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Message From The Founder
As I reflect on the past year, I am inspired by the remarkable progress and collective energy that have propelled the MENASA Group forward. Our mission—to mobilize representation, networks, and advancement for Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian (MENASA) communities in clinical research—has never been more urgent or more achievable.
We began this journey with a simple yet bold vision: to bridge the persistent gaps in health representation and ensure that MENASA voices are heard, valued, and included in the global dialogue on clinical research. In 2024, this vision took shape through six flagship initiatives, each designed to empower healthcare providers, build inclusive research ecosystems, and engage communities historically overlooked in clinical trials.
Our first MENASA Clinical Research Inclusion Summit in Houston brought together over 200 attendees, 32 community leaders, and nine life sciences vendors, marking the launch of the first U.S.-based advocacy platform for MENASA clinical trial inclusion. This event not only secured media coverage and academic recognition but also laid the foundation for ongoing partnerships and advocacy.
With the launch of the MENASA Magazine, we have created a vital platform for sharing stories of accomplished physicians, insights on clinical trial equity, and innovations within our communities. The magazine’s reach is already expanding, with 350 printed issues distributed and partnerships with leading medical associations.
Looking ahead, we are committed to launching a comprehensive MENASA Clinical Trial Registry, expanding the Junior Academy nationally, and securing core funding for our central hub in Sugar Land. These steps will ensure that our impact continues to grow, both in the United States and internationally.
I am deeply grateful to our team, partners, sponsors, and the broader MENASA community for their unwavering support. Together, we are not just an organization—we are a movement. A movement dedicated to creating an inclusive global healthcare landscape where every patient, regardless of their ethnicity, is truly represented, valued, and served.
With hope and determination,
Dr. Hadi Danawi
Founder, MENASA Group
Board of Directors
Jerry Settle
Treasurer
Liliana Gamba
Secretary
Advisory Board
Dr. Majid Shah
Dr. Shah is a senior clinical research leader with over 18 years of experience across Phase I–IV clinical trials in multiple therapeutic areas. With a background in NIH-funded research, psychiatry, neuroscience, and peer-reviewed publications, he currently serves as CEO and Research Site Owner of Houston Clinical Research Associates. He leads end-to-end clinical research operations, including site development, regulatory compliance, and multi-site trial execution, and has extensive expertise in Phase I unit establishment, decentralized trials, electronic systems implementation, and ensuring compliance with FDA and ICH-GCP standards while managing complex, high-volume studies.
Dr. Preeti Dhaania
Dr. Preeti Dhaania is a physician and clinical research leader specializing in site operations, decentralized trials, and strategic consulting. As Founder and CEO of Ozark Clinical Research, she focuses on expanding clinical trial access for underserved communities, and as Decentralized Operations Lead at Trident Clinical Research Services, she helps sites improve efficiency and compliance. With hands-on experience as a Clinical Research Coordinator and consultant, she brings practical insight into study execution, patient engagement, and process improvement, collaborating closely with sponsors, CROs, and site leaders to advance high-quality, patient-centered research.
Dr. Sarah Almilli
Dr. Sarah Almilli, PharmD, APh is a healthcare entrepreneur, author, and keynote speaker focused on transforming healthcare delivery and rebuilding trust. She is the Founder and CEO of EverMint Health, a pharmacist-led, AI-powered health trust that combines precision genetics, advanced diagnostics, and clinical expertise to proactively prevent disease for executives and leaders. She also founded ELAK Health, a clinician-led organization delivering patient-centered care across California, which she rapidly scaled into a trusted community presence that reduced emergency room utilization, generated multimillion-dollar savings, and supported thousands of families. Dr. Almilli co-leads the Sacramento Chapter of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs and is the author of Healing Beyond the Hospital Walls, exploring a more proactive and human-centered healthcare model. Previously, she served as Pharmacy Service Line Leader at Kaiser Permanente, impacting over 60,000 patients and achieving landmark quality outcomes.
Dr. Daniel Fox
Dr. Daniel Fox is a translational scientist with nearly 20 years of scientific experience and more than 15 years in administrative and research leadership across academia, biotech startups, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and clinical research sites. He holds an MPH and a PhD in pharmacology and neuroscience and has led research operations in diverse settings, including global pharmaceutical program management. Dr. Fox is the co-founder, president, and CRO of a 501(c)(3) autism nonprofit. His career spans postdoctoral safety auditing at a military research site, biotech development, pharmaceutical manufacturing at Catalent, and administration of clinical trials for a large multi-specialty clinic. He currently focuses on establishing CRPN as an industry standard for clinical research compliance, accountability, and professionalism.
Dr. Mohammed Quadri
Dr. Quadri is a distinguished physician-scientist and healthcare executive with more than 18 years of leadership experience at Hackensack Meridian Health, where he advanced from sleep researcher to Vice President of Strategy for Academics, Research, and Innovation.
A nationally recognized innovator at the intersection of clinical science, strategy, and commercialization, Dr. Quadri was a strategic lead on the HMH Research Institute, contributing to significant growth in research portfolio development and enterprise innovation. He is the Principal Investigator of the landmark RISE Study, pioneering non-invasive breath-based diagnostics for sleep disorders, and has led transformative initiatives across academic research, ambulatory expansion, virtual health, value-based care, and health system growth.
