Muslim Podiatry Network

Othman Barhoum served as a Trauma Nurse at the European Hospital in Gaza from 2023 to 2025. During this session, Othman will share his harrowing accounts during the genocide  and vital experiences from working on the frontlines of a collapsing healthcare system, as well as review traumatic injuries encountered under these extreme conditions

Panelists:Ayesha Saleem, MS4 at Temple University (Graduated May 2026)Hamda Shakil, PGY‑1 at Cape Fear Valley Medical CenterModerator: Samiha Syed, MS1 at RFUPanelists discussed student burnout through strategies for balancing academic rigor and personal well-being via spiritual grounding.Identifying and Preventing BurnoutBurnout manifests as robotic behavior and loss of interest in hobbies. Students must proactively schedule non-academic time to maintain long-term balance.Spiritual and Professional IntegrationMaintaining religious practices during clinical rotations grounds students and promotes peace. Students should advocate for accommodations to integrate spiritual needs into professional environments.Long-term Career SustainabilityHealthy coping mechanisms formed during school are essential for surviving residency. Seeking professional support when burnout becomes unmanageable is a vital, responsible career step.

Dr. Sarah Nasir, DO, FASAM, Addiction Recovery Specialist, leads an insightful discussion on harmonizing motherhood, career, and faith with resilience and mental wellness, pursuing purpose‑driven success, and maintaining an enduring, Islam‑centered lens.

Dr. Amro El‑Nakib, DPM shares his personal experience launching his private practice, including the obstacles he faced, how he navigated them, and the strategies that helped him build a successful model. Hosted by Dr. Mohammad Junayed Khan, DPMSummaryDr. Amro El-Nakib shared insights for building a successful private podiatry practice with strategic financial and operational discipline.Practice Launch and StrategyPrivate practice requires outsourcing credentialing and billing to experts while focusing on marketing and networking. Establishing mentorship and prioritizing personal outreach to facilities accelerates early business growth.Financial Discipline and OperationsSuccess relies on minimizing overhead through frugal equipment choices and virtual assistants rather than accumulating debt. High service quality and maintaining ethical billing practices remain central to professional longevity.Funding and Growth PerspectivesEntrepreneurs should prioritize internal funding and family support to avoid standard loans. Achieving profitability involves high-volume care delivery and maintaining the three A's of medicine.

Dr. Ali Ahmed and Dr. Arwa Akram meet with Ziauddin University Podiatry Students in Karachi, Pakistan to discuss podiatry in USA, its historical significance, scope of practice, and review a few cases. They wrap up by conducting a question and answer session for the students.

● Introduction to Vasculitis of the Foot and Leg MPN introduced Dr. Mariyam Abbasi, an attending surgeon at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, who presented a case on vasculitis of the foot and leg. Dr. Abbasi stated the importance of reviewing rare cases like this for podiatrists to be aware of and properly diagnose conditions beyond typical presentations such as heel pain or Achilles tendinosis (00:04:28).● Case Presentation and Diagnosis of IgA Vasculitis Dr. Mariyam Abbasi described the case of a 15-year-old male presenting with a palpable purpuric rash on their bilateral feet and lower extremities, associated with severe gastric pain, vomiting, extreme weakness, and nausea (00:04:28). Initial differentials included allergic reactions and thrombocytopenia, but the concomitant symptoms and lab results (including hematuria/proteinuria and elevated ESR/CRP) led to the diagnosis of Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP), also known as IgA vasculitis (00:05:33). Dr. Abbasi noted that this small blood vessel vasculitis is IgA mediated, with IgA complexes depositing in blood vessels, which explains the skin, kidney, and GI tract manifestations (00:08:37).● Clinical Course and Treatment The patient had a previous history of a minor URI one month prior and unfortunately developed kidney involvement. Dr. Mariyam Abbasi noted that the patient was treated with a 30-day tapered course of 20 mg of prednisone, but the rash continued to spread, requiring them to be put back on prednisone for an extended 15 days until the rash resolved and the urine sample was negative. The disease is typically self-limiting, but some patients like this one develop complications, requiring a pediatric nephrologist consultation; the discussion also touched on different types of vasculitis like large, medium, and small vessel types for educational context (00:05:33) (00:09:58).● Vasculitis in Podiatry and Treatment Options Dr. Mariyam Abbasi shared another case of Kawasaki disease in a 13-month-old baby who initially presented with red, swollen feet and a purpuric rash, emphasizing the need to consider zebras (rare diagnoses) alongside horses (common diagnoses) (00:11:48). Treatment options for IgA vasculitis include high-dose steroids, though recurrence is possible in 50% of young kids, and IVIG is another popular treatment for autoimmune conditions like this (00:14:05).● Importance of Consultations and Networking Dr. Reem Sheikh highlighted the value of discussing rare scenarios like vasculitis for board exams and clinical practice, stressing the need to always order correct tests and referrals to rule out possibilities, even for seemingly chronic wounds (00:15:13). Dr. Mariyam Abbasi and Dr. Reem Sheikh strongly agreed that practitioners should not hesitate to refer out, consult colleagues, or seek second opinions, particularly in pediatrics or complex cases, to avoid letting ego impede practice (00:17:11). A first-year student, asked how to go about seeking second opinions, to which Dr. Mariyam Abbasi explained that this is easier in a hospital setting with a multidisciplinary approach, while Dr. Reem Sheikh emphasized that networking with colleagues is built over time through school, rotations, and residency (00:18:42).

Dr. Reem Sheikh, DPM led the discussion on a 65-year-old female patient with chronic right foot pain, ultimately diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Sheikh outlined her surgical plan, which included a first MPJ arthrodesis and pan metatarsal head resection. The discussion also touched on revision surgeries and the significant impact of patient non-compliance, mental health, and social factors on surgical outcomes.

Luqmaan Ahmed facilitated a panel discussion with Dr. Amir Arif and Dr. Anas Kachlan, who offered advice to incoming residents on topics such as transitioning to residency, navigating religious observances, managing increased responsibilities, dealing with imposter syndrome, preparing for surgical cases, understanding board examinations, and balancing personal life. The panelists emphasized over-preparation, seeking help, continuous learning, adapting to different attending styles, step-by-step surgical planning, mental rehearsal, understanding hospital systems, the importance of in-training exams for ABFAS and ABPM boards, helpfulness, initiative, and communication as key factors for success

Dr. Arwa Akram (Indianapolis, IN) and Dr. Abir Ahmed (Buffalo, NY) are podiatrists and were invited to complete Hajj in 2024. In this public-facing webinar, they discuss how to care for your feet during the pilgrimage, with a Q&A at the end. May Allah invite us all!

Dr. Noman Siddiqui, director of the Foot & Ankle Deformity Correction & Orthoplastics fellowship, presents his program details followed by Q & A.