On the Covid Frontlines

Barina Aqil: MBBS, MD (MBBS, Class of 1999)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 2005, MD (Pathology) 2008
Post JNMC: Residency Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine; Fellowship, Head and Neck Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Fellowship, Hematopathology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO. Current Professional Appointment and Location: Assistant Professor of Pathology, Northwestern University/Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL

Past Contributions to AMU and AMAANA: I have been born and brought up in Aligarh. Due to both my deep personal as well as academic connection to Aligarh, I have long had a passion to give something back to my alma mater. It is my strong belief that AMU has always provided an environment and community that fosters academic growth for students coming from all backgrounds in India irrespective of their social and financial status, region, caste and religion. Among all institutions of higher learning at AMU, JNMC has also for decades played a key role in fulfilling the aspirations of a highly diverse student body for pursuing a career in Medicine.

Future Vision for AMAANA: After coming to the United States, at various stages of my professional career, first as a resident and fellow, and then as a practicing Pathologist, I have felt a need to network with and connect with my fellow alumni from JNMC. As a lifetime member of AMAANA, I have seen how it plays a critical role in bringing all of us medical professionals together who are working in our respective fields spread out over geographically disparate regions of this vast country. The one bond that brings us together is the alma mater we all share and AMAANA and I will strive to continue its mission!

Shams Iqbal: MBBS, MD FSIR (MBBS, Class of 1997)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 2002, MD (Radiology) 2007

Post JNMC: Fellowship in Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, MA

Current Professional Appointment and Location: Staff Radiologist, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Past Contributions to AMU and AMAANA: “A proud graduate of JNMC AMU, I was blessed to be educated at AMU. I came to the US for advanced training in Interventional Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA. I am deeply involved in Global outreach work for Interventional Radiology as Chair of the “SIR Giveback program” and have given talks and training at JNMC.

Future Vision for AMAANA: AMAANA is an exciting organization which aligns with my personal goal of helping and uplifting countries in need, including India. I can help guide, plan and achieve this broad goal of supporting JNMCH with insights, and planning the path.

Looking forward to working with this team!

Syed Mohsin Alvi: MBBS, MBA (MBBS, Class of 1989)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 1996

Post JNMC: Residency Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut; MBA in Medical Services Management, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. He was affiliated at University of Massachusetts Medical School as an Assistant Professor of Medicine and taught medical students, residents, physician assistants, nurse practitioners evidence based clinical decision making.

Current Professional Appointment and Location: Attending Physician, Hospital Medicine, UMassMemorial Health, Harrington Hospital, Southbridge, MA. Dr. Alvi is a founding member of Society of Participatory Medicine and is member of North American Thrombosis Forum, Society of Hospital Medicine, Massachusetts Medical Society, Health Information and Management Systems Society, Institute of Healthcare Improvement and other national and international healthcare organizations. He is passionate about clinical decision support systems/electronic medical records and serves in Medical Informatics/Computerized Provider Order Entry, Hospital Process and Medicine Performance Improvement Committees. Dr. Alvi lives with his son Maaz in Dover, MA, and enjoys giving presentations on health care topics, traveling, cooking and listening to classical Indian music in free time.
Past Contributions to AMU and AMAANA: Dr. Syed Mohsin Alvi served as the General Secretary of the J.N. Medical College Society in 1994 and University Secretary for the Music Club in 1995. He is the founding President of non- profit organization Medical and Social Services in Helping Asia, supports Worcester Chapter of StandUp for Kids, a non-profit helping homeless, at-risk youth and was President of Aligarh Alumni Association of New England (AAANE). He was the first Joint Treasurer, and subsequently, Treasurer of AMAANA for two consecutive terms.

Naheed Rizvi: MBBS (MBBS, Class of 1989)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 1995

Post JNMC: Residency at St Barnabas Hospital, NJ, affiliated with Weil Cornell Medical School 2000-2003. Worked in Michigan as a Primary Care Physician for 18 years with MidMichigan Health serving as the Dept of Medicine Chair and Vice Chair and then with Mclaren Health serving as their Associate Medical Director.

