Today, we’re shining a light on Tarek Elgammal, one of our Humber River Hospital Foundation Board Members. Tarek has been a part of the Foundation Board of Directors since June 2020.

“I’m proud to be on a Board that embraces diversity and strives to appeal to the needs of the community that it serves,” Tarek said. “The Muslim community has been very active in supporting the Hospital in different ways and I believe that part of my responsibility is to promote that voice.”

Looking Ahead

Tarek with Sandra Sualim, Foundation President & CEO, and Islamic Relief Canada at their signage unveiling.

Being part of the Foundation Board of Directors, Tarek hopes to bring more organizations on board to partner with Humber, such as Islamic Relief Canada or individual ambassadors that are prepared to help support the Hospital and raise awareness.

In order to do that, Tarek is really looking forward to engaging with the community in-person again and continuing to shine a light on the key funding opportunities that the Hospital needs.

“People are often surprised to find out that hospitals in Canada are not fully funded by the government and that they rely on the support of their donor base. Donors usually gravitate to a particular area of care and our job as a Board is to help make those connections.”

He adds that hosting in-person events can provide the community and donors an opportunity to see firsthand where they can make an impact and ask questions.

“Robotics surgery is one of my favourites, but there are so many great areas of care. Last year we did a Ramadan campaign for the Patient Comfort Fund, this year it’s the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).”

Ramadan 2022 Campaign for the NICU

This month’s Ramadan campaign focuses on raising funds for the NICU.

With that being said, this month’s Ramadan campaign focuses on raising funds for the NICU. Tarek says this is because it is a priority need in the Hospital that the Muslim community has always been connected to and very much wanted to continue to support and invest in.

“As a father myself, I can say that having a child is simultaneously the most exciting and scary event in life. The big question is always “boy or girl?”, but I think every parent knows the answer is: a healthy child,” he said. “The focus on the NICU is a tribute to every parent that has ever needed this service and ensuring that our Hospital can provide the best possible care.”

Message to the Humber Community

Now that Ramadan is coming to an end, Tarek said this month has been a time to self-reflect and to recenter our spiritual selves. He believes that there’s a great connection with Humber River Hospital.

“This is a special place because as Muslims we believe that there are specific blessings for the person who saves a life, to the person who cares for the less fortunate and the one that visits the sick. We can all play a role. If you would like to do more, then please reach out to any member of our team at the Foundation. In the meantime, remember the teaching that even a smile is an act of charity. Wishing you all an early Eid Mubarak!”

Our team at Humber River Hospital Foundation wish you and your loved ones a blessed Ramadan.

This month, we are bringing our community together to once again make an impact at Humber River Hospital, this time for the smallest babies and their families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Please click to make a donation.

Thank you and Ramadan Mubarak!

The post Interview with Tarek Elgammal appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Today, we’re shining a light on Aisha Piperdi, a Cytotechnologist at Humber River Hospital who has been working in the Pathology Lab for almost six years. We’re also shining a light on Dr. Danish Khan, an Emergency Physician at our Apotex Emergency Department (ED) and has been working in the ED since 2014.

Aisha Piperdi

Aisha Piperdi is a Cytotechnologist at Humber River Hospital.

As a Cytotechnologist, Aisha processes the sample under the microscope from the patient then assists in making the diagnosis at the cellular level.

“In turn, it helps the physician to come up with the management plan for the patient, like the care plan or treatment plan, depending on the diagnosis,” Aisha said.

Why Representation Matters

When it comes to representation, Aisha says that she takes pride in representing the Muslim community at Humber in her role.

“Being someone who is visibly Muslim, I take the opportunity to show the community of Humber and everyone that we are contributing to the well-being of the entire community,” Aisha said.

In addition, Aisha is grateful for being part of an all-inclusive environment at Humber.

“I’m really thankful to be at Humber because they are always supporting multicultural and multi-faith groups and are really strong supporters of diversity and inclusion, so it’s really nice to work in that environment and know each other, regardless of our faith.”

Raising Funds for the NICU

With this month’s Ramadan campaign focusing on raising funds for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Aisha said that the NICU is vital to the survival of premature babies. Making a donation to the NICU is a concrete way of giving back to the community because in the Muslim faith the donator will attain benefit both in this world and the next, while helping people now as well as those who will be here after us, Aisha said.

