AKU-NAMAAga Khan University Newsletter and Magazine for Alumni

Winter 2010, Vol. 3, Issue 2

C O N T E N T S

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Editor-in-ChiefAdeel A. Buttaabutt@gmail.com

Editorial StaffShain Amershi, Executive Assistantalumni.nachapter@aku.edu

Associate EditorsFaiz Bhora, Medical College North American Chapterfybhora@aol.com

Rahila Zakir, Medical CollegeEuropean Chapterr.zakir@btinternet.com

Tazeen Jafar, Medical CollegePakistan Chaptertazeen.jafar@aku.edu

Erum Kabani, School of Nursingerum.kabani@aku.edu

Fahmida Mehdi, School of Nursingfahmida.mehdi@aku.edu

Nadim Farooqui, Institute for Educational Developmentnadim.farooqui@aku.edu

Nilufar Shariff, Advanced Nursing StudiesEast Africanilufar.shariff@aku.edu

Balkis Rouached, Institute for the Study of MuslimCivilisationsbalkis19hope@yahoo.ca

Marie Andrades, Postgraduate Medical Educationmarie.andrades@aku.edu

Ex-Officio MembersFiroz Rasul, President firoz.rasul@aku.edu

Farhat Abbas, DeanMedical College, Pakistanfarhat.abbas@aku.edu

Rozina Karmaliani, Interim Dean School of Nursing, Pakistanrozina.karmaliani@aku.edu

Muhammad Memon, DirectorInstitute for Educational Development, Pakistanmuhammad.memon@aku.edu

Yasmin Amarsi, Foundation DeanSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africayasmin.amarsi@aku.edu

Anjum Halai, Interim DirectorInstitute for Educational Development, East Africaanjum.halai@aku.edu

Mushtaq Ahmed, Associate DeanMedical Education, East Africamushtaq.ahmed@aku.edu

Farouk Topan, Interim DirectorInstitute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, UKfarouk.topan@aku.edu

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 editorialboard or Aga Khan University.

IN THIS ISSUE

From the Editor’s Desk 3

Volunteers Make a Difference 4

Fundraiser in Oxford 5

The Red Saint of Sindh 6

Step by Step to Publishing 8

Towards Excellence 8

Research Grants: A Nightmare for Junior Researchers 9

Boys to Men: Reunion at 11,000 Feet 10

Five Seasons in the Sun 12

A Journey Just Begun 13

My Way 13

When Care Matters - Interview with Dr Hasan B. Alam 14

The New Face of Nursing - Interview with Salimah Meghani 16

Vigil at AKU 17

Medical College in Dallas 18

Nurses Reunite! 19

Campus Happenings 20

Class Notes 21

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AKU Reunion in Dallas: (left-right) Louis Ariano, Carol Ariano and Farhat Abbas.Abdul Haq Wahedna

F R O M T H E E D I T O R ’ S D E S K

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Stepping Up to the ChallengeAdeel A. Butt

Reuters

In 2010, Pakistan experienced floods that inundatednearly a fifth of the country. By some estimates, over 20million people have been affected. The Aga KhanUniversity and its alumni have played their part in help-ing those affected. They have provided primary medicalcare at relief camps, staffed wards in hospitals and takenover unused government facilities, donating time, pro-fessional expertise and money to help their compatriots.However, millions still remain without shelter or food,and at great risk from water-borne diseases. With thewinter now here, the need for assistance is even greater.

While numerous government, non-governmental andinternational agencies have set up efforts to help theaffected, there is a sense of lack of effective leadership

to address the enormous task at hand. There is a need fora professionally staffed disaster relief agency which canbecome the central management hub in any nationalemergency. The agency should be run on the principlesof independence, transparency and accountability.

Even though many have stepped up to meet the chal-lenge, we need even more. From community associa-tions, civil society organisations, local governments allthe way through to national and provincial institutions,we need leaders – not one but many.

P.S. We urge all readers to help our less fortunatefellow citizens, through their time, expertise or dona-tions. Remember, even a smile for an affected person isa charity that has its own rewards.

