AIMCAUK’s Newsletter Issue # 01 June 2015 (Summer Edition)

Chairman’s Message:

I am very pleased that you are reading our first AIMCAUK’s E-Newsletter which will be issued biannually to start with to keep our Iqbalians updated about AIMCAUK activities, projects and developments. I am proud to share with you that we have set up a blast email system to update Iqbalians about AIMCAUK’s different activities through this E-newsletter under the editorship of Dr Syed Nayyer Abidi MBE.Our goal is to connect Iqbalians residing in the UK with each other through our website and newsletters. We need your help to achieve this goal by spreading this message to your Iqbalian friends who are not part of this system as yet, and requesting them to send us their active email addresses at info@aimcauk.org. I am humbled to serve as chair of AIMCAUK and consider it a great responsibility to safeguard our interest and advance the cause of Iqbalians in the United Kingdom. I am confident that I am able to continue this great work and lay down strong foundations of our organisation by incorporating innovative ideas of my fellow Iqbalians and all other colleagues who are involved in this worthwhile task. In order to make AIMCAUK a strong, vibrant body and make your voice heard and have the opportunity to shape up the organisation is by becoming a paid active member of AIMCAUK, membership fee will make our organisation stronger day by day. Our objectives shall be: 1.To promote social and professional interaction amongst AIMC graduates in the UK. 2.To help promote medical education and training of Iqbalians in the UK and Pakistan. 3.To help newly arrived Iqbalians in the UK by improving their quality of life during the initial period of hardship and distress by providing advice, information, support and guidance. AIMCAUK’s innovative and interactive Website: On behalf of AIMCAUK Executive Council, I welcome you to Allama Iqbal Medical College Alumni UK’s website: www.aimcauk.org. It is for the Iqbalians who are in practice or training in the United Kingdom. Our Executive Council invites all Iqbalians residing in United Kingdom to join AIMCAUK to collectively engage in professional activities and support our Alma Mater in each

and every way possible maintain the high ethical values and striving for excellence in all our pursuits. Growing membership will make our charitable organisation stronger, and provide much needed revenue for its running expenses. You can fill in the membership form on this website and pay your membership fee via your Bank’s Standing Order. I shall update you at our Annual family Gala Dinner and 40th anniversary celebration of our Alma mater in London on 6 June at Hilton Watford. The event management committee under the leadership of Dr Ayesha Naveed, Dr Idrees Awan and Dr Irfan Rashid has done all the necessary arrangement and we are looking forward to welcome you there. In the end, I would like to thank all my colleagues in the executive council and subcommittees who have worked tirelessly to achieve this success in short span of two years. Kind Regards M Ayaz Asghar Chair, AIMCAUK

History of AIMCAUK: Graduates from Allama Iqbal Medical College have been serving the NHS for over two decades. Each graduate finding their own way in a new environment and a new establishment, studying and partaking in exams to become a recognised doctor. No organisations existed to provide assistance and guidance to those who needed it the most.In 2005 and 2006, Dr Haris Rathur along with his friends took the initiative and arranged two successful reunions. In 2010 and 2012 Dr Ayesha Naveed and Dr Irfan Rashid with the help of social media successfully arranged gatherings. In 2013, the annual reunion held in London was well attended by Iqbalians with their families and proved to be a milestone year for this movement. Their involvement and commitment to attending ensured that each event went from strength to strength. At this momentous gathering it was proposed by the senior Iqbalians for a more structured platform. This was all agreed in principle and AIMCAUK was formed starting with the organising committee. The committee met in December 2013 where Dr Ayaz Asghar was elected chair. Several subcommittees were then formed: 1 Constitution committee 2. Teaching, training and mentorship committee 3. Event management committee 4. Membership and communications committee Inauguration Ceremony: AIMCAUK was launched on 22nd June 2013 at Iqbalians annual dinner in London. It was very heartening to know that there are estimated more than 500 AIMC’s graduates in the UK and

Ireland. We will also make all efforts to work with other similar organizations of Allama Iqbal Medical College graduates in Pakistan & other countries. We have however our own constitution and will be bound only by the bylaws of this constitution. We aim to be a growing organization whose members are engaged in programs that foster internal bonds and make meaningful contributions towards health & education in Pakistan. In addition, we want to help in the uplift of medical education in Pakistan in general & Allama Iqbal Medical College in particular.

Vision & Way Forward: AIMCAUK is and would remain an autonomous, non political, non profitable and charitable organization as per its constitution. The prime goal of this association is the welfare of Allama Iqbal Medical College’s graduates living in United Kingdom. We aim to be a growing organization

whose members are engaged in programs that foster internal bonds and make meaningful contributions towards health & education in Pakistan. We would also strive for to promote social and professional interaction amongst AIMC graduates in the UK, help promote medical education and training of Iqbalians in the UK and Pakistan, support newly arrived Iqbalians in the UK by improving their quality of life during the initial period of hardship and distress by providing advice, support and guidance. In addition, we want to help in the uplift of medical education in Pakistan in general & Allama Iqbal Medical College in particular.

