A 501c3 (not-for-profit)
proposed COM
FULL WEBSITE COMING SOON
Candidate Status – Seeking Accreditation
Current Job Openings
NCOM aspires to be a transformational institution of osteopathic medicine that educates, nurtures, and inspires tomorrow’s community of compassionate, structurally competent, and care-centered osteopathic physicians dedicated to serving patients and communities across society.
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The proposed NCOM is NOW SCHEDULED for its pre-accreditation site visit July 7-10, 2026
Dr. M.T. AliNiazee began the Rabia Institute for Medical Sciences (RIMS), a not-for-profit Illinois corporation, intending to start an osteopathic medical school in Illinois. The primary mission of this institute is to provide medical education to the growing number of ethnically and culturally diverse communities present in the Greater Chicago metropolitan area and across the tri-states of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. With an emphasis on small class sizes, a more focused one-on-one education, affordable costs, and easy access to admissions mechanisms, the Institute aspires to inculcate the broader principles of osteopathic medicine and its whole-person approach to human healing and integrative medicine as the basis for physical and mental health. The flagship institution of RIMS, the Niazee College of Osteopathic Medicine (NCOM), will be located in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Dr. AliNiazee is a world-renowned scientist, scholar, and author of over 150 research articles, books, and reviews. He brings over 55 years of teaching, research, and administrative experience to RIMS. Having retired from his position as a full, tenured Professor at Oregon State University in 2003, he has since been involved in developing institutions of higher education focused on the health sciences, including his role as Founding President of Northwest Suburban College of Basic and Allied Health Sciences, which he founded in 2008.
A passionate healthcare educationalist and a deeply concerned citizen regarding the state of our healthcare system and the resulting socioeconomic ramifications, Dr. AliNiazee founded RIMS in 2023 to undertake the establishment of NCOM with both teaching and health sciences research portfolios.
An international CEO, ‘Intervention Business Strategist’ and M&A specialist with 35+ years of business and legal leadership experience, Mr. Irfan is a seasoned business executive and trusted strategic advisor for global private/public companies, NGOs and CEOs.
As a global CEO, he effectively led a group of IT, Smart Analytics, BI, Positional Intelligence and Ed-Tech MNCs in the Unithed States, Europe, GCC and Asia through strategic acquisitions, divestments, alliances, financings, turnarounds and growth/profitability plans. As Director, Chair of Compensation & Audit Committees & Strategic Advisor for Hi-Tech NASDAQ businesses he guided companies through complex M&A and SPAC deals involving Private/Institutional Capital-raising and Debt/Assets restructuring.
As Director & Audit Committee Chair for a NASDAQ-listed aerospace company in ground-breaking VTOL technology, he covered SEC-mandated oversight of Accounting/Financial reporting & Legal/Regulatory Compliance.
As Member/Advisor on Boards & Advisory Councils of international universities & NGOs, he offers strategic leadership and guidance on M&A, JVs and Higher-Ed Accreditation, Compliance and Board Governance complexities.
As Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer for NCOM, he drives strategic initiatives for establishment, accreditation, alliances and growth for this enterprising new US College of Osteopathic Medicine. His prior service includes: Global CEO for Cranes Software; Chief Strategy Officer and GC for CSIL; a General Counsel for Paris-based Schneider Electric; Chief IT Counsel for Square D Co.; and IP law/litigation and strategic protection/monetizing of patent/TM portfolios at two US-based global law firms.
An internationally recognized Inter-Faith leader, Mr. Irfan is Co-Chair (with H.E. Archbishop Cardinal Cupich of Chicago) of the National Catholic-Muslim Dialog (USA) and active on the FBI’s Community Engagement Council. He was Co-Chair of the Muslim-American Advisory Council for the Governor of Illinois; Vice President and Interim President of Islamic Society of North America; President of Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago; and Chair of Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. Mr. Irfan led global peace-building, inter-religious & cross-cultural delegations and advised NGOs, Governments, and Law Enforcement Agencies on nurturing peace and multi-faith relationships and collaborative social service programs in the United States, North America, Vatican, Europe, South Africa and Mid-East (incl. GCC, Balkans, Japan, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Thailand, Turkey & Ukraine).
