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Alumni Magazines Publications
Summer 2010 AKU-NAMA : Summer 2010, Volume 3, Issue 1 Aga Khan University Alumni Association
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Recommended Citation Aga Khan University Alumni Association, "AKU-NAMA : Summer 2010, Volume 3, Issue 1" (2010). Alumni Magazines. Book 5. http://ecommons.aku.edu/aku_nama/5 AKU-NAMA Aga Khan University Newsletter and Magazine for Alumni Summer 2010, Vol. 3, Issue 1 Contents
Editor-in-Chief Adeel A. Butt [email protected]
Editorial Staff Shain Amershi, Executive Assistant [email protected]
Associate Editors Faiz Bhora, Medical College North American Chapter [email protected]
Rahila Zakir, Medical College European Chapter [email protected]
Tazeen Jafar, Medical College Pakistan Chapter President Rasul with members of the University’s management team at the Alumni [email protected] Reunion 2009. AKU Umer Darr, Medical College IN THIS ISSUE ... Pakistan Chapter [email protected]
Erum Kabani, School of Nursing [email protected] From the Editor's Desk 3 Fahmida Mehdi, School of Nursing “Precious Freedom” 4 [email protected] Nadim Farooqui, Institute for Educational Development Alumni Reunite! 6 [email protected]
Nilufar Shariff, Advanced Nursing Studies A Small Contribution to Karachi 7 East Africa [email protected] Talaash 8 Balkis Rouached, Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations Taking Nursing a Step Beyond 9 [email protected]
Cricket … at AKU 10 Marie Andrades, Postgraduate Medical Education [email protected]
To Know, to Do, to Be 11 Ex-Officio Members Firoz Rasul, President Critical Care Journey: Take-off in Tanzania 12 [email protected] Farhat Abbas, Dean Teaching Research Through Service 13 Medical College, Pakistan [email protected] When Opportunities Knock, Take Them 14 Rozina Karmaliani, Interim Dean School of Nursing, Pakistan On the Road to Burn-out? 14 [email protected]
Benefiting from Information Management 15 Muhammad Memon, Director Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan [email protected] The Way We Carry AKU-SON With Us 15 Yasmin Amarsi, Foundation Dean School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa A Big Thank You! 15 [email protected]
When Alumni Inspire Students 16 Anjum Halai, Interim Director Institute for Educational Development, East Africa Campus Happenings 17 [email protected] Mushtaq Ahmed, Associate Dean Awards and Honours 18 Medical Education, East Africa [email protected]
Class Notes 19 Farouk Topan, Interim Director Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, UK [email protected] Cover photo: Aga Khan University Hospital,NRMP Karachi / Kohi Marri Match Results 21
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are of the individual authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the editorial 2 board or Aga Khan University. From the editor’s desk recognising success Adeel A. Butt
On a recent flight from So, how do you measure Seychelles to Dubai, I picked up a impact? Aga Khan University copy of Gulf News. A major feature and its alumni have been working was on a free clinic run by doctors of on measuring the impact of the Pakistani origin in Dubai. Under the institution and its graduates. With auspices of the Pakistan Association various schools and programmes Dubai, the clinic caters to the poor of it has been a challenge to develop all nationalities who cannot afford a uniform metric that can gauge expensive treatment. In these days, this adequately. But some meas- when Pakistan mostly features in the ures are easy to collect and worst of news stories, this effort by assess. Peer recognition, media health care professionals is a welcome coverage of high stakes-high breath of fresh air. impact projects, nomination to The first faculty of Aga Khan major professional and social University was the Faculty of organisations, leading national Health Sciences. Graduates from and international initiatives, and the School of Nursing and Medical appointments at major institutions College have brought many hon- of higher learning are a few ways ours and laurels to the University. to measure the ability to imple- An alumnus is leading the National ment change. And it must be Healthcare Day in the United said, with great pride and joy, that States under the sponsorship of our alumni have done well in all APPNA (Association of Physicians those categories, and more. of Pakistani-Descent of North Other more recent programmes cess have been published in previous America), with many other alumni are not far behind. The Advanced issues of AKU-NAMA and we will lending a helping hand across the Nursing Studies programme in East continue to recognise these members country. A nursing alumna, fea- Africa, the Postgraduate Medical of the AKU alumni. The real hope tured in this issue, has worked both Education programmes in Pakistan for a brighter and prosperous future nationally and internationally to and East Africa, the Institute for for the developing world and the help communities in resource-poor Educational Development on both world at large lies with well-educat- settings, and there are many other continents and the Institute for the ed, tolerant, progressive and main- nursing and medical alumni hold- Study of Muslim Civilisations in the stream professionals. And Aga Khan ing leading positions in medical UK have produced alumni who have University should take due pride in and public health institutions excelled in all the categories men- being at the forefront of producing around the world. tioned above. Stories of their suc- such leaders.
Alumni gather together at the Reunion. AKU
3 reunion
“Precious Freedom”
Professor Pervez Hoodbhoy, Chairman, Department of Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad gave the keynote address at the Alumni Reunion in Karachi. Professor Hoodbhoy holds a PhD in nuclear physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has written and spoken on topics ranging from science in Islam to education in Pakistan. Excerpts from his speech are presented here.
“Relations in human society are Many different manifestations of are very powerful ideas. Powerful ordered, are prioritised, according power exist. There is physical ideas are incredible in terms of the to power. Individuals and groups of power, the stronger side wins in a effect they produce upon society. individuals seek to enhance their conflict. There is the power of They rule the world, they drive our power. But what is power? Power is wealth, richer people manage to do a actions, they form our beliefs and the capacity to produce intended lot more generally and rise higher they unleash multi-revolutions. effects. The more power you have, than the pecking order of society. They have this enormous power the more effectively you can attain And then there is the power of tech- because they move our mind and a particular nical knowledge, the very fact that shape our understanding of the goal. world. Like the swine flu, they move from mind to In Pakistan, the true concept of mind, infecting an entire population, the University is misunderstood; until they become “it is believed to be just a part of common wis- complex of laboratories, campus dom and in that process might topple buildings, and libraries. But that established beliefs. is not true; universities are the It was Victor Hugo who said that a products of the dominant social stand can be made attitudes, the values which exist against the invasion in the society. of an army, but no stand can be made against the invasion of an idea. One clas- the doctors over here can cure a sic great idea was Galileo’s heliocen- patient. But the power of tric universe, the notion that the earth ideas exceeds that of orbits the sun. Although the Catholic physical force, Church was” not willing to accept this wealth and techni- idea, it was an idea, a concept whose cal knowledge, time had come and nothing could and this is a con- stop it from taking hold of people’s cept that is not so minds and this is what we accept easily understood today. Take Charles Darwin as or recognised. another example, nothing could pre- Not all vent natural evolution from becom- ideas are equal- ing the very foundation of modern ly powerful; biology. But these were ideas from there are the world of the physical domain; good ideas there are also ideas in the domain of and there human affairs. These can be inter-
4 reunion