The devastating floods that began inPakistan in July displaced millions, affected78 out of 144 districts in Pakistan, led to astate of emergency and once again, focusedthe world’s spotlight on this country – butfor entirely different reasons. This unprece-dented natural disaster has allowed the peo-ple of Pakistan to demonstrate their com-passion and generosity. Many individualsand organisations across the country havecommitted time, energy and resources tothe flood relief efforts. Groups have bandedtogether to collect funds to buy food andclothing and rush supplies to people.Institutions have ‘sponsored’ camps or vil-lages, and devoted staff and time to theeffort. Even as the already dilapidated infra-structure in our rural areas – roads, bridges,health centres and schools – crumbledunder the flood waters, people continued tofind a way to reach out to those displacedby the flood.

We left in a rush for Khairpur andSukkur, the five of us, a senior paediatri-cian, a local gynaecologist, two final-yearmedical students and a public health spe-cialist (myself). It was the end of Augustand flood waters had inundated towns andvillages in upper Sindh. Our plan was tovisit camps set up for the flood displacedpeople – five days and 15 camps later wehad attended to over 500 patients, providingbasic care and medications. We had alsotrained around 100 lady health workers(LHWs) in basic health and hygiene mes-sages, emphasising how vital they are to theflood relief efforts and boosting their ownsense of importance.

We witnessed first-hand, and for thefirst time, a large-scale disaster. There wasso much chaos that it was difficult to graspthe situation. People cramped together inschool buildings, tents or along roadsides with nothing oftheir own. The local government was completely over-whelmed and was struggling to provide food, water, shel-ter and clothes to this massive influx of refugees.

During our short visit there we saw many reliefefforts that could have been better. But we also saw that

things could have been much worse. Many suffered frompoor health and the floods had further aggravated theproblem. The most common illnesses were diarrhoea, skinproblems and respiratory infections. The most severelyaffected were women, children and the elderly. Nearlyevery child was malnourished and every woman anaemic.

Syed Nabeel Zafar, MBBS ‘08, MPH ‘10

Volunteers Make a Difference

C O V E R S T O R Y

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Newborn twins being treated in a school camp in Mattiari, Sindh.Anita Zaidi

C O V E R S T O R Y

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Every third female of childbearing age waspregnant. Hospitals were overburdened and didnot have adequate staff, beds or space. Despitethe large number of people needing help, wecontinued our efforts, treated acute cases andsent daily reports back to AKU so that morepeople could be motivated to volunteer and bedirected to where they were needed the most.

The poor sanitary conditions and the sheerlack of basic personal hygiene that we sawwas alarming. Since they knew no better, peo-ple had no qualms about eating where they haddefecated. Newborn children lay on the mud,smothered in flies. There was garbage and filtheverywhere with people and animals sharingthe same living quarters.

In such difficult conditions, it is vital forpeople to have the knowledge of basic hygieneand sanitation practices that can help preventinfections and disease. The perfect ‘force’ forthis training challenge are the LHWs and thereare about 1,500 LHWs operating in the Sukkurand Khairpur area. Since most of them arefamiliar with the local language and culture,they integrate well with local communities. Wetrained and motivated as many LHWs as wecould on how to deliver health messages in thehope that it would benefit the internally dis-placed persons (IDPs) in the long run.

Other organisations were also involved insanitation efforts. We witnessed pit latrinesfor human waste disposal being erected, handpumps for clean drinking water beinginstalled and soaps being distributed withrations. However, the best camp, being run bya local NGO, had empowered the IDPs tocater for themselves. At the camp, the floodaffectees were cooking, cleaning, stitchingclothes and guarding the gate of the camp ontheir own, which made them much better offthan the rest.

The recovery phase of the floods, rehabili-tating people, the infrastructure and the socialservices system is difficult and complex. But itis a challenge that can be overcome with thejoint efforts of local governments, NGOs,international agencies and volunteers.

We know that volunteers from all overPakistan are doing what they can to make alasting impact. The silver lining here is that theflood has brought these neglected people with-in the reach of interventions. Now it is impor-tant that we learn from this disaster and focusour efforts, in the post-flood phase, on the cru-cial issue of community education.

In the wake of the catastrophic floods in Pakistan, it seemed aptto organise a fundraiser for those affected. All I really neededwas a push and it came when a Canadian colleague inquired asto what I had done to help the flood relief efforts back home.

The very next morning, I circulated the idea of a fund-rais-ing iftaar amongst my friends here at Oxford. Everyone wasextremely supportive, but we were slightly scared about theturnout. It was non-term time at Oxford, students were on breakand we were hesitant about the success of such an effort.

