The National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) Houston Chapter recently hosted its Twelfth Biennial Ben Qurrah Award Gala at the Four Seasons Houston Hotel on February 4th. The event was a celebration of the achievements of Arab American medical professionals and their contributions to the field of medicine. The evening started with a reception and silent auction, followed by a formal dinner and various presentations and speeches. The MC for the evening, Amer Zahr, introduced the national anthem and Mawteni song before passing the mic to Gala Chair, Ms. Fida Moukaddam Daoud, for her opening speech.

Next up was the president of NAAMA Houston Chapter, Dr. Nidal Moukaddam, who gave a heartwarming speech about the importance of recognizing and supporting Arab American medical professionals. This was followed by Dr. Christopher Logothetis, who introduced the 2020 Ben Qurrah Award recipient, Dr. Nizar Tannir. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Houston and National Ben Qurrah Awards to Dr. Hana El Sahly and Dr. Elias Jabbour respectively, both of whom were introduced by Dr. Rola El Serag and Dr. Hagop Kantarijian.

Additionally, the evening saw the introduction of a new award category, the Inaugural Rising Star Award, which was presented to Dr. Zaina Al-Mohtaseb by Dr. Mitchell Weikert. The night concluded with closing remarks and a musical performance by Houston superstar Samar Murad, providing a fitting end to a memorable evening.

The National Arab Ameran Medical Association is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to supporting Arab American medical professionals and promoting diversity in the medical field. The NAAMA has been hosting the Ben Qurrah Award Gala for over a decade, celebrating the achievements of Arab American medical professionals, and recognizing their contributions to the field. This year’s event was a testament to the organization’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive community for Arab American medical professionals.