Current Professional Appointment and Location: Core Faculty, Internal Medicine Residency, Crozer Chester Medical Center, Upland, PA.. My strengths are Chronic disease management to reduce complications and hospitalization, Women’s Health, Counseling patients to get age-appropriate screenings and vaccines. Hobbies: Cooking, Classical Hindustani music and Odissi Dance.

Future Vision for AMAANA: Understand the needs during MBBS and MD for Internal Medicine teaching opportunities as well as focus on Population Health to best serve the community.

Shamim Khan: MBBS (MBBS, Class of 1986)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 1992, MD Radiology (1992-95, did not finish, moved to US)

Post JNMC: Residency and Cardiac Fellowship in the US

Current Professional Appointment and Location: Interventional Cardiologist, Island Cardiovascular Associates, Long Island, NY; Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY.

Past Contributions to AMU and AMAANA: I served as the first Treasurer of AMAANA. During our first meeting (2013), I actively lobbied the then VC AMU (along with other cardiologist members of AMAANA) to established Cardiac Catheterization Lab at JNMC which has been accomplished & has been extremely successful. During my trips to India I try to interact with Cardiology Faculty at JNMC; gave a talk to the Cardiology department on my last visit.

Future Vision for AMAANA: Going forward my goal is to provide best possible forum for JNMC Alumni where we can interact, network & work for the betterment of our alma mater.

Javed Mohiuddin: MBBS, MD, FRCP, DTMH (MBBS, Class of 1971)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 1976, MD (Medicine)1980
Post JNMC: United Kingdom: MRCP (1982); DTMH, University of Liverpool (1987); United States: Residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Gastroenterology; Diplomate, Board of Internal Medicine (1992); Diplomate, Board of Gastroenterology (1995)

Current Professional Appointment and Location: Gastroenterologist in the community and VA, Biloxi, MS, affiliated with Veterans Affairs Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, Biloxi, MS and Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, Gulfport, MS.

Past Contributions to AMU and AMAANA: Have been a lifetime member of AMAANA

Huma Kazmie, MBBS, MD, FRCPC (MBBS Class of 1984)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 1990, MD (Pediatrics) 1993. Won 3 Gold Medals and President of India’s Silver Medal during MBBS.
Post JNMC: Pediatrics Residency at Sick Kids Toronto and obtained FRCPC, Pediatrics; Diplomate, American Board of Obesity Medicine, 2016; Mini Mental health Fellowship, 2019.

Current Professional Appointment and Location: Adjunct professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario since 2005; Consultant Pediatrician, Windsor Regional Hospital, Metropolitan Campus at Windsor, Ontario; Private Pediatric Practice at Windsor, Ontario; Physician Assessor for College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario; I have been working in Windsor since 2004 and am in-charge of Pediatric Journal Club. Along with my husband, I have started a Pediatric walk-in clinic and Kazmie Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Program in the community.

Past Contributions to AMU and AMAANA: I was the athletic champion of college for two consecutive years and a member of the Sports Committee. I am passionate about prevention of diseases and health promotion. I have been and am currently serving as the Canadian Liaison for AMAANA and have participated in the COVID-19 webinar series in collaboration with JNMC.

Future Vision for AMAANA: AMAANA has a big group of talented physicians with a huge potential. This has been very evident in our work over the years. AMAANA contributed both at academic and sociocultural level. We can channel our efforts to help JNMC become the best healthcare institutions in India. As the strength of any organization lies in numbers and active members, as the Canadian Liaison I would strive to increase membership and improve engagement of Canadian members in all AMAANA activities.

Asif Sultan, MBBS, MS (MBBS Class of 1991)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 1991, MS (General Surgery) 2001
Post JNMC: Internal Medicine Residency and Nephrology Fellowship from LSU, (Louisiana State University Health Ctr, Shreveport) in 2007.
Current Professional Appointment and Location: Founding Partner at Knoxville Nephrology Associates; a nephrology group providing services in north-east Tennessee; Consultant in Nephrology, University of Tennessee Medical Ctr, Knoxville, TN; Adjunct Faculty, Lincoln Memorial University School of Osteopathic Medicine; Medical Director of DaVita Dialysis Centre Morristown, and Appalachian Dialysis Center, Tazewell, TN.