With a vague idea in our heads, we took to the streets tofind out which restaurant would suit our budget. We found aquaint outlet in the colourful Cowley area of Oxford, whoseowners happily agreed to work within our budget. Step one ofthe plan had been accomplished.

Step two was to spread the word, and fast. Facebook was ofgood use as we generated an event page – liaising with as manysocieties and individuals we could find who were still active inOxford and not hibernating for the summer.

The big day finally arrived. Not surprisingly, it was raining.It was a not-so-perfect start and I feared the rain would turnpeople away.

But the turnout was a complete surprise. We had anticipatedabout 40 people; the restaurant had capacity for 100. Over a 110people turned up! And the best part was there was food andplenty of it for everyone! There were people from every profes-sion and several nations supporting the event, from Canada toas far away as Malaysia. Even my fellow ‘Rhodies’ – Rhodesscholars – turned up and I am greatly indebted to them for con-tributing to our fund-raising efforts.

We had organised a number of presentations to highlight theseverity of the floods in Pakistan. Numerous reasons have beencited to explain the slow international response to the crisis inthe country, from donor fatigue in the wake of the Haiti quaketo the poor global image of Pakistan. But the fact that stood outblatantly that day was that very few people actually understoodthe gravity of the situation.

After the presentations and dinner, we passed our donationboxes around. The response in one word: mind-blowing!Through our efforts, we managed to raise close to 3,000 pounds.We channelled this money to the Disasters EmergencyCommittee, which is an umbrella group of 13 UK charities,from Islamic Aid to Oxfam.

But what we all need to understand now is that post-disas-ter, reconstruction efforts are going to be a long and tediouschallenge. Fundraisers like ours are merely the starting point ofa sustained support programme for our affected fellow citizensin Pakistan. We should not need a push to remind us of ourresponsibility towards our very own nation.

Mohammad Ali Rai, MBBS ’08

Fundraiser in Oxford

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F E A T U R E

Appearing much softer at dusk, the golden dome of theshrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar rises above the dustytown of Sehwan, 180 miles north of Karachi. Tinymakeshift shrines and altars dot the processional walkto the main entrance of the shrine, marked by a verytall alam, a structure erected in the memory of theBattle of Karbala (680 AD).

Walking past the courtyard, now barefoot, I let ared thread be tied to my wrist, signifying the colour ofthe saint. The courtyard is neatly cordoned off intomale and female zones where seemingly disciplinedmen and women await what appears to be a daily ritual.Minutes later, right after the sunset prayer, large drumsare struck, turning people in the courtyard less disci-plined, the gender-divide less stark. Some observe andmany participate in a kind of vigorous dance calleddhamal in local parlance. As men dance to the beats of

the drum, alternatively lifting one foot and springing onthe other, women sway their heads in a circular motion,their hair left uncovered and untied.

Inside, where the saint lies buried, people continueto make offerings, in groups and in solitude. Womensing of the saint’s intercessory attributes; the ambienceis made warmer by the soft rendition of ‘O lal meri patrakhiya bala jhoole lal’ (lit: O Lal keep my boatafloat). Occasionally, parties of male vocalists, whilststanding by the grave, sing or recite poems of praiseand sometimes of grief for the family of the Prophet.This is often accompanied by beating of the chest byShi’a pilgrims providing a regular beat to the recitation.

Upon entering, many would prostrate at the thresh-old or later at the pedestal of the shrine, a few wouldcrack open a coconut. There are men and women whoquietly read the Quran, and those who pray silently

The Red Saint of SindhOmar Kasmani, MA ‘09

Architect, photographer and anthropologist, Omar Kasmani (AKU-ISMC, Class of 2009) is currently a PhDcandidate in Social Anthropology at the Freie Universität, Berlin, Graduate School Muslim Cultures andSocieties. His research interests include gender, devotion and post-colonial subjectivities.

F E A T U R E

with hands folded, clasped togetheror stretched out. There are somewho circumambulate with chantslouder than others and some whosesinging voices fill the large durbar(courtyard) space. Many makeofferings to the saint: chadars, rosepetals, sweets and money. Some areseen touching the grave; others bowfurther to deliver a kiss.

