DAANA was established with the goal of unifying all alumni under one umbrella organization. Our mission is to foster collaborative relationships between alumni of DCMS through educational and cultural programs and to help the underprivileged through philanthropic activities.
DAANA CURRENT BOD MEMBERS
The Board of Directors (BOD) serves as the governing body of Deccan Alumni Association of North America (DAANA). The BOD consists of alumni of Deccan College of Medical Sciences (DCMS), nominated and carefully selected by peers based on their credentials. The BOD is comprised of a President, Secretary, Treasurer and Officers.
Dr. M Taruj Ali is from the 1990 Batch of DCMS. He is board certified in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine as well as Sleep Medicine. He is the Medical Director of the Sleep Lab at Pulmonary Associates of Richmond. Dr. Ali also practices at Henrico Doctors Hospital. He is married to Dilshad Ali and they have three children. Taruj likes traveling, biking, nature, swimming, cricket, and spending time with family and friends.
Location: Richmond, VA Medical Education: Deccan College of Medical Sciences Hyderabad, India Residency: St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center – Columbia University Fellowship: St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center – Columbia University Board Certifications: Diplomate, American Board of Sleep Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine – Internal Medicine, Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, and Sleep Medicine Affiliations: American Medical Association Richmond Academy of Medicine American Thoracic Society American College of Chest Physicians American Academy of Sleep Medicine Medical Society of Virginia Society of Critical Care Medicine American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (life member) Fellowship: Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals Board Certifications: American Board of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases and Sleep Medicine Affiliations: American Medical Association, American College of Chest Physicians, American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Dr. Mujahid Ali Syed is a mental health specialist who has devoted his life to the betterment of humanity through his professional, philanthropic, and community service in White Rock, British Columbia. Dr. Syed trained in India, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Dr. Syed is a qualified specialist in psychiatry and a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He is working as a consultant psychiatrist and addiction specialist and heads the department for mental health and substance use at the White Rock MHC & Peace Arch hospital. He holds an academic appointment as a clinical lecturer at the University of British Columbia. He is also a fellow of the International Institute of Organizational Psychological Medicine.
Dr. Syed’s professional activities extend locally, nationally, and internationally. Having worked with diverse populations on three continents, and eloquence of many languages, Dr. Syed has a keen understanding of the cultural and linguistic nuances that are essential for establishing rapport with people of diverse backgrounds from all age groups. He is active with educational programs and as part of the scientific committee for ICPA, organized well-acclaimed CME programs with International speakers. For the UBC Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Syed is a site director for the Postgraduate education program at Peace Arch hospital.
Dr. Syed strongly believes in the ethos of educating and empowering the poor. Dr. Syed’s leadership role in the governance and stewardship of non-governmental organizations and professional associations has been exemplary. He is a co-founder and honorary CEO of Care Educational Societies, co-founder and vice president of Step to Humanity, founding Board of director for Deccan Alumni Association of North America(DAANA), secretary of Indo-Canadian Psychiatric Association (ICPA), and on the executive board as a community representative for British Columbia Psychiatric Association (BCPA).
Dr. Aparna Reddy Mahakala is an 1989 batch DCMS alumnus. She is a Board Certified Endocrinologist and has her private practice clinic in Atlanta where she manages complex diabetic patients and treats diverse hormonal and metabolic dysfunctions. She is the director of the weight management program where she focuses on reducing obesity. She is also an assistant director of the research program in her clinic.
She is passionate about cooking, traveling, playing, and watching different sports. She likes to listen to music and enjoys dancing and learning to play sitar.
Her ambition in life is to live to the best of her abilities and to be able to serve humbly and always open to receiving any suggestions and providing help to the alumni.
Location: Atlanta, GA Residency: Internal Medicine – Wayne State University, Detroit, MI Fellowship: Endocrinology and Diabetes: Wayne State University, Detroit, MI Affiliations: Fellow of the American College of Clinical Endocrinology
Member of the American Diabetic Association Member of Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage
Dr. Khan is from the 1998 Batch of DCMS. He is currently an academic adult neurologist/epileptologist at Ochsner Neurosciences Institute, Ochsner Health in New Orleans, LA. His academic appointments include EEG fellowship program director, section head for The International Center for Epilepsy, section head for The McCasland Family Comprehensive Headache Center at Ochsner Health; and associate professor at Ochsner Clinical School/the University of Queensland, New Orleans, LA. He is passionate about clinical research, medical education, and healthcare innovation. He serves as an advisor for several healthcare start-ups. Dr. Khan has been a member of DAANA since its inception. He has serves on the CME, Grant Review, and Mentorship committees for DAANA. Outside work he enjoys traveling with his wife and 3 kids, portrait photography, hiking, skiing, and all-season camping.
