Dr. Mazen Kudaimi
Board Chairman
Muhammad Mazen Kudaimi, MD, FACG, is a Board Certified physician in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and currently practices gastroenterology in Northwest Indiana. He was born and raised in Syria and graduated form Damascus University Medical School in 1979. He moved to Chicago in 1980 and was trained at Cook County Hospital. Dr. Kudaimi served on the board of Universal School, the Mosque Foundation Board and the board of the Mosque Foundation Youth Center. In addition to being a board member of CAIR-Chicago, he is currently President of the Illiana Islamic Association in Highland, IN. He is married to Dr. Randa Loutfi and has six children. More
Dr. Aisha El-Amin
Board Member
Aisha holds a PhD in Policy Studies in Urban Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Masters of Education from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from the University of Maryland- European Division. Aisha is passionate about issues of equity, justice and education. These passions have led her to become an Illinois State Board of Education Certified K-9th grade teacher, an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities, an elected school board member for Community Consolidated School District #168 and newly appointed board member for Routledge journal, Religion and Education. Additionally, Aisha currently manages a $16M federally funded Chicago teacher preparation grant spanning across four universities in the Chicagoland area. Some of her most recent roles include Coordinating Committee Member with Teachers for Social Justice, Assistant Director of Bridging the Gap, Co-chair of Public School Initiative for Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago and Advisory Board Member serving Chicago Metropolitan Educational Center for Community Advancement. Additionally, Aisha enjoys reading, running, puzzles and family game nights. Aisha has been married for almost 13 years and has 3 amazing daughters. More
Suzanne Sahloul
Board Member
Suzanne Akhras Sahloul is the founder of the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) Midwest Foundation, serving as president from 2004-2006. She is also one of the founders of SAMS National Foundation, serving as national chairwoman from 2005-2007. Suzanne represented the Syrian American community at the U.S. Department of State's Global Diaspora Forum in 2011 and 2013. In addition to her international work, Suzanne has been active with her children's school, the Universal School, serving as PTA president from 2009-2011 and as a board member from 2011-2013. She was the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC)'s Intern/Volunteer Director from 2011-2013, and served as chairwoman in organizing the much lauded 2012 CIOGC 20th Anniversary Dinner. She has a bachelors degree in history and education from the University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC), a Masters of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) from Lewis University, and is currently pursuing a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership at the Kellogg School of Management and a Certification in Project Management and a Certificate in Fundraising at Northwestern University. Suzanne currently resides with her husband and three children in the West suburbs and in her spare time she enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling.
Dr. Gloria Bashir
Board Member
Dr. Bashir has a dual career as a Social Worker and acupuncturist. She has been a Social Worker for over 35 years and is a fierce advocate for social, emotional, and economic justice. Her work as a social work has included psychiatric social work, manager of a child welfare program, foster parent trainer, and a social work consultant. She was a School Social Worker with Chicago Public Schools for 25 years, and currently contracts with a suburban district as a School Social Worker. Dr. Bashir developed an interest and desire to broaden her understanding of holistic wellness that led her to study Traditional Chinese Medicine including acupuncture, and other modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her interest in holistic medicine was born out of a personal need for healing that ultimately blossomed into a way of life. She has been a practicing acupuncturist over 12 years working for a pain management clinic, as well as in private practice, all while continuing her work as a Social Worker. Dr. Bashir’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Illinois State University, Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois Chicago, Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition and Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine from Midwest College of Oriental Medicine, and a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Science. In Dr. Bashir’s free time, she enjoys museums, concerts, theatre, performances, and any activity that allows her to interact with others in a nurturing and supportive space. Dr. Bashir shares her life with Roderick Bashir, her husband of 39 years and they are the parents of two young adult daughters.
Dr. Mohammad Shukairy
Board Member
Dr. Mohammad Shukairy is a neurosurgeon affiliated with Community Hospital in Munster, IN, St Mary Medical Center in Hobart, IN and Community Stroke & Rehabilitation Center in Crown Point, IN. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo. Dr. Shukairy is one of several doctors in the Community Healthcare System who specialize in neurosurgery. Dr Shukairy's commitment to civil rights and equal opportunity for Muslims and all communities living side by side in America moved him to join CAIR-Chicago as its newest board director.
Ahmed Rehab
Board Member
Ahmed Rehab is the Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago. Rehab is a regular contributor to the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Public Radio. He has been interviewed hundreds of times by newspapers, radio, and TV venues, both national and international. Rehab lectures at various University campuses in Chicago and around the nation. Prior to joining CAIR in August of 2004, Rehab was a freelance speaker, writer, and activist in the fields of interfaith collaboration, education, and community outreach. Between 1999 and 2002, Rehab served as a consultant for Arthur Andersen LLP – a global consulting firm. Rehab serves as a board member of the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). He also serves on IL. Governor Pat Quinn’s Muslim Advisory Council. He is a board member and secretary of the Egyptian American Society, a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ (CCGA) Muslim task force, an Eisenhower fellow of the American Assembly, and alumnus of the FBI Citizen’s Academy.