Dear friends, supporters, mentors and fellow activists,

I’m delighted to report to you of our recent successful endeavor involving lobbying for health reform in Washington, DC last week. As you may know, AMHP has been involved in health policy work for the last one year. And even though, we’re only a four year old organization, our output in the policy arena, specifically vis a vis health reform has become the cornerstone of our grassroots efforts.

We prepared extensively for the trip and with a eight member delegation visiting over 15 congressional offices, meeting key health policy advisors and our partner organizations, I believe we were able to effectively represent the voice of Muslims on this critical domestic issue. In that spirit, I’m now working with various national, mostly non-Muslim organizations to mobilize a wide scale grassroots effort on health reform this August when congress is in recess and reps are at home.

I have also personally undertaken the effort to highlight our Free Clinics movement. About six months ago, I organized the Muslim Free Clinics Council, an umbrella group of 27 loosely connected free clinics across the country. I spoke extensively to Congressman Keith Ellison and other representatives to work with us and advance the role of these valuable institutions. To that effect, I’m working on analysis that may lead to increased funding within the reform legislation for these free clinics.

I write to seek your support and help to make these goals possible. I believe our community has a stake in it and this is an opportune time to put our mark on the issue of health reform, a viable domestic agenda.

AMHP has now established a credible role in this field by developing expertise, issuing policy briefs, and legislative updates. Over the last one year we have published numerous blogs/Op Eds, provided training, organized seminars and now have effectively represented the voice of Muslim American community in the policy arena.

Thanks for your consideration and I hope to speak to all of you soon to lay out details of the plans for upcoming efforts. Your duas and active support as well as encouragement is essential inshallah.

wasalam,

Faisal Qazi, DO
Neurologist
Chino Hills/Upland, CA
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
President, American Muslim Health Professionals – AMHP (A national public health focused initiative. www.amhp.us)