Medical Education: King Edward Medical University 1987
Internship: UPMC Shadyside Hospital Transitional Year 7/1/1990-6/30/1991
Residency: University of Connecticut Health Center Internal Medicine 7/1/1991-6/30/1994
Fellowship: University of Vermont College of Medicine Gastroenterology 7/1/1994-6/30/1996.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Hepatology 7/1/1996-6/30/1997

It is a great honor for me to serve as a president of APGNA. I welcome you the APGNA website. I have been the founding member of APGNA. We will continue to make efforts to foster medical education and enhance the development of skills in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology in young Pakistani physicians and GI/Hepatology trainees in Unites States and Pakistan. There is quite significant evidence that gastroenterology and hepatology has been facing significant challenges due to rising incidence and prevalence of Viral Hepatitis. APGNA will strengthen the efforts of APPNA and government of Pakistan to tackle these challenges. Another area of where we will be concentrating is to transfer the knowledge and skill by arrangement of therapeutic endoscopy workshops throughout Pakistan in tertiary care centers.

I look forward working with you and will need your help achieve our mission and goals. Your active participation is the key to our success.

Dr. Muhammad Asim received his medical degree from Dow medical college, Karachi in 1993. Dr. Asim completed his internship and residency training in internal medicine at University of South Dakota and University of Oklahoma. He then did fellowship in Gastroenterology at University of Tennessee.

Dr. Asim has been in private practice since 1997. His special interests in gastroenterology include colon cancer, ulcer disease, gastro esophageal reflux disease, gallbladder and pancreatic disease, as well as therapeutic endoscopy – including ERCP. He is the president of Advanced Gastroenterology Associates, P. A. He has been the chief of staff at Wise health system hospital, Decatur, Texas.

Dr. Asim is board certified in gastroenterology. He is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and ASGE. Outside of the office, Dr. Asim enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, travel and Tennis.

Bilal Hameed, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and Associate Clinic Chief in the Department of Gastroenterology/Hepatology at UCSF. He is the program director for Transplant Hepatology Fellowship at UCSF. He received his medical degree from Dow Medical College, completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota, and consecutive fellowships at the University of Minnesota and UCSF. Dr. Hameed is nationally and internationally recognized for his work related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and acute liver failure. He is currently is a section editor for Gastroenterology. He is an investigator on several NIH-funded clinical studies in NASH and Acute liver failure and is an investigator on several ongoing clinical trials of NASH and PSC. He has authored many original articles, reviews, and book chapters on NASH and acute liver failure.

Dr. Hameed is currently the president of APPNA Northern California chapter. He is one the founding member of APGNA (Association of Pakistani-Descent Gastroenterologist of North America). Dr. Hameed will be leading the Hepatitis C initiative for APPNA. He was the co-chair for the APPNA fall meeting 2015. He has served on many committees including RESA and MERIT committees.

Fellowship: Gastroenterology Nassau County Medical Center East Meadow, NY
Residency: Nassau County Medical Center East Meadow, NY
Medical School: King Edward Medical College University of Panjab, Pakistan

Dr Muslim is very active in community affairs, he has served as President of the medical staff at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital as well as Chairman of the GI sub division, and Chairman of Medicine. He has been a member of the board of trustees of St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital and at present is serving on the board of St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital Foundation. He has also served as President of the Orange County medical society. Dr. Muslim received a lifetime achievement award from St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital and a pillar of community award by Family Health Center, City of Newburgh. Currently he sits on the Board of Directors of Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center. At present Dr. Muslim chairs, the Credentials and Pharmacy &Therapeutics committees at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital and also serves on the Advisory Board for the Pakistan Medical Research Council. He has also served as President of APPNA.