About Us

The Islamic Medical Association (IMA) at the UNC School of Medicine is a student-run organization that strives to represent Muslim students at UNC, foster campus and community-wide engagement with Islam and Muslims, and provide Muslim students with a community for both academic and spiritual support.

Our main goals are to:

Provide a platform that promotes dialogue and understanding about the role religion plays in health and healthcare.
Raise awareness about Muslim patient populations and the diversity in thought and tradition across the Islamic world.
Serve as an educational avenue to address and eliminate misconceptions about Islam.
Bring together medical students through volunteerism, social activities, and religious services.
Provide mentorship for students pursuing career paths in medicine.

Meet The Team

Heba Akhtar

Salam everyone! My name is Heba, and I am a first-year medical student at UNC. I’m excited to be part of IMA and look forward to helping build a strong, supportive community for Muslims on campus. I can’t wait to connect with you all! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or ideas on how we can expand IMA.

In my free time, I enjoy exploring fashion, practicing pure barre, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Co-President

heba_akhtar@med.unc.edu

Aisha Mahmood

Assalamualaikum! My name is Aisha, and I am a first-year medical student at UNC. I am originally from Charlotte, NC, but have spent the last several years in the Triangle area. I am very excited to join the IMA leadership team this year, and to help advance its mission of supporting Muslim health professional students at UNC, enabling us to thrive both spiritually and professionally. Outside of school, I love to bake, do anything crafty, and spend time with my family and friends. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions about IMA!

Co-President

aisha_mahmood@med.unc.edu

Muaz Modan

Asalamualaikum. My name is Muaz and I am a first-year medical student at UNC currently interested in primary care. I hope to work with the team to strengthen the Muslim community at UNC, both at an individual and collective level. I also hope to establish some sort of connection between all Muslim medical students in North Carolina. In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking/traveling, and volunteering at local mosques.

Co-President

muaz_modan@med.unc.edu

Rabeya Tahir

My name is Rabeya and I am a first-year medical student at UNC currently interested in women’s health. I am from Harrisburg, near Charlotte! I like to play tennis/pickle ball, scrapbook, and try out coffee shops. I am excited to interact with the local Muslim community in the triangle!

Community Outreach/Events Coordinator
rabeya_tahir@med.unc.edu

Amira Sarder

My name is Amira, and I am a fourth-year pharmacy student at UNC currently interested in clinical cardiology. I hope to foster a strong connection between students in IMA and local masjids. I also hope to strengthen the inclusivity and connection between students from various interdisciplinary health graduate programs, including pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, nursing, and public health. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, event management, and cooking.

Community Outreach/Events Coordinator
Amira_sarder@unc.edu

Layan Shahrour

Salam! My name is Layan, and I am a first-year medical student at UNC. I was born and raised in Damascus, Syria, and immigrated to Raleigh, NC when I was eleven. I am super excited to work with all of you to make IMA your perfect getaway from school. I hope to help create a fun, supportive, and spiritually refreshing place for everyone. In my free time, I love to make some art, bake Middle Eastern desserts, and have fun with my family and friends.

Feel free to reach out about anything!

Program Chair

layan_shahrour@med.unc.edu

Ommar Khawaja

Salam, my name is Ommar Khawaja and I am currently a third year medical student at UNC! I am excited to continue working with IMA as their third year representative and hope to support Muslim pre-professional health students in their journey. In my free time, I enjoy working out, cooking, and gardening! Feel free to reach out for advice or just to chat!

3rd year Medical Student Representative

ommar_khawaja@med.unc.edu

Ezan Chaudhry

Salam everyone, I am a soon to be MS4 here at UNC. I am likely going to apply internal medicine for residency and maybe gastroenterology down the road. Some of my interests include playing board games, traveling, and making chai / coffee. I’ve been a part of IMA since I was an MS1 and I’m excited to help the organization to continue to grow!

4th year Medical Student Representative
ezan_chaudhry@med.unc.edu