BIO
Dr. Aisha Siddiqui is a public health professional and the founder and executive director of the nonprofit CHAT (Culture of Health-Advancing Together). She was born in Karachi, Pakistan as the oldest of four children and was deeply interested in maths and sciences from a young age. She moved to Saudi Arabia and then the United States after marriage. Dr. Siddiqui was an educator in Saudi Arabia before pursuing her Masters in public health at the UT School of Public Health while focusing on international and family health. She worked as an epidemiologist for a period of time before returning to UT to seek her doctorate in public health. Her thesis focused on how a lack of assimilation impacted the physical and mental health of South Asian women. This launched the idea for the foundation of CHAT, an organization providing comprehensive and holistic support for Houston communities through the arts, healthcare, and educational programs. In this interview, Dr. Siddiqui discusses her childhood interests and activities, her deep connection to her faith, and the struggles and experiences she faced as an immigrant to the US. She also dives into what inspired her decision to found CHAT, how COVID-19 impacted her community and the work she was conducting, and the relationship between public health and legislation in Houston. CHAT is currently a part of the Mid-America Arts Alliance and has conducted notable events like the Gulfton Story Trail featuring the Houston community.