Binaytara Foundation Board of Directors
Dr. Binay Shah, Co-Founder and President
Binay Shah, MD knew exactly what he wanted to do as a child growing up in Nepal, where he saw the suffering of others take a terrible toll on his homeland. Led by a heart full of compassion, he was determined to do something that could impact lives. “Ever since I was a small child I wanted to help others, which is why Mother Teresa is one of my heroes,” Dr. Shah said. “Being a doctor, health and education is the best way for me to help people.” Dr. Shah founded Binaytara Foundation to promote health and education. Dr. Shah is a hematologist and oncologist at Peace Health United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley, Wash. His clinical research focuses on health services and outcomes. Dr. Shah has published a number of papers in peer-reviewed journals including Journal of Clinical Oncology, British Journal of Hematology, Leukemia and Lymphoma, Acta Oncologica and Annals of Hematology. He has presented a number of research papers at national and international conferences. He served as the president of Idaho Society of Clinical Oncology from 2014-2015. Dr. Shah received his medical degree from B.P. Koirala Institute of health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. He completed Internal Medicine residency from Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn and Hematology Oncology fellowship from University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Shah is on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Tara Shah, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Tara Shah, RN, BSN grew up in Nepal and came to the United States in March 2005 after marrying the love of her life, Dr. Binay Shah. She has worked as a registered nurse in various settings in Nepal and the United States. She loves art, history, and culture. She is very fascinated by the space above us; galaxies, stars, solar systems, and everything that lies in the open sky. Tara is also a licensed real estate broker and is involved in real estate business. Besides her involvement in business and non-profit work, Tara enjoys writing about various topics. She has published several articles in national and international journals, newspapers, and magazines. Tara has also authored three books which are currently available for purchase on Amazon, Apple’s iBooks store, Barnes & Noble, and Google play book store. Proceeds from the sale of her books are donated to the Binaytara Foundation’s cancer projects. Find Tara’s books on Amazon. Tara is on LinkedIn.
Dr. Timothy B. Erickson, Board Member
Timothy B. Erickson, MD is an emergency medicine physician at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Mass., where he serves as the Chief of Medical Toxicology in the Department of Emergency Medicine. He is also a teaching faculty member at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Erickson is also a core faculty member at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative in Cambridge, Mass., with expertise in environmental toxicology and crisis in climate change. He has active humanitarian health projects in Nepal and India as well as in conflict regions of Ukraine and Syria.
Dr. Erickson earned his M.D. from The Chicago Medical School in 1986. He completed emergency medicine residency training at the University of Illinois and his medical toxicology fellowship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Erickson is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, and the prestigious National Geographic Explorers Club. Previously, Dr. Erickson served as the Director for the UIC Center for Global Health and Full Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Erickson also served as the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Graduate Medical Education, and Continuing Medical Education at the UIC College of Medicine. He was an acting and interim Head in the Department of Emergency Medicine and has held other multifaceted appointments ranging from EM Residency Program Director to Chief of Medical Toxicology.
Dr. Julie Gralow, Board Member
Dr. Julie Gralow, MD is the Jill Bennett Endowed Professor of Breast Medical Oncology and Professor of Global Health at the University of Washington School of Medicine, a Member of the Clinical Research Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Director of Breast Medical Oncology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
Dr. Yusuf Qamruzzaman, Board Member
Yusuf Qamruzzaman, MD currently works as an attending physician in Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center in Dearborn, Michigan. Dr. Qamruzzaman attended college at the University of Michigan and obtained a bachelor of arts in Middle Eastern studies. He then attended medical school at Wayne State University followed by residency in internal medicine and fellowship in hematology and oncology at University of Illinois at Chicago. His parents emigrated from India and he was born and raised in Detroit, Mich. His family has been extensively involved in social and humanitarian work in India. He currently resides in the Detroit metro area with his wife and three children.
Dr. Derrel Walker, Board Member
Derrel Walker, MD is the Associate Medical Director of Horizon Home Health and Hospice in Meridian, Idaho, and the Chief Scientific Officer for The Finding Home Foundation in Eagle, Idaho. Dr. Walker is actively involved in the BTF’s activities, especially the hospice and palliative care programs in Nepal and India. He provided hospice and palliative care training for the Binaytara Foundation’s hospice and palliative care project in Madhya Pradesh, India and traveled to Janakpur, Nepal in December 2018 to support the development of the Binaytara Foundation Cancer Center (BTFCC). Dr. Walker in on LinkedIn.