3rd Annual Islamic Bioethics
Conference 2027
Ethics that Endure
MMAC is hosting a national conference bringing together physicians and trainees to explore some of the most pressing bioethical questions in medicine today.
Saturday, January 9, 2027
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Where Medicine Meets Ethics
The MMAC Islamic Bioethics Conference returns January 9, 2027. A focused day of professional education and discussion exploring the intersection of medicine, spirituality, morality and ethics.
REGISTER NOWShare Your Research at the Conference
Are you a medical student, resident or postgraduate student working on a question in Islamic or religious bioethics? Submit an abstract for the chance to share your work at the Conference.
Abstracts will be reviewed by our panel of bioethics experts. Several will be selected for poster presentation, and one will be chosen for a 10-minute oral presentation with a 5-minute Q&A. All presentations are in person only.
Abstract Requirements
- Up to 250 words
- Structured: Title, Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion, Bibliography
- At least 2 literature references
How to Submit
Email your abstract to bioethics@muslimmeds.ca with the subject line “2027 Bioethics Conference Abstract Submission.”
Who You'll Hear From
Physicians and educators bringing their clinical experience to the most complex questions in practice.
Dr. Wael M. R. Haddara
Coordinated Expertise in an Age of Bioethical Uncertainty
Dr. Aasim I. Padela
The Need for Muslim-Focused Moral Formation in Medicine
Sh. Dr. Hamid Slimi
Navigating the Halal Status of Medications: Towards a Provider-Facing Database
Dr. Nazir Khan
The Influence on Bioethics from Non-Medical Ideologies
Dr. Raza M. Naqvi
Ethical Issues in Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Dr. Rami Elzayat
Ethics of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration
Dr. Sara Shamiya
Navigating Infertility in Muslim Patients: Bridging Reproductive Medicine, Faith, and Patient-Centred Care
Dr. Shaimaa Helal
Ethics of Pregnancy Termination for Genetic or Medical Reasons
Panel & Facilitators Swipe →
Fostering Medical Ethics
Dr. Aasim I. Padela, Dr. Nazir Khan & Dr. Wael M. R. Haddara
Dr. Aasim Hasany
Small Group Discussions: How to Identify Poorly Done Ethics
Dr. Obaidullah Khan
Small Group Discussions & Presentation Awards
Program
The Day at a Glance
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The Day at a Glance
- 8:00 AMRegistration & Networking Breakfast
- 8:30 AMOpening Remarks
- 8:45 AMEthics of Artificial Nutrition and HydrationDr. Rami Elzayat
- 9:15 AMNavigating Infertility in Muslim Patients: Bridging Reproductive Medicine, Faith, and Patient-Centred CareDr. Sara Shamiya
- 9:45 AMNavigating the Halal Status of Medications: Towards a Provider-Facing DatabaseSh. Dr. Hamid Slimi
- 10:15 AMResearch ShowcasePoster Pavilion & Sponsors
- 11:00 AMEthics of Pregnancy Termination for Genetic or Medical ReasonsDr. Shaimaa Helal
- 11:30 AMThe Influence on Bioethics from Non-Medical IdeologiesDr. Nazir Khan
- 12:00 PMKeynoteCoordinated Expertise in an Age of Bioethical UncertaintyDr. Wael M. R. Haddara
- 12:45 PMEthical Issues in Cognitive Impairment and DementiaDr. Raza M. Naqvi
- 1:15 PMDhuhr Salah & Lunch
- 2:15 PMSmall Group DiscussionsHow to Identify Poorly Done EthicsDr. Aasim Hasany, Dr. Raza M. Naqvi, Dr. Obaidullah Khan
- 3:00 PMAsr Salah
- 3:15 PMThe Need for Muslim-Focused Moral Formation in MedicineDr. Aasim I. Padela
- 3:45 PMPanelFostering Medical EthicsDr. Aasim I. Padela, Dr. Nazir Khan, Dr. Wael M. R. Haddara
- 4:35 PMOral & Poster Presentation AwardsDr. Obaidullah Khan
- 4:55 PMClosing RemarksDr. Obaidullah Khan
Join Us In Person or Online
The Conference will be held in person at Belmont Event Space and livestreamed, so you can attend from anywhere.
In Person
Belmont Event Space, Etobicoke
The full experience: expert talks with live Q&A, small group discussions, the panel, the poster pavilion and time to connect with colleagues over breakfast and lunch.
Livestream
Watch from anywhere
Follow the talks live online, wherever you are. Group discussions, the poster pavilion and networking are only available in person.
