Hamdard CEO announces retirement from organization he founded in 1992
Hamdard Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mohammad Hamid, the pioneering leader and co-founder of the nonprofit organization, announced that he will retire at the end of 2019 after serving the community tirelessly for the past 27 years.
Under Dr. Hamid's leadership, Hamdard grew from an idea among like-minded health professionals to a well-recognized and highly respected federally qualified health center that is a beacon of hope in the community, which helps to serve vulnerable populations.
"The decision to take a step back from Hamdard was an incredibly difficult one for me," noted Dr. Mohammad Hamid. "It has been the greatest blessing of my life to help lead and shape this amazing organization in order to ensure that those least able to afford care have access to high-quality health care and mental health services. Hamdard has accomplished so much over the last quarter-century, giving immigrants, refugees, and community members a welcoming environment to improve their health. I believe now is the right time for me to step away and allow for new leadership that will inspire the next generation of innovation for Hamdard."
Along with his late wife, Dr. Farzana Hamid, the Hamid family started People's Alliance for Progress in 1992, later Hamdard Healthcare, as a proactive response to the critical mental health needs of the South Asian and Bosnian immigrant and refugee communities calling the Chicago area home.
Around a mission "to promote physical and emotional health and psychological well-being of individuals and families by offering hope, help, and healing," Hamdard opened its doors with open arms to those seeking help and hasn't looked back since.
"Dr. Hamid has been the driving force behind modeling Hamdard as the beacon of hope and healing it is today in the community," said Kiran Siddiqui, Hamdard chief operating officer. "His leadership and vision have been instrumental in making sure everyone, no matter what language they speak or part of the world they came from, has access to safe, quality, affordable health care and mental health services."
Hamdard Healthcare will be throwing a card shower for Dr. Mohammad Hamid in recognition of his years of service for the organization. Cards may be mailed to Hamdard at 228 E. Lake St., Addison, IL 60101 to the attention of Brandon Pettigrew, Director of Strategy, or dropped off during regular business hours at the Chicago or Addison clinic locations.
Hamdard Healthcare is a Federally Qualified Health Center that leads the Chicago, northern Cook, and DuPage County region in community health care by providing culturally-tailored and multilingual services and programs, including primary health care, counseling, psychiatry, domestic violence prevention, senior services, and health insurance navigation to those in need. Since 1992, Hamdard's mission has been "to promote the physical and emotional health and psychological well-being of individuals and families by offering hope, help, and healing."
That commitment guided the delivery of these services to more than 3,000 community members in FY19. Find out how to volunteer, donate, and get involved at www.HamdardCenter.org and follow the center on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Hamdard Healthcare is a member of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association.