Mr. Irfan speaks frequently on business strategy, corporate culture and leadership development, and has delivered commencement keynotes, invocations & faith/cultural sensitivity training/talks for International Universities, City Councils, Fortune 500 Companies, FBI/CIA/Police Departments and Global Forums (including Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue). He has featured on global media like CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, NPR, BBC, TIME, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Der Spiegel. His honors include the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (U.S. Department of Justice); Excellence in Civic Leadership Award (City of Chicago); and the Historic Inter-Faith Leadership Award (CRLMC).
Mr. Irfan has a B.S. in Electronics Engineering, a M.S. in Computer Engineering (University of Illinois), a J.D. from DePaul University, and International Business Management Certifications.
Dr. K. Scott Whitlow, DO, FAAEM, is the Founding Dean and Chief Academic Officer (CAO) of NCOM. He is a full Professor of Emergency Medicine and most recently served as the Senior Associate Dean and Chief Academic Integrity Officer at Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM). Dr. Whitlow joined TUCOM seven years ago, initially as a Clinical Professor and Regional Assistant Dean, while also serving as the Designated Institutional Official (DIO), Director of Academic Affairs, and core faculty in Emergency Medicine with Dignity Health in northern CA. In this role, he supported, engaged, and developed Undergraduate and Graduate Medical Education programs, including residencies and fellowships that continue to grow and expand.
Prior to his tenure in Northern California, Dr. Whitlow held multiple academic positions, including:
Dr. Whitlow has also served as the managing partner and medical director of a private democratic group, Chief of Emergency Medicine at two community hospitals, a founding member of a Medicare Advantage Plan Clinical Advisory Committee, a long-standing member of a health system medical executive committee, the chair of two hospitals’ pharmacy and therapeutics committees, and a medical director within a large national multi-specialty group. He has held leadership roles on numerous hospital, health system, professional organization, and university committees. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of California (OPSC), where he serves as Vice President, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM), and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM).
Dr. Whitlow is residency-trained in Emergency Medicine, fellowship-trained in Medical Toxicology, and board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM), and the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS). Dr. Whitlow is a founding member of the CalMedForce Advisory Committee, the California Wellness Foundation Antiracism in Medical Education work group, an oral board examiner for ABEM, and a member of the AOA Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine. Throughout his career, he has been a staunch advocate for Osteopathic Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and both undergraduate and graduate medical education, with a focus on improving healthcare in underserved areas.
In his free time, Dr. Whitlow is a sport horse breeder and equestrian, as well as a companion animal and hobby farm enthusiast.
Kathryn Valentine has over 25 years of experience in financial operations management, budgeting, and financial projections, with extensive expertise in strategic planning. Her skill set includes long-range financial goals and strategies, risk mitigation, and compliance.
Under Maryland College of Osteopathic Medicine (MDCOM) (Proposed), she worked on the proposed budget proforma from startup to scaleup and continuing operations. Ms. Valentine established a budget for personnel with a hiring plan to meet pre-accreditation requirements and timeline. She maintained all position descriptions for human resources and the hiring plan while ensuring effective management of procurement processes and asset inventories, in collaboration with IT management and resources. As a member of the Executive Team, she communicated with senior leadership on budgeting and finances. She was responsible for ensuring financial records and reports were prepared in accordance with applicable accreditation parties, State, and Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). Ms. Valentine also prepared policies and procedures to ensure internal control for purchasing, accounting, financial reporting, and hiring.
As the Budget Officer for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) at the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), she oversees the annual operating budget of approximately $400M and $1B in capital projects. She was instrumental in processing GARVEE Bonds for the new Frederick Douglass/South Capital Bridge and manages the Office of Assurance and Compliance (DOACD).