Ethics that Endure
This year's sessions focus on the decisions that come up in everyday practice, from the beginning of life to its end.
Beginning of Life
Navigating fertility and pregnancy decisions with care and integrity.
End of Life & Aging
Supporting patients and families through decline, dependency and dying.
Everyday Practice
Practical questions Muslim clinicians face in routine care.
The Bigger Picture
The ideas and influences shaping how medicine defines what’s ethical.
Who Should Attend
Open to Every Perspective
The Conference is intended for physicians, residents, medical students, healthcare professionals, scholars, researchers and others interested in the ethical questions emerging across medicine and healthcare.
What to Expect
More Than a Lecture
The Conference combines focused expert sessions with Q&A and discussion. The goal is to create a room where people can learn, question, challenge ideas and think through difficult issues together.
Medicine keeps moving. The questions get harder.
Advances in medicine continue to create new possibilities. They also create new questions around responsibility, consent, dignity, faith and ethical decision-making.
“Indeed, We sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and with them We sent down the Scripture and the balance (of justice) so that people may administer justice…”
Qur’an, Al-Hadid 57:25
Building on the Conversation
Our 2025 Islamic Bioethics Forum at The Alderlea brought physicians, scholars and trainees together on these topics:
- Dr. Shaimaa HelalIslamic Bioethics in the Age of Genomic Medicine
- Dr. Saleha GangatAbortion Discussion through an Islamic Lens
- Sh. Dr. Hamid SlimiMAID: an Islamic Response to the Present and Anticipating the Future
- Dr. Rami ElzayatSeeking Certainty: Declaring Death in Islamic Bioethics
- Dr. Aasim I. PadelaA Multidisciplinary & Multidimensional Approach to Addressing the “Islamic” Bioethics of Organ Donation
- Dr. Nazir KhanKnowledge Decolonization: Priorities for the Islamic Bioethics Forum
Moderated by Dr. Shabbir Alibhai and Dr. Obaidullah Khan
2024 Conference Recordings
Get a taste of the conference experience with recordings from our 2024 Islamic Bioethics and Medical Updates Conference. Every lecture is now open to the public and available to watch online.
Day 1
Bioethics Conference
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Bioethics Conference
- Character Development and Its Intricate Relationship with Islamic Bioethics
- Canadian Muslims and Palliative Care: Challenges and Strategies
- Update from the Fiqh Majlis of Canada Regarding MAiD
- Updates on Legislation and Practical Application of Medical Assistance in Dying
- Keynote: Unraveling Death Denial in Modern Medicine: Insights from History & Islam
- A Guided Discussion on Resuscitation in Pediatrics
- Panel Discussion: Dying with Dignity from an Islamic Perspective
Day 2
Medical Update Conference
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Medical Update Conference
- The New Frontier in Obesity Management
- Acute Kidney Injury: Awareness, Kindness & Ingravescence
- An Approach to Abnormal Uterine Bleeding and Period Suppression
- Mind Matters: Approaches to Common Psychiatric Conditions
- Clearing the Air: Updates to Smoking Cessation
- Hidden Dangers of Hookah: Trends, Risks & Public Health Implications
- Keynote and Masterclass: Physicians as Leaders, Shaping the Future of Medicine
- Applications of AI in Medical Practice: Separating Hype from Reality
- Travel Smart: Essential Insights in Travel Medicine
- Panel: Crisis Response, Delivering Emergency Medicine in the Global Context
CME Accreditation
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About MMAC
Professional Education Rooted in Community
The Muslim Medical Association of Canada is a national, registered non-profit for Muslim physicians, residents, medical students and healthcare professionals. Our vision is to build a community of Muslim physicians who combine their Islamic values and professional skills to contribute to the betterment of their communities, society and humanity.
MMAC's professional education work also includes the Islamic Bioethics Series, a seminar series that brought together clinical expertise and Islamic scholarship on topics including MAID, end-of-life care, organ donation and emerging medical technologies. The full series is now available to watch online.
Watch the Series →Partnering for Excellence and Impact
Join MMAC as a partner in advancing ethical, compassionate care. Your support makes possible a day of professional education for physicians, residents, medical students, researchers and healthcare professionals from across Canada.
Partners are recognized throughout the day and featured alongside the poster pavilion, where attendees and presenters gather between sessions. To learn more and receive the sponsorship package, contact us at advertising@muslimmeds.ca.
Become a PartnerSpecial Inquiries
For media, speaking or other requests, email us at bioethics@muslimmeds.ca.
