dinner was held in the evening and was attended by about 60 RMC graduates and their family members. Sopia Janjua, MD President elect RMCAANA was the MC. Following introduction by the President, Dr Tanveer Ahmed the keynote speaker Salam Al Marayati gave a very thought provoking talk about Muslim identity in the USA.
Dr Shahid Rafiq announced the election result of RMCAANA executive Council 2011: President elect, Shahida Rehmani, MD, Secretary, M. Qasim Hasan, MD and Treasurer Hina Naushad, MD
More than $15000 was raised for Rawalpindi Child Development center in Pakistan. Following the fundraising, Dr Nadeem Afraz and Dr Babar Rao made presentations about mental health initiative and Burn Center in Rawalpindi Medical College Pakistan.
Alumni dinner was followed by a group photo, entertainment program and a Mushaira. Click here to see the photos from this occasion.

President RMCAANA, Dr Tanveer Ahmed's letter, March 2009

Dear Rawalians
Assalam o Alaikum,

Unrelenting efforts by our past council members have placed RMCAANA in an admirable position. As a president of RMCAANA for the year 2009, I have the delightful opportunity to reinforce those efforts and promote further progress. Our goal for this year is to provide various avenues for members to be actively involved in our organization We hope to embark on activities that will provide leadership opportunities.
Recently we have launched a project to support the Child Development Center in Pakistan. During his last winter trip to Pakistan, Waqar Azeem met with officials from the Center to explore cost effective ways of promoting this noble cause. We need Rawalians to train house officers in child development disorders in the US as well as in Pakistan. Rawalians can also provide second opinion teleconferences or provision of educational material. If you are interested in this endeavor, you can contact me or one of the executive council members for more information.
Our members can also give back to the Rawalpindi Medical College staff and students by partaking in the RMCCME project. Physicians from North American can impart their knowledge and expertise to final year students or house staff. This project is linked to the APPNA MERIT program. Please visit our website www.rmcdocs.com and click the RMCME link for details. You can join it by sending your request to Dr. Shahid Rafiq at tabassem@yahoo.com, (210-382-3451) or visit the website before your upcoming visit to Pakistan so that we can arrange your CME activities as a speaker at RMC.
The Rawalian Burn Center at Holy Family Hospital has been serving the community for several years. It is now fully equipped and has a state of the art OR. This mammoth undertaking was lifted off the ground because of the generous contributions of Rawalians from all over the world.
Commitment to democratic process is of paramount importance .I encourage and request to be actively involved in this process. The last date for sending nominations for the slate of President-elect, secretary, treasurer 2010 for RMCAANA is April 15^th.Please contact Shahid Rafiq at tabassem@yahoo.com.
Please take the time to visit RMCAANA’s website, where you can find a wealth of information. Members can receive updates on RMCAANA activities or participate in the discussion forums. For social link please visit rmcdocs@googlegroup.com.
Finally, I would like to personally invite you to the upcoming APPNA summer meeting being held in San Francisco, CA. on July 1^st - 5^th, 2009. With your enthusiastic participation, we can elevate this organization to new heights. If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas feel free to contact me directly. We need the support of the RMCAANA community.
It is an honor to serve as a president of our vibrant and progressive alumni.

Tanveer Ahmad, MD
President RMCAANA.