Ms. Valentine earned her Master of Science with a major in Accounting and Information Systems from the University of Maryland University College, Project Management Professional Certificate (PMP), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). She is also an Accounting Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus.
The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Gail Feinberg, DO, M.Ed., FACOFP (dist.), is a full Professor of family medicine, and served most recently as the Associate Dean of Preclinical Medicine for the Proposed Maryland College of Osteopathic Medicine. In that capacity, she served as primary point for COCA pre-accreditation application as well as the Maryland Higher Education Commission contact. Prior to this, she worked at Touro University, California as Chair of Primary Care where she was responsible for a department of 16 clinical faculty and their curricular delivery, as well as liaison between Touro and the faculty practice site in Vallejo, California. She has worked as faculty and Regional Associate Dean at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine between 2002 and 2012, as well as Program Director and Director of Medical Education for a Family Medicine Residency/Internship program in Ashland, Kentucky from 2000 to 2012, bringing the program from probation (under the prior PD/DME) to two consecutive 5 year accreditations. She has served in multiple academic positions in addition to clinical faculty/adjunct faculty to Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pikesville University College of Osteopathic Medicine (where she initially served on the original board of advisors), Marshall University School of Medicine, Marshall University School of Nursing, Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine (in New Jersey). Prior to the Residency Directorship, she served as a clinical physician, then Medical Director (for over 10 years) at Ironton/Lawrence County Community Action Organization, which ran an FQHC in Lawrence County, Ohio.
She is actively involved with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practitioners (where she is a distinguished fellow), through committee involvement, licensing board examiner and question writer, and their political arm (house of delegates for over 35 years).
In her free time, she enjoys reading, sewing, knitting and crocheting clothing for her grandchildren, and baking.
Howard Feinberg is a 1984 graduate of The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, CA (now Western University). After graduation, he did an osteopathic internship at Botsford General Hospital in Farmington Hills, MI, followed by an internal medicine residency at Metropolitan Hospital in Philadelphia and a Rheumatology fellowship at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. After completing his medical training he founded the Ashland Arthritis Center in Ashland, KY, dedicated to patient care, research and teaching. Dr. Feinberg and this center developed a reputation for quality care and research accomplishments benefiting his patients and the field of Rheumatology.
Dr. Feinberg’s academic career spans several decades. He has taught rheumatology as a visiting professor, on a regular basis, for several medical schools and is a regular lecturer at the ACOI internal medicine board review course. In 1995, Dr. Feinberg helped develop the Pikeville College of Osteopathic Medicine, serving as its Dean from the applicant status through the attainment of provisional accreditation. Over the past 10 years he has served as the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Program Development for Touro University California and as the Associate Dean for Clinical Education at the proposed Maryland College of Osteopathic Medicine at Morgan State University. He is now the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs of the proposed Niazee College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Feinberg has also taught internal medicine, rheumatology and health policy to medical students, residents and physicians throughout his career. He has won multiple teaching awards and community service awards for this work during his career.
Nathalie Garcia-Russell, PhD, is Assistant Dean for Clinical Education at Niazee College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is an experienced medical educator and academic leader with more than two decades of experience in osteopathic medical education, curriculum development, and academic administration. Her work has focused on clinical education program development, accreditation compliance, faculty development, and student mentorship.
Prior to joining NCOM, Dr. Garcia-Russell held faculty and leadership roles at Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine. She served for over a decade as Assistant Dean for Clinical Education, overseeing the clinical education program, including student clinical rotations, clinical site development, accreditation compliance, and monitoring student progress toward graduation. Earlier in her career, she was Associate Professor in the Basic Sciences Department, where she taught medical microbiology, served as course director in the preclinical curriculum, mentored medical and graduate students, and conducted research while contributing to institutional initiatives related to curriculum development and student advancement.
Dr. Garcia-Russell earned her PhD in Biology from Université Paris XIII in France and completed postdoctoral training in microbial genetics at San Diego State University. She has presented and published scholarly work related to medical education and clinical training outcomes.
