The Australian Islamic Medical Association (AIMA) held its second National Conference from Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 April 2025 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, bringing together over 500 Muslim doctors and healthcare professionals from across Australia.
The conference with the theme “Setting Your Compass: Navigating Healthcare and Fostering Resilience” marked a major milestone for the community, solidifying AIMA as possibly the largest Islamic organisation in Australia with over 1,000 members and growing rapidly with global Islamic professional network connections.
The conference was opened by Dr Yousuf Haroon Ahmad, Conference Convenor, who introduced the theme of the conference during his welcome speech while acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land, providing housekeeping and emergency procedures, and thanking the organising committee, volunteers, speakers, and delegates for enthusiastic participation.
Dr Ahmad also highlighted the vital role of the event’s sponsors, including Platinum Sponsors Hejaz and Doctors&Co, and Gold Sponsors Maurice Blackburn, Australian Health Society and Precision Health as well as Silver and Bronze sponsors, media partner and other supporters.
Reflecting on the global challenges facing healthcare professionals today, Dr Ahmad spoke on living through a profound shift in the world order, the devastating impact of genocide in Gaza on the community’s collective emotional wellbeing, and the rapid rise of AI and technological transformation.
Healthcare students showcased their state events and activities.
He emphasised the need for Muslim healthcare workers to reconnect with their internal compass — their beliefs, values, ethics, and mission — amidst the uncertainty highlighting that the conference aimed to equip attendees to become stronger leaders, influencers, and advocates, particularly at the intersection of healthcare and politics.
All main sessions as well as the parallel breakout sessions throughout the two day conference were attended by all delegates in full capacity, with questions submitted through an online platform and answered live by the speakers, ensuring deep engagement between presenters and delegates.
Dr Ashraf Chehata, tarbiya speaker for day one of the conference.
The first day of the main session commenced with a Tarbiyah talk by orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ashraf Chehata, before Gary Quinlan AO, Australia’s former ambassador to the UN, delivered a keynote address describing current era as a “poly-crisis” characterised by simultaneous rapid changes, information overload, disinformation, and political polarisation.
Plenary speaker, Mr Gary Quinlan AO.
In the Q&A session moderated by A/Prof Habib Bhurawala, Mr Quinlan was asked to comment on the indifference of those in positions of power in addressing war crimes and their inability to stop the ongoing genocide being committed in Gaza after more than 18 months.
Kashif Salman, Expo Coordinator explained that the Expo served as a vital opportunity to network with exhibitors and sponsors and highlighted the inclusion of a dedicated prayer area, wudu facilities, and food stations. He also thanked the sponsors for making the Expo possible through their participation.
Accredited CPR session.
The conversation then shifted to an important issue facing Muslim healthcare professionals, Islamophobia during a powerful session titled “Islamophobia: Breaking the Silence, Shaping the Future,” where Dr Mohamed Elwakil moderated a panel featuring Professor Muhammad Aziz Rahman and lawyer Rita Jabri Markwell.
Professor Rahman presented findings from his survey of healthcare professionals in Australia, noting that Islamophobia is not just a phobia like fear of spiders — it is a socio-cultural and political prejudice that impacts the real lives of Muslims. He revealed that the study surprisingly found no significant difference in reported Islamophobia between Muslim and non-Muslim healthcare professionals within the surveyed cohort.
Nevertheless, Professor Rahman stressed the importance of recognising hidden biases and addressing discrimination by encouraging reporting, raising awareness, and strengthening integrity as character and behaviour as a Muslim professional can influence perceptions more than you realise.
Rita Jabri Markwell then discussed the concept of “dehumanising material,” a tool developed by the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN) to identify hate speech. She explained in very clear terms, that criticism of a political entity is acceptable, but criticism that dehumanises a protected group is dangerous.
She also drew on genocide prevention research and cited a successful legal case where this framework was instrumental.
During a breakout session, Dr Jasmin Dabboucy and Rita Jabri Markwell deliberated on medical-legal challenges, focusing on the risks faced by Muslim advocates. Dr Dabboucy shared harrowing experiences of colleagues facing vexatious complaints for speaking out after the Gaza attacks.The complaints were dismissed by AHPRA, she said “the stress is there, the trauma is there, but the justice came through, Alhumdullilah.”
Rita Jabri Markwell while answering questions, clarified rights and responsibilities in speaking out on the violation of human rights of Palestinians.
She also spoke on discrimination laws saying “Someone who tries to silence you for talking about Palestinians human rights is breaking Australian law, discriminating against Palestinians.”
Later, Professor Shafi Ahmed joined live from the UK, giving an electrifying talk on the future of healthcare driven by exponential technologies like blockchain, AI, VR, and quantum computing. He reminded the audience, that our Muslim forebears — like Ibn Sina and Al-Zahrawi — were pioneers in medicine and innovation. We must reclaim that spirit.
Professor Ahmed showcased his work in disrupting traditional education models, from the world’s first Google Glass surgery to creating Avalon, the world’s first virtual medical school, and pioneering the health metaverse. He stressed the urgent need to shift from linear to exponential thinking.