Daily News from June 2008 APPNA Annual meeting at Washington DC

Friday June 27th: We had a breakfast meeting of RMCOF Board of Directors. Dr Babar Rao was elected the Chairman of RMCOF Board for the next two years.
RMCAANA Alumni dinner was attended by more than 100 RMCAANA members and their famlies. MC was Dr Tanveer Ahmad. President RMCAANA, Dr Raheela Peerzada welcomed everyone and gave a brief overview of RMCAANA achievements in the last year.
Dr Amer Akmal and Avais Masud gave a presentation about RMC Burn Center. $80,000 was raised for the burn center.
Dr Shahid Rafiq outlined efforts of RMCME. He gave information about an autism project starting in Rawalpindi Medical College and a program for rotation of pathology trainees at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD.
Dr. Rifat Zaidi also made a presentation about earthquake relief medical mission in Pakistan.
Dr Amer Akmal announced 2009 RMCAANA Executive Council election result. President, Tanveer Ahmad, MD, President Elect: Sophia Janjua, MD, General Secretary; Shahida Rehmani and Treasurer: Qasim Hasan, MD
Click here for pictures from above events.
Saturaday June 28th:
Dr and Mrs Farid Mahmood invited Rawalians to their home for a brunch. After the brunch Dr Farid entertained the crowd with some songs. Thank you, Dr & Mrs Farid Mahmood for hosting this brunch in conjunction with Drs & Mrs Shahid Rafiq, Zulfiqar Ali, Ziauddin and Tariq mahmood. Click here for pictures from above events.
APPNA banquet was attended by almost 2200 guests. Keynote speaker was Congressman Keith Ellison.
Presidential candidate Barak Obama sent a letter congratulating APPNA on its achievements.
Banquet was followed by a musical show by Amanat Ali and a mushaira featuring Ahmad Fraz.
Next year's APPNA meeting is in San Francisco. See you there!

President RMCAANA, letter March 2008

Dear Rawalians, Assalam o Alamkum

It is with great pride as President RMCAANA 2008 that I wish to share update on our organization and personally invite you to join hands in our efforts to contribute to our Alma Mater. In past years there have been tremendous accomplishments in various fields which has put our Alumni in the forefront among APPNA institutions. Thank you to the untiring effort of past Executive Council members. We certainly want to keep the momentum going at this important stage.

On the forefront is the Rawalian Burn Center at Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi with four specialized beds providing much needed complete burn care to local area patients. Construction is now underway for an independent, fully equipped OR. This has been possible only through generous contributions of Rawalians all over the world.

The RMCME project is an initiative started in 2007 in an effort to collaborate CME/Research activities with RMC staff and students. We are eagerly awaiting the initiation of clinical rotations at state of the art US Hospitals for RMC students that provides them an opportunity to expand their clinical horizons. Rotating clinical physicians from North America and Rawalian Conferences are part and parcel of such efforts.

After hosting its first ever winter APPNA meeting at RMC, we have set the bar higher and we certainly need your cooperation to take it a step further. Let’s begin by visiting RMCAANA web site, www.rmcdocs.com. This is our central hub for more than 450 Rawalians in North America. We also have Discussion Forums on this web site and links to two listservs, one for general communication and the other specifically for CME related activities.

Finally I wish to take this opportunity to personally invite you to the upcoming APPNA summer meeting June 25-29, 2008 in Washington DC. This is going to be a very well attended and successful meeting where early registration is the key to avoid disappointment for reservations and help us plan for a well organized RMCAANA dinner. Registration before end of March will also provide you with the opportunity to cast vote in upcoming APPNA elections. To download the meeting and hotel registration forms visit our web site www.rmcdocs.com .

We encourage your participation for strengthening our community. Thank you for your time.
Raheela Pirzada, MD
President RMCAANA

RMCAANA September 2007 Newsletter

Dear Rawalians,
Assalam-o-Alamkum and Ramadan Mubarak.

Thank you for your time in reading this update on the RMCAANA progress. We had a very successful APPNA alumni dinner in Orlando, FL with record attendance. The Orlando Rawalians have started new traditions of inviting Rawalian families to a brunch, morning after the alumni dinner. We will continue this tradition in the next APPNA summer meeting in Washington, DC. Other than a very warm social event the Alumni dinner raised about 30, 000 dollars for the Rawalian Burn Center. A very well made DVD on Burn center was shown in this dinner. Dr. Nadeem Afraz the key note speaker from Pakistan shed light on the efforts on the revival of, “the Rawalian” in Pakistan. This necessary link will expedite our efforts to do more for our Alma Mater. The RMCAANA also donated 2,000 dollars to the Medicos Aid Society in RMC this year. Our effort to involve more and more Rawalians in RMCAANA is paying off. A lot of new Rawalians have contacted me while many of old Rawalians has shown a renewed interest to get involved.