Past Contributions to AMU and AMAANA: I was born in New Delhi, studied at Delhi Public School Mathura Road, then at AMU. While at AMU I lived in Allama Iqbal Hall, Amin hostel/M.M hall and Hadi Hasan hall. I have been an active participant in JNMC college festivals and would love to give back to my alma mater.

Gaurav K. Gupta MBBS, MD, PhD. (MBBS Class of 1999)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 2005, MD (Biochemistry) 2008
Post JNMC: Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at Creighton University, Omaha, NE; Postdoctoral Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Tufts Medical Center, Boston; Fellowships in Hematopathology National Cancer Institute, (NIH), Bethesda, MD and in Transfusion Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

Current Professional Appointment and Location: Assistant Attending Physician in Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapy Division, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York NY. Gaurav lives on Long Island with his wife and 5-year-old daughter.
Past Contributions to AMU and AMAANA: Dr Gupta has served as Vice President of Aligarh Alumni Association of New England (AAANE) in the past. He has been a member of the EC 2019-2021. Last year Gaurav gave a lecture as part of the AMANNA lecture series at the Department of Pathology at JNMC and was also part of the COVID-19 webinar presentations in collaboration with JNMC.
Future Vision for AMAANA: AMAANA brings JNMCites in North America to a common platform for close social interaction and at the same time helps collaborating with our alma mater for mutual exchange of ideas and assistance we can provide as a group to improve patient care and education. AMAANA played a commendable role in helping JNMC during COVID-19 crisis with participation in the financial assistance campaign for establishing the oxygen plant as well as discussions on patient management guidelines. He hopes to continue giving back to his alma mater by volunteering his time as the Joint Secretary.

Huma Ansari, MBBS (MBBS Class of 1999)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 2005
Post JNMC: Psychiatry Residency (2008-2012), Mount Sinai Services at Elmhurst Hospital Center, Queens, NY

Current Professional Appointment and Location: Chief of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville, NJ and Volunteer Clinical Instructor, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School – Rutgers University.

Past Contributions to AMU and AMAANA: I have been serving on AMAANA EC since 2016 and was the Joint Secretary in the last term. AMU is a family tradition as my father went to City High School, followed by PUC (+2 equivalent back then) and then Diploma in Engg. Uncles, cousins and then me and my siblings followed suit although I am the first JNMCite in family; my folks still live in Aligarh.

Future Vision for AMAANA: In less than a decade of existence, AMAANA has earned strong reputation among alumni community as well as within JNMC and AMU. I truly believe that AMAANA’s motto of “JNMC alumni for Excellence in Medicine” is what has been the driving force. I would like to see the AMAANA membership grow because in numbers we have strength and our collective knowledge base will be the asset that JNMC would benefit from and what AMAANA is all about.

Sadia Chaghtai, MBBS, DO (MBBS Class of 1989)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 1996, Diploma in Ophthalmology 1998.

Post JNMC: After leaving Aligarh, I joined as a trainee in Ophthalmology at NHS trust in UK and stayed there until 2000. When my family decided to relocate to US in 2000, I stayed home with my children to provide stability while my husband, did the necessary trainings needed to get his training and American board certifications. Meanwhile, I stayed involved as a volunteer in multiple causes: charitable, social and educational at various levels local, national and international.

Current Professional Appointment and Location: I am very passionate and strongly believe in upliftment of the underserved and underprivileged population by giving equal chances through mentoring and education. To fulfill my ambition, I have taken up the role of a full-time math teacher at Southbridge School district (an underserved community) in Massachusetts and hoping to make a difference by teaching and inspiring the new generation in coming years.

