The Times, They are a-Changin’

Let's face it, civic engagement was not something we had to learn in medical school, and advocacy and volunteerism in our home countries are as alien concepts as asking a friend to pay his or her share of the bill after having coffee together.  Add to it, that for us first generation of Arab American immigrants coming out fresh from Medical school, we arrive to this new country with one focus and as little time to waste as possible.

A quest for career advancement coupled with our competitive nature blocks any extracurricular activity that might influence such journey.  Whether it is taking the boards, finding the right residency, applying for fellowship or establishing a busy and successful practice, we get sucked into a constant state of on the run with the hope to reach or goals.  After which, we get so entangled in the complexity of patient care, practice management, billing, Medicaid and Medicare that leaves us very energy to be engaged in anything beyond our small social network and professional affiliates, and even less time that we very selfishly protect to keep to our family.

But, this is not the case when it comes to the new generation.  Our children join school assemblies, soccer teams, science clubs, and theatre and school bands.  Arab American youth are involved in charitable work and humanitarian missions as well as presidential campaigns and grass roots movements. In fact, our youth has succeeded where we failed in bringing the attention to issues relevant to us as Arab Americans especially in response to the variety of events in the past century.  Armed with technology, the arts, social media outlets and other tools they mastered so skillfully, it seems that this phenomenon is not limited to Arab American youth, but is spreading across the world.  Considering the past few weeks only, it is beyond doubt, that youth are the catalysts for change and has proven capable in revolutionizing everything that we took for granted for decades.

NAAMA needs the same energy for change.  Our mission provides the perfect vehicle for our youth to satisfy their civic engagement interests.  Between our humanitarian and charitable projects in the Arab World and our educational and professional activities, the involvement of our youth and the second generation of Arab American Health Professionals is crucial for NAAMA to continue being the beacon it had been for 35 years. 

We cannot remain constant in an ever changing environment.  NAAMA of the 21^st century should accommodate our youth and benefit from their revolutionary ideas.  After all, it will be their association very soon, and they should have a say in where it should be 35 years after.

In closing, to borrow the words from a Bob Dylan 1964 song “…the old road is rapidly agin’, Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand, For the times they are a-changin …”

Mouhanad