I am humbled with the honor of serving our community as the President of APPNA this year. APPNA has come a long way to become the leading democratic grass root organization of the Pakistani Diaspora in North America. APPNA is growing with 28 Chapters and the affiliation of 13 Alumni Associations at the present time. APPNA has made strides in the areas of Medical Relief, Development, and Philanthropy in the recent years both in Pakistan and in the United States. It was the selfless work of our volunteers that made it happen. We should be proud of our successful Continuing Medical Educational Programs at APPNA meetings. The passionate help for the Young Physicians and the advocacy for our Civil Liberties have been the areas of more focus in the past few years. This work must continue with better assistance and adequate funding in 2008 and beyond.

The scope of work is enormous and resources are limited. Organization building and resource development are needed to expand the horizons of our work. Furthermore, we need to promote harmony and unity of purpose in APPNA. This goal can only be achieved with the will and conscious efforts on the part of our leadership. We must appreciate those leaders whose efforts resolved the recent deadlock by putting the APPNA first. This is good news for APPNA. We have begun to learn to resolve our issues within our organization. I will build bridges by reaching across the aisle to promote unity. Officers come and go but the institution remains. Our unity will make the institution of APPNA strong. Let us work together to take this great organization to the next level. I have no doubt in my mind that the future of APPNA is Bright and Promising.

With best regards,

MAHMOOD ALAM, MD
President APPNA 2008