Dr. Hassan was born in Guyana, South America and is a naturalized citizen of the United States (1982).  He attended college and medical school at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and is board certified in Internal Medicine and in Pulmonary Diseases.  He is licensed to practice medicine in Maryland and Washington, D.C. and has been on the faculty in the department of medicine Howard since 1974.  Before assuming his current position as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Howard University College of Medicine, he was the clerkship director and program director in internal medicine in the department of medicine at Howard University Hospital.  He remains active on the faculty in the department of medicine and in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Howard.   In October 2004, Dr. Hassan assumed the position as Chairman of the Steering Committee on Cultural Diversity in Medicine for the American College of Chest Physicians (2004-2006).
Prior to assuming the chairmanship of the Accreditation Council for Certification of Continuing Medical Education with the Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (an international structure), he was the chairman of the committee for Continuing Medical Education with Islamic Medical Association of North America.  He made many presentations in the medical community and is also active member in community affairs. He hosts a weekly radio program “Ask the Doctor” and made many presentations on health related topics to various local and national groups.  These topics include HIV/AIDS, smoking related diseases, end-of-life care, and general health.  Dr. Hassan is known in the Muslim community locally and nationally for his interest and expertise in Islamic medicine.

Dr. Hassan is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians.  He is also a member of the American Thoracic Society, the American Medical Association and several other organizations.  In 2000, he was one of twelve physicians who were recognized by the American College of Chest Physicians for work in end-of-life care.