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“ I have keen interest in improving public health . Also , I am Muslim by faith , so I am especially interested in building interfaith relationships .”

Doctors for Healthy Communities has long had a goal of helping to improve the overall public health of Louisville , with an emphasis on children . The organization often works with Jefferson County Public Schools to provide things like school supplies , hygiene bags , clothing pantries , physicals and much more . Since the COVID-19 outbreak , they have donated over 20,000 K-95 masks to around thirty counties located mostly in rural parts of Kentucky .

The Muslim Americans for Compassion group aims to improve the understanding between different faiths . In what Dr . Saleem describes as “ interfaith productivity ” the organization engages the community through outreach based on interfaith principles and often works alongside other organizations such as Interfaith Paths to Peace . Their signature event “ Annual Iftar Dinner ; breaking of the fast in Ramadan ” is always well attended with over 500 participants and is in its tenth year .

Dr . Saleem also serves as Secretory of Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure , as a member of the Muslim Jewish Advocacy Council and sub committees at AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long Term Care Medicine , and with the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians and American Board of Family Practice . Dr . Saleem has also served many years on behalf of the Greater Louisville Medical Society as a Delegate to the Kentucky Medical Association , saying that he really enjoys the advocacy part of organized medicine .

“ The KMA is advocacy at the state level , and that allows us to address different issues that deal with public health and regulatory medicine . Those regulations impact the way that we practice ,” he said . “ And GLMS is also very near and dear to my heart . Yes , they help us get credentialed at the hospital , but one of the biggest advantages is having one place where we can communicate with other physicians about any issue we may be facing .”

Dr . Saleem doesn ’ t have too much spare time with a resume like this . But he always makes sure to take time to be with Hana , his wife of 24 years , who graduated from the same medical school and trained in Pakistan as an ophthalmologist . In the US , she has taken on the role of running the home front . She is an avid reader and is known for her gardening . They are blessed with amazing children , Nashwa and Jawad . Both are now both in college , so with Hana he is finding more time for their favorite things like walking outdoors , cooking and travelling now that they are empty-nesters .

Even after all of the changes in his personal life and professional career , he still comes back to what drew him to medicine while watching his sisters all those years ago : direct patient care and relationships . He wants to not only know about his patients ’ medical conditions , but also who they are as a person .

“ It ’ s not just about their 15-minute appointment slot and their medical problems . I want to know them as a whole person , their life story , what is going on with them currently , and hopefully I gain their trust . It is a two-way relationship . You learn from the patient ’ s history to help diagnose , but you also learn about strength and weaknesses in yourself , and that ’ s good for you as a clinician and lifelong learner .”

Kathryn Vance is the Communication Specialist at the Greater Louisville Medical Society .

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