Core Group

Javeed Akhter ( Board Member)

Physician:

– Pediatric specialist in Pulmonology, and Allergy/Immunology.

o Asthma comprehensive program.

o Cystic Fibrosis. Top ten in the US

o JMF Primary Immune Deficiency center

o Recognized as “Best doctors f Chicago” by the Chicago Magazine and US News and World Report

Writing for general audience:

Started writing for newspapers right after 9/11. Over 70 op-eds in two Chicago area newspapers, the Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald, on pluralism, democracy, civil rights, human rights, Islamophobia, and the Indian Muslim.

Books and Chapters

Book on Seera:

Author of a peer-reviewed book analyzing the biography of prophet Muhammad titled “Prophetic Wisdom: The seven phases of Prophet Muhammad’s life.” Professor Sani, one of the reviewers, summarized it as follows. “The author not only succeeds in achieving his declared objective-namely, to present, in a holistic rather than in an anecdotal manner, the dynamics of the Prophet’s life but also states eloquently the current epistemic shift in the sirah scholarship now highlighting the liminal aspects of the anecdotal discourse as they relate to contemporary realities and problems. The book represents a fascinating document by someone other than a Fachmann, a specialist, in Islamic history.”

Cherif Bassiouni promoted the book strenuously, Tasneema Ghazi says it is good ‘niche’. Book.

The book available on Amazon and Audible is titled “Prophetic Wisdom: the 7 phases of Prophet Muhammad’s Life.”

Other books

‘The treasure trove’ (edited version of Maulana Azad’s Sura Fatiha) Available at Iqra and LuLu

Does Islam promote violence (Apple book)

Also directs another NGO the International strategy and Policy Institute

ISPI, that promotes Pluralism from a Muslim perspective.

Pluralism is a ‘gift’ of Islam to the world. Muslims have forgotten that is running a ‘covenant Madina based’ Pluralism Project with the Univ of Indiana.

ISPI: Muslim think tank designed to promote “Pluralism’ from a Muslim perspective.

Pluralism is a gift of Islam to humanity

Muslims need to be reminded of their glorious pluralistic past

Non-Muslims need to be educated about Islam’s inclusive values

Networking with like-minded groups.

Strategies for living in a pluralistic world, making the world better and preserving Islamic values.

Current project ‘Muslim pluralism’ with Indiana University

AMPI is also grateful for many of its volunteers, including Kaneez Shaukatallah and Mateen Baig. AMPI is especially thankful to Dr Naheed Akhter who is the quintessential silent worker whose advice is invaluable and the two west coast members dr Sabreen Akhter and Zamin Farukhi Saheb who is a generous supporter with his entire family and our financial advisor.

Our gratitude is also to the Islamic Foundation for their encouragement and support and Masood Ali of Falak restaurant.

Dr. Zainab Baig

Dr. Zainab Baig, MD (Board Member) is a Board-Certified Internist who has practiced as a Hospitalist and Practice Builder at several hospitals across Chicagoland for over 20 years. She is currently a regional Director at Humana where she helps physicians and healthcare facilities manage complex inpatient care. Zainab did her Internal Medicine residency from Cornell University hospital in New York City and studied medicine at Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India. Zainab is passionate about expanding access to healthcare and education for underprivileged communities. In 2024, Zainab represented AMPI and in collaboration with Helping Hands foundation inaugurated a special inpatient ward for treatment of tropical diseases. Zainab is also a board member of FORA-A Chicago based organization that helps bridge educational gaps for refugee children who are accepted into the Chicago public school system. Zainab and her husband Aamer have two adult daughters and live in downtown Chicago.

Dr. Sohail Ahmed

Dr. Sohail Ahmed is a neurologist at Advocate health system. He is a long-term member of the AMPI enterprise and has been a secretary of the organization for some years. He is a quiet and thoughtful member and a great asset to AMPI

Dr. Nausheen Akhter

Nausheen Akhter, MD is a cardiologist at Northwestern Medicine and an associate professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Akhter specializes in cardio-oncology and imaging. She is the Director of the Cardio-Oncology program at Northwestern Medicine which recently received a designation as an International Cardio-Oncology Society (IC-OS) Gold Center of Excellence. Dr. Akhter has published multiple peer-reviewed papers. She is also passionate about service, advocacy and mentorship. She has received several awards for teaching and humanism. She was awarded the Northwestern Medicine 2025 Humanitarian award.

She is faculty of the America College of Cardiology (FACC) and faculty of the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE). She has served leadership roles nationally on the inaugural board of directors for the ASE Foundation and is a member of the ACC Cardio-Oncology Leadership Council. She was selected as part of the ACC’s inaugural cohort of the Sandra J Lewis Midcareer Women’s Leadership Institute. She is a councilor with the IL-ACC and leads the IL-ACC Social Justice Committee. She is also on the ACC Health Equity Committee. She is an associate editor for the Journal of the American College of Cardiology Case Reports and is on the editorial board of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. She also serves as the current chair for the Chicago City-wide Cardio-Oncology Rounds.

Tarannum Qureishi

Medical Affairs professional with over 20 years of combined pharmaceutical industry and clinical experience. Currently at Invivyd, with prior roles at BMS and Merck focused on HIV, virology, healthcare access, and medical strategy. Background includes pediatric clinical pharmacy at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, investigational drug pharmacist for NIH-sponsored trials (IMPAACT, ACTG, ATN).

Brings unique expertise bridging clinical practice, research, and pharmaceutical development with a focus on advancing therapeutic options in infectious diseases.

Dr. Mehjabeen Naseer

Dr. Mehjabeen Naseer is an Internal Medicine physician who is practices outpatient Internal Medicine at Swedish Hospital in Chicago, IL. Her clinic primarily serves low SES members of the north Chicago and north suburban South Asian communities. She is a graduate of Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. She Dr resides in Chicago’s western suburbs with her husband, three children and in laws.