Dr. Aisha Siddiqui, Dr.PH, is a graduate of University of Texas, School of Public Health (UTSPH). She earned her doctorate in Management, Policy, and Community Health. She moved to Houston with her husband and two little children, in 1989.
As an immigrant woman, she faced many challenges. From navigating the streets of a new city to finding a job, adjusting to an unfamiliar country was an uphill climb. This land of opportunity was incredible, yet daunting. She encountered caring people who were willing to help her adjust to a new life and knew that she, in turn, had to give back and help those who were not as fortunate.
Dr. Siddiqui re-started her education in 1999 with a Masters in Public Health, while working as a research assistant at the University of Texas – Dental Branch. After graduating, she started working as an Epidemiologist at the Houston Department of Health and Human Services. Siddiqui was always passionate about education and health promotion in under-served communities. Her work at the Health Department involved working with the underprivileged population of Houston, which strengthened her determination to serve the disadvantaged. When she was at UT’s School of Public Health, Siddiqui wanted to incorporate her background with her interests in public health. While working on her doctoral degree, she sought out South Asian women to better understand the challenges they faced in staying healthy. Documenting their stories allowed her to complete her studies, but she knew she couldn’t stop there.
In 2015, Dr. Siddiqui founded Culture of Health-Advancing Together (CHAT), a non-profit organization, with a mission to foster the health and well-being of immigrant and refugee communities through the education, arts, advocacy and access to care. Her vision is to build a healthy community that is self-sufficient and meets the everyday challenges of living in a diverse society.
In her free time Dr. Siddiqui loves to spend time with her family and friends. She is an avid traveler and loves to explore diverse cultures and cuisines.