Menders of Heart in Chicago

Heart To Heart

By Dr. Muhammad Hafizullah

“Not Devon Street!” I protested on learning that Naeem Khan had invited us to a restaurant on Devon street; this was my third consecutive night at Devon street - as a matter of fact I had never had my dinner anywhere else but on Devon street since I landed in Chicago 72 hours earlier. But then in Chicago perhaps all streets lead to Devon Street. As evening sets in and rendezvous for dinner is being considered, some how or the other Devon Street and local eateries start figuring high on the list. So here we were in Usmania restaurant on Devon street - a part of  the avenue being named as M A Jinnah avenue due to special efforts of Pakistani community. The restaurant had two parts, on my previous visit, only the portion on right side was being used and on this visit the whole place was filled up to its brim. Though most customers were Pakistanis but a few Americans were savoring the taste of our local food. On the first visit we had Nihari, daal, seekh  kebab and special chicken. Though roti was not crispy and hot and the food was mediocre yet in spite of feeling sleepy due to the jet lag, I enjoyed the food.

Being Dr Naeem Khan's guest, dishes started pouring in. after a series of starters consisting of  Seekh Kebabs, chicken tikkas and Chapli kebabs - flatter and poorer version of shami kebab and having nothing in common with the Chapli kebab of Peshawar. We had Biryani, Nihari, lamb Ghosht and chicken. The whole family and staff working in the restaurant kept on bringing dishes -wanted and unwanted, ordered and not ordered! The guests were respectable office bearers of  APCNA - association of Pakistan descent Cardiologists of North America, who had gathered to attend the annual meeting of American College of Cardiology. Ravishing the memories of old times and planning for the future, the restaurant was echoing with their laughter and discussion. They enjoyed the food and this time roti was better and the food tasted better. Like last time the dessert was Kulfi and Falooda and nobody remembered that it was not good for heart. 

Annual APCNA meeting was scheduled in Hilton in the down town. The meeting was to start at 7 pm and Dr Arshad Rehan ensured that we are there, fifteen minutes earlier. The hotel was huge and the décor very impressive. All the members of executive committee - the soul and heart of the association, were there to welcome the guests with their lips adorned with smiles.  They are a bunch of very well meaning people who have taken upon themselves to improve the facilities for the poor. The spirit to serve the down trodden people of their native country keeps the candles of hope burning for a better future of the world. Everyone was being received with warmth and open arms. The meeting was blessed to have Arshad Jehangir, Tanveer Rab, Nazeem Afridi -the pride of world of Cardiology in USA. Starters and drinks were being served. Besides local delegates, the meeting was attended by the faculty of Pakistani cardiologists like Prof Shareyar Sheikh, Mohammad Sarwar with his two sons, Prof SM Rab besides many other who were attending the annual American College of Cardiology meeting being held at the end of March in Chicago

Dr Zulfiqar was the chairman of the meeting and had worked very hard to make this meeting successful.  He got the ball rolling by welcoming the local and international guests. He invited the president of the association Dr Rizwan  Karatela. who started with a slide show highlighting the activities of last five years, mainly emphasizing the last year achievements. It was beautifully orchestrated with music and revealed what 'thousand words' could not say! The pictures revealed that the association has become a vibrant body in only five years. This newly born association owes the rapid growth to the noble designs and aims, sincerity of purpose, untiring efforts of the executive committee and the enthusiastic support of all the members. The president of APCNA highlighted the achievements, remarkable being more than two million dollars donation for poor cardiac patients, more than 200 didactic cardiac lectures for faculty and students in various centres of Pakistan, and  nuclear and echocardiography workshops. APCNA has the credit of organizing coronary interventional, peripheral intervention and first IVUS workshops with live transmission. Rounds have been conducted by the faculty in all important cardiac centres of Pakistan. More importantly strong relationships have developed between all the important cardiac institutes and departments in Pakistan and APCNA.

The founder President Dr Javed Suleman was invited to the stage to present the background and highlight the aims and objectives of the association. He informed that starting from a few the association has more than 150 members including 50 life members. He expressed his satisfaction that the perceived objectives are being achieved and reiterated that a lot more could be achieved with continuous support of the members.

Dr Wajid Beg, the second president, dilated on the Pacemaker bank project. This took three years to mature and is being carried on successfully with the help of Rotarians in Karachi. The process is being expanded and similar banks are being established in Peshawar and Lahore. This bank will provide free pacemakers and newer devices like defibrillators to poor patients from all over Pakistan. All associated expenses are being born by Rotarians like traveling, admission charges and drugs. Where as the participating doctors and hospitals have agreed to provide free services. This is truly a life saving project with endless possibilities and potentials.

The chief guest and key note speaker for the occasion was Dr Robert O Bonow, Goldberg Distinguished Professor, the head of Cardiology department at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is author of around 350 papers and serves on the editorial boards of 11 medical journals. He is the immediate past president of American Heart Association. He started by surprising the audience revealing his long reared love for Pakistan. His father had traveled to Karachi in early sixties. With the help of multi media he expanded on the high prevalence of heart problems and risk factors in South East Asia. According to him the salvage lied in prevention and underscored the importance of quitting smoking, weight reduction and regular exercise. He impressed upon the concept and proved that it was cost effective and practical.

Ever smiling Dr Sultan Ahmed, the architect of the constitution of APCNA, took the podium and explained some proposed amendments to the constitution. He presented life long membership to Dr Bonow and later to me as a token of appreciation. As the meeting came to end visiting cards were exchanged, and new bonds of friendship were formed. The meeting was very well conducted and achieved the desirable goal of bringing all Pakistani cardiologists together on one forum. The annual meeting of APCNA has now become an integral part of the annual American College of Cardiology meetings and is recognized by American College of Cardiology.

An informal brainstorming meeting took place after the formal meeting in which the executive committee decided on the future line of action of the association. In this meeting new goals were defined and newer strategies were devised. Unconfirmed reports of a special Paratha dinner/breakfast session in wee hours of the next day, still remains the focus of intense research and speculation. The experience tells us that associations working for selfless causes with ingredients of sincerity and hard work always achieve their targeted goals. Good luck APCNA!