48th National Medical
Convention 2026

Scientific Program

Sadeer Al-Kindi
Led By
Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD

Scientific Committee Chair for the 48th National Medical Convention, leading speaker selection, abstract review, and session design across the entire scientific program. Associate Professor and Jerold B. Katz Endowed Investigator at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center.

Featured Speakers

Tap or hover a speaker to read their bio.

Marwa Ghazali
Marwa Ghazali
PhD
Marwa Ghazali, PhD

Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Central Washington University specializing in medical anthropology, structural violence, and displacement in MENA communities. Her multi-sited ethnographic research examines health inequalities and the politics of mortality among marginalized Arab and diasporic populations in the U.S. and abroad.

Layla Abushamat
Layla Abushamat
MD
Layla Abushamat, MD

Endocrinologist and NIH K23 award recipient at Baylor College of Medicine specializing in the prevention and management of cardiometabolic disease including diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia. Her research on cardiometabolic risk in multi-ethnic populations informs our understanding of metabolic health disparities relevant to Arab Americans.

Rouba Ali Fehmi
Rouba Ali Fehmi
MD
Rouba Ali Fehmi, MD

Professor of Pathology and Director of Breast Pathology at the University of Michigan with over 140 publications on cancer progression. Immediate past president of NAAMA and founder of NAAMA NextGen. Her landmark research on Arab American health — including obesity, HPV, and COVID-19 vaccine attitudes — was presented at the White House.

Samina Salim
Samina Salim
PhD
Samina Salim, PhD

Associate Professor at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy and 2025–2026 Fulbright U.S. Scholar. Her research bridges behavioral neuroscience and community health, with published studies on post-resettlement health among refugees and mental health outcomes in Arab and Arab American communities.

Karam Radwan
Karam Radwan
MD
Karam Radwan, MD

Associate Professor and Section Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Chicago Medicine. A graduate of the University of Damascus, his research focuses on global mental health, refugee care, and the neurobiology of emotion in children — making him a leading voice on Arab American youth psychological wellbeing.

Angubeen Khan
Angubeen Khan
PhD
Angubeen Khan, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan's Population Studies Center. Her intersectional research examines how social norms, religion, and migration context shape the reproductive and sexual health of MENA women. She has published foundational work on intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion among Arab American women in Southeast Michigan.

Ahmed Elkhanany
Ahmed Elkhanany
MD
Ahmed Elkhanany, MD

Assistant Professor at the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine specializing in breast oncology and high-risk prevention. Trained at Mayo Clinic, his research on race, ethnicity, and cancer genomics directly informs understanding of cancer disparities in Arab American and other minority populations.

Fatin Atrooz
Fatin Atrooz
PhD
Fatin Atrooz, PhD

Pharmacology researcher and Fulbright Scholar from Jordan specializing in behavioral neuroscience and stress biology with over 40 publications. She has conducted published research on anxiety and depression prevalence among Houston-based MENA residents and on mental health among Syrian refugees — bringing essential data to Arab American mental health discourse.

Nadia Abuelezam
Nadia Abuelezam
ScD
Nadia Abuelezam, ScD

Assistant Professor at Boston College and one of the nation's foremost researchers dedicated to Arab American health disparities. Holding a ScD from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, her advocacy for disaggregated MENA health data and publications in leading journals have been instrumental in advancing Arab American health equity nationally.

Solaf Alawadhi
Solaf Alawadhi
MD, MPH
Solaf Alawadhi, MD, MPH

Physician-scientist and Research Scientist in the Department of Surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital with graduate training in Comparative Effectiveness Research from NYU. Her 37 publications focus on kidney disease, transplant access, and risk prediction models to improve outcomes in underserved populations, including Arab Americans.

Rana Afifi
Rana Afifi
MD
Rana Afifi, MD

Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery at McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston, specializing in acute aortic dissection and cardiovascular outcomes in women. Founder of the Women's Vascular and Cardiac Health Initiative (WVACHI), her population-level research on sex-based cardiovascular disparities addresses the health needs of Arab American women.

Mohanned Mallah
Mohanned "Mike" Mallah
MD
Mohanned "Mike" Mallah, MD

Double-board certified trauma surgeon and Director of the Global Surgery Program at MUSC. A UNC graduate and former McKinsey healthcare consultant, he has operated in over 55 countries across five continents. His expertise in global surgery and cross-cultural medical care brings an essential international perspective to Arab American health access.

Samar A. Nasser
Samar A. Nasser
PhD, MPH, PA-C
Samar A. Nasser, PhD, MPH, PA-C

Associate Professor of Clinical Research and Leadership at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where she co-directs the PhD program in Translational Health Sciences. She practiced for a decade as a physician assistant in Detroit's Hypertension and Vascular Disease Clinic, and her research focuses on cardiovascular health and racial and ethnic disparities in care.

Friday, September 4, 2026

EveningWelcome Reception — Texas Style

6:00 – 9:00 PM · The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria

Kick off the convention with an evening of Texas hospitality — cowboy hats, boots, and bandanas encouraged. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and beverages while networking with fellow attendees.

