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MENASA Summit 2025
Pioneering Representation in Medical Research
On April 19, 2025, the first-ever MENASA Summit convened at the United Way of Greater Houston, bringing together global leaders, physicians, researchers, and advocates with a shared mission: to advance health equity by increasing representation of Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian Americans (MENASA), and other non-traditional people of color in clinical research.
The summit was a milestone in bridging the inclusion gap that persists in clinical trials, which remain disproportionately representative of certain populations. With a focus on awareness, training, and advocacy, the one-day event featured keynote speeches, interactive workshops, and expert-led sessions aimed at building strategies to promote diversity in medical research.
Summit highlights included:
- Powerful Presentations: Topics ranged from cultural barriers to patient recruitment, to leveraging real-world data for feasibility studies, to navigating FDA diversity action plans.
- Expert Speakers: Dr. Pierre N. Khoury, Dr. Suleman Lalani, Dr. Asim Shah, and a host of other experts provided insights on regulatory compliance, oncology trials, digital health tools, and business development in clinical research.
- Hands-On Workshops: Attendees had the opportunity to begin certification in Good Clinical Practice and Diversity in Clinical Trials, equipping them with tools to lead inclusive research initiatives.
The summit’s ultimate goal was clear: to lay the groundwork for a future where clinical trials truly reflect the diversity of the populations they aim to serve.
Keynote Speakers
Hadi Danawi, Ph. D.
Hadi Danawi, Ph. D.
Hadi Danawi, Ph. D.
- President Arab Board for Clinical Research.
- President of Habibis United Research.
- Founder of MENASA SUMMIT & Magazine.
- Co-founder and Chief Diversity Officer of DiversiTrials
Pierre Khoury, MD
Hadi Danawi, Ph. D.
Hadi Danawi, Ph. D.
- National Treasurer of the American Lebanese Medical Association (ALMA) Houston Chapter
- President of USJ Alumni Houston Chapter
- Vice President of Millennium Physician
- Board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, Oncology
Nidal Moukaddam, MD
Hadi Danawi, Ph. D.
Nidal Moukaddam, MD
- President of the National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) Houston chapter.
- Professor Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine.
- Houston, TX, US Director for Psychiatry Outpatient Services, Harris Health System
Fadi Dimassi
Hadi Danawi, Ph. D.
Nidal Moukaddam, MD
- President of the American Lebanese Cultural Center (ALCC),
- Houston, TX Business & Community Leader
Suleman Lalani, MD
Suleman Lalani, MD
Suleman Lalani, MD
- Texas House Representative- Congressman District 76.
- Internalist
- Geriatrist
- Community Leader
Mirza Rahman. MD
Suleman Lalani, MD
Suleman Lalani, MD
- President of the American College of Preventive Medicine
- Vice President & Chief Safety Officer at Organon, a global healthcare company.
Asim Shah, MD
Suleman Lalani, MD
Raffia Qutab, MD
- Professor & Executive Vice Chair, Menninger Dept of Psychiatry.
- Baylor College of Medicine. Houston, Texas, United States
Raffia Qutab, MD
Suleman Lalani, MD
Raffia Qutab, MD
- APPNA Chair Liaison Committee
- Instructor at Umass Chan Medical School MA
- Director/owner of Rutland family Health Center, Holden, MA