As NAAMA convenes for its 35th International Medical Convention in Lisbon, we gather on land once known as Al-Gharb Al-Andalus, the westernmost region of Islamic Iberia and a historic crossroads of civilizations. From the 8th to the 13th centuries, much of present-day Portugal was shaped by Arab and Islamic culture, scholarship, and innovation.

Cities such as Lisbon (Al-Ushbuna), Silves (Shilb), and Évora (Yabura) flourished as centers of learning, medicine, agriculture, architecture, and trade. Arab and Muslim scholars advanced medical science, public health, mathematics, and philosophy, translating knowledge across languages and regions and applying innovation directly to clinical practice; an early model of medicine without borders.

The legacy of Al-Gharb Al-Andalus remains embedded in modern Portugal, reflected in its language, place names, architectural elements, agricultural practices, and scientific foundations. More enduring, however, is the spirit of intellectual exchange, collaboration, and openness that defined this period.

For NAAMA members, convening in Lisbon is both symbolic and forward-looking. It reminds us that the integration of innovation with patient care, and the sharing of medical knowledge across cultures and borders, is not new but part of a long tradition. The 35th NAAMA International Medical Convention builds on this legacy, reaffirming NAAMA’s mission to advance clinical excellence, health equity, and global collaboration in medicine.