Dr. Siddiqui brings to the Chair of Foundational Sciences role at Niazee College of Osteopathic Medicine more than four decades of continuous engagement with the foundational disciplines — molecular biology, genetics, cell physiology, and biochemistry — that underpin modern osteopathic medical education. His career has been defined by the conviction that biomedical sciences are most meaningful when they serve the patients who need it most, and that the best medical education is one that grounds clinical practice in foundational mechanistic understanding from the first day of training.
He has taught molecular biology, cell biology, physiology, and genetics at the undergraduate, professional, and graduate levels while simultaneously publishing in the areas of kinesin motor biology, pulmonary endothelial physiology, sarcoidosis genomics, and cancer genetics. This integration of active research with teaching reflects his belief that osteopathic medical students are best served by faculty who remain intellectually alive in their disciplines and who can connect foundational science directly to the clinical problems those students will encounter.
He has applied the foundational principles of molecular genetics, cell physiology, and population genomics to build three patent-pending AI/ML precision medicine platforms addressing sarcoidosis health disparities, pediatric ciliopathy genomics, and acute lung injury. This translational work gives him a distinctive perspective on how foundational science connects to clinical practice and health equity — perspectives he is committed to bringing into the NCOM classroom and curriculum development process.
His approach to teaching foundational sciences in an osteopathic medical context is grounded in three important principles inherent to the goals of NCOM. First, mechanistic understanding precedes clinical application: students who understand why a physiological process functions as it does are equipped to reason through clinical exceptions, rather than merely memorize protocols. Second, health equity is foundational science: the racial disparities in sarcoidosis, ARDS, and rare disease outcomes that motivate his research are not social science footnotes — they are mechanistically grounded in molecular genetics, endothelial physiology, and pharmacogenomics, and should be taught as such from Year 1. Third, active research informs active teaching: students in courses should encounter real, unresolved scientific questions — not only settled textbook knowledge.
As Chair of Foundational Sciences at NCOM, Dr. Siddiqui will bring a curriculum design philosophy shaped by four decades of active research and experience across the disciplines foundational to osteopathic medical education: biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, cell physiology, pharmacology, and anatomy. He expects to serve on the curriculum committee, as a leader, and as faculty to assist in:
He is a member of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), Society for Developmental Biology, Scientific Council, Pharmatica. His considerable scientific contributions span five interconnected domains over four decades of continuous research: (1) kinesin motor biology and ciliary signaling in model organisms; (2) pulmonary endothelial physiology and vascular barrier biology; (3) sarcoidosis genomics and racial health disparities; (4) cancer genetics using C. elegans as a translational model; and (5) AI/ML-driven precision diagnostics and genomic medicine platforms. These domains are not sequential chapters of a career — they are a converging synthesis, culminating in three patent-pending platforms that translate foundational molecular science into clinically deployable precision medicine tools.
Dr. Ali Moradi is an accomplished academic medicine leader with more than two decades of experience in medical education, student affairs, and institutional leadership. As Associate Dean of Student Affairs & Enrollment Services, Dr. Moradi provides strategic leadership for admissions, recruitment, enrollment management, student success initiatives, academic advising, career development, wellness services, financial aid collaboration, professionalism programs, and student support services. He oversees the student experience from recruitment and admissions through graduation and residency placement, ensuring that students receive the resources, mentorship, and guidance necessary to achieve their academic and professional goals.
Dr. Moradi has held numerous senior leadership positions at medical schools and health sciences institutions, including Dean of the School of Health Sciences, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, Associate Dean of Clinical Simulation, and Curriculum development, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions, and Assistant Dean of Clinical Integration, and Director of Primary Care Skills. His leadership experience spans undergraduate medical education, student affairs, admissions, curriculum development, simulation-based, and problem based (PBL) education, accreditation compliance, faculty advancement, and regional campus development.