AIMCAUK’s Projects: Iqbalians are actively involved in different worthwhile projects on individual basis including teaching training mentorship, Public Health Awareness and charitable projects. We would encourage them to get involved in AIMCAUK following future projects and contact us if spare some time and expertise.1. IMG sponsorship scheme 2. Teaching,Training and Mentorship 3.PLAB Guidance 4. Live Video Link Lecture Programme 5. Guest Lectures and Workshops in AIMC and Jinnah Hospital 6. Public Health Awareness Programme 7. Scholarships for AIMC deserving students.

AIMCAUK’s Achievements: 1. Free AIMCAUK IELTS innovative Initiative for Iqbalians: IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. Passing IELTS test in high scores is one of the requirements for Pakistani medical students/Doctors to work in the U.K..AIMCA UK's free IELTS innovative initiative for AIMC students at AIMC, Lahore Pakistan. To date two successful programs of IELTS have run with a participation of 132 students in Pakistan. This was made up of 61 male and 71 female students, with the current training plan running every Saturday. The IELTS programs are run by Abdul Majid of BHA Solutions, more information can be obtained from http://www.bhasolutions.com

2. Scholarships for deserving students of AIMC: We have secured three scholarships of AIMC deserving students through FAMS, a charity based in the UK. These scholarships are for five years and pay towards tuition fees, hostel and mess expenses, we are thankful to Dr Aamir Ayub,head of FAMS UK, and Prof Mahmood Shaukat,

Principal AIMC for assistance in selection after through scrutiny of the students. We intend to start our own scholarships scheme once organisation gets financial stability by increasing the number of our active members. These scholarships are for five years and pay towards students tuition fee, hostel and mess expenses. I would also ask you to consider supporting the IMG Sponsorship Scheme so that Iqbalians get the opportunity to get training, one of my Iqbalian colleague, Dr Zia Khan has already sponsored two candidates. 3. Endorsement from Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College: We have recently received support from the principal of AIMC, Professor Mahmood Shaukat, and he will soon appoint a focal person in AIMC and we will liaise with him to discuss areas of mutual interest.

Structure and functions of Committees: 1. Constitution Committee: Constitution Committee under the leadership of Dr Usman Khan and Dr Idrees Awan had worked very hard and completed this painstaking task, and constitution has been adopted in a special general meeting, held in Birmingham on 17 August 2014, and now approved copy has been submitted to the Charity Commission for AIMCAUK to get a Registed Charity status. The Charity Commision is the independent Registrar and Regulator of all registered charities in the U.K. 2. Teaching, Training and Mentorship Committee: Under the leadership of Prof Amir Nisar, has been working successfully committee has tried to get few clinical attachments for young physicians. Volunteer participation and contribution of all Iqbalians according to their interest and expertise will be highly appreciated. We would request you to consider supporting the IMG sponsorship scheme, for Iqbalians to get training opportunity. Dr Zia Khan has already sponsored two candidatesall Iqbalians are being requested to volunteer some of their precious time, based on their expertise and skills and kindly let us know if you would like to contribute to this scheme which will benefit our future physicians and surgeons. 3. Membership Committee: Under the leadership of Dr A Malkera is working hard and have to collect the data of all the Iqbalians residing in UK. We would like to invite all of you to join us and help us to compile a database of all Iqbalians residing in UK. AIMCAUK membership committee under the leadership of Dr A Malkera is working hard to collect the data of all the Iqbalians residing in UK. We would like to invite all of you to join us and help us to compile a database of all Iqbalians residing in the UK. We assure you that this information will remain confidential and will only be available to registered Iqbalians on AIMCAUK website. In order to make AIMCAUK a strong and vibrant body, make your voice heard and have the opportunity to shape up the organisation is by becoming a paid active member of AIMCAUK, membership fee will make your organisation stronger and provide much needed revenue for its running expenses. You can fill in the membership form on this website and pay on line your membership fee. We would like to invite all of you to join us and help us to compile a database of all Iqbalians residing in the UK. We assure you that this information will remain confidential and will only be available to registered Iqbalians via AIMCAUK’s website: www.aimcauk.org. 4. Communication and Publication Committee: Our website and Facebook pages have been launched with a goal to connect with Iqbalians who reside in the UK. Dr Irfan Rashid & Dr Nayyer Abidi are working together to keep our colleagues update on day to day basis via Social Media and E-Newsletters. We have also setup a blast email distribution list that allows updates for Iqbalians to opt in for updates on AIMCAUK’s current activities in an effective way. We encourage you and your colleagues to become members by supplying their active email addresses at info@aimcauk.org.

5. Events Management Committee: Under the leadership of Dr Idrees Awan, our young Iqbalians, Dr Ayesha Naveed, Dr Zafar Hashim and Dr Irfan Naveed have been very intrumental in organising and conducting AIMCAUK’s events. Following the successful hard work of the events management committee, the last annual gala dinner in June 2014 was held in Manchester and was well attended by Iqbalians and their families, guests included senior teacher, Dr Shaheena Asif (Professor Gynaecology, Surgimed Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan), Afzal Khan MEP and Heads of other Alumni.

Phot Gallery of AIMCAUK’s Chair & Executive Council’s Activities:

Chair, Dr Ayaz Asghar, met Principal AIMC, Prof Mahmood Shaukat sahib in Lahore who will grace the occasion of our Annual dinner on 6 June which co-incides with 40th AIMC Anniversary celebrations.