Location: New Orleans, LA Medical Education: Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India Residency: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC Fellowship: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Board Certifications : American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology – Adult Neurology American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology – Clinical Neurophysiology American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology – Epilepsy United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties in Headache Medicine Affiliations : American Medical Association International Headache Society American Headache Society American Clinical Neurophysiology Society American Epilepsy Society
Dr. Mujahid Ali Syed is a distinguished mental health specialist who has devoted his career to advancing the well-being of individuals and communities through clinical excellence, education, and philanthropy. Based in White Rock, British Columbia, Dr. Syed brings a wealth of international experience, having trained in India, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
A dual specialist in psychiatry and addiction medicine, Dr. Syed serves as Department Head for Mental Health and Substance Use at the White Rock Mental Health Centre & Peace Arch Hospital. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (Canada) and the International Institute of Organizational Psychological Medicine, and he holds an academic appointment as a Clinical Lecturer with the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Syed has extensive clinical and teaching experience across different continents, which has given him a broad perspective on mental health and medical education. His professional work spans local, national, and international settings. Fluent in multiple languages and deeply attuned to cultural nuances, he has worked with diverse populations across three continents and all age groups. He plays a key role in medical education as Site Director for the UBC Postgraduate Psychiatry Program at Peace Arch Hospital. As part of the scientific committee for the Indo-Canadian Psychiatric Association (ICPA) and the CME Committee for the British Columbia Psychiatric Association (BCPA), he has organized and moderated highly regarded CME programs featuring leading international speakers. He is also an accomplished international speaker himself, having presented at conferences and professional forums across different regions of the world.
His commitment to social responsibility is reflected in his leadership roles within numerous community and professional organizations. Dr. Syed is Co-Founder and Honorary CEO of Care Educational Societies, Co-Founder and Vice President of Step to Humanity, Founding Board Director of the Deccan Alumni Association of North America (2016–2024), President-Elect of the Indo-Canadian Psychiatric Association, Western Canada Assembly Representative for the American Psychiatric Association, and Executive Board Member (Community Representative) for the British Columbia Psychiatric Association.
Guided by a strong belief in the power of education and empowerment for underprivileged communities, Dr. Syed has been a driving force in initiatives that bridge health, education, and humanitarian service.
Mohammed Amer Mohiuddin, MD, is the esteemed CEO & Founder of Heal 360, leveraging his expertise as a fellowship-trained physician board-certified in both family and emergency medicine. At Heal 360 Primary & Urgent Care, Dr. Mohiuddin plays a pivotal role in delivering exceptional care to patients across the Plano, Allen, Frisco, and Wylie, Texas areas.
Location: 2806 W FM 544 WYLIE, TX 75098
Medical Education: Deccan College of Medical Sciences, 1998
Dr. Ismail Shakaib is from the 1993 Batch of DCMS. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. He is in private practice as a Nephrologist in Chicago, IL with Northwest Healthcare Associates. Dr. Shakaib graduated in the top 3% of his Medical School Class and has been practicing since 2004. His special interests include Acute Kidney Injury, Chronic Kidney Disease, and ESRD.
Location: Chicago, IL Medical Education: Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India Residency: Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL Fellowship: University of Chicago, IL Affiliations: American Medical Association
ISMAIL SHAKAIB, MD
Dr. Farha Ikramuddin is an alumnus of the 85 batches of DCMS.
She completed her elementary and middle school education at The Indian Embassy School in Jeddah KSA. She graduated her high school at St Georges Girls Grammar school in Hyderabad, completing her intermediate education at Stanley Girls College.
Dr. Farha started with Internal Medicine at UPMC Pittsburgh, but a holistic approach to patients piqued her interest in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Following completing her residency in PM&R, she was invited back to academia by her Chair to lead the inpatient unit. Her practice involves Neurological Rehabilitation, with a special focus on spasticity leading to her outpatient clinics in Botox for migraine headaches and spasticity following stroke.
Her research interests are in stem cells as a treatment modality following the initial stroke, and rehabilitative approaches to ameliorate neural plasticity
Being part of ‘The emerging Physician Leadership program’, peaked interest in administration, and she completed “A Master of Health Administration”. As such, her career has taken a turn to administration. She is currently the Medical Director of Neurosciences for Neurology, Neurosurgery, Endocrinology, and PM&R.
Location: Deephaven, Minnesota Medical Education: Deccan College of Medical Sciences Residency: Internal Medicine: University of Pittsburgh Center
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: UPMC and University of Minnesota Further Education :
Masters of Health Administration, Carlson School of Management Faculty Appointments :
Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota
Medical Director of Neurosciences, Clinics and Surgery Center
Site Director for the PM&R Residency Program Board Certification :
Board Certification in PM&R Affiliations :
AAP
AAPMR
Farha Ikramuddin, MD, MHA
Dr. NASEEM MAJID, MBBS, MDHM, With an experience of over 17 Years in Health care Industry, highly Business and process-focused professional with a keen interest in strategic business planning for new and existing hospitals with exposure across the healthcare ecosystem, including Hospitals, Clinics, Women and Child care, Insurance, Business Development, Maintaining quality standard as per NABH, JCI, etc.
Location: Hyderabad, INDIA
Medical Education:
i) Apollo Institute of Hospital Administration, Osmania University, Master’s Degree in Hospital Management (MDHM) – 2013
ii) Deccan College of Medical Sciences, NTR University, MBBS – 1994 Batch
Activities and Societies: General Secretary DAA-DCMS Alumni Association (Deccan College of Medical Sciences).
Experience:
i) Chief Operating Office, Femcity Hospital Pvt Ltd , Nov 2017 – Present
ii)Associate Vice President (Head-Marketing and Business Development), MaxCure Suyosha Woman and Child Hospital, Apr 2016 – Apr 2017
iii)Medical Coordinator & Manager, Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limited, Mar 2015 – Apr 2016
DR. NASEEM MAJID, MBBS, MDHM
