Aadil Abbas, M.Eng.
Member, Board of Trustees

Mr. Abbas is an Executive Vice President and the Head of Securitized Products Group at HIMCO (Hartford Investment Management Company), the investment management arm of The Hartford. He manages the trading, analysis, and strategy for fixed income investments backed by Residential and Commercial Real Estate, Consumer Loans, Mortgages, and Leveraged Corporate Loans. Prior to joining HIMCO, Aadil spent 8 years in New York City in various bond trading and investment management roles at Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse and Hudson Advisors (Lone Star Funds).

Beyond his work responsibilities, Mr. Abbas holds a deep commitment to promoting workplace diversity and inclusion. At The Hartford, he held the leadership role of the Co-Chair of APPN (Asian Pacific Professionals Network), an Employee Resource Group, with 700+ active members across various offices of The Hartford.

Mr. Abbas received his Bachelors in Computer Science from National University (FAST) as a valedictorian in 2001 and earned his Master of Engineering from Cornell University in 2003.

Ahmed Abdelmageed, PharmD
Member, Board of Trustees

Dr. Ahmed Abdelmageed is the Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Saint Joseph (West Hartford, CT). Prior to joining USJ, Dr. Abdelmageed was the Assistant Dean of Student, Alumni and Community Engagement and Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Manchester University College of Pharmacy, Natural and Health Sciences (North Manchester, IN).

Dr. Abdelmageed is an experienced academic with 15 years of progressive leadership in higher education. Proven track record in strategic development, collaboration, planning and implementation as a founding member of administration and faculty at two successfully accredited Pharmacy programs. He is a dynamic and innovative Higher Education Administrator with a proven record of leadership in strategic development, planning, and successful program implementation. Recognized by peers for commitment to service, community engagement, and collaboration that builds trust and sustainable, impactful academic outcomes centered on student involvement and efficiency. He leads teams and students to foster creative environments that reflect a purposeful and open approach to education and professional development.

Khamis Abu-Hasaballah, Ph.D.
President, Board of Trustees

Dr. Abu-Hasaballah received formal education in Physics and Engineering and has worked in the Information Technology and Informatics for the past 20 years. He currently serves as an Assistant Vice President for Research IT Services at UConn/UConn Health. He is an active member of the local Muslim community where he leads Friday congregational services, speaks at interfaith events, and teaches in weekend Islamic schools. He’s a founding member of Madina Academy – Connecticut’s only independent fulltime, daytime Islamic school. Khamis is an avid runner and soccer player. He enjoys coaching soccer, gardening, and the outdoors.

Rubina Ali, DMD
Vice President, Board of Trustees

Dr. Rubina Ali has been an active contributor to the success of various endeavors undertaken by the FVAMC. As the founder and President of Dental Arts of Avon, P.C, in Avon, Connecticut, and iSmile Family Dentistry in East Hartford, Dr. Ali has been a well-recognized member of the healthcare community and a successful entrepreneur in Connecticut. As a member of the Board, she brings her significant experience in organizational structure and management.

Dr. Rubina Ali is a graduate of the Goldman School of Dental Medicine at Boston University. She has subsequently completed several courses in cosmetic dentistry and business management. She brings with her a caring nature and sincerity towards achievement of the goals of FVAMC. She lives in Avon with her husband Dr. Ahmad Ali, and their three children Hashim, Aizah and Zayba.

Noora G. Brown, M.A.
Member, Board of Trustees

Ms. Noora Brown is a local real estate agent in the Farmington Valley with Coldwell Banker Realty located in Avon.  She holds a Master of Arts degree in Christian-Muslim Relations (Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT), a Certificate of Gerontology Studies from the Worcester Consortium Studies Program and a training certificate from St. Francis Academy for Clinical Pastoral Care. Ms. Brown accepted Islam as a way of life in college and has been involved in Christian-Muslim interfaith and dialogue ever since.  In addition to serving on the Hartford International University board she is FVAMC’s Chairwoman of the Interfaith Committee.

Nausherwan Burki, M.D., Ph.D.
Member, Board of Trustees

Dr. Burki is a clinician, teacher, and research worker and is Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA, in the division of Pulmonary & Intensive Care. He has held this position for the past 9 years, prior to which, he was Professor of Medicine & Chief of the Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA for 20 years. He is the author of a book on pulmonary medicine and has a number of book chapters to his credit. In addition, he has published more than 86 peer reviewed scientific papers.

Dr. Burki serves on numerous National and international professional boards and committees. Dr. Burki serves on several nonprofit charitable organizations: he is the Trustee of a not-for-profit charitable organization – the Imran Khan Cancer Appeal, Inc., USA which gathers donations for the care of cancer patients. He is also on the Board of Founding Members of the International Network for Cancer Treatment & Research (INCTR), Brussels, Belgium, as well as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan. Dr. Burki has an enormous amount of experience on the prevention, diagnosis and management of a very wide range of disease states in particular COPD (the number 3 killer in the USA) and Lung Cancer (the number 1 cancer in the USA).

