APF Appoints New Board Chair
By Shamila N. Chaudhary
President, American Pakistan Foundation
I am writing to share an important development at the American Pakistan Foundation (APF). After serving as Chair of APF since 2013, Riaz Siddiqi will step down and assume the title of Chairman Emeritus. He will remain a member of the APF Board of Directors.
It is a bittersweet moment for our community, as Mr Siddiqi gave much of his time and heart to the APF mission since he joined the organization at its founding in 2009. His commitment and vision have enabled APF to flourish and grow into the organization it is today. His imprimatur will forever be visible in everything APF does, from our Pakistan Fellows Program to our focus on community empowerment.
We are honored to announce the election of Dr Nasar Qureshi as the next Chair of the APF Board of Directors. Dr Qureshi will assume the role of APF Chair effective November 15. His energy and vision have been invaluable to APF since he joined the APF Board of Directors in 2018. With his leadership and support, APF established the APF Connect Mentorship Program.
For decades, Dr Qureshi has served his communities in America and Pakistan as a physician, a nonprofit leader, and a mentor. He immigrated to America from Pakistan in 1984 to begin his medical education at Tulane University. He went on to specialize in immunology, becoming the first director of the HIV testing laboratory at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr Qureshi served as President of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America in 2006.
After a decorated career as a pathologist, laboratory director, and faculty member at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, he founded QDx Pathology Services in New Jersey in 2006, where he continues to serve as CEO.
It is with great pride that APF serves its mission with leaders such as Mr Siddiqi and Dr Qureshi who recognize the potential of young Pakistani American women and men to thrive in all aspects of America. Together, we will build bridges, open minds, and empower communities.
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