On February 9th, Ather would have turned 43. Ever since we moved to CT in 2004, his birthday was almost always on a snow day, resulting in a low-key family dinner celebration of his favorite meals and a homemade chocolate dessert at home. This year was not much different. Although his absence was clearly felt, a few family members and friends gathered together to share Ather’s favorite pizza from Pepe’s and a chocolate cake I made in his memory. 

 Ather is no longer with us to celebrate his birthday, but we hope that his memory, his legacy of service, and his leadership in integrative medicine will continue through the following gifts, made possible by the $15K given generously by family, friends, and colleagues through the LaunchGood campaign set up in October (www.launchgood.com/project/in_honor_of_dr_ather_ali#!/ ): 

 The Ather Ali Community Service Award at UCLA's UMMA Volunteer Project - UMMA Community ClinicAs an undergraduate student at UCLA, Ather was the founding director of the University Muslim Medical Association (UMMA) Volunteer Project in 1996. This program gives UCLA students the opportunity to gain hands-on medical experience and community service in underserved communities. Every year, our goal is that one participating student will be awarded the Ather Ali Community Service Award. http://www.ummaclinic.org/ 

The Dr. Ather Ali Commemorative Fund for Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine at the Yale School of MedicineThis fund will support Ather’s vision and honor his contributions to the field of patient centered, evidence guided, holistic and genuine patient care. Our collective contributions are intended to create an endowed fund at the Yale School of Medicine where Ather’s legacy will be permanently established.https://secure.yale.imodules.com/s/1667/giving/17/form.aspx?sid=1667&gid=52&pgid=1801&cid=5583&dids=427&bledit=1 

Sanctuary Kitchen at CitySeedSanctuary Kitchen is a program that Ather actively supported from its inception in 2016. Sanctuary Kitchen highlights the skills of refugees and immigrants in economically viable culinary pursuits that provide personal income potential, while promoting their culinary traditions, cultures, and stories to improve understanding and appreciation throughout our community. Their Kitchen Incubator program supports refugee and immigrant entrepreneurs to develop and market businesses featuring their culinary traditions. Our contribution will support a refugee entrepreneur to participate every year. www.sanctuarykitchen.org 

Aid for Children in Need WorldwideAther has volunteered with, and supported the work of, Islamic Relief USA since the 1990’s. Through projects focusing on various areas, including emergency relief, orphan support, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, they work to improve the lives of children around the world. Our contribution will continue to support these projects, details of which are listed here: http://irusa.org/aid-for-children-in-need/

 When Ather was applying for medical school admissions in 1997, he wrote: 

“A career in medicine is an exercise in healing and alleviating the suffering of people – not necessarily disease. My grandmother’s passing was a strong lesson that each patient is a human being with a history, family and loved ones – no matter how often they are labeled with “pelvis fracture in bed five.” Some of the best doctors that I’ve worked with spent the majority of their time conversing with patients and carefully explaining their diagnostic procedures – taking the patient’s medical ailments as a team effort. I strive to emulate these people in my practice of medicine and constantly remind myself that each patient is dearly loved by someone else, just like my grandmother…I hope to be a resource. I don’t aspire for leadership roles or lofty titles. I hope to be part of a proactive generation of physicians that use our skills and training to try and improve health care access in under-served areas and populations.” 

We are grateful for your generous support and contributions to make these gifts possible, and for continuing Ather’s work and goals to improve health care, create holistic and patient-centered care, to alleviate the suffering of others, and empower communities.