DR. BASHER M. ATIQUZZAMAN

Dr. Basher M. Atiquzzaman, MD, fondly known as “Dr. Atiq,” is a distinguished gastroenterologist, educator, and philanthropist with over decades of experience. He has played a pivotal role in advancing healthcare education and facilitating technology transfer, particularly in Bangladesh, where he has worked to bridge knowledge gaps and support underserved communities.

Dr. Atiq is a faculty member and site director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program at the University of Florida College of Medicine, as well as the director of the Heartburn Center at the Digestive and Liver Center of Florida (DLCFL). He also serves as curriculum director for the Internal Medicine Training Program at the University of Central Florida and is actively involved in research.

A graduate of Chittagong Medical College, Dr. Atiq completed his Internal Medicine residency at SUNY Downstate, followed by fellowship training in Geriatrics at Stony Brook University and Gastroenterology at SUNY Downstate. He has held key leadership positions, including chairman of medicine and chief of gastroenterology, at major teaching hospitals in Central Florida. His contributions include numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at international conferences, and authorship of medical textbooks. He has also served as an advisor to startups such as ClickHealth, Sharecare, and CMED, which focus on promoting AI and expanding healthcare accessibility at the grassroots level.

Dr. Atiq is actively involved in several professional and nonprofit organizations, including the American College of Gastroenterology and the Bangladesh Medical Association of North America. He is a prolific writer, regularly contributing columns to leading news portals in Bangladesh, and is a sought-after public speaker.

Committed to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, Dr. Atiq enjoys traveling, gardening, and photography. He is happily married with two children, and his wife, also a physician, supports his passions and endeavors.

" Dear Colleagues and Friends

As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Planetary Health Academia (PHA), I am deeply humbled by the incredible journey we have traveled together. PHA was founded at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with a singular mission: to promote medical education, facilitate knowledge sharing, and harness technology to support the global medical community. What began as a small initiative has quickly grown into the largest platform for Bangladeshi academic physicians worldwide. Over the past five years, we have made remarkable strides across multiple medical subspecialties, building a collaborative faculty team that has organized weekly webinar sessions, hosted numerous international conferences, and conducted hands-on courses for young doctors. We have awarded travel fellowships and held career symposiums for both young physicians and medical students. A highlight of our achievements was the introduction of the first-ever medical Olympiad in Bangladesh, which brought together over eighty medical colleges in a display of knowledge, teamwork, and innovation. PHA has also forged meaningful collaborations with major medical organizations and institutions, both public and private, strengthening our collective impact. Our regular television program, Shastho Surkkhoai Protidin, has played an important role in promoting public health awareness, shaping health policy, and enriching the health education curriculum. Moreover, our partnership with Prothom Alo has enabled us to provide scholarships to promising medical students, fostering the next generation of healthcare leaders. This past February, PHA took a groundbreaking step by organizing the first-ever Global Healthcare Summit in Bangladesh. We welcomed renowned physicians, educators, and researchers from around the world to work alongside Bangladeshi physician leaders and young doctors. Together, we hosted more than ten hands-on courses, symposiums, and multidisciplinary conferences. Additionally, we created a platform for research competitions, offering young physicians and students the opportunity to showcase their work. As we look ahead, PHA is committed to broadening our horizons and expanding our scope of work. Our goal remains steadfast: to foster global collaboration for a healthier world. We are excited about the future and the continued opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of medical education, research, and public health. Thank you for being part of this remarkable journey. Warm regards,

Thank you for being part of this remarkable journey.

Warm regards "