The National Arab American Medical Association held its first "NextGen" summit May 12 at The Henry Hotel in Dearborn, Mich.

NAAMA NextGen is an incubator/chapter within NAAMA that the association founded to enhance the careers of young undergraduate and graduate students in their 20s, empowering them to play a key role in health care advocacy and community service.

The program was created by NAAMA President and WSU Professor of Pathology Rouba Ali-Fehmi, M.D., who with help of colleagues and various college students started NAAMA NextGen at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and other medical schools in Michigan.

"An impressive panel along with great attendance allowed for a successful first event for this brand new NextGen program," said Dr. Ali-Fehmi, director of the WSU Surgical Pathology Fellowship Program.

NAAMA NextGen focuses on promoting the professional and social goals of American medical students, dental students and medical residents of Arab heritage. The NextGen summit served as a workshop on leadership skills, career planning, interview skills and test-taking strategies.

More than 80 NextGen members listened to, and learned from, an extensive panel of medical professionals, including medical school deans and medical residents. School of Medicine Dean Jack D., Sobel, M.D.; Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Medical Director and Associate Program Director Mahir Elder, M.D.; Dr. Ali-Fehmi, as well as faculty from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Henry Ford Health System and Central Michigan University College of Medicine provided insight on how students can strengthen their applications and how their respective schools view certain aspects of the extensive process.

Medical students also gave advice to their younger counterparts on how to excel on the MCAT.