Our Team
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Sheila Badwan was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, and raised in Greenville, North Carolina. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Management from East Carolina University in 2005. For more than a decade, she has worked in the healthcare field across multiple specialties, bringing strong operational, leadership, and people-centered experience to her work.
Sheila brings deep expertise in community collaboration and nonprofit leadership. She played a pivotal role in building Hanan Refugees Relief Group into a refugee resettlement agency serving communities across Wisconsin, helping lead its growth, expanding its impact, and earning multiple accolades from nationally recognized partners, including Islamic Relief USA. She currently serves as Executive Director of Hanan Refugees Relief Group.
Her community involvement spans refugee, immigrant, and differently abled populations. Sheila has worked extensively with refugee and immigrant communities throughout Milwaukee and across Wisconsin. She currently serves as Board President of the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance, where she supports civic engagement, advocacy, and leadership development statewide.
In addition, Sheila serves on the advisory committee of Our Peaceful Home, a culturally specific domestic violence program with the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, and sits on the steering committee for the HOME program, which celebrates refugees and helps plan World Refugee Day at the Lynden Sculpture Garden. She is also the Co-Chair of the Wisconsin State Refugee Advisory Council.
A frequent speaker and media interviewee, Sheila regularly addresses refugee and immigrant issues at both the local and national levels. Her leadership and advocacy have been widely recognized, including being named one of the 100 Most Influential People in This Is Milwaukee in 2019 and receiving the Hero of the Month award from Shepherd Express magazine in July 2022.
Sheila is married and a devoted mother of two children. Her lived experience as a parent of a child who is partially deaf and lives with epilepsy continues to shape her strong commitment to inclusion, equity, and compassionate community work.
Sheila Badwan
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Dr. Awadallah is a Pulmonary and Critical Care physician currently residing and practicing in Nebraska.
He completed his Bacherlor’s and UNC Chapel Hill, his medical degree at St George and his Internal medicine and Pulmonary/critical training at ECU. He is also a devoted husband and a father for 2 beautiful children.
He is currently active in establishing a tele-medicine program for hospitals in the West Bank.
Throughout his career, Dr. Awadallah has volunteered with several organizations locally abroad. In addition to Humanitarian assistance abroad, he is involved in medical outreach programs in the US.
Dr. Saed Awadallah
OUR BOARD
Dr. Ruba Sarsour
OUR FOUNDER
"Relief work that leaves too soon is nothing but abandonment."
Dr. Ruba Sarsour is a physician dual board-certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. She serves as the Medical Director of Nephrology at Regional West Medical Center and the Medical Director of the Davita Dialysis Unit in her community.
She graduated from the Friends School in Ramallah, Palestine, and completed her undergraduate studies at East Carolina University, followed by a medical degree from the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) at Virginia Tech.
Dr. Sarsour is the founder of Hanan Relief Group and has dedicated her life to humanitarian service, volunteering with medical and relief organizations across the U.S. and internationally. Her mission is to build sustainable programs that promote economic independence, improve healthcare systems, and uplift livelihoods.
Under her leadership, Hanan Relief Group has launched impactful initiatives including a home dialysis clinic, medical aid delivery, and economic development programs supporting individuals and families facing displacement and hardship.
She also serves on the boards of Physicians for Palestine and the Jerusalem Fund, and is a proud Rotarian, actively engaged in civic and global service.
Faten Taneeb, EDD
VICE PRESIDENT BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Faten Taneeb, born in Washington DC, previously volunteered with Hanan Refugees supporting our international assistance efforts in Jordan and Palestine. Over her career that spans nearly 40 years, Faten has gained extensive experience in a variety of sectors including health, pharmaceuticals, and education. However, her passion lies in international development and humanitarian assistance. Faten’s international development career is focused in the Middle East and she has supported projects in Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. She speaks fluently in Arabic. Faten has a B.S. in Biology from the American University in Washington DC, a master’s in Education (with a concentration in health promotion) from Virginia Tech, an MBA from Averett University in Virginia, and a Doctor of Education (EDD) from Capella University. Faten currently works for Global Communities in Palestine as the MEL and Communications Director.
Dr. Jamil Yasin
AT-LARGE MEMBER
Jamil is a Hospitalist physician and the Director of the Hospitalist department at Sara Bush Hospital in Champaign, Illinois. He loves his job and helping patients get better. One of his most satisfactory feelings is seeing patients getting sent home to their loved ones. He loves traveling, spending time with his three kids and being a humanitarian. He loves helping those that are less fortunate.
Dr. Sara Wasim
AT-LARGE MEMBER
Dr. Sara Wasim is a Board Certified Internal Medicine physician currently practicing in Alexandria, VA.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA and her medical degree from Ross Universit in 2014. She completed her residency at East Carolina University (ECU)/Vidant Medical Center in Internal Medicine. She is a proud wife and mother of 2 adorable children.
Dr. Wasim has always been passionate about charity and providing medical care to those less fortunate. She has been volunteering at local charity events since she was in middle school. During medical school, she was part of multiple groups that provided basic medical care and donations at free clinics in Dominica.
As part of Hanan RRG, she plans to provide basic and medical aid to as many people as possible from all over the world.
Maysoun Ahmad
AT-LARGE MEMBER
Maysoun Ahmad has been an active member in the greater Muslim Milwaukee community since 1990.
She has participated on various boards and has great partnership with several non-profit organizations locally and nationally.
Maysoun is also a daycare owner & has an educational background in Early Childhood. She is also a devoted and loving wife & mother of six!
Dr. Taj Nasser
AT-LARGE MEMBER
Dr. Taj Nasser is a board-certified ophthalmologist, specializing in refractive, cataract, and anterior segment surgery. As the Medical Director at Tylock George Eye Care and Associate at Mueller Vision in DFW, Texas, Dr. Nasser is dedicated to restoring vision and enhancing the quality of life for his patients. His career reflects a deep commitment to service, both locally and globally, where he has volunteered his surgical skills with organizations like the Himalayan Cataract Project and Centro Educativo Indigena Missionary Eye Camps.
Born in a small Yemeni village, Dr. Nasser’s journey is a testament to resilience and the pursuit of the American dream. His personal experiences fuel his passion for helping others, particularly in underserved and impoverished regions. Fluent in English, Arabic, and conversational Spanish, Dr. Nasser brings a unique perspective and cultural understanding to his work.
As a newly appointed board member of Hanan Refugee Relief Group, Dr. Nasser is excited to further his mission of providing humanitarian aid, with a focus on improving access to medical care for refugees across the Middle East. He looks forward to contributing to the organization’s incredible efforts to uplift displaced communities and empower individuals through critical healthcare services and educational programs.