preted as either good or bad but most be capable of coherent expressions still needs to invest more money. importantly, they were transforma- in speech and writing; they will be So what’s the most important thing tional, such as Napoleon conceiving demanded everywhere. And there’s to do? France as one nation or Muhammad no university in the world yet that First of all, we want to free our Ali Jinnah creating Pakistan, an idea even comes close to this ideal one, students so that they can think. that led to people willing to leave the not Harvard, not Cambridge, not Education is about thinking; it is land of their birth and move across Oxford, none. But it’s something about liberating the mind. We can- borders and AKU aspires not allow biased individuals to willing to towards in its enforce their version of faith onto take enor- planned Faculty of the university community. And I mous punish- Not all ideas are equally Arts and Sciences. don’t mean the community here; ment and In Pakistan, the this is a different thing all together. sacrifice. powerful; there are good true concept of the We cannot forbid boys and girls In fact, “ University is mis- from attending co-educational insti- ideas and there are very we have an powerful ideas. Powerful understood; it is tutes; we cannot allow fanatics to institution in believed to be just ban music on campus, to destroy art human socie- ideas are incredible in a complex of labo- and culture. We cannot ban student ty that exists terms of the effect they ratories, campus unions because they are a way to precisely to nurture the produce upon society. intellect and They rule the world, they to generate more ideas; drive our actions, they that institu- form our beliefs and they tion is the unleash multi-revolu- university. An ideal uni- tions. They have this versity enormous power because should encourage they move our mind and critical shape our understanding inquiry. It of the world. would create an environ- ment to devel- op more powerful machines, dis- President Firoz Rasul with Professor Hoodbhoy following his cover more energy sources – all buildings, speech at the Alumni Reunion 2009. AKU things that could transform the and libraries. economy of a country. It would But that” is not true; universities are allow political debate in a health train engineers, doctors, econo- the products of the dominant social way and without violence. mists, business managers. Its facul- attitudes, the values which exist in The bottom line is that univer- ty would conduct research work in the society. Funding is not the sole sities are all about thinking and every conceivable field, from doing means to creating an ideal universi- freedom, without personal and work on black holes to deciphering ty but it is to introduce a new way intellectual freedom there can be the distinct language of of thinking that allows it to come no thinking and hence, no ideas. Mesopotamia to documenting the into existence. We would be drones, unable to mating habits of tarantulas, and So how do we change higher know how to exercise our mental their fame would attract more facul- education into Pakistan? How do capacities to differentiate between ty from every corner of the world. we change the culture of our uni- right, wrong, unable to engage in But most importantly, the ideal uni- versities? How do we make them civilised discourse. So Pakistan’s versity would be modern – one that real universities? First of all, you challenge is not to create more is capable of fostering graduates have to have a vision and then the libraries, better equipment or faster who think independently, scientifi- resources. While its higher educa- internet connectivity, but it’s the cally with an understanding of his- tion budget increased 12-fold need to change attitudes and to tory and culture. Its graduates will between 2002 and 2008, Pakistan exercise precious freedom.”
5 reunion
Alumni reunite!
Reunion 2009 and the AKU Auditorium in Karachi was abuzz with conversation – friends who had not seen each other for months, or even years, could be heard reminiscing about professors, lectures, labs and the overall mischief during their time at the University. The session opened with a handful of alumni speaking about how AKU has helped shape their world.
“In school, we were my father is not the only trained to be foot soldiers,” relieved parent that AKU said Dr Junaid A. Razzak, has actually helped. MBBS ’94, who came to the Junaid returned to Aga University in 1989 after Khan University and now is completing his secondary in charge of the Hospital’s education at a government Department of Emergency school. He recalled that Medicine. And to he and his classmates him, the University were instructed to mem- still upholds the orise lessons and regur- same principles. gitate information on “Success is not a assessments, they were destination that you not allowed to think ever reach but rather critically or defend it is the quality of the ideas, but merely accept journey, a journey them as fact. that started at AKU,” But AKU was an said Alia Nasir, Post- entirely different, RN BScN ’96, who strange world where comes from a small dialogue was consid- town in the ered a virtue. Initially Hyderabad district of resisting the change, Sindh and is current- Junaid recalls how he ly the Principal, stayed aloof from dis- Liaquat National cussions, from the College of Nursing in “batting” of ideas. But Karachi. Through a over time, he learnt From left to right: Farah Kamal, ADE ’99, Alia Nasir Post-RN BScN ’96, fortunate encounter that debate can resolve Dr Rozina Karmaliani, Interim Dean, AKU-SON, Dr Saida Rasul, with the AKU Public many issues. Though President Firoz Rasul, Professor Pervez Hoodbhoy, Chief Guest, and Dr Affairs team, she was he learnt this lesson Muhammad Memon, Director, IED. AKU introduced to AKU- during his five years at SON and realising AKU, it was all the more apparent President Shams Kassim Lakha. the potential of the nursing profes- later in his career. And this is what And Mr Lakha turned around and sion in Pakistan, she enrolled. he defines as his “true education”. said, “We select students based on Completing her Diploma in Recalling his late father, Junaid their ability to be an asset for this Nursing in 1990, Alia started as an shared how the University was country. AKU will make sure that AKU community health nurse at “human”. Concerned about the he gets whatever he needs to be an Baba Island in 1992, one of the three high tuition cost of Aga Khan excellent doctor; do what you can, small islands within the Karachi har- University, at a parents’ reception but he is now as much our respon- bour. She helped introduce the pri- on the very first day of Medical sibility as yours.” Junaid believes mary health care model in the area College, his father expressed his that very few institutions can make and a water and sewage system – fears to the former University that claim and said, “I know that many years later, this system contin-
6 reunion
ues to provide the community with a ADE ’99, how to identify a problem operates in 125 countries, is the supply of safe drinking water. and to seek solutions. It was the foot largest non-profit global network Alia credits AKU-SON with in the door that led to her completing that allows teachers and students to giving her knowledge and skills, a Master of Education from the use internet and other communica- and particularly the gift of lan- University of British Columbia and tions technology to collaborate on guage. She spoke of how her an executive programme for non- projects that promote global learn- grooming in English, in both public profit leaders from Stanford ing. The programme supports 1,500 speaking and writing, opened a dif- University – quite an achievement schools in Pakistan, reaching over ferent world for her. Twenty-two for the head teacher of a 1,600-stu- 1,000 teachers annually through years have passed and Alia’s jour- dent school in Karimabad. online and face-to-face training pro- ney with the University has still not Farah is currently the Country grammes besides benefiting over come to an end. Coordinator for International 5,000 people through community The Institute for Educational Education and Research Network service programmes. This is what Development taught Farah S. Kamal, (iEARN) in Pakistan. iEARN, which Farah calls impact.
A small Contribution to karachi
Reunions are becoming a time fered from moderate to severe health and hygiene and offered when the alumni can contribute stress. Adults had a different set of needs-based individual and family directly to a community all over issues, with high blood pressure, counselling. Dr Rozina Karmaliani, again. Over 100 alumni from the high cholesterol, diabetes, skin con- Interim Dean, School of Nursing, School of Nursing, Karachi stressed the sig- Institute for nificance of imparting Educational health knowledge to Development and parents, “AKU prefers Medical College to educate parents as offered free health they can richly con- education and screen- tribute towards the ing sessions to three health and education of communities in their children. Educating Karachi as part of the parents creates healthy Alumni Reunion 2009 families and societies.” celebrations. Close to Mothers play an integral 1,650 residents of role as a child’s health Karimabad, Bilal and education starts Colony, and from a mother’s lap - Sultanabad/Golimar, which is why it is cru- both children and cial to give her the adults, were provided health information she check-ups that includ- needs about not only ed an interview on caring for herself but diet, anxiety and her children and family depression screening, AKU as well. “Maternal edu- anthropometric or comparative ditions and gynaecological problems cation can only help in decreasing body measurements, and glucose, seen most often. The camps also morbidity and mortality rates,” she haemoglobin and cholesterol tests. helped identify the people who said. Children were also actively Undernutrition, skin conditions, needed further medical assistance engaged in health education ses- worm infections and dental prob- who were then referred to health sions through knowledge-based lems emerged as the most common centres and public hospitals for fol- competitions, puppet shows, and health issues in children under 12 low-up and consultations. drawing and painting activities. and teenagers. Eighty per cent of This year, the camps educated Many thanks to the alumni who the adolescents checked also suf- participants on nutrition, mental gave their time and services.
