SCIPPER is an international network of physicians, medical students, friends and well-wishers who volunteer their time, expertise and donate generously to help and rehabilitate people who became paralyzed from spinal cord injuries after the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. The spinal cord injured persons (SCIPs) are provided with financial support, free international telehealth, medical care, education, vocational training, employment opportunities and housing that has been adapted for people with disabilities. SCIPPER USA is registered in California, as a non-profit charitable organization.
The Mission of SCIPPER
To help, support and provide the patients living in the Northern Regions and other areas of Pakistan, who became paralyzed from spinal cord injuries after the devastating 2005 earthquake in Northern Regions of Pakistan with the following:
How We Help
Health Care, Medical Supplies
Rehabilitation of SCIPs
Financial Support
Wheelchairs
Handicapped Housing
Computer and English Classes
International Telemedicine and Tele Education Program
Winter Clothing, Food and a Caregiver Stipend
Vocational Training
The SCIPPER Team
Dr. Zeba Vanek founded the SCIPPER Project in 2005 to provide quality health care to spinal cord injured persons (SCIPs) who survived from the devastating 2005 earthquake in Kashmir. AJK in coordination with Hashoo Foundation based in Pakistan. She is a Neurologist and works at Touro University Medical Group in Northern California. In the past she was an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at UCLA.
Haida Sheikh directs the TeleHealth program and manages the staff in Pakistan. She is also very active in fund-raising and public relations. She is a Pathology Assistant and an Interior Designer in Los Angeles, California
Jamila Ashai manages the TeleEducation Program and teaches English to SCIPs. She was a Clinical Researcher at UCLA for 10 years and an Ultrasonographer at UCLA and Cedars Sinai Los Angeles.
Ali Vanek manages administrative work, accounts and fund-raising. He is a registered Civil Engineer in California. He worked for Bechtel and Parsons Corporation as an Engineering Manager.
Dr. Angabeen manages the International Telehealth Program. She is a Radiologist at Yale New Haven Health Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, New London, CT
Dr Lubna Pal manages the gynecologic care and academic activities of the project. She is a Professor of Gynecology at Yale University, CT
Dr. Farhat is a project advisor and facilitates fundraising. She is an anesthesiologist (retired) in Greater Los Angeles.
Dr. Zahoor manages all operations in Pakistan. He has been the Country Director of SCIPPER since its inception in 2005. He is a physician, nutritionist and Stem Cell specialist. He is also the Hashoo Groups consultant physician.
She is s gynecologist and manages the medical care of the SCIPs
Dr. Anam manages the psychiatric and medical care of SCIPs. She is a psychiatrist at CMH, Muzaffarabad, Kashmir. She herself is a quadraplegic who has been an inspiration for the SCIPs and our team.
Asad has been with SCIPPER since its inception. He oversees the field work in Kashmir, AJK, KPK and Islamabad. His brother is a SCIP and supported by the SCIPPER Project.
Jamaal does field work in Kashmir, AJK, KPK and Islamabad. His sister is a SCIP and is supported by the SCIPPER Project.
Farah has been with SCIPPER since its inception. She lives in Islamabad and oversees the peer groups for SCIPs and counsels and educated them. Her late husband was a SCIP and was supported by the SCIPPER Project.
Amber coordinates Publications for the SCIPPER Project, She is a News Producer at Dawn TV, Karachi, Pakistan.