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Also happening today: the Dental Scientific Program, 9:00 AM – 3:15 PM.

8:00 – 9:00Breakfast & Registration
WelcomeIntroduction & Welcome
9:00 – 9:05
Introduction & Welcome
Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD — Scientific Committee Chair
KeynoteKeynote Address
9:05 – 9:35
"Living at the Margins: Displacement, Structural Violence, and Health in Arab and Diasporic Communities"
Marwa Ghazali, PhD — 25 min + 5 min Q&A
Session 1Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Health

Examining cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic disease burden, risk factors, and disparities in Arab American communities.

9:40 – 10:00
Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Disease in Arab Americans: Epidemiology, Gaps, and Opportunities
Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD
10:00 – 10:20
Diabetes Risk, Control, and Disparities in Arab American Communities
Samar A. Nasser, PhD
10:20 – 10:40
Obesity, Metabolic Health, and Cultural Context in Arab American Populations
Layla Abushamat, MD
10:40 – 11:15
Panel Discussion and Q&A
11:15 – 11:30
NAAMA NextGen Presentation
Rouba Ali Fehmi, MD
11:30 – 12:40Lunch & Poster Session
Session 2Mental Health and Social Determinants

Exploring stress, trauma, substance use, and psychological wellbeing among Arab and MENA American populations.

12:40 – 1:00
Stress, Trauma, and Mental Health in Arab and MENA Communities
Samina Salim, PhD
1:00 – 1:20
Honor, Family, and Substance Use Risk Among Arab and MENA American Youth
Speaker: TBD
1:20 – 1:40
Measuring What Matters: Stigma, Well-Being, Identity, and Mental Health
Karam Radwan, MD
1:40 – 2:10
Panel Discussion and Q&A
Session 3Women's Health and Cancer

Addressing reproductive health, family violence, cancer genetics, and screening disparities in Arab American women.

2:10 – 2:30
Reproductive Autonomy, Family Violence, and Structural Barriers to Health
Angubeen Khan, PhD
2:30 – 2:50
Cancer Genetics in Arab American Populations
Ahmed Elkhanany, MD
2:50 – 3:10
Cancer Prevention and Screening Disparities
Speaker: TBD
3:10 – 3:30
Panel Discussion and Q&A
3:30 – 4:30Community and Professional Organization Perspectives
EveningGala Dinner & Ben Qurrah Award

6:00 PM · The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria

The convention's signature evening of celebration and recognition, co-occurring with the Fourteenth Biennial Ben Qurrah Award Gala presented by NAAMA Houston. Learn more about the Ben Qurrah Award.

Sunday, September 6, 2026

Also happening this morning: the Healthcare Professional Development Program, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

8:00 – 9:00Breakfast
Session 4Behavior, Diet & Structural Determinants

Investigating physical activity, nutrition, tobacco use, and community-driven approaches to MENA health equity.

9:00 – 9:20
Moving Matters: Physical Activity and Health in Arab Communities
Speaker: TBD
9:20 – 9:40
Food, Culture, and Health: Rethinking Nutrition in Arab Communities
Speaker: TBD
9:40 – 10:00
Tobacco, Waterpipe Use, and Emerging Risks in Arab Immigrant Communities
Fatin Atrooz, PhD
10:00 – 10:20
Community-Driven Epidemiology & Engagement to Advance MENA Health Equity
Nadia Abuelezam, ScD
10:20 – 10:35
Panel Discussion and Q&A
RoundtableHealth Research Needs for Arab Americans

A collaborative dialogue on research priorities, data infrastructure, policy translation, and community trust for Arab American health equity.

10:35 – 12:00
Lessons Learned from Ethnic-Based Research
Panelists: TBD
12:00 – 1:30Lunch & Poster Awards
Session 5Surgery and Procedural Care

Examining equity and access in transplantation, surgical care, and global surgery for Arab and MENA communities.

1:30 – 1:50
Transplantation, Equity, and Access in Arab and MENA Populations
Solaf Alawadhi, MD, MPH
1:50 – 2:10
Beyond the Numbers: Advancing Equity in Surgical Care of MENA Communities
Rana Afifi, MD
2:10 – 2:30
Global Surgery in 2026: Challenges and Opportunities
Mohanned "Mike" M. Mallah, MD
2:30 – 2:50
Uniting for Surgical Equity: NAAS and NAAMA as Collaborative Partners
Speaker: TBD
2:50 – 3:05
Panel Discussion and Q&A
3:05 – 3:15Closing Remarks and Conference Wrap-Up
DelegateDelegate Meeting (By Invitation Only)

3:15 – 4:15 PM · By invitation only

Official NAAMA delegate business session.

EveningTarab Night

6:00 – 9:00 PM · $95 per person · Open to all

An evening of Arabic music and celebration. $95 per person — open to everyone; convention registration is not required to attend. Venue details to be announced.