7 reunion talaash hira Waseem, mBBs ’12, najiha B. Farooqi, mBBs ’13 and maryam Zulfiqar, mBBs ’13
Life is indeed a kaleidoscope, an unique stories spanning from child somehow seem to fit perfectly into amalgamation of emotions: love, abuse and materialism to despair the picture. Initially baffling with fear, joy, sorrow, inner struggle, self and patriotism, issues that we can their clandestine motives, dark evolution and salvation. But undeni- relate to on an individual as well as humour and sarcasm, it eventually ably the first and the last word collective level. emerges that they are personifying etched on the slate of life emerges These four characters, from dif- the different aspects of our inner from the inner voice of one’s soul, ferent walks of life, mysteriously voice. The strings of these puppets the conscience. This idea was the land in an incredibly beautiful are all in the hands of a magician or essence and the main theme in place. All suffer from one vice or rather the narrator, appearing from Talaash, a production of AKU’s another, their personalities seem to time to time to both entertain and drama club, ACT (Aga Khan be defined by suffering and so, their facilitate the direction of thought. University’s Club for Theatre), for emotions evolved. The characters Under the watchful eyes of Mehru and Shero, the other four characters develop, discover their shortcomings and, at last, embark on the road to redemption. Talaash was not just a play, but a reminder that life is ephemeral, that with all its limitations, regrets and heartache, the human soul has the potential to experience, learn and change. The question left echo- ing in our heads at the end of the play, was whether we can hear our inner voice? And like the charac- ters portrayed, can we too reach salvation in this three-penny show of life?
the Association of Physicians of do not know the rea- Pakistani Descent of North son for their arrival America’s (APPNA) annual dinner nor the time of their in Karachi in December. departure but they all Writing a play and encompass- have one ‘ambition’ in ing this theme were in themselves common – they all herculean tasks. Conveying the want to escape. They mundane activities of everyday life want to run away from is easy but trying to convey some- their problems as they thing abstract and essential is a true are terrified to con- test of one’s skill. front them. The plot revolved around six The two other main characters, four of whom pre- characters, Mehru and sented familiar and yet somehow Shero, are odd and yet
8 distinguished Alumni taking nursing a step Beyond
the medical school were still under Salimah Walani, RN ’87, holds a Master of Science in Nursing from construction and the School of Simmons College and a Master of Nursing seemed like an oasis in the Public Health from Harvard School of desert with its beautiful red building Public Health, both in Boston. and lush green gardens. I just want- Currently, she is a PhD candidate at ed a taste of living and studying New York University, where she is there – the rest is history. working on her doctoral dissertation. She recently received a grant from the How do you think your education Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of at the AKU helped you in your Nursing, Upsilon Chapter to conduct current role? her research. During my education and then in my Salimah was a faculty member at AKU-SON before moving to New faculty role at AKU-SON, I was fas- York. After relocating to the US, she cinated by the extensiveness of worked for the New York City AKU’s vision, operations and its Department of Health as an epidemiol- actual and potential impact on socie- ogist and consultant public health ty. Thus, even though I have worked nurse, focusing on tuberculosis out- in a variety of health care settings in break work. She then worked as the the New York area, I tend to gravi- it is hard for the University and us, director for a mobile health initiative tate towards academic institutions the alumni, to engage in projects, but for school children in Brooklyn, NY, a and love teaching. in this digital age, there are so little programme under New York barriers that if we tried, we can over- University. At present, she teaches What do you believe is the impact come them with a “click”. graduate nurses at Felician College. While working for these pro- of your work? How are people grammes, Salimah developed an benefiting from it? What role do you envision for AKU interest in global health. Her out- I am currently conducting my doc- qualified nurses within an interna- reach activities took her to toral dissertation on employment tional community of nurses? Nicaragua and India, where she was outcomes of internationally-edu- AKU nursing alumni have already part of a team of nurses that con- cated nurses (IENs) in the US. I made advances to improve nursing ducted health assessments and edu- think this study and my future in countries such as, Afghanistan, cational sessions for school children research in this area will have a Tanzania, Syria, Kenya, and Egypt, in under-served communities. tremendous impact on policies and I am sure I am missing some. I Salimah served the National Aga related to the treatment of IENs in foresee that AKU-educated RNs Khan Health Board for USA from the US labor market. will have a greater role in promot- 2005 to 2009, which allowed oher t play a leading role to develop Remote Furthermore in my faculty role, ing programmes of higher nursing Health Access for Health I think the global perspective that I education in the Middle East. I also Professionals, a collaborative pro- bring into my teaching has had an conclude from my communication gramme between Ismaili health pro- influence on how my students with the nursing alumni in the US, fessionals in the US and Aga Khan define their roles as nurses in this that many of us who have left Health Services in East Africa. era of globalisation. Pakistan are craving to find a role in AKU initiatives – it is just a What factors motivated you to How do you think the AKU alumni matter of time. choose nursing? and the University can work I have a totally unconventional story together to achieve common goals? The Editorial Board seeks nomina- of why I chose nursing as my profes- Any message to the other AKU tions for distinguished alumni from all sion – I got attracted to the building alumni? AKU schools and programs for this and the courtyards of the AKU-SON. Let’s stay connected. I recognise that section. Please send a short profile of When I joined AKU, the hospital and with alumni spread all over the world, your nominee to: [email protected].