A dedicated advocate for student-centered education, Dr. Moradi has led initiatives that transformed and enhanced student support systems, strengthened academic advising, improved student retention and progression, and expanded wellness and professional career development programs.
Dr. Moradi brings a unique blend of medical, public health, and global health expertise to academic medicine. He earned his Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Global Public Health Practice from the University of South Florida, his Master of Public Health (MPH) and Tropical Medicine training from the renowned Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from Spartan Health Sciences University. His educational journey reflects a lifelong commitment to improving health outcomes through physician education, preventive medicine, population health, and service to diverse communities.
Nationally, Dr. Moradi has been recognized for his contributions to medical education through leadership roles with the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), for all levels of COMLEX examinations, the Senior Leadership development (SLDP) American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), and the National Fellow of Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators (FNAOME).
Personal Interests: Dr. Moradi enjoys soccer, hiking, travel, music, and cultural activities. He values opportunities to explore diverse cultures, community engagement activities that promote cross-cultural understanding and lifelong learning.
Dr. James M. Wilson, DO, FACP, FAWM, CTropMed® is the inaugural Chair of Clinical Sciences and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Niazee College of Osteopathic Medicine (NCOM), where he leads the development of the Department of Clinical Sciences designed to ensure an clinically integrated, technologically forward, and osteopathically oriented pre-clinical curriculum to ensure NCOM graduates osteopathic physicians that are residency-ready upon graduation.
Dr. Wilson completed his Internal Medicine residency at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, fellowship training in Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine at Rush University Medical Center and Cook County Health, where he also served as Chair of the Resident Committee on the Rush Environment (RES-CORE). He holds board certification from both the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine (AOBIM). He continues to maintain active clinical practice as an intensivist and infectious diseases consultant.
Prior to fellowship training, Dr. Wilson served as a United States Navy Flight Surgeon, completing training at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI) and serving as Medical Department Head for units across Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Japan. He served as ADVON medical lead for humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations, including typhoon relief in the Philippines. He developed and implemented pre-deployment medical training curricula for corpsmen and flight surgeons that earned multiple commendations and were adopted across the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
His osteopathic training has remained central to his educational philosophy and clinical practice throughout. Whether managing a complex ICU patient or caring for young sailors and Marines with musculoskeletal injuries, Dr. Wilson has consistently integrated osteopathic manipulative medicine as a meaningful complement to advanced medical and post-surgical care — not as an adjunct, but as a core clinical tool grounded in the body’s capacity to heal.
In academic medicine, Dr. Wilson has held teaching roles at Rush Medical College and Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine California (TUCOM-CA), contributing to preclinical and clinical education through case-based learning, simulation, procedural training, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) instruction. He holds the Medical Education Research Certification (MERC) from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). His educational interests include flipped-classroom models, competency-based assessment, early clinical exposure, and longitudinal curricula that bridge foundational science with clinical reasoning.
Dr. Wilson is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) and holds additional credentials in wilderness medicine (FAWM), tropical medicine (CTropMed®, through the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene), and trauma education as an Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Instructor. He is an active researcher and author of peer-reviewed and periodical publications spanning infectious diseases, critical care, and medical education, with ongoing work through Contagion, JAMA Network Open, and collaborative Wiki Guidelines initiatives.
Dr. Richard Geshel is the inaugural Section Chief of Osteopathic Principles and Practice at NCOM. He joins NCOM with nearly a decade of academic teaching and leadership experience in Osteopathic Medicine. He is a graduate of Northern Arizona University holding both a BS in Zoology and BA in History. He graduated from the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine where the tinder of curiosity sparked a conflagration within to study Osteopathic Medicine in all forms. Following his military service obligation, he completed his residency training in Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine at Michigan State University.
Dr. Geshel’s passions culminated in attaining his Board Certification in Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, giving him a unique perspective on the inner workings of the human body. Under the umbrella of ‘Osteopathy’, Dr. Geshel primarily utilizes Still Technique to the betterment of his patients.
