By Dr Emma Wiley, microbiology registrar

Interviews can often be daunting as you prepare to present the best version of yourself in both a professional and personal capacity. The more you want the vacancy, the more stressful things can become. It’s always important to take a step back,

By Dr Lubna Salim, GP

وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْإِنْسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for (Surah An-Najm 53:39). It is interesting to note that Allah says that man shall have in accordance to his efforts rather than just his actions.

The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) is compelled to add its voice to the growing body of concern regarding the prosecution and erasure of Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba, following the tragic death of Jack Adcock in 2011.

We extend our heartfelt sympathies to Jack’s parents who have suffered an unimaginable loss and we respect the legal process and the General Medical Council’s (GMC) role in protecting the public.

An article this month in the journal Developing World Bioethics argues against the prohibition of surrogacy by many Islamic scholars, challenging the arguments against surrogacy which include concerns over gene mixing and the involvement of a third party.

Read “Reexamining the Prohibition of Gestational Surrogacy in Sunni Islam” here

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A study in the journal Religions exploring the problem of OCD washing subtype (repeating Wudu several times) suggests an increase in awareness by Imams of OCD symptoms and signposting for professional psychiatric help,

1. In preparation for Lifesavers 2017, regional training days were held in 8 locations around the country, with an attendance of over 120 mosque leads & volunteers. More on the list of 60+ mosques involved in delivering Lifesavers involved here.

2. BIMA East Midlands held a well-received social in Leicester, giving local Muslim healthcare professionals a chance to network and enjoy some fantastic Turkish food.

Firstly this month, a study in the Journal of Religion and Health identifies the different trust issues among American Muslims regarding their attitudes and behaviours towards healthcare, which could help healthcare professionals (and others involved in designing health intervention programs) gain the trust of the Muslim patient population.

Read “The Types of Trust Involved in American Muslim Healthcare Decisions”

1. Shaykh Dr. Rafaqat Rashid hosted a Ramadan webinar discussing the medical and spiritual benefits of Ramadan, while Mufti Abdur-Rahman Mangera hosted another webinar later in Ramadan on maximising one’s time in Ramadan.

2. Our team in the North East hosted an iftaar in Newcastle. Attendees had the opportunity to network with fellow Muslim healthcare professionals and students,

The highly successful ‘BIMA F1 induction’ event is back! This year, our events will take place on Saturday 22 July from 11am – 3.30pm in the Midlands, London, North West and South West!

Delivered by current foundation doctors who have excelled through training, this is a must for all newly-qualified doctors about to start work this August.

Firstly this month, a study published in the BMJ Open Diabetes explored the behaviour of patients with type 2 diabetes that chose to fast during Ramadan.

Through a series of interviews, the research team in Malaysia found that, among the sample of 53 patients studied, only one patient consulted a doctor before implementing a drug regimen change,

In preparation for Ramadan, our teams across the UK held Safer Ramadan sessions to improve the general public’s understanding on fasting in Ramadan with diabetes. This was an opportunity for attendees to take part in an interactive discussions on this important condition just before Ramadan.

14 sessions were held in the North West, 4 sessions in the East Midlands,

In collaboration with

The Ramadan Initiative is one of BIMA’s many successful community projects.

The project’s aim is to increase awareness amongst healthcare professionals on safe and effective prescribing for Muslim patients who fast during Ramadan.

Our team of consultants, GPs and pharmacists have developed Powerpoint presentations (for hospital or GP settings) for teachers to deliver across the whole country in the weeks leading up to and during Ramadan.

1. The North West region hosted a health fair at the UKIM Khizra Masjid. Over 500 people attended to check out 25 stalls including: free health checks, information from local CCGs, stalls from Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, and the local hospital palliative team, the “Eye Pod” from RNIB, and various health care professionals who volunteered their time to help the community.

Firstly this month, the first study on the feasiblity of a physical activity intervention in a mosque-based setting was published in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health this month.

The intervention, which included aerobic as well as strength training activities, targeted South Asian Muslim women (with a mean age of 51 years old) at the risk of diabetes,