9 FeAture
Cricket ... at Aku saad shafqat, mBBs ’88
Cricket fans know that sport is a Australia; minor procedures, more tic teaching can create an extraordi- metaphor for life. There is struggle like Zimbabwe. You cannot win nary University. But great fielders, and heartbreak, joy and fulfillment, matches without bowlers, just like like the best teachers, go unreward- bitter competition, and flawed justice. you cannot run AKU without clini- ed as individuals. Everybody will Cricket buffs at AKU understand that cians. But clinicians are a notch appreciate what a great fielding side the analogy can also be nicely extend- below researchers in the your team is, and your fieldin g can ed to faculty life at our institution. reckoning. They are still even prove decisive in winning a Research is like batting. You heroes, but win fewer match, but nobody will give you the get big grants, publish great man-of-the-match man-of-the-match award. papers. It is like scoring hun- awards than batsmen, Then you have the administra- dreds and double hundreds. just like clinicians are tive hierarchy. The captain is like the A publication also looked up to by the departmental chair. He is supposed in New University, but a touch to tell you what to do and guide you England less so than researchers. to make the most of your ability. Journal of And the dean is the chairman of the Medicine is like a cricket board, because he appoints triple-hundred in Australia. A the captain. Finally you have the publication in Journal of the Teaching is like President who has the best job in Pakistan Medical Association is fielding. It is invaluable the world, both in reality like a century in Bangladesh. “for the success of your as well as metaphori- The output is quantitative and cally, because he clearly measurable. Just like team, but the output is gets to shape the runs and centuries, there are difficult to measure and whole enterprise. numbers of papers and the num- ber and amount of grant fund- most of it does not even ing. The top researchers are cel- get recorded. Everybody ebrated like great batsmen. They knows who the best are the heroes evoking the University's admiration and awe. fielders are, just like the They win many man-of-the- University knows full match awards. Clinical service is like bowl- well its best teachers. ing. Again, the output is unam- biguous and numerical. Just as the best bowlers take the most wick- ets with the lowest average, similar- Teaching is like fielding. It is ly the most valued clinicians see the invaluable for the success of your most patients in the shortest time. team, but the output is difficult” Just as the difficulty of each wicket to measure and most of it does varies, so does the difficulty of each not even get recorded. patient. An ICU patient is like the Everybody knows who the wicket of a top-order batsman, best fielders are, just like requiring time, energy and concen- the University knows full tration. A brief follow-up in clinic is well its best teachers. People like a tail-ender's wicket. Doing also understand that a fine clinical procedures is like taking piece of fielding – an impossible wickets in foreign countries. Major catch or an amazing run-out – can procedures are like taking wickets in turn around a match, just like fantas-
10 FeAture to know, to do, to Be Ali nawab, med ’09
Educating young people today that helping students achieve room, they fail to put theory into is not just about inculcating values. desired learning outcomes depends practice and regress back to their Instead, it is about liberating the on the professional background of previous habits due to a lack of mind and providing classroom strate- them with the abili- gies. Teacher pro- ties and skills that fessional develop- can transform them ment programmes into caring and need to focus on responsible citizens how to make of a global village. knowledge experi- This means that ential, how to good exam results relate new con- are no longer the cepts to a stu- only desirable dent’s daily life. learning outcome; They need to be it is the qualities exposed to the that can help stu- variety of methods dents be productive that include taking members of society examples and sto- that are in demand. ries from students, This means that giving worth to today’s challenges students’ existing are forcing us to knowledge, creat- reconceptualise our ing situations approach to student where students learning outcomes. can discover Learning out- something for comes fall into three Gary Otte themselves, dis- major tiered cate- cussing issues that gories. The first and lowest tier is a teacher. Improving a teacher’s exist in the student’s environment, ‘knowing’, the ability to understand; knowledge, skills and disposition is and engaging students in learning the second tier is ‘doing’, to use one of the most critical steps to through interactive methods. problem solving, critical thinking, giving students a proper education. Existing approaches to teaching effective communication and tech- If we want students to realise cer- and learning in the sub-continent nology. And the top learning out- tain outcomes, we have to look for context have not been successful. come is ‘being’, to be tolerant, ways to enhance the pedagogical We should develop our teachers in responsible and caring. skills of teachers. such a way that they should not only Schools have found achieving Exposing teachers to various appreciate the higher level learning these learning outcomes is a chal- professional development activities outcomes for their students but also lenge. Experiences in the class- does not guarantee that they will be involve young people in activities room have revealed that teachers able to successfully help students. that wi ll ensure that they learn not focus solely on ‘knowing’. One of Teachers will need, in fact, to be only how to ‘know’ and ‘do’ but the reasons could be a lack of pro- provided with practical ideas to also how to ‘be’. fessional skills. It could also be a sharpen the higher abilities of stu- Ali Nawab is an Assistant lack of awareness as to what other dents such as ‘doing’ and ‘being’. Instructor at the Aga Khan categories of student learning out- Teachers who attend development University Institute for Educational comes exist and how they can be workshops usually acquire the theo- Development, Professional achieved. There is one argument ry. But once they return to the class- Development Centre, Chitral.
11 FeAture
Critical Care Journey: take-off in tanzania dr tahir saeed, Pgme (Anaesthesiology) ’05 and dr Aijaz samad, Pgme (Anaesthesiology) ’08
There has been a dis- tinct improvement in health care services in Tanzania over the past decade largely due to the socio-political and economic situation sta- bilising, even though finan- cial constraints are still a hard reality. HIV/AIDS and malaria efforts absorb a major portion of the budget leaving other health care sectors, especially critical care, struggling for attention and funds. In the last two years, the situation has changed at Aga Khan Hospital (AKH) in Dar es Salaam. We have seen the formation of a team of dedicated critical care professionals including four full-time residents, about 17 full-time nurses and one critical care nursing manager. We now have ven- tilators, monitoring equip- ment and well-trained inten- Jean-Luc Ray sive care unit (ICU) staff, capable of managing adults, chil- 24 hours of critical care – and with The AKH ICU has evolved into dren and newborns, as well as pre- the Ismaili Health Physicians a major referral centre, accommo- mature babies. We have witnessed Association North America and dating over 20 per cent of direct an intensive care facility that has instructors from American Society referrals as well as transfers from doubled from its original four beds. of Critical Care Medicine to con- other hospitals around the country. As intensivists, we are proud duct Advanced Cardiac Life Data collected by us shows lower to have played a vital, pioneering Support and Paediatric Advanced mortality rates in both adults and role in developing the ICU facility Life Support courses. The ICU con- children. Of those patients who are at AKH, faced as we were with a tinues to be upgraded and recently critically ill and mechanically-venti- serious lack of human resources telemonitoring via a central moni- lated, the survival rate is 59 per cent and many other major problems toring station was set up. With this in adults and 47 per cent for chil- during the start-up phase. These introduction, AKH has entered a dren with an average bed occupancy difficulties did not deter us from new era of patient health care and of 85-90 per cent. working in collaboration with the quality improvements. Future plans While critical care is a novel US Society of Critical Care include a separate neonatal inten- concept in Tanzania, authorities are Medicine to conduct a Fundamental sive care unit and services such as beginning to invest in it. But for Critical Care Support course – com- bedside dialysis, continuous renal now, the ICU at AKH is the only prehensive coverage of fundamental replacement therapy and bron- one providing state-of-the-art facili- management principles for the first choscopy, among others. ties, particularly for babies.
12 FeAture teaching research through service Anthony gioko, med ’07
Learning, based on exploring or used to gain knowledge about data solving real problems, influences and The extended essay is a require- handling and analysis. The resulting transforms students. Having learned ment for students to engage in inde- information was used by the students this concept at AKU-IED in Pakistan, pendent research through an in-depth to write their research reports. This the next step was to put it into prac- study of a question relating to one of approach was successful in teaching tice at Aga Khan Academy, in the the subjects they are studying. students research skills while encour- Kenyan port city of Mombasa. The Theory of knowledge is a course aging them to engage in community Aga Khan Academy prepares students designed to encourage each student to service – raising awareness about for the International Baccalaureate reflect on the nature of knowledge by medical and hygiene issues that affect (IB) exam. The IB is an education critically examining different ways of physical growth and cognitive devel- programme that develops inquiring, knowing (perception, emotion, lan- opment among children suffering knowledgeable and caring young guage and reason) and different kinds from water-borne diseases. individuals through its challenging of knowledge (scientific, artistic, math- Pairs: To further enhance skills, curriculum and rigorous assessment. ematical and historical). we used the same approach in pairs. Diploma students, between the ages Creativity, action, service requires We identified issues in the school of 16 and 19, besides studying six that students actively learn from the community that concerned students courses, are required to fulfil three experience of doing real tasks beyond and, after a brainstorming session, core requirements: an extended essay, the classroom. selected the top 17 issues. Some of theory of knowledge and creativity, Students can combine all three them included using social media action, and service. components or do activities related to such as blogs and Facebook; the To teach my students research each one of them separately. school’s use of resources like paper skills initially I get them to engage The IB Diploma Programme and electricity; and student-related in mini-research initiatives, in small http://www.ibo.org/diploma/ themes such as study time and peer groups and then in pairs. This group support. The students con- process hones their skills for the ducted their research within the individual work that they eventually school, with fellow students, teach- will have to complete. ers and members of the administra- Groups: I divided students into tion as their subjects. This piqued random teams and delved into issues the ‘subjects’ curiosity and out- affecting the community. Eventually, comes were eagerly awaited. The we zeroed in on hygiene issues in final reports were of great interest to slums around Mombasa. One topic the respective groups and some stu- was intestinal worms: how do chil- dent recommendations are being dren get infected and how can they be considered for implementation. educated to avoid infections. Before My groups and pairs approaches visiting the area, we prepped by iden- demonstrate the interdependence tifying an appropriate school, asking between students and their communi- the management for permission to ty, be it their immediate community visit and developing our research A child receives de-worming medicine or the larger one. It is an experience questions. We also asked a doctor for from a student. that has also taught my students the de-worming medicine. Off we pro- purpose of research and how issues ceeded for our field work, accompa- inquisitive peers. All the students who can affect them directly or indirectly, nied by our school nurse. My students took part in the survey were provided experiences that can help transform interviewed their counterparts about de-worming medicine, with the help them into responsible citizens. This is how they access hygiene information of the nurse, as well as toothbrushes a crucial aspect of sustainable learn- and how many times a day they wash and antiseptic soap. ing – an approach I learned during my hands; another group provide hygiene A lot of information was collect- time at IED. In simple words, it is information to a number of their ed during this exercise and it was putting principles into practice.