An increasingly frequent sightis that of men and women usingtheir cellular phones to take picturesor to make videos of the shrine. Thedemocratisation of the camera, Ibelieve, subjects the shrine visitorto posing in front of it. The impres-

sion is confirmed as many pray fac-ing the camera and not in the direc-tion of the shrine as dictated by cus-tom. My use of camera, in thissense, becomes unexceptional andin some ways not intrusive.

The images are part of a largerbody of work “The red betweenblack and white”, curated for anexhibition at the L’École desHautes Études en SciencesSociales in Paris in September2010. This ethnographic accountis part of the researcher’s MAproject conducted at AKU-ISMC.

‘O lal meri pat rakhiyabala jhoole lal’ (lit: OLal keep my boat afloat)“

”

Step by Step toPublishingNoor Hussain and Shairoz Ismail, MEd ’07

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F E A T U R E

It was our research study for the MEd degree that plant-ed the seed.

It was a rigorous process that began with formulat-ing a research plan, writing a research proposal andfinally submitting a dissertation; a process of un-learn-ing and re-learning that made us realise the importanceof reflecting on how the theoretical knowledge ofresearch in novice researchers is transformed into theirresearch skills.

As fledgling researchers, we were anxious aboutreceiving clear directions and effective supervision.Fortunately, Dr Nilofar Vazir, Associate Professor,AKU-IED agreed to supervise us. Although our studieshad many contextual and methodological differences,her extraordinary expertise as a dissertation supervisormade our thesis research work and writing, a significantlearning experience and a milestone in our teachingcareer. This exceptional learning opportunity eventuallyconvinced the two of us to reflect on our overall experi-ence as research supervisees and on the entire processwe had been through. We decided to write a reflectivepaper that could provide some useful underpinnings forboth neophyte researchers and research supervisors.

Despite living and working in different contexts, weremained enthusiastic about our aim. We correspondedover email, exchanging feedback till we were satisfiedthat our learning could add to research literature. Theresult was ‘Learning, re-learning and un-learning: ourjourney across the dissertation process: reflections oftwo student teachers’ published in the international jour-nal, Reflective Practice.

This paper is significant to us in two ways. First, itprovides a comprehensive view of the entire process ofresearch work under a research supervisor, which wenarrated by sharing sufficient evidence of the profes-sional interaction among supervisors and supervisees. Inaddition, it emphasises the pivotal role a research super-visor plays in ensuring the quality and authenticity ofthe study. Secondly, by being published at an interna-tional forum, it has revealed our competency as authors.This has motivated us to continue to write and share ourlearning experiences with colleagues.

What we have realised is that it is necessary tocarefully proofread the final version, fulfill copyrightformalities and address acknowledgements. This hasindeed been a successful step in our journey as learners.

This is a story of Aga Khan Hospital for Women andChildren, Kharadar and its integration with theUniversity Hospital.

The Janbai Maternity Home, as it was originallycalled, was established on April 15, 1924 with thesupport of Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan IIIand the philanthropist, Weir Bundeh Ali Kassim. Itnow functions as a full-fledged secondary hospitalwith 48 beds, a labour room, an operation theatre,nursery and outpatient clinics. It also has been offer-ing midwifery training since 1967, with 1,210 gradu-ates to date.

On July 1, 2009 the nursing services were mergedwith the Aga Khan University Hospital. Initially, themerger was not easily accepted – change is not alwayswelcome! To help the process, the Aga KhanUniversity Hospital nursing team arranged an intro-ductory learn and lunch session, where apprehensionsand queries could be answered.

Several steps followed: a training need analysiswhere skills and theory were assessed, special classesarranged for those who needed assistance, and follow-up to help people improve their grades based on theirknowledge, attitude and practice.

Like they say, no one can go back and make abrand new start, but anyone can start today and forgea brand new ending – and this is precisely what hap-pened here. Initially while wearing their brand newAKUH uniforms, staff felt insecure. Their Janbaiidentity had gone away, an identity very close to theirhearts; shifts had been stretched to nine hours, andadjustments had to be made with families. They wereworried about the firm rules towards policies andaccountability for their own actions. They were wor-ried that the homely environment of sharing and car-ing would disappear, they would have to stretch them-selves and learn new technology, rationalise theirnursing care, and above all be vocal, confident,assertive and independently responsible for theirpatient’s right.

If the key to success is the ability to adapt, thenyes, our team has become accustomed to the new uni-form, duty hours, policies, procedures and documen-tation. Now we all can rationalise our nursing inter-ventions, develop nursing care plans and proudly saythat we provide quality care!