Dr. Quadri brings deep expertise in research infrastructure, market intelligence, business development, and integrated care models, coupled with a strong commitment to community engagement and inclusive leadership.
Dr. Faten Tawfiq Almassri
Dr. Faten Tawfiq Almassri is a clinical research strategist enabling international sponsors and organizations to build and scale research operations across the GCC and Middle East with main focus on Saudi Arabia. She is also a clinical research consultant and entrepreneur specializing in clinical operations, research partnerships, and healthcare industry development across the region. She is the founder and general manager of Premium Research Institution for Research and Development, where she leads initiatives that support clinical research, healthcare innovation, and strategic collaborations between regional stakeholders and international organizations. With experience spanning clinical operations, business development, and cross-border partnerships, Dr. Almassri focuses on enabling organizations to establish and expand clinical research activities in emerging markets. Her work centers on bridging global expertise with regional healthcare systems, supporting institutions, sponsors, and service providers in navigating regulatory landscapes, building sustainable research infrastructure, and advancing high-quality clinical research across the GCC and Middle East.
Dr. Radwa Aly
Dr. Radwa Aly is a seasoned clinical research leader with more than 18 years of experience in clinical research administration and operations. She currently serves in an executive leadership role at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where she drives the strategic growth of high-impact translational clinical research and clinical trials across the academic medical enterprise. She is deeply committed to advancing health equity and improving diversity in clinical trial recruitment, enrollment, and retention. As co-founder and Director of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences Office of Clinical Research, she has helped increase the volume of supported clinical trials by 33% since 2021 and continues to champion team science, operational excellence, and mission-driven collaboration across academic medicine.
Council Team
Rhea Sharma
Rhea Sharma
Rhea Sharma
Rhea Sharma is a clinical research executive and healthcare innovator with over 15 years of experience leading global clinical trials across nephrology, cardiometabolic disease, and regenerative medicine. As a senior leader with Q Health Partners and Boson Health in Houston and Partner/COO of Diverse Medical Solutions LLC in Dallas–Fort W
Rhea Sharma is a clinical research executive and healthcare innovator with over 15 years of experience leading global clinical trials across nephrology, cardiometabolic disease, and regenerative medicine. As a senior leader with Q Health Partners and Boson Health in Houston and Partner/COO of Diverse Medical Solutions LLC in Dallas–Fort Worth, she oversees trial operations, regulatory compliance, and site performance for top-tier sponsors, including Fortune 500 companies. Beyond her clinical research career, Rhea founded GPSF Global, a nonprofit empowering South Asian women through healing and mental health advocacy, and created DesiWoman.ai, a digital platform promoting gender equity and cultural empowerment. She also leads Diverse AI, a pioneering platform merging AI, behavioral science, and neuroscience to deliver personalized emotional support for women. Drawing on her personal journey of resilience, Rhea’s work unites technology, empathy, and science to advance global health and human potential. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience, with completion planned for 2030.
Ehab Hasan
Rhea Sharma
Rhea Sharma
Mr. Ehab Hasan is a life sciences research executive with more than 20 years of experience operating at the intersection of strategy, operations, and innovation. He has built and led global clinical research programs across oncology, cardio-metabolic, and rare diseases, positioning evidence generation as a growth engine that accelerates d
Mr. Ehab Hasan is a life sciences research executive with more than 20 years of experience operating at the intersection of strategy, operations, and innovation. He has built and led global clinical research programs across oncology, cardio-metabolic, and rare diseases, positioning evidence generation as a growth engine that accelerates development timelines, strengthens teams, and advances both patient outcomes and enterprise value.
Across his career, Mr. Hasan has stewarded budgets exceeding USD 120 million and scaled organizations from inception into high-performing global groups of more than 150 professionals. His leadership approach emphasizes clarity of vision, disciplined execution, and a culture of accountability and collaboration.
He brings proven capability across the full clinical research ecosystem, working effectively with contract research organizations, payers, site networks, and biopharmaceutical sponsors to bridge innovation with operational excellence. By integrating real-world data into trial design and execution, he has consistently delivered efficiency gains, cost savings, and higher-impact insights supporting sponsors, regulators, and healthcare systems.
His executive impact includes scaling bio-pharmaceutical, contract research organization, and site-network growth models; leading transformation by aligning people, process, and technology; and governing risk, compliance, and performance to protect enterprise reputation and ensure sustainable growth.
May Gerges
Rhea Sharma
May Gerges
Ms. Gerges is a Certified Arabic Medical Interpreter accredited by Americans Against Language
Barriers (AALB). She obtained my certification to help bridge language gaps in healthcare
settings, working to reduce disparities among immigrants and patients with limited English
proficiency.
She brings over ten years of experience in university e
Ms. Gerges is a Certified Arabic Medical Interpreter accredited by Americans Against Language
Barriers (AALB). She obtained my certification to help bridge language gaps in healthcare
settings, working to reduce disparities among immigrants and patients with limited English
proficiency.
She brings over ten years of experience in university education and actively volunteer at
institutions such as Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Language and Literature from Lebanese University (LU).
MENASA Group Partners with National Arab Orchestra
We are proud to announce a strategic partnership between MENASA Group and the National Arab Orchestra. Together, we will celebrate and promote the richness of Arab culture, music, and heritage through collaborative events and initiatives that inspire and connect communities worldwide.