13 FeAture
When opportunities On the Road to Burn-out? Farzana mukhi Jaffer, Bscn ’03 knock, take them Medical staff often experience high levels shaheena salim Jumani, Bscn ‘05 and shazia naz Waris Ali, of stress and burn-out and nurses are no Bscn ’09 exception. A heavy workload, extended hours, understaffing, dealing with death, Armed with BScN degrees from AKU-SON, we entered the ‘real managing difficult family members and world’ with a passion to work with babies and their mothers. We were patients, and conflicts with other nurses trained to provide new mums with postnatal health and fitness educa- and doctors, contribute to physical and tion, and were focused on this goal from the very beginning. emotional exhaustion among nurses. At the same time it soon dawned on us that while nurses may excel in their routine responsibilities, they often remain unaware A high rate of burn-out can affect not that there is much more ‘out there’ that can be achieved – all that is only the individual nurse, but an entire needed is an extra bit of zeal and enthusiasm. In our case, we got health care setting. Nurses, as caregivers, the opportunity to work in managerial roles and took up the chal- must learn to care for themselves – to lenge to broaden our horizons and to look for ways to innovate, to cope with stress and deal with anxiety. think ‘out-of-the-box’. And we did exactly that. We began develop- Here are some tips to control burn-out: ing guidelines and checklists for postnatal care so that all nurses could refer to one operational framework. We encouraged mothers * Realise that anxiety is part of the job. to attend daily postnatal education classes and we constantly pushed * Laugh at yourself and the situations for quality innovations. you face; it is one of the best techniques Has there been any impact? We designed a small group-based for preventing stress and burn-out. survey to identify the effects of our new steps on the health of * Reflect on difficult situations as patients and awareness among nurses. The survey, conducted from opportunities for positive learning. February to * Realise that you are not a super May 2009, nurse. Manage your time better; half revealed of the techniques for managing encouraging nursing stress are based on effective outcomes – we time management. were able to * Find someone you can talk and discuss make a differ- feelings with such as another colleague, ence to a moth- family, friends, or even a therapist. er’s knowledge Attend stress reducing workshops. and staff prac- * Maintain good health. Take care of tices. Our study your body and mind by eating a bal- led to the intro- anced diet, getting th e right amount of duction of daily sleep to keep functional through the postnatal educa- day, and exercising to increase blood tion sessions in flow and keep alert. our unit. * Take time off. Engage in activities with It is said family and friends such as dining out that one creates or going to the movies. Find a hobby or their own luck. other recreational activity. Use holidays For us, it was as time to recharge your batteries. more than * If you experience stress due to a par- enough that our efforts were recognised and patient satisfaction rates ticular field or department, consider improved remarkably. We were also invited to attend the 13th moving to a less st ressful area or Biennial Scientific Conference of the Society of Obstetricians and switching to another shift that may Gynaecologists of Pakistan in February this year. Our presentation, on not be as busy and stressful. enhancing breastfeeding practices in new mothers through a postnatal education programme, was well received. Such appreciation can only You CAN control how you feel. motivate us to stretch ourselves even further.
14 reFleCtions
Benefiting from The Way We Carry AKU- Nursing, and we feel extremely for- Information Management SON With Us tunate to have her as a guide and rozmin Pirwani, Post-rn Bscn ’93 natasha rehman Bscn ’07, mentor. Mevawala has been at BMU rozeena gillani Bscn ’08, sana for the last 13 years and continues to I currently work as a Senior k arim Bscn ’07 and shireen Arif, believe that she has ‘not stopped her Application Analyst at NorthShore Post rn ’09 learning journey’. University HealthSystem in Evanston, Illinois. Here, I have had Working outside the AKU envi- A Big Thank You! the opportunity to connect my past ronment may be a challenge in itself karimah Pabani Bscn ’02 clinical experiences with my but as we have found to our pleasant newly-attained knowledge in infor- surprise (or maybe no surprise at all) It does not need to be said, but I will mation technology. Information any difficulties are offset by the say it anyway - I am deeply hon- management is critical to the pro- appreciation and kudos that soon oured to be an alumni of Aga Khan vision of quality health care in the flow. We had simply put to work all Unive rsity School of Nursing. 21st century. Medical infor- matics help make patient records more effective and safer, and the increasing use of electronic files promises enormous cost savings and improved efficiency. As modern health care becomes increasingly dependent on information management, employment prospects for those skilled in this field will continue to grow. I graduated with a Post- RN BScN in 1993. In 2010, I earned my Master of Science in Medical Informatics from Northwestern University in Illinois. My classmates and I were the second batch of graduates from this new and unique programme. The MSc gives clinically-trained health that we learned at AKU, from our Harry Emerson Fosdick once care professionals the knowledge student days at the School of said, “No horse gets anywhere until and experience of information Nursing to Nursing Services at the he is harnessed. No steam or gas technology. These individuals can Hospital: the theory, t he practice, ever drives anything until it is con- then develop careers in information and perhaps most importantly, the fined. No Niagara is ever turned into service sections within hospitals, attitude. Creativity and innovation light and power until it is tunneled. health systems, academic environ- have always been encouraged as the No life ever grows great until it is ments, and the health systems and main ingredients to further polish focused, dedicated, disciplined." equipment industry. our professionalism - and we are The education at AKU-SON and At the inauguration of the valued for these qualities. the dedication of its faculty mem- University’s Faculty of Health The four of us joined Baqai bers have turned an ordinary person Sciences in Nairobi, His Highness, Medical University’s (BMU) like me into someone valuable. It the Aga Khan cited the words of the College of Nursing in Karachi rela- has helped me build a strong foun- first hereditary Imam of the Shia tively recently as nursing instruc- dation for my career that will help Muslims that “no honour is like tors. It is a matter of great pride for me grow every day of my life. knowledge”. I look forward to avail- AKU-SON that its alumna, Amynah Today, I am a responsible moth- ing such stimulating opportunities in Mevawala, MScN ’07, is the er, a loving wife, a dedicated stu- the near future. Director of the BMU College of dent, and a proud alumna. I have
15 reFleCtions
