Dr. Saad Yasin

Dr. Tariq Awan, MD, CCFPF, FCFP

It has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve the APPNA Alberta chapter as its founding President.

APPNA(Association of Physicians of Pakistani descent in North America) is our Identity and the number one professional organization of overseas Pakistanis and the third largest professional organization in North America.

At APPNA Alberta Chapter, our goal is to grow together.

Our team, its membership, and the local community together facilitated and supported the accomplishment of APPNA goals of education, awareness, research, professional development, philanthropy, and social and cultural networking serving local communities and abroad, especially Pakistan.

I look forward to continuing working together and, with my best abilities and dedication, taking the APPNA Alberta chapter to higher levels and safeguarding its interests in the best possible manner, and bringing all Pakistani descent physicians under APPNA Banner!

Long Live APPNA

Dr. Sameena Bajwa, MD, CCFP, FCFP

It is an honour to be a president elect of APPNA AB chapter. APPNA has a great track record as one of the biggest organizations of physicians in North America. Pakistani physicians are respected all over the world for their achievements. APPNA provides platform to everyone whether they are new physicians, youth, families of physicians or international graduates. Their humanitarian work not only in North America but all over the world and especially in Pakistan is commendable. APPNA AB chapter was inaugurated in June 2019 and in last 3 years our membership has done an amazing work in the fields of education of physicians, community awareness programs and philanthropy . We will continue to serve both our homeland Canada and our motherland Pakistan.

Dr. Amir Aslam

It is my absolute pleasure and honor to be elected as a General Secretary in the 2022 APPNA Alberta election. I am a proud APPNA lifetime member. As a Pakistani Physician, APPNA is a powerful platform for me, and I enjoyed working with APPNA Alberta Chapter in the last couple of years as a member in various social, educational, and philanthropic activities. I like that APPNA has a democratic model and leadership roles available to all interested members. APPNA Alberta Chapter has a mission and goal to bring all Pakistani descent physicians & health professionals in Alberta under one banner and create a family environment where we can socialize, participate in educational activities and help people in need locally and abroad, especially in Pakistan. I invite all Pakistani descent physicians and health professionals to join APPNA Alberta Chapter so that together and united, we can play our role better in our society.

President Elect Message

Dr. Tehmina Munaf

I am a family physician working in Alberta for over four years with focused practice in Addictions,Mental Health and psychotherapy.I am humbled to have served as a treasurer of APPNA Alberta Chapter for 2022-2023. My hunger for knowledge and turning information to action has contributed to my participation in various volunteer community events in a short period of my career during the COVID pandemic and afterwards. I am fueled by my passion for understanding the nuances of cross cultural aspects of patient care, social work and community awareness both locally and internationally. The opportunity to be on the board of APPNA AB has opened horizons for me to show my commitment and passion for community work and join hands with like minded Pakistani decent physicians. My work as a co-committee lead for young physicians committee has been the highlights for the previous term and I am certain that there is no limits to when it comes to creativity, unity and passion for social work. As we start a new phase in our next term, I am really looking forward to getting up to speed in this new role and I would like to extend my gratitude and congratulate my team for their wonderful performance. APPNA resonates as the word acronyms our organization but in Urdu it means something that belongs to us. If you are a Pakistani physician working or in the process of integrating into healthcare in Alberta you know where to turn to and your own APPNA AB family will welcome you with open arms and warm hearts. I would end with this great quote

Volunteers are seldom paid; not because they are worthless, but because they are PRICELESS!

Dr. Abdul Qadir Kamran

Dr. Nusrat Asif

Dr. Ashfaq Shuaib, MD, FRCPS, FAHA

As a Pakistani-origin physician living in Alberta since 1982, I welcome you to our APPNA-Alberta website. The primary objective of the chapter is to bring together physicians of Pakistani origin residing in the province and create a platform that enables us together to participate in educational, charitable and social activities. We welcome all Pakistani-origin physicians in Alberta to join us in
achieving our goals.

Dr. Hussam-Ul Haque Bawa (Late)

Dr. Hussam-Ul Haque Bawa was a pillar and fatherly figure for the Muslim community in Calgary, Alberta.

Dr. Bawa was a Dow Medical graduate of 1980. He obtained training in psychiatry in Ireland and England. He briefly practiced as a psychiatrist in Pakistan in 1980 before moving to the UK to work as a Registrar and Locum Consultant. He returned to Pakistan for a year in 1995, serving as the Psychiatry department head at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. In 1996, he moved to Saskatchewan, Canada as a staff psychiatrist. He finally settled in Calgary, Alberta, in 1999, where he worked as a specialist psychiatrist until he passed.

He was actively involved in teaching and research and received many awards in these areas. He was a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, and his study examined depression in primary care and focused on medically complex patients. He was an APPNA lifetime member, founding member, and the force & vision behind APPNA Alberta Chapter.

Dr. Bawa led tremendous projects and services for the community. He pioneered Maryam Masjid, the Musallah in Northwest Calgary, and the Islamic School NW Calgary. He was one of the founders and the first elected Chair of the board for the Islamic Association of Northwest Calgary, which administered the Musallah in Northwest Calgary, a position he held for five years. He worked on seniors’ programs with the Pakistan Canada Association. He helped with a voter engagement initiative called JustVote. He was a founding member of Canadian Muslims for Peace and Justice and participated in numerous other organizations. He supported many charitable causes and played a vital role in supporting fundraisers in Calgary for the Shaukat Khanum Hospital.

Dr. Bawa’s services were not limited to the Muslim community; he always advocated for inclusiveness and harmony between communities. He frequently served as a bridge between groups and promote collaboration.

Dr. Bawa is survived by his loving wife, Siddiqua Bawa; his sons, Faraz and Unaiz Bawa, his daughter, Heba Bawa; his daughters-in-law, Sarah Yusuf and Faria Sana and his grandsons, Aydin and Naell Bawa.

Dr. Hussam Ul-Haque Bawa was humble and will always be remembered as a selfless true leader. His departure leaves a vacuum that cannot be filled.