Recently RMCOF had a fundraiser for Rawalian Burn Center at Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi. This was made possible by the exemplary hard work of Sohail Ikram, the past president of RMCAANA and the current president of APPKI. His wife Farah, a Rawalian of 1990 was also at the forefront of this project. This fundraiser at Louisville, KY, attracted many past and present leaders of APPNA and raised about 90,000 dollars.

Last but not the least; I am pleased to inform you that I have initiated the efforts to establish a permanent link with RMC for continuing medical education. The RMCAANA is spearheading the APPNA MERIT project under which physicians from North America will spend at least two weeks in RMC imparting their knowledge/ expertise. This visit will be sponsored by the funding provided by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. The Rawalians in Pakistan has established a committee of the Rawalian professors in RMC under the Principal to coordinate this effort. This committee will work closely with the RMCAANA CME committee. We will also welcome and coordinate with the Rawalians who are not able to spend two weeks in RMC but are eager to spend a day or two at RMC sharing their skills/ knowledge with final year students and house staffs. In addition we are working to bring top final year students for undergraduate rotations in different academic centers of North America. All these efforts will be done under the new project “RMCME”. Please visit RMCAANA website www.rmcdocs.com and click the link RMCME. You are also requested to participate/ contribute to the discussion forum of RMCME.

“The Rawalian” in Pakistan is holding a Rawalian Research conference on December 14-16, 2007. If you have a paper to present or know somebody who is interested in doing so please contact me. I personally invite all Rawalians in North America to attend this conference. This conference will also provide an opportunity for us to practically see the ground realities in RMC. It will streamline and jumpstart the efforts of CME in RMC (RMCME) in the coming years. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time with your questions/ comments/ suggestions to improve RMCME and RMCAANA.

Shahid Rafiq
President RMCAANA
Email: tabassem@yahoo.com

Fundraising for Burn Center at Louisville, KY on August 17, 2007

Fundraiser for RMCOF Burn Center in Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi was held on August 17th,2007 at Louisville, KY, featuring pop singer FAAKHIR. This function was attended by a large number of people including past and aspiring leadership of APPNA. We were able to raise more than $90,000 for the Burn Center in Rawalpindi. Thank you for your generosity.

APPNA's 30th annual summer meeting held in Orlando, FL 2007

RMCAANA Alumni dinner 07, was attended by a record number of Rawalians and their families. The number of participants in earlier RMCAANA annual dinners, has always been around 20- 40. Chicago 06 meeting was the one where about 55 came. This year about 80 attended the meeting. The better halves of each Rawalians were welcome by a rose. The program was printed on a special paper and was followed closely. The speeches were short and effective. The first half of the meeting was conducted by the president elect, Raheela Peerzada. The President of RMCAANA presented the annual report and the vision and program for the rest of the year. The highlight of his tenure so far was the reach out program to all Rawalians which resulted in this big turn out. The vision for the remaining year is the CME program at RMC. Dr. Nadeem Afraz was the key note speaker. He updated about the Burn center and revival of the Rawalians in Pakistan. The highlight of the evening was the documentary the he brought about Rawalian Burn Center. This professionally made DVD moved every one present and about $32 thousand pledges were made. The Ambassador of Pakistan in USA, Mr. Durrani also visited and gave a speech. He thanked all Rawalians for the Burn Center at Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi. He promised his efforts to bring the president Pervaiz Musharaf for the inauguration of Rawalian Burn Center in December.The second half of the program after the dinner was conducted by Amer Akmal. This informal introduction and fun part was enjoyed by every one present. It had to be curtailed due to constraints of time. However it continued the next day when a new RMCAANA tradition started. Jameel Ahmed Khan had invited all Rawalians in his home for a brunch. After an extensive and tasty meal every body filled in the big family room and enjoyed the songs by Ahsan Kamal, Rao Baber and Mr. Mirza. This particular gathering brought back the old memories of the RMC student days. Please visit the photo gallery for the pictures from this event.