almost completed my Master of rapport with students. After all, they Alam, MBBS ’90, Adnan Hyder, Science in Nursing from McMaster are familiar with the battles we are MBBS ’90, Faiz Bhora, MBBS ’92, University, where I was recently fighting, having waged war on the Abrar A. Qureshi, MBBS ’93, Saad honoured with some awards. I work same fronts. It is this commonality Bin Omer, MBBS ’98 and Naeem as a professional practice educator at that draws us towards one another. Rahim, MBBS ’98. All of these a community hospital alumni have walked in the area and I also the corridors of conduct research and success and their scholarly activities. work is a lesson in In fact, one of my dedication for all papers will be pub- AKU students. lished in an interna- Dr Haider tional journal in also quoted words September 2010. of the wisdom that Reflecting on my these superstars successes, I have to had shared with acknowledge the him over the years, efforts of the AKU- and Dr Abrar SON faculty: thank Qureshi’s quote in you very much for particular seemed all you do! My work to resonate the experience in both most: “I have Pakistan and stayed in research Afghanistan as a reg- for many reasons, istered nurse, nursing Dr Adil Haider speaks to AKU students about the significance of research but the reason that faculty member, and AKU stands out by far nurse educator and advisor has is tasting small enabled me to work in any challeng- successes.” ing environment. I would, once I have stayed in research for many The inspira- again, like to express my gratitude tional message that to each of you! Thank you. reasons, but the reason that stands Dr Haider conveyed “ to his young audi- out by far is tasting small successes. ence was how stay- When Alumni Inspire ing focused and Students working hard on -Dr Abrar A. Qureshi, MBBS ’93 Alina sadaf, mBBs ’13 the task one loves As I think back to the lecture, I to do is rewarding in itself. He said On the evening of April 9, 2010, find myself convinced that only an that material” achievements are sim- Dr Adil H. Haider, walked into a alumnus could have persuaded an ply by-products of this labour of student-packed auditorium. For me, audience of hardened medical stu- love. As he spoke, he seemed to as a member of the Student dents about approaching research as exude the kind of energy and pas- Research Forum, this was a sight to a tool to ‘seek the truth’ and ‘make a sion that only a person who has pur- behold. Rarely has the Forum ever difference,’ and not just as a fancy sued his dreams and reaped the been able to herd more than a hand- addition to resumes. He correctly fruits of success can know; it made ful of medical students to a guest identified that students believe in a us want to end this false dichotomy lecture and almost never without sad dichotomy between the things that has fenced our hard work from serving free refreshments. But this they have to do and want to do to get our passions. time it was different: there they into a good residency programme. I graduate in 2013. By then, I were, students stacked wall-to-wall, To dispel this myth, he used his hope to have the opportunity to eagerly awaiting Dr Haider’s lecture own example and that of other attend many more inspiring talks by on the role of research in developing prominent AKU alumni who have AKU alumni. I’m sure other students an academic career. built their careers around their pas- will continue to be drawn to them While the lecture was a roaring sions. These ‘AKU superstars’, as Dr like moths to a flame and we will success, it was fascinating to witness Haider describes them, include: need bigger auditoriums to accom- how alumni can develop an instant Anita Zaidi, MBBS ’88, Hasan B. modate the crowd.
16 CAmPus hAPPenings
New Trustees on Board People in New Positions general surgery, gastroenterology, psychiatry, radiation therapy, and day Two new members were added to A new Dean, Medical College has care medical oncology clinics. In the AKU Board of Trustees in been appointed - Dr Farhat Abbas, addition, surgical day care facilities, January 2010 while Dr Ishrat who has served AKU and AKUH in a including four operating rooms, will Husain, Dean and Director, number of different capacities since be housed in the basement. The three Institute of Business he joined as a resident in the storey-building will be located next to Administration, Karachi retired at Department of Surgery in 1985. Dr the Ibn Zuhr Building, adjacent to the the end of 2009. Abbas holds an MBBS from Dow main entrance gate. The entire proj- Medical College and is a fellow of the ect, including a link bridge between Dr Haile T. Debas is the Executive College of Physicians and Surgeons ACB II and the Service Building, will Director of Global Health Sciences of Pakistan, Royal College of measure 129,033 sq ft. at the University of California, San Surgeons of Edinburgh and Glasgow Francisco. His career spans nearly and American College of Surgeons. The establishment of a new four decades and includes positions Graduate School of Media and at hospitals, medical centres and Campus Talk Communications in Nairobi starting universities in Canada and the in 2011 was announced by His United States. Dr Debas is a fellow A ground-breaking ceremony to mark Highness, the Aga Khan. The School of the Royal College of Physicians the start of construction of a second will offer five core programmes: a and Surgeons of Canada and the Ambulatory Care Building (ACB graduate school offering a Master’s American Academy of Arts and II) was held on April 16, 2010. The degree in journalism and short cours- Sciences. He is a member of the US$14.5 million project is part of an es on various media skills through its United Nations Commission for expansion plan which foresees a Division of Continuing Education and HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa, American Association for the Advancement of Science, International Society for Digestive Surgery, American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, National Academy of Sciences, American Board of Surgery and American Medical Association.
Dr Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka is currently serving her second, four-year term as Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. She is the first African woman to be elected by the UN General Assembly as Under-Secretary General of a United Nations programme. Dr Tibaijuka is a member of the World Health Organization Commission on Social Determinants of Health, and the Advisory Board of the Viewing a model of the ACB-II building during the project’s groundbreaking ceremony Commission on the Legal on April 16, 2010. AKU Empowerment of the Poor. In 2005, she served as Special Envoy series of ambulatory care buildings Professional Development. It will cre- to the Secretary General on Human added to the Stadium Road campus, ate a Centre for Media Enterprise Settlement Issues in Zimbabwe. allowing AKUH, Karachi to dramati- Management to strengthen media Prior to joining the UN, Dr cally expand its outpatient services. ownership and management, and Tibaijuka was a Professor at the The proposed ACB II will accommo- encourage entrepreneurship; an University of Dar es Salaam. date dentistry, ophthalmology, ENT, African Global Forum for Media and
17 CAmPus hAPPenings
Society to support a dialogue in the founding faculty members of the ty member to be presented this East African region on how media Medical College and played a sig- award by the President of Pakistan. can better inform citizens and work nificant role in its growth and devel- more effectively with different sectors opment. He joined AKU as Dr Syed Arif Ali Zaidi, former of society; and other public service Associate Professor of Associate Dean, initiatives that will share Africa-spe- Pharmacology in 1984 and became Student Affairs, cific academic material with regional a full professor in 1989. He retired passed away on media institutions. The aim of the in 2004 but continued in the March 28, 2010. new School is to enhance media qual- Department of Biological and He joined AKU ity, performance and practice in the Biomedical Sciences as part-time in June 1983 as continent and the developing world. Professor of Pharmacology for Assistant another four years. In 2008, Professor of Obituaries Professor Saeed was conferred the Physiology and title of Distinguished Professor was promoted to AKU Professor Emeritus, the first from the basic Associate Emeritus sciences department. He had pub- Professor in 1988. Dr Zaidi served as Professor lished more than 260 papers in 320 Associate Dean of Student Affairs Sheikh Arshad internationally recognised journals from October 1992 until his retire- Saeed passed and held nine patents from Europe ment in May 2007. After leaving away on and North America. He was the first AKU, he joined the Government November 19, Pakistani to be elected Fellow of College University, Faisalabad before 2009. Professor Royal Institute of Biology. In 2001, moving back to Karachi as Vice- Saeed was Professor Saeed was awarded the Chancellor of Ziauddin University in among the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, the first AKU facul- December 2008.
