indica News Bureau-
Dr. Uzma Syed, a first-generation Indian American from Hyderabad who runs a non-profit organization to help high-school students with career development goals, was awarded ‘Woman of Substance’ at an event in New Jersey on Sept 1, according to a report in The Siasat Daily.
Dr. Uzma received the award from popular Hindi film actors Saif Ali Khan and Jaaved Jaaferi.
Later, addressing the gathering, she said, “As a daughter of Indian Muslim immigrants I know the value of hard work and education. I have strived to give back to the community and most recently established my non-profit Align US organization. I care deeply for all of our children and their future. Because I know that investing in their future is for the betterment of us all.”
Dr. Uzma was recently recognized by the Nassau County legislature as a ‘trailblazer in the millennium’. She was also given the Distinguished South Asian Woman Empowerment award by former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen.
Dr. Syed’s parents had migrated to the US to be able to provide a world-class education to their children. Both worked full time to be able to provide for the family.
Dr Uzma, who grew up on Long Island, was accepted to a seven-year combined medical program after graduating from high school. She spent her undergraduate years in upstate New Jersey followed by a medical school in Maine.
After graduation, she joined for residency at Winthrop University Hospital where she completed her fellowship in Infectious Diseases. Thereafter, she joined the private practice at South Shore Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine Consultants.
Currently, she is a practicing physician-partner business owner. She is on the antimicrobial stewardship committee and also teaches medical students.
Dr. Uzma was invited to participate in the Harvard business roundtable with UN ambassadors during the UN General Assembly session in 2018 to discuss a strategy to provide mobile healthcare to the underserved world.
She also spearheaded a petition for an Eid holiday and was responsible for getting Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha approved as official school district holidays in Syosset Central School District. She also supported the recognition of Diwali as an official holiday in the school district.
Dr. Uzma has held fundraisers for refugee resettlement in Canada and is involved with Mercy First which houses displaced immigrant children.
