Bushra Ibnauf Endowment Fund - 2024 Fundraiser

On 25 April 2023, just 10 days after the war broke out in Sudan, Bushra was killed in Khartoum at the age of 48. 

Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman exemplified the best in us.

In 2008, Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, with four other Sudanese doctors who completed their medical training in the USA, established the Sudanese American Medical Association (SAMA) to serve those in need in Sudan, mainly targeting the aspects of underserved patient care, medical education and training, and humanitarian relief.

The US-born gastroenterologist later returned to Sudan to look after his elderly parents. Shortly after his return to Sudan, he joined his alma mater, the University of Khartoum, as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine. In 2018, Bushra established SAMA’s Sudan office in Khartoum and nurtured it from its humble beginning to a fully-fledged office with permanent full-time staff and several successful programs such as building hospitals, importing medical supplies to Sudan, and training health professionals. The father of four lived in Sudan with his wife and two of his children and divided his time and work between Iowa and Khartoum.

While Bushra felt that humanitarian work was his duty; teaching and mentorship were his passion. He was always approachable with a genuine ‘open-door policy’ that created a special bond between him and his students. Bushra had a charming charismatic personality that made all those who met him admire and adore him. As one of his classmates said, ‘The room would light up when Bushra entered’. His humility, candor, and grace dismantled the patriarchal image of the unapproachable elitist professor and replaced it with the tender touch of the mentor and elder brother for his students and trainees. 

Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Center for Learning - Port Sudan

In his memory, SAMA established the Dr Bushra Ibnauf Center for Learning in Port Sudan. The center overcomes local challenges of power supply and internet speed using solar panels and reliable internet service. It is fully equipped for learning with modern audiovisual equipment and IT hardware. The center was approved as a hub for the University of New Mexico’s Project ECHO model.

On 8 July 2023, the first Project ECHO program, Trauma ECHO, was conducted in the center. Trauma ECHO connected Sudan’s trauma surgeons with global experts in trauma surgery over 11 Zoom sessions. The sessions are structured to be interactive and emphasize learner engagement ‘All Teach, All Learn’ approach. Seventeen trauma surgery experts from North America, Europe, and the Middle East volunteered their time to share their knowledge with the more than 260 learners who participated in the program. 

In February 2024, a California-based anesthesiologist came to the center and conducted a hybrid anesthesiology workshop that included hands-on training in Ultrasound-guided IV access training.  16 anesthesiologists and critical care residents working in Port Sudan were trained. 

About the Endowment Fund

In 2022, SAMA set up an endowment fund with Wells Fargo. The funds are invested in Shariah-compliant stock (e.g. Apple, Amazon).  The investments are managed by Mohamed Awad Eljeid, VP at Wells Fargo in Wichita, KS – a trustworthy and longtime supporter of SAMA.  

On August 19th, 2023, the BOD renamed it to Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Endowment Fund to fund Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Centers for Learning.

Raise $150,000 by December 31st 2028

This will generate an annual revenue of $15,000 per year, which is enough to cover the annual expenses of the Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Center for Learning in Port Sudan.

Our 2024 Goal 

Raise $30,000 by December 31st 2024.

To date, we have raised $23,000. We are hoping to raise the remaining $7000 by May 25th 2024.