AWArds And honours
Pioneering Global Safety
Dr Adnan A. Hyder, MBBS ’00, was chosen to lead the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s effort on Michael Bloomberg’s US$125 million Global Road Safety Program. Johns Hopkins University’s International Injury Research Unit will join forces with five partner organisations, including the World Health Organization. Together, they will develop and put in place activities, with local govern- ments and NGOs, in 10 priority low- and middle-income countries to tack- le injuries and fatalities caused by road traffic crashes. Dr Hyder said, “This is an excellent opportunity and a superb group of partners to develop and implement strategies for reducing the extraordinary number of prevent- able traffic-related injuries and fatalities worldwide.” Fahim Siddiqui
18 ClAss notes
School of Nursing talks about a project Alwani is 2006 involved in and how it is impacting Muhammad Basharatullah com- 1985 the quality of life of senior citizens pl eted a Graduate Certificate in Currently working as Assistant living in nursing homes and other Nurse Education from University of Manager, Nursing Development, health care settings. South Australia in 2009. He Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan, received distinctions in all modules. Mehmooda Khowaja is finishing 2002 her BScN and plans to join the Farida Khan Himat is enrolled at Niaz Ahmed joined a multination- Master in Midwifery programme at the Stellenbosch University’s Master al oil and gas exploration company AKU in the future. She is proud to of Philosophy in Health Sciences as an occupational health nurse in share that her daughter is currently a Education in South Africa. Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. BScN student at AKU-SON. 2003 2007 Samina Badruddin Khowaja is Yasmin Noorani is doing her MsN, Anita Aaandani Sadruddin is com- doing her BScN online with specialising in Education. Noorani is pleting a Master in Epidemiology and University of Phoenix while work- currently settled in Seattle where Biostatistics from the Dow University ing as a staff nurse in the postpar- she is the proud mother of two kids, of Health Sciences in Karachi. tum unit at Gwinnett Medical a 14-month old boy and a two and a Center, Georgia. half year old girl. Kiran Kh owaja is working in the cath lab at AKUH, Karachi. 1991 2005 Amynah Pradhan has completed Anila Naveed is a faculty member Mehtab Qutbuddin Jaffer is serv- her MsN in Family Nurse at AKU-SON. She proudly recalls ing as a Clinical Nurse Instructor, Practitioner and received an award her student life and believes her rich Outpatient Services, Aga Khan for Excellence in Primary Care in clinical experience of working with University Hospital, Karachi. Nursing. She is also a proud mother critical cardiac patients will be ben- of a baby girl born on March 4, eficial in providi ng quality educa- Natasha Rehman is serving as a 2010. Pradhan appreciates AKU’s tion to other nursing students. Nursing Instructor at Baqai efforts to keep the alumni connected. Medical University, College of Azmina Shahnool Khowaja has Nursing, Karachi. 1993 rejoined the intensive care unit at Rozmin Badruddin Jiwani is a PhD AKUH, Karachi. 2008 student at University of Texas Health Rozeena Gillani, Nursing Science Center at San Antonio. Khairunnisa Shallwani is currently Instructor, Baqai Medical working as a nurse educator at a pri- University, College of Nursing, is 1995 vate hospital in Dubai. Under her pursuing a MBA in health and hos- Munira Prasla, participated in the leadership, the hospital was desig- pital management from Institute of Mosaic International Summer nated with training site status for the Business Management. School programme held in the UK American Heart Association Basic in 2009. The aim of the programme Life Support programmes. Sarfaraz Masih, Senior Lecturer, was to develop the leadership poten- Liaquat National College of Nursing, tial of participants selected from Munira Abhavani was blessed with Karachi, is a member of the National various Muslim countries. Prasla a girl, Zahra Amin, on June 9, 2009. Task Force for nursing school at the currently works at AKU-SON. National Institute of Health and Saima Merchant, an instructor and Social Sciences. In 2009, he spoke at 1996 a student at AKU-SON, defended a national seminar on Image Shirin Noorali Valliani has almost her MScN thesis on the Nature of Building: Making Difference for completed a MsN in Family Nurse Nurses Verbal Communication with Nursing and Midwifery Professionals Practitioner. She deeply misses and the ICU Incubated, Unconscious and in Pakistan and scientific nursing ses- cherishes her golden days at AKU. Sedated Patients. She also received sion at the 6th Liaquat National the Rho Delta Research Award for Hospital Symposium. 2000 2009, and has been elected Chair, Shirin Alwani was mentioned in an Publicity and Newsletter 2009 article in Hospital News, a Canadian Committee, Sigma Theta Tau Shireen Pyarali Lalani is a Senior health care newspaper. The article International Rho Delta Chapter. Nursing Instructor and Year
19 ClAss notes
Coordinator, Baqai Medical cardiologist, and advanced cardiac 2006 University, Karachi. imaging and interventional cardiolo- Majid Shafiq recently led Emory gist at the Prince Salman Heart University to win the Georgia Wais Mohammad Qarani is serving Center, King Fahad Medical City. Chapter-American College of as Technical Advisor and Consultant, Physicians Medical Jeopardy Afghanistan Midwifery and Nursing 2000 Competition. Shafiq and his col- Education Accreditation Board. Ghulam Haider Akhund is serv- league, Imad Hussain, look forward ing as an honourary Epidemiologist to welcoming four AKU graduates in Medical College at the College of Physicians and the incoming PGY1 class at Emory's Surgeons Pakistan, Hyderabad. internal medicine programme. 1995 Saima Khawaja is currently train- The University of Arkansas for 2008 ing at Institute for Functional Medical Sciences recognised Saeed Tahir Saeed received a Gold Medal Medicine in Gig Harbor, Mahmood Khan, with its Circle in anaesthesiology in the FCPS Washington. She has successfully of Excellence 2010 award. Khan examination held in June 2008. completed a course in structural was one of 12 physicians who acupuncture for physicians from received the award this year and 2009 Harvard Medical School, training in the only physician from the Sidra Ishaque works as a Research Somatic Experiencing (a form Department of Internal Medicine. Medical Officer in the Department of trauma therapy) from the The award recognises compassion- of Paediatrics and Child Health at Foundation for Human Enrichment ate health care and respect for AKUH, Karachi. in Colorado and clinical homeopathy patients and families. for physicians from Thomas Institute for Educational Jefferson University in Philadelphia. 2001 Development Imran Ahmad Khan is a hospital- 1997 ist at Lourdes Hospital in 1998 Fatima Naqvi is working as a geria- Binghamton, New York. He com- Dilshad Ashraf has been appointed trician in Maryland. She completed pleted his residency in internal Head, Research and Policy Studies, her residency in family medicine from medicine from Brookdale AKU-IED. Earlier, he served as Wayne State University in Detroit, MI University Hospital and Medical Chair, Research and Policy Studies in 2007, where she was honoured Center, Brooklyn NY. Advisory Committee. with the Best Intern and Outstanding Graduating Resident awards. She 2004 2001 completed her fellowship in geriatrics Shahzad Shah recently attended At a head teacher conference in from Stony Brook University in 2009. the Association of Physicians of Reading, UK, Mansoor Naz Pakistani Descent of North Vindhani made a presentation on After working for five years as a pae- America (APPNA) youth con- Connecting Classrooms, a project of diatric hospitalist at Children's Mercy vention and believes that organisa- the British Council. Hospital in Kansas City, Simi tions such as APPNA should col- Rahman is now moving to Los laborate with Aga Khan University 2003 Angeles and wants to reconnect with alumni to groom new leaders in the Shahid Raza Badami is serving as AKU colleagues residing or visiting medical field. a head master at Ghulaman-e-Abbas the Los Angeles area. School in Karachi. 2005 1998 After completing a fellowship 2004 Adil Haider was appointed co-direc- in angiogenesis and eye technolo- Babar Khan has recently been pro- tor of the Trauma Outcomes Research gy, Yureeda Qazi is working as a moted as an instructor at Aga Khan Group at Johns Hopkins School of postdoctoral fellow in retina and University, Professional Medicine in Baltimore. He also serves refractive development at Emory Development Centre North. the institution as a trauma surgeon Eye Center in Atlanta. She is proud and an assistant professor of surgery. to share her work on modulating 2005 angiogenesis through alternative Shahida Sultan is serving 1999 splicing at the Association for UNESCO as an education specialist Residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Research in Vision and and consultant for the project: M. Rizwan Khalid is a consultant Ophthalmology meeting this year. Strengthening Teacher Education in
20 ClAss notes
Pakistan. She believes the research Technology in Ireland and 2008 and analytical skills she gained at University of Malta. Shamsun Nisa is a head teacher at AKU-IED, and her job experience Diamond Jubilee Middle School with Aga Khan Education Service, Rashida Haji sends her greetings to Hyderabad, Hunza. She also sends Pakistan are the major factors con- all former colleagues and alumni. her greetings to all colleagues. tributing to this career leap.