Although Dr. Geshel hails from Phoenix, Arizona; he comes to us after a successful tenure at a new Osteopathic Medical School start-up in Maryland (where he served as Interim Chair of OMM), his second Inaugural school start. He comes to us with a breadth of experience from his years of service in both the Army and Navy, as well as his previous appointments in academia and operation of his own medical practice. Being from the Valley of the Sun, Dr. Geshel enjoys the sun… and all it offers: warmth, light, the outdoors, traveling and adventures. He also enjoys pretty much all things Science Fiction… if it has ‘Star’ in the name, he’s a fan. In his spare time, aside from writing, he enjoys time with his three children, two dogs, and building Legos.
Dr. Mateen K. AliNiazee, MD, has served on the Corporate Board of Northwest Suburban College since its inception in 2009, where he currently sits as the Vice President. He has also served on the Board of Regents in a leadership capacity since 2011.
Dr. AliNiazee is a board-certified cataract and corneal refractive surgeon at the Kovach Eye Institute, with five offices throughout the Chicagoland Suburbs. He has been serving as the medical director of the Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Illinois since 2021, where he is the head of the medical policy-making committee and peer review committees within the Surgery Center. He is the head policymaker for anesthesia services at the Surgery Center and is extensively involved with AAAHC accreditation and Illinois Department of Public Health licensure and accreditation.
Dr. Mateen has delivered lectures at the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Cataract Refractive Surgeons Annual Meetings and has conducted numerous post- market research studies with different pharmaceutical companies. He has been deeply involved in helping grow and expand the Surgery Center and Eye Institute, where he has managed patients for the last ten years. He has delivered numerous CE lectures to eye care providers about new technologies and surgical techniques once a quarter. A pioneer in the field of ophthalmology, he has been one of only a handful of surgeons certified on all four Femtosecond laser platforms currently in use for cataract surgery and has participated in research as to the effectiveness of different advanced technology intraocular lens implants along with methods of optimizing the ocular surface before cataract and refractive surgery.
Before practicing ophthalmology in the Chicagoland area, Dr AliNiazee was in private practice in California and Illinois, where he held leadership positions in hospitals and healthcare organizations. He continues volunteering with local non-profit organizations in Illinois and nationally.
Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee is a distinguished osteopathic physician and academic, renowned for her contributions to medical education and healthcare policy. Born on June 1, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, she is the eldest of six children, including her famous sister, singer Diana Ross.
Dr. Ross-Lee earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry from Wayne State University in 1965. She later attended Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in 1973. She began her career in private practice in Detroit, where she ran a solo family practice until 1984.
In 1993, Dr. Ross-Lee made history as the first African American woman to be appointed dean of a U.S. medical school, serving at Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. She has also held significant positions at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and both the proposed Minnesota and Maryland Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.
Throughout her career, Dr. Ross-Lee has been actively involved in healthcare policy and education. She served as a consultant on education in the health professions for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and participated in the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship. She has also been a community representative on the Governor’s Minority Health Advisory Committee for the state of Michigan.
Dr. Ross-Lee has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including recognition for her efforts to improve healthcare access and education for underrepresented communities. Her dedication to advancing the field of osteopathic medicine and her contributions to healthcare policy have made her a highly respected figure in the medical community.
Dr. Naveed Syed Iqbal is an esteemed cardiologist specializing in advanced interventional cardiology, currently affiliated with Loyola Medicine in Chicago. He has extensive experience in treating cardiovascular diseases.
Dr. Iqbal earned his medical degree from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine in 2004. He completed his residency at Wright State University in 2008, followed by fellowships at Marshall University and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, specializing in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular disease.
He is board-certified in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Iqbal is known for his expertise in performing cardiac catheterizations and percutaneous interventions, often using the radial approach (wrist) for these procedures.
Dr. Iqbal practices at multiple locations, including Loyola Medicine MacNeal Hospital and Heart Care Centers of Illinois. His dedication to patient care and his contributions to the field of cardiology make him a highly respected figure in his specialty.
