Program – NAAMA 2026 Convention | Scientific Sessions & Schedule

Choose Your Itinerary

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

Hover over a speaker to learn more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 “Mike” Mallah

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

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 — including hypertension and medication adherence in Arab American communities.

Please note: This agenda is preliminary and subject to change. Speaker assignments and session details may be updated as the program is finalized. Check back for the latest version.

Day 1 — Friday, September 4, 2026

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

6:00 – 9:00 PM

Texas-Style Welcome Reception

The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria

Kick off the convention with an evening of Texas hospitality, featuring a fun Western theme complete with cowboy hats, boots, and bandanas to help you dress the part of a true Texan.

Enjoy a selection of hors d’oeuvres and beverages while networking and celebrating with fellow attendees in a relaxed and festive atmosphere.

Day 2 — Saturday, September 5, 2026

Running concurrently today: the Dental Scientific Program (9:00 AM – 3:15 PM) — open to dentists and all active medical professionals. One registration covers every track. Use the switcher above to view the dental itinerary.

8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast & Registration

9:00 – 9:05

Introduction & Welcome

Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD — Scientific Committee Chair

9:05 – 9:35

Keynote Address

“Living at the Margins: Displacement, Structural Violence, and Health in Arab and Diasporic Communities”

Marwa Ghazali, PhD — 25 min + 5 min Q&A

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 – 12:40 Lunch & Poster Session

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

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 – 4:30 Community and Professional Organization Perspectives

Evening · Details to follow

Evening

Gala Dinner

The convention’s signature evening of celebration and recognition. Full details to be announced — check back soon.

Day 3 — Sunday, September 6, 2026

8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast

Concurrent This Morning: the Healthcare Professional Development Program runs alongside the Main Scientific Program, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Use the switcher above to view its itinerary. A single convention registration includes access to all tracks, including the Dental Program on Saturday.

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

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

Priority research gaps
Data infrastructure
Policy translation
Community trust and engagement

12:00 – 1:30 Lunch & Poster Awards

1:30 – 3:05 PM — 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 – 3:15 Closing Remarks and Conference Wrap-Up

3:15 – 4:15 PM · By invitation only

3:15 – 4:15 PM

NAAMA Delegate Meeting

By invitation only — Official NAAMA delegate business session.

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

6:00 – 9:00 PM

Tarab 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.

The Dental Program is open to dentists AND all active medical professionals. One convention registration includes access to every track — medical and dental alike.

No separate dental registration is required.

Organized & Moderated By

Dr. Bader Abdeen, DDS

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

Hover over a speaker to learn more.

Wael Kannan

DDS, MS

Wael Kannan, DDS, MS

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. An innovator in orthodontic appliance design, his clinical focus includes facial development and airway-centered orthodontics.

Nagi Demian

DDS, MD

Nagi Demian, DDS, MD

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. A Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, his expertise spans orthognathic and TMJ surgery, cleft lip and palate, reconstructive surgery, and office-based anesthesia and emergency preparedness.

Mohammad Koutrach

DDS, FACP

Mohammad Koutrach, DDS, FACP

Board-certified prosthodontist with over 20 years of experience in fixed, removable, and implant dentistry. A Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and the American Board of Oral Implantology, he trained at the University of Detroit Mercy, Indiana University (prosthodontics), and the University of Pittsburgh (maxillofacial prosthodontics), and founded Northwest Houston Prosthodontics in 2014.

Samar Alhashimy

BDS, DDS, MSD

Samar Alhashimy, BDS, DDS, MSD

Houston endodontist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Endodontics at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. She earned her dental degree from the University of Baghdad and completed her specialty training and Master's in Endodontics at Loma Linda University, with clinical experience spanning Iraq, Jordan, Dubai, and the U.S. She practices at Gulf Coast Endodontics.

Joshe Griebahn

Henry Schein

Joshe Griebahn

Dental Practice Transition Specialist with Henry Schein Dental Practice Transitions, advising dentists across Texas and the Gulf South on practice acquisitions, valuations and appraisals, transitions, and exit-strategy planning. He brings the business perspective to a dental career — from buying your first practice to planning the sale of your last.