Past Contributions to AMU and AMAANA: Joint Secretary 2013-2015 and Current Secretary. Served as the Treasurer, Secretary and member of the Board of Directors at the Federation of Aligarh Alumni Associations (FAAA). Past President of the Aligarh Alumni Association of New England (AAANE) and currently serving as the Chairperson and Member of Board of Trustees, Member of the Board of Directors; Current Chairperson, Advisor and Director of Fundraising / Media for the scholarship program called Sir Syed Excellence and Science Award (SSESA).

Future Vision for AMAANA: I am very passionate about serving my Alma mater and believe that through our contributions we can help make positive changes at AMU to create a growing environment for success. I also believe that we can help fellow alumni, current AMU teachers and students in reaching their goals and ambitions by various methods that would support them but are not limited to financing, mentoring and networking.

Tazeen Beg, MBBS, MD (MBBS Class of 1985)

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 1991, MD (Anesthesiology) 1994.

Work at JNMC: Clinical Instructor in Anatomy and Forensic Medicine 1994-96

Post JNMC: Volunteered as an Extern at VAMC, Washington DC for a year. Internship in Surgery and Residency in Anesthesiology at Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York.

Current Professional Appointment and Location: Chief, Non-Operating Room Anesthesia (NORA) and Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

Personal/Professional Accomplishments: Dr Beg is the first division chief of NORA at the hospital and was instrumental in its evolution. She also works at the Stony Brook Ambulatory

Surgery Center and Eastern Long Island Hospital. She is an active member of committees in several State and National Anesthesiology Societies. Her interests are focused on teaching the residents and improving the safety of patients in the Endoscopy Unit and other NORA areas. During the COVID peak in New York, she volunteered to be on the Airway Team for intubating the COVID patients admitted at her hospital.

Past Contributions to AMU and AMAANA: Apart from working full time as an anesthesiologist, Dr Beg volunteers her time to the advancement of mostly educational and medical facilities for the impoverished. She is very passionate about her alma mater and has been an active member of the Aligarh Alumni Association of New York (AAANY) since 2000, has served as their Vice President in the past and is currently a member of the Executive Committee. She received the ‘2021 Distinguished Service Award for her selfless service’ during the first COVID-19 surge in New York from AAANY.

Dr Beg is one of the Founding Directors of Aligarh Medical Alumni Association of North America (AMAANA), and since its inception in February 2013, AMAANA has been her main focus. As the first Secretary of AMAANA, she was part of the team that initiated the process for the establishment of Cardiac Cath Lab and raised funds for the JNMC Auditorium. She has helped organize and host Biennial meeting events, published the Newsletter ‘AMAANA’s Pulse, organized numerous visiting alumni lectures at JNMC including the Research Day. As the current Vice President, she has helped organize/host the virtual General Body meeting and numerous COVID-19 related webinars in collaboration with JNMC.

Future Vision for AMAANA: Dr Beg hopes to continue to strive towards fostering a strong bond between JNMC and its alumni and hence, AMAANA’s mission and goals.

Dr. Reshma Ali Mahmood, MD, FACP (MBBS Class of 1979)

Reshma Ali Mahmood,

JNMC Year of Graduation: MBBS 1984, MD (OBGYN) 1987
Work at JNMC: Assistant Professor of OBGYN, 1987-93
Post JNMC: Residency (Internal Medicine) University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA
Current Professional Appointment and Location: Internist & Medical Director of Primary Care, West Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo/Santa Maria, CA

Personal/Professional Accomplishments: I am currently working as Medical Director of Primary Care at two community-based clinics for the West Los Angeles Veterans Healthcare system based in San Luis Obispo/Santa Maria, CA.

On a personal note, I have two kids and two cats with attitude -Max and Smokie, and am a newly minted Dadi (Grandmother). My husband and I are empty nesters and welcome anyone coming to CA to stay with us –you do have to drive down the coast from SFO 240 miles and up 180 miles from LA.

Past Contributions to AMAANA: AMAANA has been a great source of connection with my colleagues and has been a positive experience since I joined. I have served as a member of the Executive Committee 2019-2021.

Future Vision for AMAANA: My sincere hope moving forwards is to get more of our alumni involved in helping our Alma Mater through various programs – both financially and by imparting knowledge to the younger generation of doctors.