2007 Request for Contributions Anthony Gioko is serving as Programme Coordinator, The editors of AKU-NAMA invite you to contribute to the next issue of Professional Development Centre, the magazine. Please send your contributions to any of the editors or to Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa. your respective school or programme representative on the editorial board.
Khan Zada got the Erasmus * Share stories of what you are doing now, and how you link your achieve- Mundus Scholarship from the ments back to your experience at AKU. European Union for a two-year * Send us pictures to accompany your articles. Pictures must be high reso- Master’s programme in Early lution, A4 size digital images (at least 1 MB in size) which are separate Childhood Education and Care, JPEG files, and not embedded in a word or PDF document. offered in collaboration with the * When you send in an article make sure you include your degree informa- Oslo University College in tion and year of graduation from AKU. Norway, Dublin Institute of nrmP mAtCh results
Results for Medical College graduates who applied for residency positions in the 2010 National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) in the United States.
NAME SPECIALITY PROGRAMME CATEGORY
CLASS OF 2003 Kamran Mirza Pathology University of Chicago, Chicago, IL C Saad Khilji Family Medicine West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV C
CLASS OF 2004 Hiba Arif Neurology Emory University, Atlanta, GA C
CLASS OF 2005 Madiha Koraishy Internal Medicine Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, CT C
CLASS OF 2006 Babar Junaidi Internal Medicine William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI C Fahd Khalid Syed Internal Medicine Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA C Farooq Khan Internal Medicine University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH C
*C = Categorial, A = Advanced, P = Preliminary, TY = Transitional Year
21 nrmP mAtCh results
NAME SPECIALITY PROGRAMME CATEGORY
Jawad Ghazanfar Kiani Internal Medicine - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, C Independent Study Pittsburgh, PA Project
Maria Maqbool Choudhary Internal Medicine Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH C
Pastoon Murtaza Kasi Internal Medicine - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, C Independent Study Pittsburgh, PA Project
Umair Syed Ahmed Internal Medicine West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV C Zaman Shah Internal Medicine University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY C
CLASS OF 2007 Affan Umer General Surgery St John Providence Park Hospital, Novi, MI P Ahmed Jawad General Surgery University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, PA P Aiman Ghufran Internal Medicine University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI C Aisha Afzal Internal Medicine William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI C Ameer Hamza Khan Internal Medicine University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT C Asma Mushir Khan Internal Medicine SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brookyn, NY C Basmah Ather Jalil Internal Medicine University at Buffalo - SUNY, Buffalo, NY C Fawad Muhammad Shuaib Internal Medicine Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL C Hammad Bin Liaquat Internal Medicine Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN C Hina Khawar Jamali Internal Medicine University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH C Mahim Akmal Malik General Surgery University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN C Muhammad Bilal Abid Family Medicine Penn State University Good Samaritan Hospital, C Hershey, PA
Nauman Khalid Internal Medicine Grand Rapids Medical Education Center, TY Grand Rapids, MI Quratulain Shabbir Internal Medicine University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT C Raza Abbas Internal Medicine William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI C Salman Jamaluddin Bandeali Internal Medicine Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX C Sara Husain Internal Medicine William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI C Sarah Aftab Ahmad General Surgery University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT P Sumbal Ashraf Janjua Internal Medicine Caritas St. Elizabeth Medical Center, C Boston, MA Syed Kashan Abidi Internal Medicine Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN C Syeda Sidra Waheed Internal Medicine William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI C Umal Azmat Internal Medicine Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN C Waleed Tallat Kayani Internal Medicine Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX C
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NAME SPECIALITY PROGRAMME CATEGORY
CLASS OF 2008 Abdullah Khan Internal Medicine Emory University, Atlanta, GA C Ahmed Itrat Neurology Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH C Anum Bilal Khan Internal Medicine William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI C Ather Mohammad Taqui Neurology Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH C Danesh Kumar Kella Internal Medicine Emory University, Atlanta, GA C Fatima Aziz Obstetrics and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY C Gynaecology Fatima Samad Internal Medicine University of Medicine and Dentistry of C New Jersey, Newark , NJ Fazia Ahmad Mir Internal Medicine Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO C Hammad Ashraf Ganatra Paediatrics Emory University, Atlanta, GA C Kanza Abbas Internal Medicine Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX C Maliha Iqbal Jumani Internal Medicine Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA C Maryah Mansoor Internal Medicine Staten Island University Hospital, New York, NY C Mohammad Bin Pervez General Surgery Albert Einstein College of Medicine, P New York, NY Muhammad Awais Khan Neurology University of Arizona Affiliate Program, C Tuscon, AZ Grand Rapids Medical Education Center, TY Grand Rapids, MI Quratulain Rashid Internal Medicine Emory University, Atlanta, GA C Roha Khalid Paediatrics University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX C Rushna Pervez Ali Neurosurgery Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI C Sana Shoukat Internal Medicine Emory University, Atlanta, GA C Sana Waqar Internal Medicine West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV C Saqib Ali Gowani Internal Medicine University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT C Sarah Tehseen Paediatrics Children's Hospital of Michigan - C Wayne State University, Detroit, MI Syeda Hina Batool Internal Medicine William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI C Talha Vaqar Neurology University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI C
CLASS OF 2009 Anam Akmal Internal Medicine Caritas St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Boston, MA C Javad Tauseef Hashmi Emergency Medicine Wilson Medical Center, Johnson City, NY TY Mirza Umair Khalid Internal Medicine Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX C Najam ud Din Internal Medicine SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY C Saad Ajmal General Surgery Brown University, Providence, RI P Shuja ur Rehman Internal Medicine Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN C
Back cover photo: Lamplighting Ceremony by School of Nursing, Pakistan / AKU.
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