Saturday, September 5, 2026

9:00 – 11:30 AM — clinical presentations with audience Q&A after each talk.

9:00 – 9:10

Welcome & Introduction

Dr. Bader Abdeen

9:10 – 9:55

Breathe, Grow, Thrive: Facial Development and the Airway from Childhood

Dr. Wael Kannan

9:55 – 10:40

Prepared, Not Panicked: A Practical Approach to Medical Emergencies in Dental Practice

Dr. Nagi Demian

10:40 – 10:50

Break

10:50 – 11:30

Beyond the Traditional Denture: Implant-Retained Overdentures in Full-Arch Restoration

Dr. Mohammad Koutrach

11:30 – 12:40 Lunch & Poster Session — joint with the main convention

12:40 – 3:15 PM — from endodontic decision-making to the business of dentistry and community building.

12:40 – 1:25

Cracked or Fractured Teeth: When to Save and When to Extract

Dr. Samar Alhashimy

1:25 – 2:25

Owning Your Future: The Business Side of a Dental Career, Start to Finish

Joshe Griebahn

2:25 – 2:35

Break

2:35 – 3:15

Looking Forward: Building a Community of Arab American Dentists

Moderated by Dr. Bader Abdeen, DDS

Program notes: Each presentation includes time for audience Q&A. The midday break is aligned with the main convention’s lunch and poster session. Room assignment and final start time are pending confirmation from the convention organizers. Continuing education details will be announced. Dental attendees are welcome at all other convention events, including the Friday Welcome Reception, Saturday Gala Dinner, and Sunday Tarab Night.

Also Happening at the Convention

Friday, September 4 · 6:00 – 9:00 PM · The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria

6:00 – 9:00 PM

Texas-Style Welcome Reception

The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria

Kick off the convention with an evening of Texas hospitality — a fun Western theme with cowboy hats, boots, and bandanas, plus hors d’oeuvres and beverages while networking with fellow attendees.

Saturday, September 5 · Evening · Details to follow

Evening

Gala Dinner

The convention’s signature evening of celebration and recognition. Full details to be announced — check back soon.

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

6:00 – 9:00 PM

Tarab 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.

Looking for the Friday and Sunday scientific sessions, or the Healthcare Professional Development Program? Use the switcher above — your registration covers every track.

Debuting for the first time ever: the Healthcare Professional Development Program — a morning symposium for students, IMGs, residents, fellows, and early-career professionals.

One convention registration includes access to every track — medical, dental, and this program.

Organized By

Ahmed Thabet, MD, PhD

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

Hover over a speaker to learn more.

Sherif Zaafran

Sherif Zaafran, MD

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. He is active in organized medicine at the state and national level, including the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Medical Association.

Nidal Moukaddam

MD, PhD

Nidal Moukaddam, MD, PhD

NAAMA President-Elect and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine. A specialist in emergency psychiatry and psychosis, Dr. Moukaddam brings national leadership experience and deep roots in the Arab American medical community to the convention's organizing efforts.

Chadi Calarge

Chadi Calarge, MD

Professor of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, and a leading expert in child and adolescent psychopharmacology. His research on pediatric mental health and pharmacogenomics informs the convention's focus on Arab American youth wellbeing.

Shaimaa El-Zamly

MD, PhD

Shaimaa El-Zamly, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine, board-certified in anatomic and clinical pathology. She moderates the Trainees & Early-Career Professionals session.

Yacoub Khatab

Yacoub Khatab, MD

Physician in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine, with published research on interventional pain medicine and peripheral nerve stimulation. He moderates the Student & IMG Pathways session.

Suzan Skef

MD, MS

Suzan Skef, MD, MS

Clinical Associate Professor and interim director of the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship at the University of Houston's Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. A family physician and clinician-educator with a Master's in Medical Education, her expertise in teaching, mentorship, and curriculum development is central to the Student & IMG Pathways session.

Abdalla Sherif Radwan

PhD

Abdalla Sherif Radwan, PhD

Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine, and Director of the Fuller Laboratory. His research focuses on bio-imaging platforms for adaptive radiation therapy, spanning cancer biology and clinical translational oncology.