Chaker Dridi, M.S.
Secretary, Board of Trustees

Mr. Dridi is a father and teacher, residing in the neighboring town of West Hartford, Connecticut. He studied linguistics and translation at the University of Tunis, La Univesidad Autonoma de Madrid, and La Sorbonne. He holds a Master’s degree and Diploma of Advanced Studies from La Sorbonne. He worked as a translator for six years in Berlin Germany. He is a certified World Languages teacher in the state of Connecticut and has taught French, German, and Spanish at Avon High School. Chaker is an active member of the greater Hartford Muslim community; he helped manage the Weekend Islamic school at the Association of Greater Hartford in Berlin, Connecticut, and participated in many projects for the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut. Chaker is an avid runner, who ran long distance races and marathons. He also enjoys watching his children play soccer.

Ola Ghoneim, M.S. Ph.D.
Member, Board of Trustees

Dr. Ghoneim is an Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy in Hartford, Connecticut. She holds a Master of Science degree in Medicinal Chemistry from Mansoura University, Egypt and a PhD degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Prior to coming to CT, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California and an Assistant Professor in the College of Pharmacy, Qatar University. Dr. Ghoneim has held several administrative responsibilities; she served in the faculty senate, honor council, and was the chair of community outreach and planning of events committee. She was the host and the organizer of students exchange program between Qatar and USA. She is the faculty advisor for the inaugural class of 2014 at University of Saint Joseph.

Dr. Ghoneim is an active member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the American Chemical Society. She enjoys community service and was actively involved with Autism Society of North Carolina, Sports for Special Athletes in Southern California, and Walk now for Autism. She participated in the Health and wellness festival, Mercy shelter food serve, and Muslims Against Hunger.
Dr. Ghoneim enjoys traveling with her husband and her two teenage boys and learning about other cultures. She is FVAMC’s Chairwoman of the Hospitality Committee.

Atique Mirza, M.D.
Member Emeritus, Board of Trustees

Dr. Atique A. Mirza is a Consultant Cardiologist at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford Connecticut and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Department of Cardiology at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, and is actively involved in the training of cardiovascular medicine fellows. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He is the founding president of the Allama Iqbal Medical College Alumni Association of North America, the founding President of the Connecticut Chapter of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani descent of North America, Secretary of the Association of Pakistani Cardiologists of North America (APCNA), and is a Board Member of the US PAK Foundation.

Dr. Mirza is a community activist, who has been involved in increasing the recognition of health and social issues faced by Asian Americans at the local and national level. He testified in the Connecticut General Assembly before the Appropriation Committee for the Asian Pacific American Commission in 2009.

Faryal Mirza, M.D.
Member, Board of Trustees

Dr. Faryal S. Mirza is a graduate of Aga Khan Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. She’s a clinician scientist faculty in the School of Medicine and consultant endocrinologist at John Dempsey Hospital at University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, Connecticut. She is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, a Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology, and a certified.

Specialist in Hypertension by the American Society of Hypertension. She served as a primary care physician in underserved rural Virginia for six years before moving to Massachusetts where she completed a clinical research fellowship in hypertension at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Faryal Mirza lives with her husband Dr. Atique Mirza (Board member) and three children in Avon, CT. She is FVAMC’s Chairwoman of the Community Service and Outreach Committee.

Muhammad Irfan Munawar, M.D.
Member Emeritus, Board of Trustees

Dr. Munawar is a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certified in General Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. He is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Addiction Medicine certified in Addiction Medicine. He serves as the Chairman and Director Physician Leader of Psychiatry at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center/Trinity Health of New England. He has academic appointments as an affiliate Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UConn Health and Quinnipiac University, where he serves as a preceptor or medical studnets and residents. Dr. Munawar has a keen interest in child and adolescent developmental disorders, substance use, and personality development.

Dr. Munawar has been a member of FVAMC since its inception and has been an active contributor to its growth and development. He enjoys volunteering and helping where needed. Prior to joining the Board, he served on the Center’s Education Committee, which was instrumental to the success of FVAMC Academy.

Dr. Munawar resides in Avon with his wife Sadia and boys, Mahad and Zain.

Reem Nouh, MHA
Member, Board of Trustees

Reem is Chief Strategy Officer at Adams & Knight in Avon, CT. She is a strategic healthcare brand builder with over two decades of experience, a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Master of Science in Health Care Administration, rare assets on marketing teams. After years at J. Walter Thompson and Source Marketing, with significant experience in the healthcare and consumer industries, Reem joined Adams & Knight in 2010 to head up its Strategic Services.

Whether it’s branding health systems, developing campaigns for engaging employees/patient experience, creating integrated institute campaigns for hospitals, or promoting innovative solutions from medical device and Pharma companies, Reem’s philosophy is centered on a unique approach to helping bridge the communication barrier between patient, science, business and provider. She is the distinguished recipient of the Hartford Business Journal’s annual 40 Under Forty, which recognizes outstanding professionals in the business community.

Reem lives in Simsbury with her husband Mahmoud Omar and their two wonderful children, Sara and Kareem.

Naseem Shaikh, CPA
Treasurer, Board of Trustees

Mr. Shaikh recently retired from a long career as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at UTC Aerospace Systems and Carrier Corporation, where he was entrusted with full financial responsibility, financial statement preparation, budgeting, forecasting, compliance with the requirements of Sarbanes – Oxley, and internal control compliance. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan.

Mr.  Shaikh has been an active and core member of Muslim communities in central Connecticut, including the Islamic Center of CT and the Islamic Association of Greater Hartford. He is a founding member of the Farmington Valley American Muslim Center.