Dr. Iqbal has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career, including the Barrett H. Bolton Humanism Award for his dedication to the well-being of patients and their families during his residency at Wright State University.
He was also recognized as one of America’s Most Honored Doctors in 2020 and as a Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor in 2019.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Iqbal is actively involved in community service and has made significant contributions to underprivileged communities. He has participated in medical missions to provide free cardiovascular care to underserved populations. Dr. Iqbal also serves on several boards, including the American Heart Association’s local chapter, where he advocates for heart health awareness and education.
Dr. Naser M. Khan is a renowned Interventional Gastroenterologist with extensive experience, having performed over 25,000 endoscopic procedures. He earned his medical degree from Deccan College of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad, India, followed by an Internal Medicine Residency and Gastroenterology Fellowship at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. He then completed an advanced Interventional Gastroenterology Fellowship at Aurora St. Luke’s Pancreaticobiliary Center in Milwaukee, WI.
Dr. Khan serves as the System Medical Director and Section Chief for Gastroenterology at Mercyhealth Wisconsin and Illinois. He is also the Associate Designated Institutional Official for the Mercyhealth Graduate Medical Education Consortium, where he is deeply committed to educating and mentoring the next generation of physicians.
Currently, Dr. Khan is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He previously served on the university’s statewide College Executive Committee for two years and continues to support medical students as a Professionalism House Advisor on the Rockford campus.
With a special interest in healthcare economics, Dr. Khan is an active member of the Health and Public Policy Committee of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. In this role, he regularly advises U.S. lawmakers in the House of Representatives and Senate on policies to improve access to digestive healthcare.
Marie Newman is a former congresswoman, nonprofit CEO, marketing executive, author of A Life Made from Scratch and When Your Child Is Being Bullied: Real Solutions, antibullying activist, former Moms Demand Action spokesperson, healthcare equity expert and national LGBTQ+ advocate. In addition to those roles, she is a mother of two adult children, a consultant and a podcaster. Marie Newman is known for building movements and solving the toughest problems. Marie’s next book, her memoir, A Life Made from Scratch, was released in April of 2025. Her motto has always been, “when you do not see the solution you desperately need, make it from scratch!”
Marie has been frequently interviewed on MSNBC, CNN, Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS over the last decade for her congressional work and prior to that, her activism. She has also been interviewed by The New York Times, Elle Magazine, Teen Vogue, Ms. Magazine, The New Yorker, Washington Post, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times and many other national publications. She has penned multiple Op-eds on important topics regarding healthcare, economic equity and immigration over the last several years. Newman is a sought-after speaker by national organizations and universities on women’s rights, gun reform, healthcare organizations, LGBTQ+ rights and economic equity across the nation. She lives in Lagrange, Illinois with her husband and beagle, Iggy. Marie is working on a new novel, a work of fiction, likely to be released in 2026 and a new podcast launching in 2025.
Dr. Osman Z. Abbasi is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and healthcare executive. He earned his medical degree from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at Lehigh Valley Health Network, where he served as Chief Resident.
Dr. Abbasi is a partner at Vituity, the nation’s largest physician-owned acute care organization, and currently serves as Associate Vice President of Operations, overseeing more than 80 emergency departments across the Midwest and East Coast. He also holds academic appointments as Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and with Indiana State University’s Physician Assistant program.
The American Osteopathic Association, or AOA, defines osteopathic medicine as a complete system of medical care with a philosophy that combines the needs of the patient with the current practice of medicine, surgery and obstetrics; that emphasizes the concept of body unity, the interrelationship between structure and function; and that has an appreciation of the body’s ability to heal itself.
A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or DO, is an osteopathic physician who has graduated from a COCA-accredited institution and is a fully qualified physician, educated within the context of a distinct patient-centered, health-oriented philosophy, trained to combine specialized diagnostic and therapeutic hands-on skills, also known as Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, with the latest advances in the science and practice of medicine to offer comprehensive healthcare to patients.