APPNA's 28th annual summer meeting held in Houston TX in 2005

The participants were Avais Masud(85) and his wife Tania(90), Nasir Gondal(85), Kamran Sherwani(87), Raheela Peerzada and husband Nadeem, Raza Bokhari and his wife, Naila and husband, Talat and husband(83) Rifat and husband(82) Tanveer from Illinois(82), The # of attendees outnumbered the seating capacity of the alumni dinner hall so extra chairs had to be arranged. Raza Bokhari, current president made the opening remarks and told about the achievements of the RMCAANA during the past one year including fund raising for the MAS and RMC graduate with recently diagnosed tumor of tongue. He outlined the vision for the future to include more Rawalian in APPNA and doing some thing concrete for our Alma Mata. One major goal for RMCAANA is to hold APPNA winter meeting for 2006 in RMC. Shahid Rafiq told about his visit to Pakistan recently in which he met with RMC principal. Dr. Mussadaq is enthusiastic about a burn center at Holy Family hospital and requests the help of RMCAANA in this regard. It was decided that more information and detailed nature of help will be sought before asking RMCAANA members for monetary help. The new Executive body for the year for 2006: President; Farhat Abbass, President Elect; Shahid Rafiq, General Secretary; Raheela Peerzada, Treasurer; Tnveer Ahmed.The process of election for the year 2007 and years after that will be started from the month of April and nominations will be collected till June 1. The final election/announcement will be at APPNA summer conference in July. This year Election commissioner is Amir Akmal. The RMCAANA web site and residency forum were also appreciated in the meeting.

APPNA's 27th Annual Summer, Washington DC 2004

APPNA's 27th Annual Summer meeting was held at Marriott Wardman Park Washington, DC from June 9 to 13, 2004. Principal RMC, Professor Mussadiq and his wife attended the alumni dinner on friday. Other RMCAANA members present on the occason were Rabia Bajwa Chaudhry (94), Saroosh Saleemi (86), Noreen Qaiser (86), Naz Kamal (87), Zebba kamal(88) Ehasan Hadi (96), Asad Sarwar (96), Omar Farooq (84) & Sabahat Farooq(87), Amin Kamal (87), Asma Tahir (88), , Samee Saqib (92), Mubaashir Mahmood (90), Nadeem Islam(90) and Raheela Pirzada (91), Rifat Zaidi (84) & Mrs., Nadeem Manzoor Ahmed (86) & Mrs. Neeraj Mahboob (90) & Mrs. Aamir Shezad Sherwani (85), Rizwan Khan (93), Hameed Ajmal (90), Shahid Rafiq (84), Nasir Gondal (85), Shahid Randhawa (85), Sohail Aman (84) and Sameera Aman (87). Past presidents present were Babar Rao(83), Shail Ikram (84), Avais Masud (85) and Tania Masood (87) and Aamer Nawaz (86). Current Executive Council was represented by Farhat Abbass Khan (88) & Mrs., Raza Bokhari (90) & Mrs. and Dr & Mrs Amer Akmal. Visit the RMCAANA Forum and read postings by Amer Akmal for details. Click here to see some pictures from this occasion.

Prof. Mussadiq's letter to Dr. M. Aamer Nawaz, Past President

Dear Aamer, It was really good to hear from you. I am glad you are doing so well and also that you have become the president of RMC alumni. There is a lot you and all the graduates in USA can do for your college. It was unfortunate that things could not materialize on the CT scan. But I assure you from now on we will cut through the bureaucracy red tape and do what ever is good for the institution and people. Unfortunately it would be difficult for me to attend the meeting this year, but I will make it a point to stay in touch with you. Please extend an invitation to all the graduates on my behalf to come and visit the college. Rather if you people are coming in December it will be very good to arrange some activities in the college. You talk to the RMC doctors and tell me about the program, so that we can start working on it. Say Hello to all the participants from me. Stay in touch. Thanks for the wishes, and please pray that I come up to what is required of me and may Allah help me and guide me. Thanks Mussadiq