Human Rights Commission Chair
I am a 16 year resident of Newburyport and am also the Chair of the Human Rights Commission. I am an American born Muslim whose parents immigrated to the United states in 1969 from Pakistan. I also work in Newburyport at Pentucket Medical Associates and at the Anna Jacques Hospital as a Gastroenterologist. I enjoy that Newburyport has a neighborhood feel along with a vibrant downtown teeming with restaurants and shops surrounded by parks, trails, and the Merrimac River. While I feel this is in inclusive community, there is clearly work to be done to increase awareness about individuals who come from different ethnic groups, religions or social and socioeconomic circumstances in our very homogenous community. Events over the summer heightened my awareness that racism is a problem not only here but worldwide. I hope to use my voice to increase awareness around DEI issues, strive towards more equity and inclusiveness in our community, and to strive to create a community of anti-racists.