NASPGHAN is proud to recognize April as Arab American Heritage Month and acknowledge the contributions of all our members with Arab heritage, regardless of nationality.
The Arab world is made up of 22 countries that span North Africa to West Asia, with great diversity. The three most common religions are Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Hospitality, generosity, faith, family and community are key pillars of Arab culture and children often become caretakers for their parents.
It is estimated that there are 3.7 million Arab Americans. There are an estimated 1.2 million Arab immigrants in the US, doubled since the year 2000. The 2030 US census will make Arab Americans more visible by adding a race/ethnicity category called Middle Eastern or North African (MENA). Previously, Arab Americans would need to choose White or Other.
Arab America and the Arab America Foundation launched the National Arab American Heritage Month initiative in 2017, designating the month of April to celebrate our Arab American population. There were nearly 100proclamations commemorating the initiative in 2025, with six states passing permanent legislation designating every April as Arab American Heritage Month.
To learn more, visit the following sources:
Arab America Foundation
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
If you have people you’d like to see highlighted for future months, please nominate them by sharing their name and contact information with Eyad and Faith. They can be any full member of NASPGHAN, CPNP, or APGNN (attendings, RDs, APNs, RNs, PAs).
Faith Ihekweazu: faith.ihekweazu@bcm.edu
Eyad Hanna (He/They): emhanna @uic.edu
February: Black History Month
March: National Women’s History Month; Irish American Heritage Month
April: Arab American Heritage Month
May: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month; Jewish American Heritage Month
June: PRIDE month
September: National Hispanic-Latine/x Heritage Month (Sept 15 to Oct 15); Women in Medicine Month
October: National Italian American Heritage Month; National Disability Employment Awareness Month
November: National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month
