On October 22, 2008, the White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives hosted an UMMA clinic representative, the U.S. Surgeon General and national health leaders for a panel event titled, the "Compassion in Action Roundtable". UMMA clinic, representing the Muslim American contribution to charitable healthcare provision, was one of only three clinics in the nation invited to take part at the exclusive White House event.

White House officials, the U.S Surgeon General and policy makers were all on hand as UMMA President and CEO Yasser Aman, MPH, joined a handful of panelists in showing the effective programs and partnerships faith based and non-profit health centers are using to meet the challenges of the nation's underserved.

Mr. Aman's presentation highlighted core aspects of the clinic's success in innovatively expanding access to quality, affordable health care. This includes building strategic coalitions with other South L.A. based clinics aimed at easing access to specialty care health services. Another equally groundbreaking measure is UMMA's unique commitment to medical education; since its founding, the clinic has trained hundreds of medical students and residents in order to cultivate a new generation of mission driven physicians. These are only two ways in which UMMA is bolstering the regional safety net, and saving lives.

While health care policy remains the contentious subject of ongoing national debate, yesterday's White House forum emphasized a central theme: faith based and community clinics like UMMA are indispensible in providing the affordable, qualified and culturally sensitive health services low income and uninsured communities need.

As UMMA's participation was indeed historic, we are hopeful that it represents a significant and positive step in advancing the dialogue between Muslim Americans and national policy makers.