Save a life, save humanity
keeping individuals and opportunity alive
Join us for an unforgetable evening to celebrate IMI's 25th Anniversary. The evening will feature special guests including Dr. Azra Raza, Manzar Bhopali and Mona Aburmishan and reflect on impact generations have come together to make through this global platform. During the course of the evening, many will be recognized with special reflections on those who have passed away leaving a legacy of social good incuding IMI's Co-Founder, Dr. Baqir Rizvi and countless others without whom IMI would not be where it is today.
Purchase your tickets & reserve tables here.
Dr. Azra Raza is the Chan Soon-Shiong Professor of Medicine and Director of the MDS Center at Columbia University in New York. In addition to her considerable scientific accomplishments, Dr. Raza is a dedicated reader of Urdu literature, the co-author of GHALIB: Epistemologies of Elegance. Dr. Raza believes that the best way to “tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world” is by promoting and publicizing the achievements of humanity in science, art, and literature.
We are honored to have her share this cherished aspect of her genius with all of our Gala guests.
Previously, Dr. Raza was also the Chief of Hematology Oncology and the Gladys Smith Martin Professor of Oncology at the University of Massachusetts. She is considered an international authority on pre-leukemia (MDS) and acute leukemia and is one of those rare physician-scientists who divide their time equally between caring for patients and supervising a state-of- the-art basic research lab which is well-funded by multiple large grants. Dr. Raza started collecting blood and marrow samples on her patients in 1984 and now her Tissue Bank, the largest and oldest in the country with >60,000 samples, is considered a unique national treasure.
She is a sought after speaker in scientific circles and the recipient of numerous awards including The Hope Award in Cancer Research 2012 (shared with the Nobel Laureate Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn). She was named as one of the 100 Women Who Matter by Newsweek Pakistan. Dr. Raza is a member of the Founder Group designing Breakthrough Developments in Science and Technology with President Bill Clinton and met with Vice President Joe Biden to discuss the Cancer Moonshot initiative at his residence at the Naval Observatory in 2015.
She was married to the late Harvey D. Preisler, Director, Rush University Cancer Center in Chicago and has a daughter Sheherzad Raza Preisler who also lives in Manhattan.
Manzar Bhopali, born Syed Ali Raza in Bhopal, where he passed his childhood. He has a Master’s Degree in Urdu and began his poetic journey from Bhopal. A disciple of Raza Rampuri, he writes under the pen name, Manzar and is a very famous poet in mushairas. He has won many awards and has participated in the international mushaira of Karachi a number of times. Yeh Sadi Hamari Hai, Zindagi, Lahu Rang Mausam, Laawa, Manzar Ek Bulandi Par, and Udaas Kyu Hu are the collections of his works.
We are honored to have him share his beautiful lyrics with all of our Gala guests.
Mona Aburmishan is an international comedian and became the first Arab and Muslim woman to perform stand-up comedy in the nation’s most prestigious institutions: Carnegie Hall in New York City as well as the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC twice, and was the featured headliner this October 2018!
We are delighted to have Mona as our Emcee for the evening, using her global insight and homegrown Chicago-style to offer a fresh look at shifting frustration into funny for all of our Gala guests
Mona has performed, emceed, and produced comedy shows, competitions and events in major clubs, theaters and universities around the world. In addition to comedy, Mona is a sought-after speaker for her experience using stand-up comedy to bring joy and affinity in various socio-political topics in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Mona has a Master’s in International Development and is fluent in English, German and Arabic and performs in these languages. Having lived and worked around the world, Mona uses her global insight and homegrown Chicago-style to offer a fresh look at shifting frustration into funny.
Currently, Mona is back home touring the US, having just completed her Summer tour throughout the West Bank, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. As an international producer, host and headliner Mona in less than one week performed and produced 9 shows spanning Palestine, Switzerland, and the heart of London’s thriving comedy scene. While in London, Mona was a special featured guest honoring her self-produced tour on “Islam Channel” as a thriving female Muslim in global entertainment which was broadcast to over 100 countries.
In addition to regularly performing in the US, Canada, EU, UK and the Middle East, Mona is a sought-after headliner on the African continent. Becoming a regular in the South African market, Mona just recently headlined one of the world’s top ten comedy establishments – The Cape Town Comedy Club and returns to tour the entire Sub Sharan African region again in early 2019.
As for Northern Africa and Middle East, Mona was a featured guest on “Al Bernameg” with host Dr. Bassem Youssef’s ground-breaking satirical news program (once North Africa’s version of “The Daily Show”); as well as headlined Comedy Central’s latest Season 2 and 3, Premier “Comedy Central Present: Stand Up Al Waggif” filmed on location in Dubai, UAE – featured throughout the Middle East and Africa. She was the first female to headline this revolutionary series produced by Viacom.
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We invite you to join us in celebrating 25 years of global service to humanity by becoming a vendor/exhibitor or placing an advertisement in the event magazine today. Your support is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of US law as IMI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Advertising/Tributes in the Event Magazine:
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For details and the form to complete, please click here.
Interested in joining the Host Committee? Email imihq@imamiamedics.com
I graduated from medical college in Pakistan. Knowing I wanted to pursue a specialty in the US, I went through the routine process of studying for and clearing the USMLE's and becoming ECFMG certified. There are plenty of online forums that help you up to that stage. What happens after that and before you land a residency is something no one prepares you for. Even knowing a person who went through the process is not enough. I found the answers to all my questions about the process, its workings and methods at the IMI Career Guidance Seminar. I learnt more in the few hours I spent there than I did in months, yes months, of thorough research online and through the measly networking I was capable of as a foreign graduate. It is literally a live 'Medical Residency for Dummies', and you get great coffee and dinner to boot. I interacted with candidates like myself along with current residents, and doctors who are involved in hiring committees at hospitals. I learnt how to choose programs, how to strengthen my resume, what to seek and where, and even what to wear. I have a month before I apply, but after the seminar - I have more confidence in the 'how' of the process. I walked in to the seminar hall a nervous wreck - armed with vague internet advice and the intimidation of an overwhelming process. I thought my average scores would filter me out of every hospital program - I left knowing I need to apply 'wisely', not 'widely'. I learnt how to identify and enhance my positives, and overcome my shortcomings. I understood how to streamline programs to apply to, how to contact them and the level of persistence to employ. I was made aware of the importance of and difference between clinical experience in the US and research experience, and how to add both to my resume. All this, and more, in just a few hours. I cannot stress enough the effects this seminar had on me. I am now realistic in my approach - versus the optimism fresh graduates tend to bring with them. You may choose not to believe me, but after the seminar I didn't just breathe a sigh of relief - I let slip a few tears as well. I knew what to do, how to do it and where to ask for assistance.
If InshAllah, I secure a residency in the upcoming match, I will owe the organizers and the speakers at the seminar more than they will take credit for.
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone on this list for what proved to be a truly life-altering experience. It was terrific working with all of you, except Farhaj...But seriously, Naeema and some of my other classmates know rather well that I had allowed medical school and the residency process to make me cynical and tired. I'm happy to say though, that after a week of truly hard work, emotional challenge, and actually helping some people, I have returned home feeling refreshed and renewed. As corny as this all sounds, I'm actually excited to be a doctor again. I can't thank you all enough for that. So I'm hooked on relief work. I hope that I have more opportunities to help in situations like this, and if possible, to work with you all again.
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