UCI School of Medicine Recognizes Middle Eastern and North African Heritage Month 2024

This month, we proudly commemorate Middle Eastern and North African Heritage Month.

Last month, NPR reported that the White House’s Office of Management and Budget has announced that the 2030 U.S. Census will offer a response option of Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) under a revised question regarding “race and/or ethnicity.” This means that 20+ ethnic groups including Arab, Egyptian, Iranian, Israeli, Lebanese, Moroccan and Syrian, heretofore designated as White by the U.S. government, will now have the option to choose a racial/ethnic designation that may more closely align with their lived realities in the United States.

Of the estimated 3.5 million people who identify as MENA, one-fifth live in California, with Iranian, Lebanese and Egyptian among the most represented MENA ethnic groups in our state. We look forward to a new historical moment where institutional data collection will enrich our educational, clinical, research and administrative endeavors. All the while, we commemorate Middle Eastern and North African Heritage Month 2024 with gratitude for the members of our community who have dedicated their passion and expertise in service of the health and well-being of the MENA community.

Mehdi Abouzari, MD, PhD

Dr. Abouzari, assistant professor and wellness officer in the Department of Otolaryngology, has been recognized by colleagues for his mentorship of diverse individuals across the medical education continuum, including undergraduates, medical students, residents, postdoctoral fellows, research coordinators and junior specialists.

DR. Abouzari's Profile

Ghalia Azouz

Ghalia Azouz, research technician in the Beier Laboratory, began college at age 16, dedicating much of her extracurricular time to mentorship, all the while developing an outstanding research and academic record. The daughter of Tunisian Muslim immigrants, Ms. Azouz describes the significance of her community as an extended family. 

 Ghalia Azouz's Profile

Alliya Qazi, MD

Dr. Qazi, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Surgery, is a shining example of how diversity, equity and inclusion thrive when we can reach out and collaborate with others for the ultimate benefit of communities outside our own.

DR. Qazi's Profile 

These and numerous other colleagues throughout the School of Medicine exemplify a holistic commitment to our school’s mission to Discover. Teach. Heal. We applaud all those who strive to apply their academic training and professional expertise to address the areas of opportunity that exist in our communities, and build upon the knowledge that our communities contribute to our understanding of medicine and the health sciences.

Moving forward, it is part of our mission as an institution of higher education to not only do our part to record the diverse history of our School of Medicine community, but to further support and amplify individuals and programs that offer opportunities for all people to engage with history to fulfill our mission: Discover. Teach. Heal.