“Two key elements of our faith is to give charity and to save the life of any individual because life is so sacred. I cannot think of any better way of doing that than donating and fundraising for the NICU.”

Message to the Humber Community

During Ramadan, Aisha believes it is a time for us to grow on a spiritual level and focus on renewal, despite the physical challenge of fasting throughout the month.

She adds that giving more charity supports spiritual growth while directly benefitting the community.

Aisha expressed that she also wants non-Muslim people to know that they can be allies of the Muslim community, so they can walk the path of spiritual growth and renewal together.

“If you have any Muslim colleagues, I want to encourage you not to hesitate in learning more about our faith. We welcome that and are more than happy to share our beliefs and experiences with you,” she said.

Dr. Danish Khan

Dr. Danish Khan is an Emergency Physician at our Apotex Emergency Department (ED).

As a member of the Humber community, Dr. Khan said that he continues to represent the Muslim community by always setting an example to be kind and patient with all the patients that come to the ED in a time of crisis.

Fundraising for the NICU

“Ramadan is a month of giving and charity because the reward for doing so this month is greater than any other time of year,” Dr. Khan said. “What better way to help than to the NICU, which takes care of one of the most vulnerable members of our society, the newborns who are suffering from medical issues requiring this intensive care.”

He adds that Ramadan is also a time of self-sacrifice and reflection and that fasting is to remind us of those less fortunate than us.

Message to the Humber Community

Now that we are approaching the final few days of Ramadan, Dr. Khan would like to wish everyone Ramadan Mubarak!

“Please remember the kindness, caring and compassion we are expected to show during this month and continue it on towards the rest of the year,” he said.

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Our team at Humber River Hospital Foundation wish you and your loved ones a blessed Ramadan.

This month, we are bringing our community together to once again make an impact at Humber River Hospital, this time for the smallest babies and their families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Please click to make a donation.

Thank you and Ramadan Mubarak!

The post Interview with Aisha Piperdi and Dr. Danish Khan appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Islamic Relief Canada provides international aid relief & works with a variety of communities to strengthen their resilience to calamities, while providing vital emergency aid when disasters occur.

During the month of April, on the sacred month of Ramadan, which is observed by 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, we are acknowledging the work of the local Muslim community at Humber River Hospital (HRH) and our Foundation.

Today, we’re shining a light on one of Humber River Hospital Foundation’s community partners, Islamic Relief Canada. They are an organization that helps in international aid relief and works with a variety of communities to strengthen their resilience to calamities, while providing vital emergency aid when disasters occur.

They also help the impoverished access basic services, including education, water and sanitation, as well as healthcare. Their mission is to inspire and enable people to respond rapidly to disasters and fight poverty through their Islamic values, expertise and global reach.

Collaborating with Humber River Hospital

Islamic Relief Canada at signage unveiling pictured with Sandra Sualim, Foundation President & CEO and Tarek Elgammal, Foundation Board Member

When they collaborated with the Foundation for last year’s Ramadan fundraising campaign for the Patient Comfort Fund, Sohaib Zuberi, the Central and Western Ontario Regional Manager of Islamic Relief Canada, said the partnership with the Hospital gave them an opportunity to give back to the local community.

“Charity starts at home and this initiative was very powerful in driving the message home that we will never forget the vulnerable people of our community, as well as the frontline workers who have courageously helped the community during these difficult and testing times,” Sohaib said.

In addition, Islamic Relief Canada are looking forward to future collaborations with the Hospital. Sohaib said that Humber River Hospital Foundation’s work with vulnerable populations in Canada aligns with their vision of building a more just world where no one is left behind.

“Together, I hope we can achieve that here at home in Toronto.”

Islamic Relief Canada’s Accomplishments

An Islamic Relief Canada volunteer digging up soil.

Despite the global pandemic, Sohaib said Islamic Relief Canada has successfully provided international support to many groups of people such as the farmers in Palestine, where they helped plant thousands of olive trees.

Meanwhile, on International Women’s Day, they distributed self-care gifts to over 700 women across Canada.

“We strive to harness the generous support of our communities into collective action to bring relief to our brothers and sisters in Canada and abroad,” Sohaib said.