The first day concluded with a Gala Dinner where healthcare legends who had served for over 50 years were honoured with 50+ Years of Service Awards, a powerful celebration of service, sacrifice, and leadership within the Muslim healthcare community.
The second day of the conference began with another Tarbiyah talk by Dr Amrooha Hussain on resilience through Quranic lessons followed by Dr Omer Shareef, AIMA Vice President, then introducing the keynote speaker Dr Gabor Maté, physician, renowned speaker, and bestselling author, who joined virtually from Vancouver.
Dr Amrooha Hussain opening day 2 with a tarbiyah talk.
Dr Maté explored compassion fatigue among clinicians, especially in light of the genocide in Gaza, saying, “What we’re seeing now is just the harshest, darkest, and most cruel, event possible, where mass killing is being called genocide.” He went on further to say:
“I know at least 4 or 5 internationally reknowned Israeli Jewish historians, experts on the Holocaust who have called what’s happening in Gaza right now genocidal and genocide according to the international definition of genocide.”
Sheikh Malaz Majanni, founder of OnePath Network, then tackled the media’s portrayal of Muslims. He recounted how OnePath’s 2017 report on negative media coverage gained global attention only after the Christchurch massacre in 2019. “Media has played a dangerous role in fostering Islamophobia,” he said.
Sheikh Malaz Majanni, OnePath Network did a workshop on Media & Leadership in Healthcare.
Sheikh Majanni called for legislative changes to hold media outlets accountable and reminded the audience that “Allah judges effort and sincerity, not just outcomes.”
Breakout sessions followed, including media skills training for healthcare professionals where attendees learned techniques to manage nerves, bridge answers back to key messages, defend against personal attacks, and prepare effectively for interviews by journalists.
Dr Musa Mohd Nordin, Neonatologist, and Clinical Professor of Paediatrics, representing Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA) and IMA Malaysia, shared inspiring stories of humanitarian projects worldwide while quoting the Quran, “Whoever saves one life, it is as if he has saved all of humanity.” (Quran 5:32)
Dr Musa Mohd Nordin, special guest from Malaysia and spoke on the 8Vs of Islamic Medical Association activism.
He spoke about FIMA’s work on a global level in coordination with various national Islamic medical bodies, including providing clean water systems, operating mobile clinics, and performing over 300,000 cataract surgeries across 20 countries.
Professor Hafeez-ur-Rehman, President of Alkhidmat Foundation, Pakistan and former President of Pakistani Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) addressed the audience virtually from Pakistan. He detailed FIMA’s ongoing efforts in Gaza, explaining that rebuilding would require sustained global collaboration from the Ummah.
Australian Muslimah Health Leadership Showcase session with speakers from left – Dr Naba Masad Alfayadh, Dr Marrwah Ahmadzai, Dr Noor Suhana Mohd, A/Prof. Rakime Elmir and session Chair, Dr Maureen Khan.
Throughout the conference, participants attended concurrent sessions on leadership, obesity management, intra-articular injections, advances in rheumatology and PRP therapy, ECG interpretation, emotional health, and the fiqh of dentistry.
Female Muslim healthcare leaders were showcased during the Australian Muslimah Health Leadership event, inspiring many with their journeys of perseverance and achievement.
Dr Muhammad Afzal Kahloon AIMA National President.
During the closing session Dr Muhammad Afzal Kahloon, AIMA President, praised the Victorian AIMA team for delivering a high-standard, ideologically strong and highly popular conference. He announced that AIMA Queensland would host the next national conference in June 2027. Using the analogy of Prophet Musa’s staff from the Quran, Dr Kahloon encouraged delegates to remain resilient in the face of challenges.
Special thanks were given to the organisers, volunteers, sponsors and supporters of the conference making this event a memorable landmark in the development of the Australian Muslim community.
The session coordinators who organised an exciting program of over 25 sessions and 30 speakers, mainly from Australia with select international guests, at the AIMA National Conference 2025.
Dr Omer Shareef delivered the final reflection, urging participants to see the conference as the start of a greater journey. He spoke on how this was not just a conference. It was a setting of our compass — our Qibla — towards leadership, service, and advocacy.
Dr Omer Shareef.
He appealed to the youth to take up the mantle of leadership and highlighted the ongoing duty of Muslims in Australia and the West to advocate for suffering communities globally, particularly mentioning Gaza, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, and India.
Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, a distinguished South African diplomat, thought leader and founder of the World for All Foundation joined virtually and advised on the importance of forming partnerships and engaging society to advocate for the welfare of all people.
As the conference drew to a close, Dr Imtiaz Bhayat with expertise in Digital Transformation Sector, representing Muslim Votes Matter (MVM) gave a timely session on how to access trusted information sources and navigate Australia’s voting system. He stressed the importance of understanding preferential voting and ensuring every citizen’s participation is formal and informed.
Photos by Mohamed Nasir Noor – Aliph Photography
Dr Mawlana Sami Al-Hashmi spoke on the fiqh of dentistry.
Practical workshop on Mastering Intra-Articular Injections.
Conference organising committee
Conference volunteers were recognised for their commitment over the 2-day event.
AMUST were proud media partners of the event.
Rubinah Ahmad, AIMA Office Manager.