Towards Excellence

Sindhu Nawaz, RN Diploma ’07

Gary Otte

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You are entering a dimly lit room.On one side you can see huge stacksof papers and on the other, a groupof people working away. Movingcloser, you realise that those pilesare actually grant applications andthe people, reviewers. Suddenly, oneturns to look you in the face; yourealise that he is holding your grantapplication. He smiles and stampsthe paper and hands it over. Yourapplication has been rejected. Youhear a faint, familiar sound in thebackground – an alarm clock ring-ing, waking you from this night-mare. Thank god! It is just a dream.

This is the nightmare that hauntsevery junior researcher. Grantingagency policies have made itincreasingly difficult for youngresearchers to obtain funds, whichhas the potential to drive an entiregeneration away from careers inbasic biomedical research.

To make matters worse, interna-tionally, research funding has fallenand there is very tough competitionfor grants from well-known agencies

such as the National Institutes ofHealth. Local funds are also declin-ing, as the Higher EducationCommission and Pakistan Medicaland Research Council have sufferedmajor cuts in their budgets.However, let us have confidence inthe skills we have gained at AKU.During my MSc programme, wewere told that there are two steps forsuccess in the field of research.First, formulating an original andinnovative idea for research and sec-ond, convincing reputable fundingagencies to support it.

Well-thought out research ideasdo not appear out of the blue.Successful researchers read numer-ous papers in related fields to devel-op their own ideas. They also notethe funders, the agencies interestedin specific areas or projects. Theirnext step is to obtain feedback fromcolleagues and mentors on both theresearch idea and the prospectivefunding agencies.

Success in research is alsodependent on the ability to effec-

tively propose an idea to grantingagencies. First impressions matter agreat deal: a concise and convincingproposal is essential for gettingone’s research funded. Reviewersusually spend a short amount oftime reading each application and ifthey do not like your idea afterreading the first page, they are notlikely to approve your grant applica-tion. Also proposals that do notmatch an agency’s objectives areless likely to succeed.

Working as a junior researcher isdefinitely not a 9 to 5 job – it is anongoing struggle. You know thatwhen you are not working, you arepotentially falling behind your com-petitors (read strong track recordresearchers). However, there is nodoubt in my mind that with continualeffort we can successfully competefor grants from renowned fundingagencies and excel in our careers.

Kashmira Nanji is working in theDepartment of Family Medicine, AKUas a Senior Instructor (Research).

F E A T U R E

Research Grants:A Nightmare for Junior ResearchersKashmira Nanji, BScN ’04, MSc ’09

Boys to Men:Reunion at 11,000 FeetHaider WarraichMBBS ‘09

F E A T U R E

Around this time last year, as theclass of 2009 transitioned from beingstudents to alumni, my group offriends decided to make one last chal-lenging trip together to the northernareas of Pakistan, as we had donethroughout our years at AKU. Havingalready hiked across Naran, Kaghan,Nathia Gali, Beeran Gali, FairyMeadows and up to Nanga Parbat,this time we decided to visit theHunza Valley and trek up to the basecamp of Rakaposhi.

We started our journey in a rentedbus, driving all the way fromIslamabad along the KarakoramHighway (KKH) to Gilgit andbeyond. The ride was fun, partlybecause of the ruckus that a dozen orso boys released from five years ofvirtual incarceration can create andalso because the drive along the KKHitself is an extraordinary experiencewith its deep valleys and high moun-tains – it is as if everything is drawnto an almost separate scale than theone we are used to.

By the time we camped at one ofthe many spots that provided a mag-nificent viewpoint of Rakaposhi, wehad been on the road for two daysstraight. But the view that greeted usin the morning more than overcameany lingering doubts we may haveharboured about our adventure.Refreshed, we packed up and depart-ed for Hunza, where we camped outin an apple orchard in full bloom –with Rakaposhi still overlooking us.After a feast of some exquisite yakmeat, we moved on to view the sto-ried Altit and Baltit forts, once homesto the royal family of Hunza andfamous for never having been cap-tured by the enemy. Little can com-pare with the view of the HunzaValley from the top of Baltit Fort,with the Indus river snaking by thefeet of magnificent Rakaposhi.

