Tareen family gives $5 million to UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences

By creating a Department of Dermatology at the School, gift will help fill an exceptional regional need

The UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences today announced a $5 million gift commitment from the Mohiba and Basir Tareen family to establish the Department of Dermatology. The gift will also endow the Tareen Family Chair of Dermatology, strengthening specialty care and medical education for North Dakota and the broader Upper Midwest.

“UND has and will always hold a special place for me and my family,” said Dr. Basir Tareen. “It gave me my education, and my father, Dr. Jamil Tareen, taught students here for many years while serving as a rural surgeon in Cavalier, N.D. This gift honors the legacy of physicians who dedicate their lives to rural communities and helps ensure the next generation of doctors continues that tradition.”

A 2002 UND graduate, Basir Tareen is a urologist with Minnesota Urology in the Twin Cities. He is also the founder of Tareen Development Partners, a national real estate development firm focused on building and preserving affordable housing communities across the United States. Basir’s father, Jamil Tareen, served as a rural surgeon in Cavalier for more than 35 years, caring for generations of patients in northeastern North Dakota and mentoring medical students throughout his career.

‘Honored to help the University’

For Dr. Mohiba Tareen, the gift represents an opportunity to advance both dermatology education and patient care across the state.

“Dermatology is my passion, and to be able to bring dermatology and specialty care to better serve North Dakota is a lifelong dream,” said Mohiba, a board-certified dermatologist who founded Tareen Dermatology in 2011 in Roseville, Minn. “We are honored to help the University and excited for what is to come.”

The Tareen family’s gift aims to help address the growing need for dermatology specialists in rural and underserved communities while strengthening UND’s ability to train future physicians. There are currently fewer than 30 practicing dermatologists in North Dakota, roughly 1 for every 28,000 people in the state, said Dr. Marjorie Jenkins, dean of the Scholl of Medicine & Health Sciences and UND’s vice president for Health Affairs. The gift from Basir and Mohiba Tareen will be vital in addressing this critical need.

In addition, UND leaders say the gift represents a transformational investment in UND’s School of Medicine & Health Sciences and will significantly strengthen the university’s ability to expand specialty training in North Dakota.

“This amazing gift reflects Mohiba and Basir’s deep commitment to higher education and connection to family,” said UND President Andrew Armacost. “It shows gratitude for the opportunities that shaped their journey, a profound connection to a purpose greater than themselves, and a dedication to driving meaningful change to strengthen communities.

“I am grateful that with this gift, more individuals and families across North Dakota will have access to the kind of expert care that truly changes lives,” Armacost continued. “The impact of the Tareen’s generosity will be felt for generations.”

Creating a leader in dermatology education

Dean Jenkins called attention to the details as well as the exceptional long-term impacts of the gift. “The Tareen Family Chair of Dermatology will provide permanent support for a nationally recognized physician-leader who will help build the new department, lead research initiatives, and train future dermatologists at UND,” she said.

“The gift will also support the development of dermatology education, clinical training, and research at UND while expanding access to specialty dermatologic care across the region.”

By establishing a Department of Dermatology and an endowed chair, said Jenkins, the Tareen family’s gift will help position UND as a regional leader in dermatology education.

DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, agreed. “It is wonderful to see the Tareen family not only establish an endowed chair through this remarkable gift, but also help create a much-needed Department of Dermatology within the School of Medicine & Health Sciences,” she said.

“By creating an endowment, their generosity will live on in perpetuity — supporting today’s medical students, future physicians, and the patients they will one day serve.

“This gift is a powerful example of legacy, vision, and the lasting impact philanthropy can have for generations to come.”