AMHP TEXAS CHAPTER BOARD

Zeyn Patel
President
Zeyn Patel
Zeyn Patel studied Government at the University of Texas. Currently, he serves as the Vice President of Argus Talent, a Houston based staffing company. He is a former member of ISNA Board of Directors as well as served as the first treasurer of MSA National. He is also co-organizer of the first competition of MIST (Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournamount) . He is a board member of Risala Foundation in Houston, TX. Zeyn lives in Texas with his wife, Hafsa, and two kids.

Zahida Khan
Vice President
Zahida Khan
Zahida is a seasoned management consultant and healthcare administrator, with over 20 years of experience in managing a variety of healthcare programs offered to global, and corporate clients and providing direction on clinical and occupational health and safety programs.
Zahida holds an MHA/MBA and a BSc in Biology. Currently, she serves as a Program Management Consultant, providing:
- Corporate Health and Safety Program Management
- COVID & Health incident planning
- Program Management to corporate clients
Zahida works with corporate leaders, HR Managers, and Health and Safety Managers to reduce employee and business risks from pandemic and health incidents, such as COVID-19, Influenza, Ebola, Avian Flu, Malaria, etc. She also works alongside HR Managers and supervisors to integrate efficient and effective strategies utilizing best practices and benchmarks in occupational health. She impacts corporate policies to improve corporate health and safety management and meet accreditation standards.

Shamila Malik
Secretary
Shamila Yasmin Malik
Shamila Malik is a Registered Dietitian working in the field of dialysis. She is also a certified Health and Wellness Coach. Her professional outlook is one of holistic care, where the individual is treated as an interconnected being rather than as an isolated part. She is passionate about using her background, experience, and education to enlighten communities that don't get to meet Dietitians. She has achieved this by volunteering at health fairs, organizing a self-awareness pillar at her prior Islamic center, and participating in organizations that promote health improvement for all.
In her spare time, she loves to cook and bake for her children, family, and friends. She enjoys spending time in nature and attending various types of dance classes.

Abdullah Omar
Treasurer
Abdullah Omar Talukder
Abdullah Omar Talukder studied Finance, Business Management, and Sociology at Midwestern State University. Currently, he is employed as a Senior Collateral Underwriter with 10+ years of experience within conventional and Islamic mortgage practices. He is a current board member of his local masjid and oversees program management of the mosque. Abdullah is very passionate about teaching the community about best financial practices starting from a young age. Abdullah currently resides in Sugar Land, Texas with his wife, Nimrah, and his newborn daughter. In his little spare time, he enjoys Formula One Racing and watching English Premier League.

Raheela Shaikh
Professional Development Director
Raheela Shaikh
Raheela Shaikh graduated with a Master of Arts in Education from Liverpool Hope University in the U.K. and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas at Arlington. Born in California, she is now settled in the DFW area with her 17-year-old daughter. She has over 15 years of experience as an educator both in Texas and in Dubai, where she was the Humanities Coordinator of an American Curriculum school for 7 years. She is a Texas State Board of Education certified Principal (K-12) and is currently the Assistant Principal of New Tech High School in Coppell, TX. She also works as an educational consultant for parents on the latest educational trends and social-emotional learning.

Abida Minhas
Mental Health Director
Abida Minhas
Abida Minhas is a licensed professional counselor and supervisor. She received her BA in Psychology at the University of Houston and has a Masters in Clinical Counseling Psychology. Earlier in her career, Abida worked as an intern at LifeNet, a leading community mental health clinic, where she gained extensive training in working with severely mentally ill patients who often had dual diagnoses.
After a through clinical setting, Abida then worked in a private practice in Richardson, Texas for 8 years, from where she has gained many collaborative experiences that eventually led her to then launching her own vision. Abida has been passionate about promoting mental health, particularly for minority communities and founded the Muslim Association Psychological Services (MAPS) network over 4 years ago, an organization that focuses on psycho-educational work in the Muslim community. She also takes a collaborative and hands-on approach in training her supervisees as well.

Nida Akhter
Health Policy & Advocacy
Nida Akhter
Nida Akhter, a Chicago native, graduated with a degree in Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 2014. She moved to Dallas in 2020 and has been practicing in the DFW area since then. She believes the greatest responsibility as a healthcare professional is to educate the community about the importance of good health and facilitate access to care. She is passionate about community building and social justice issues. She often takes part in free healthcare screenings in the community. In her spare time, Dr. Akhter enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, cooking, and bringing people together.

Hajra Motiwala
Development Director
Hajra Motiwala
Hajra Motiwala is a certified Physician Assistant and has been practicing in Orthopedic
Surgery for the past 7 years. Having grown up in Memphis, TN, she is a recent transplant
to Texas. Her desire to improve mental health, educate future generations, and learn from the experiences of others is her driving force in representing AMHP to the highest capacity. She is excited to contribute to the Board by using social media, networking, and
coordinating events to fundraise for the Texas chapter. She spends her free time cooking, painting, and hanging out with her 2 cats.

Nimra Sarfaraz
Community Outreach Liason
Nimra Sarfaraz
Nimra Sarfaraz is a nephrologist that works in the Arlington/Mansfield area in Dallas Texas with the Dallas Renal Group. She believes in working towards a world without healthcare disparity and has worked with organizations such as MedGlobal, IMANA, and SAMS by providing medical relief to refugees, displaced persons, and those most vulnerable. Her focus of interest of late is on teaching the basics of Point of Care Ultrasound as well as further honing her skills with this new technology. She was one of the founding members of Muslims Thrive, a New York-based non-profit devoted to fostering mental wellness in the community. She is a course director for Nephrology Business Leadership University, a yearly conference for nephrology fellows across the country delving into the economic and business aspects of practice.