Besides that, Islamic Relief Canada was able to support more rights-holders than ever before, which Sohaib says would not have been possible without the generosity and support of our community.

“We want to acknowledge the importance of a human-rights-based approach to our work,” he said. “The rights-holders we support have a right to access the resources and services we are providing. They aren’t just passive recipients of aid.”

Message to the Humber Community

Now, as we’re in the month of Ramadan, Islamic Relief Canada is excited to welcome back the community at their events and campaigns across Canada. They will be delivering warm meals and food hampers to shelters across the country.

With that being said, Islamic Relief Canada wants to empower their community to be the relief. Sohaib says they are envisioning a Ramadan without hunger, without thirst and without loneliness.

“As individuals, we can volunteer our time to help package warm meals at our local soup kitchen or visit a friend we haven’t seen in a while or donate our Zakat and Sadaqa (charity) to sustain an orphan or support a disaster-struck community,” Sohaib said. “This Ramadan, each of us can be the answer to a prayer, so we invite everyone to give a little of your Ramadan and be the relief.”

For more information on Islamic Relief Canada, please visit their website at

Our team at Humber River Hospital Foundation wish you and your loved ones a blessed Ramadan.

This month, we are bringing our community together to once again make an impact at Humber River Hospital, this time for the smallest babies and their families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Please click to make a donation.

Thank you and Ramadan Mubarak!

The post Interview with Islamic Relief Canada appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Shaykh Imran Ally is the official Muslim volunteer chaplain at Humber River Hospital.

During the month of April, on the sacred month of Ramadan, which is observed by 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, we are acknowledging the work of the local Muslim community at Humber River Hospital (HRH) and our Foundation.

Today, we’re shining a light on Shaykh Imran Ally, who is an active member of the Humber community. He is a career Imam at the Toronto and Region Islamic Centre (TARIC) based in Toronto, right down the street from the Hospital. He’s been the official resident Imam for over 22 years, which Shaykh Imran says is “an extremely rare achievement,” because a tenure at one Mosque for more than two decades is a unique achievement, placing Shaykh Imran among a handful of elite Imams in Canada.

Passion for Service

Shaykh Imran has had a passion for service that extends beyond his career, which is why he is also the official Muslim volunteer chaplain at Humber River Hospital for the last 18 years and counting, servicing both employees and patients at the Hospital. He has also been fundraising for Humber for about 15 years now.

Shaykh Imran recently helped kick off the March Break last month by hosting another pop-up vaccination clinic.

“Community fundraising is a unique way to make donors realize that they are making a difference in the lives of many who struggle, while also making the donors feel some sense of ownership towards the Hospital,” Shaykh Imran said. “I am humbled to act as a conduit between the community donors and the Hospital.”

Besides raising funds for the Hospital, Shaykh Imran recently helped kick off the March Break last month by hosting another pop-up vaccination clinic at the TARIC Islamic Centre for family and friends in the community, which was another successful vaccination clinic in partnership with Humber.

The Next Generation

Through his active service for the Hospital and the community, Shaykh Imran hopes to inspire and engage young Muslim professionals to continue the rich legacy of Muslim philanthropic community fundraising.

“The hope is for them to now take the lead and explore new areas of fundraising that will also appeal to younger participants and new donors, while keeping our existing donors.”

Message to the Humber Community

Shaykh Imran at the TARIC Islamic Centre.

As we observe the month of Ramadan, Shaykh Imran explains that the act of fasting in Islam, especially during Ramadan, enables Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice and to show compassion to the poor and less fortunate.

In addition, he says that during Ramadan, Muslims increase their generosity to many charitable activities.

“I am taking this unique opportunity to passionately encourage everyone to please donate to Humber River Hospital, an act of donation that will define your philanthropic legacy and be reckoned as ‘sadaqa jariya’ which is perpetual charity in both worlds,” Shaykh Imran said.

Our team at Humber River Hospital Foundation wish you and your loved ones a blessed Ramadan.

This month, we are bringing our community together to once again make an impact at Humber River Hospital, this time for the smallest babies and their families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Please click to make a donation.

Thank you and Ramadan Mubarak!

The post Interview with Shaykh Imran Ally appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.