48th National Medical
Convention 2026
Scientific Program
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
WelcomeIntroduction & Welcome
Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD — Scientific Committee Chair
KeynoteKeynote Address
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.
Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD
Samar A. Nasser, PhD
Layla Abushamat, MD
Rouba Ali Fehmi, MD
Session 2Mental Health and Social Determinants
Exploring stress, trauma, substance use, and psychological wellbeing among Arab and MENA American populations.
Samina Salim, PhD
Speaker: TBD
Karam Radwan, MD
Session 3Women's Health and Cancer
Addressing reproductive health, family violence, cancer genetics, and screening disparities in Arab American women.
Angubeen Khan, PhD
Ahmed Elkhanany, MD
Speaker: TBD
EveningGala Dinner & Ben Qurrah Award
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.
Session 4Behavior, Diet & Structural Determinants
Investigating physical activity, nutrition, tobacco use, and community-driven approaches to MENA health equity.
Speaker: TBD
Speaker: TBD
Fatin Atrooz, PhD
Nadia Abuelezam, ScD
RoundtableHealth Research Needs for Arab Americans
A collaborative dialogue on research priorities, data infrastructure, policy translation, and community trust for Arab American health equity.
Panelists: TBD
Session 5Surgery and Procedural Care
Examining equity and access in transplantation, surgical care, and global surgery for Arab and MENA communities.
Solaf Alawadhi, MD, MPH
Rana Afifi, MD
Mohanned "Mike" M. Mallah, MD
Speaker: TBD
DelegateDelegate Meeting (By Invitation Only)
Official NAAMA delegate business session.
EveningTarab Night
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.
Houston-based periodontist and organizer of the convention's Dental Program — a dedicated track bringing oral health into the Arab American health conversation.
Dental Program Speakers
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Orthodontist and dentofacial orthopedist serving Houston and Sugar Land. He completed his orthodontic residency and Master's degree at Saint Louis University, a cleft lip and palate fellowship at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, and an orthodontic mini-residency at Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
Professor and Division Director of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at UTHealth Houston, holder of the Thomas M. Weil Professorship, and Director of the OMS Service at Memorial Hermann Hospital. His expertise spans orthognathic and TMJ surgery, cleft lip and palate, and reconstructive surgery.
Board-certified prosthodontist with over 20 years of experience in fixed, removable, and implant dentistry. A Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, he founded Northwest Houston Prosthodontics in 2014.
Houston endodontist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Endodontics at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. She practices at Gulf Coast Endodontics.
Dental Practice Transition Specialist with Henry Schein Dental Practice Transitions, advising dentists across Texas and the Gulf South on practice acquisitions, valuations, transitions, and exit-strategy planning.
Saturday, September 5, 2026
MorningClinical Session
9:00 – 11:30 AM — clinical presentations with audience Q&A after each talk.
Dr. Bader Abdeen
Dr. Wael Kannan
Dr. Nagi Demian
Dr. Mohammad Koutrach
AfternoonClinical & Practice Session
12:40 – 3:15 PM — from endodontic decision-making to the business of dentistry and community building.
Dr. Samar Alhashimy
Joshe Griebahn
Moderated by Dr. Bader Abdeen, DDS
Also Happening at the Convention
Fri EveningWelcome Reception — Texas Style
Kick off the convention with an evening of Texas hospitality — cowboy hats, boots, and bandanas encouraged.
Sat EveningGala Dinner & Ben Qurrah Award
Co-occurring with the Fourteenth Biennial Ben Qurrah Award Gala presented by NAAMA Houston. Learn more.
Sun EveningTarab Night
An evening of Arabic music and celebration — convention registration not required to attend.
Cypress Periodontics and Dental Implants is a Locally Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit. Approval does not imply acceptance by any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement. 11/25/2025 to 11/24/2026. Provider ID# 443012.
Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), organizing the Healthcare Professional Development Program in conjunction with the Egyptian American Society.
Program Speakers
Tap or hover a speaker to read their bio.
Houston anesthesiologist and President of the Texas Medical Board. A partner with US Anesthesia Partners, he chairs its National Legislative Committee and serves as Vice-Chair of the Clinical Governance Board for USAP Gulf Coast.
NAAMA President-Elect and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine. A specialist in emergency psychiatry and psychosis.
Professor of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, and a leading expert in child and adolescent psychopharmacology.
Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine, board-certified in anatomic and clinical pathology. She moderates Session 2.
Physician in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine, with published research on interventional pain medicine. He moderates Session 1.
Clinical Associate Professor and interim director of the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship at the University of Houston's Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine, and Director of the Fuller Laboratory.
Hematopathologist and Associate Professor of Pathology & Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine, affiliated with Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center and Texas Children's Hospital.
First-year Internal Medicine resident at Baylor College of Medicine, bringing a recent trainee's perspective to the panel.
Associate Professor and Jerold B. Katz Endowed Investigator at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center. Scientific Committee Chair for the 48th National Medical Convention.
Board-certified pulmonologist practicing sleep medicine, pulmonary, and critical care medicine in the Houston/Webster, TX area.
Professor of Radiology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
Internal Medicine Chief Resident and postdoctoral imaging fellow at Houston Methodist Hospital. An aspiring cardiologist who earned his MD from the Lebanese American University.
Cardiologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), specializing in heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and transplantation.
Infectious disease specialist affiliated with Houston Methodist Hospital, HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake, and Mainland Medical Center.
Sunday, September 6, 2026
NetworkingBreakfast & Meet and Greet
8:00 – 8:45 AM — informal networking over breakfast to open the program.
Session 1Student & IMG Pathways
8:45 – 10:15 AM — panel discussion on pathways into medicine and residency.
Session 2Trainees & Early-Career Professionals
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM — panel discussion on career navigation and growth.
Also Happening at the Convention
Sat EveningGala Dinner & Ben Qurrah Award
Co-occurring with the Fourteenth Biennial Ben Qurrah Award Gala presented by NAAMA Houston. Learn more.
Sun EveningTarab Night
An evening of Arabic music and celebration — convention registration not required to attend.