Marwan Yared

MD, FACP

Marwan Yared, MD, FACP

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. He completed his residency at UTHealth Houston and a surgical pathology fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Zaid Almubaid

PGY1

Zaid Almubaid, PGY1

First-year Internal Medicine resident at Baylor College of Medicine, bringing a recent trainee's perspective to the Student & IMG Pathways panel on the transition from medical school into residency.

Sadeer Al-Kindi

Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD

Associate Professor and Jerold B. Katz Endowed Investigator at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center. Fellowship-trained preventive cardiologist with over 200 peer-reviewed publications on cardiometabolic disease and cardiovascular risk disparities. Scientific Committee Chair for the 48th National Medical Convention.

Mahmood Dweik

Mahmood Dweik, MD

Board-certified pulmonologist practicing sleep medicine, pulmonary, and critical care medicine in the Houston/Webster, TX area. He completed his pulmonary and critical care fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch and is affiliated with Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital and HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake.

Khaled Elsayes

Khaled Elsayes, MD

Professor of Radiology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, and Institutional Medical Director of Global Education at MD Anderson. A world-renowned diagnostic radiologist with over 200 peer-reviewed publications, three authored textbooks, and multiple RSNA honored educator awards.

Jean Michel Saad

Jean Michel Saad, MD

Internal Medicine Chief Resident and postdoctoral imaging fellow at Houston Methodist Hospital. An aspiring cardiologist who earned his MD from the Lebanese American University, he brings a trainee's first-hand perspective to the Trainees & Early-Career Professionals panel.

Khaled Chatila

Khaled Chatila, MD

Cardiologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), specializing in heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and transplantation. Core faculty in UTMB's general cardiology fellowship program.

Bacel Nseir

Bacel Nseir, MD

Infectious disease specialist affiliated with Houston Methodist Hospital, HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake, and Mainland Medical Center. He completed his residency and infectious disease fellowship at LSU University Medical Center, where he also served as Section Chief of Infectious Diseases and Associate Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Sunday, September 6, 2026

8:00 – 8:45 AM — informal networking over breakfast to open the program.

Hosts

Sherif Zaafran, MD

Nidal Moukaddam, MD

Chadi Calarge, MD

Ahmed Thabet, MD, PhD — Program Organizer

Pre-Med, Medical Students, Nursing, Pharmacy, IMGs — panel discussion on pathways into medicine and residency. 8:45 – 10:15 AM

Moderator

Yacoub Khatab, MD

Panelists

Suzan Skef, MD, MS

Reem Al-Dallal, MD

Abdalla Sherif Radwan, PhD

Marwan Yared, MD

Zaid Almubaid, PGY1

What makes a competitive residency applicant
Leadership opportunities during medical school
Sub-Internship (Sub-I) rotations: timing and selection
Pre-Med pathways overview
Mentorship during medical school
Research opportunities for medical students
Is a gap year necessary? Pros and cons
International medical graduates (IMG): pathways to training in the U.S.

Residents, Fellows & Early-Career Professionals — panel discussion on career navigation and growth. 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Moderator

Shaimaa El-Zamly, MD, PhD

Panelists

Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD

Mahmood Dweik, MD

Khaled Elsayes, MD

Omid Jalali, MD

Jean Michel Saad, MD

Khaled Chatila, MD

Bacel Nseir, MD

Fellowship choices and application strategies
The role of mentorship during residency and fellowship
Pathways into academic medicine and research
Building a research niche and mentorship networks
Funding strategies for early-career investigators
Career pathways and long-term growth

Also Happening at the Convention

Friday, September 4 · 6:00 – 9:00 PM · The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria

6:00 – 9:00 PM

Texas-Style Welcome Reception

The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria

Kick off the convention with an evening of Texas hospitality — a fun Western theme with cowboy hats, boots, and bandanas, plus hors d’oeuvres and beverages while networking with fellow attendees.

Saturday, September 5 · Evening · Details to follow

Evening

Gala Dinner

The convention’s signature evening of celebration and recognition. Full details to be announced — check back soon.

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

6:00 – 9:00 PM

Tarab 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.

Looking for the Friday, Saturday, or Sunday afternoon scientific sessions, or the Dental Program? Use the switcher above — your registration covers every track.