Basheer Ahmed

Basheer Ahmed is an Indian physician, academic and author currently residing in the USA.

Early life Ahmed was born in Hyderabad Deccan, India in 1935. After Graduating from Omani University, he earned his medical degree from Dow Medical College, Karachi University, Pakistan, in 1960. He completed his post graduate studies and residency training in Psychiatry at the University of Glasgow, Scotland

Career

Ahmed's interest in academic psychiatry led him to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City in 1971 where he served as the Assistant Professor of Psychiatry for five years. He also served as the Director of Soundview Throngs Neck Community Mental Health Center, one of the largest CMHC in New York City, managed by Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of Community Mental Health Centers and as the Regional Director for the region II.

In 1976, Ahmed moved to Dayton Ohio where he became the Professor of Psychiatry at Wright State University and also the Chief of Psychiatry at the local VA Hospital. He also served as the director of the psychiatric residency training program at Wright State University. Ahmed then moved from Ohio to Texas where he worked as a professor of Psychiatry and family medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Southwestern Medical School Dallas Texas from 1978 to 1982. Dr. Ahmed also served as the Chief of Psychiatry at John Peter Smith Hospital Fort Worth.

In 1979, Ahmed became a member of the Tarrant County Medical Society. He also served as the chairman of the Tarrant Chapter of the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians and was the program chairman of the annual Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians meeting in Fort Worth Texas. He has also served as a member of the publication committee and on the Board of Directors of Project Access of the Tarrant County Medical Society.

In October 1979, at the invitation of 39th President of the United States Jimmy Carter, Ahmed (as the President of the Islamic Medical Association, 1978–79), met with the president at the White House along with 15 other US Muslim leaders to discuss the Iranian crises and Muslims in the USA.

In 1983, he left his academic career and entered into the private practice of Psychiatry in Fort Worth, Texas. He served as a Director of Psychiatric Departments in several hospitals including St. Joseph Hospital, Psychiatric Institute Fort Worth, Oak Bend Psychiatric Hospital Fort Worth, Care Unit Hospital and Plaza medical center, Fort Worth, Texas.

Ahmed served as the president of the Islamic Medical Association of North America (1979–80). He is the founding board member of the International Institute of Islamic medicine. Ahmed has served as the president of the Islamic Association of Tarrant County (1982–83). He also served as a member of the board of directors of the Islamic Social Service Association. He served on the board of directors of the Multicultural Alliance of North Texas from 2006 to 2016.

Philanthropy and Community Services

Ahmed has been active for many years in developing Islamic institutions that support the Muslim community to prosper by providing services as well as facilities that promote well being in their communities.

In 1995, Ahmed founded the Muslim Community Center for Human Services to serve indigent residents of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. MCC for Human Services was the first Muslim charitable organization in the state of Texas that provided medical and social services, including free medical, dental, and mental health services to indigent residents of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, irrespective of race, religion, and country of origin.

Ahmed has been active in organizing conferences on domestic violence, the role of organized religion in promoting world peace and the many Muslim contributions to civilization.

In 2011, Ahmed and The Muslim Community Center for Human Services stepped up their efforts to provide services to their community despite their being cut-backs from the federal government towards spending for social services.

The medical clinic for the center was treating 1,600 to 1,800 patients a year, and new patients were asked only to make a $10 donation. Low-cost lab work and prescription drugs were also made available. More than 200 people each year also were receive dental care.