Dr. Ismail Mehr

Anesthesiologist, New York

IMR Chair

Dr. Ismail Mehr, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist in Hornell, New York, affiliated with St. James Hospital and Bath Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Dr. Mehr served as President of the Islamic Medical Association of North America, a leading resource and network for American-Muslim physicians, dentists, and other healthcare professionals from 2013-2015. He has been the driving force and currently serves as the Chair of IMANA Medical Relief, a program that focuses on disaster medical relief and healthcare support and has provided treatment to over 2.5 million patients in 34 countries and counting.

Over the years Dr. Mehr has participated in over 25 missions to various countries.

As a strong advocate of making a difference in people’s lives across the world by providing free healthcare at their doorsteps, Dr. Mehr is often invited as a content expert by media outlets and professional associations to speak.

Medical Missions

Bangladesh 2013 – 2015, 2017, 2019

Gaza 2009, 2012, 2019, 2022

Haiti 2010

Indonesia 2004

Jordan 2016

Mauritania 2021

Morocco 2021

Nepal 2019

Pakistan 2005, 2010

Palestine West Bank 2018

Somalia 2011

Sudan 2011 – 2020

Yemen 2019

US Virgin Islands 2020

“Serving in Gaza, amidst an active conflict will always remain a palpable memory with all of its challenges. The young Abdullah Shawwa will forever remain near and dear to those memories. At just four years old, Abdullah was diagnosed with kidney cancer known as Wilms tumor. A very treatable type of cancer. However, in a weak health care system that was devastated by years of war and isolation, I found myself thinking of my son, Ibraheem. What or how he contrasted in this situation, Ibraheem would have access to the best medicine and care. On the other hand, Abdullah’s parents had no hope, the doctors knew he had this rapidly growing tumor but did not have the expertise to operate. God had a plan for the IMANA team to be there, to make a difference and help save Abdullah’s life. This picture was taken by the world renowned photojournalist, Anja Niedringhaus who subsequently lost her life in Afghanistan, but this photograph remains on my desk to this day as a reminder of how fragile and unfair life can be, yet people in challenging situations find the drive to endure!”

Across IMANA’s programs we meet so many who could use your support. Please consider joining me in supporting one of the following causes:

1. Palestine
2. Rohingya
3. Domestic Relief