Build a Professional Identity Infused with
Knowledge and Spiritual Clarity.
Ground your vocational calling through deep reflection about meaning and purpose
Classical Texts
Explore selected passages from the Qur'an and Hadith, as well as texts about physicianship such as Adab al-Tabib.
Reflective Exercises
Engage in personal and group-based reflection focused on core identity features, meaning and purpose to medicine, and responsibilities to oneself and society
Contemporary Moral Exemplars
Gain insights from Muslim physicians navigating the integration of faith and practice today
A formative experience with real depth and real fellowship.
Literacy in core concepts of Muslim physicianship — virtue, wisdom, and flourishing
Deep insight into the integration of social, moral, intellectual, and physical health from an Islamic perspective
Fellowship with peers and mentors from participating in a first-of-its-kind pilot program supporting the formation of an Islamic medical identity
A certificate of completion, discounted access to a suite of Islamic bioethics-related courses and workshops, and a signed copy of a book on Islam, bioethics, and medicine.
The opportunity to help shape a first-of-its-kind curriculum for future Muslim physicians
Tailored to parallel and enrich your medical school experience
Open to first- and second-year medical students.
Student Eligibility
Incoming first- or second-year student at an American medical school
Commitment Required
Sincere participation, attendance of at least 80% of sessions, and completion of pre/post assessments
Program Expectations
Participants should be prepared for light pre-reading, live attendance during monthly Zoom sessions, active participation, and completion of required surveys/pre/post assessments.
Apply by July 26th. Two things. That's it.
Deadline: July 26th, 12:00 am CST Apply Now
Course Facilitators: Dr. Aasim I. Padela & Sami Ahmad
Dr. Aasim Padela
Professor · Emergency Medicine, Bioethics & Medical Humanities
Founder, Board Member, Initiative on Islam & Medicine. Leading scholar in Islamic bioethics, Muslim physician identity, and medical professionalism — with extensive teaching experience at intersection of Islam and biomedicine.
Sami S. Ahmad
MD/PhD Researcher · Medical Humanities, Ethics & History of Medicine
Research background spans cancer immunology and the history of science, medicine, and technology — with current focus on virtue ethics in medical education informed by Greek and Islamic concepts of human flourishing.
Common questions answered.
No. The program is designed for students at the beginning of their formation journey. Curiosity and commitment matter more than prior knowledge. This is an introductory, exploratory course that invites students into a reflective journey of seeking knowledge and engaging questions related to Islam, medicine, and professional identity.
No. This is a live cohort-based formation program. Participants are expected to attend the monthly Zoom sessions live, complete light pre-reading, engage in discussion, and complete required surveys/pre/post assessments.
Pre-scheduled sessions meet once per month on Zoom for 2 hours. Optional in-person intensive sessions are being planned.
Both incoming MS1 and MS2 students at American medical schools are eligible to apply.
This medical education program is organized by the Initiative on Islam & Medicine and led by Dr. Aasim Padela and Sami S. Ahmad. Funding is provided by Interfaith America, with participant recruitment supported by the American Muslim Medical Student Association (AMMSA).
Adab is a rich concept in Islamic thought encompassing knowledge, moral character, virtue, and purposeful action. It provides the conceptual foundation for thinking about who a Muslim physician should be and how they should practice.
A project of the Initiative on Islam and Medicine
Partners: American Muslim Medical Student Association, Interfaith America, and others
Applications open · Deadline July 26th, 12:00 am CST· Limited cohort
MS1 & MS2 Medical Students.