Having had enough of the scenicappetisers, we set off for Tagafari, themost beautiful of Rakaposhi’s multi-ple base camps. Short of time, we bat-tled sunburn, aching muscles, limitedfood and water supplies, and lest Iforget, rabid bees, as we made our

way across the river, through woodsand pastures dotted with grazing ani-mals, avoiding poisonous (but veryalluring) berries, to finally reachTagafari base camp, where the mightyMinapin glacier meets Rakaposhi.Enraptured by this magnificent set-ting, we could better reflect on thehuman condition and a world thatseems doomed to Sisyphean labour!

On the face of it, all we gainedwere numerous comments and

‘Likes’ for our pictures on Facebookand the envy of all those who couldnot make it. But our journey to themountains was a pilgrimage of sorts,where the mountain gods taught us,amongst other things, humility, and asense of the natural beauty that existswithin our very own country. It isindeed a shame that only a few canmake this journey and experience atranscendence that no esoteric ritualcan emulate.

The last few steps to Tagafari base camp were the hardest. Haider Warraich

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F E A T U R E

The Brave (left to right): Haider Warraich, Usman Salahuddin, Faisal Khan, AsifIqbal, Arslan Shaukat, Atif Bashir, Raafay Sophie, Junaid Haroon, Rehan Zahid andAhsan Raza. Haider Warraich

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R E F L E C T I O N S

Five Seasons in the SunSana Khalid, MBBS ’10

“Time flies at AKU”, said our facilitator teaching theblood and inflammation module, an AKU graduate him-self. As we sat through the class, we thought that if we fin-ished this chapter it would be a big achievement, let alonecompleting five years at AKU.

We may all be familiar with four seasons, but at AKUwe have five: one for every year that we spend here.

The first season is all about gettingused to the surroundings. It is a year ofbig decisions, of the sort that one hasnever made or never will again.Decisions like whether to study fromGuyton or Harrison, whether to be apart of the many societies on campusor to just stick to studying, whether tocontest the elections as a candidate orto just support a friend, whether tostudy from Lippincott or just do DrPI’s (Dr Pervaiz Iqbal) lectures – allhave to be made. And before youknow it, you are studying for your firstprofessional. Not knowing what to do,like a docile sheep you follow theherd, you spend the day in the librarytrying to study and the night in thegraveyard cafe. And just when you feellike you are on the brink of failing thefirst exam in your life, a senior studentcomes to the rescue and introduces the magical word oftotas (sample questions) to your vocabulary. And what fol-lows is well known. We sail smoothly into the second sea-son of AKU.

Some ambiguities still remain. But this time around,one is more accustomed to the surroundings. This yearmarks one of the most dreaded modules of all, neuro-sciences and its professional exam, one of the toughest ofthe five years. This season ends too.

Before you know it, the lab coats become your dailyattire, your patients are no longer simulated, their pain andsuffering no longer unreal, their smiles and tears no longerfake. If you think you have climbed up the professionalladder, think again, because you have just been thrown,once again, to the very bottom. Only this time, it is achanged world. Once it was your facilitators guiding you,now it is the consultants, once it was the lecture halls, nowit is the wards. YouYY soon realise that homework is not all

about memorising facts, but it is also about finding outyour consultant’s likes and dislikes. It is a time when youlook up to the final year students and consider themMr/Miss Know-All and wonder in awe if you will ever beable to reach their level. Third year is all about waiting forthat one rotation in ENT and Eye. Very soon you turn VV apage as the fourth year finally dawns.

If I were to summarise year four, its LR OR (LabourRoom, Operating Room). Don’t get me wrong, but most ofour rotations do revolve around that one room. In obstet-rics and gynaecology you see mothers delivering, in paedi-atrics you are concerned of the well-being of the child whohas been delivered and in anaesthesiology, you assist inputting mothers to sleep.

The final season at AKU is a year of realisation that somany things have changed around you: your group, yourambitions and sometimes even your whole perspectivetoward life. You realise that behind that façade of Mr/MissYYKnow-All is someone who is afraid of being insulted infront of their seniors. It did surprise me that at the end offive years one leaves this place equipped with the knowl-edge of diagnosing diseases, understanding patients andlearning to read laboratory reports. So time does actuallyfly and all I can do is smile in affirmation to what myfacilitator said at the beginning of my seasons at AKU.

AKU MU edical College courtyard, Pakistan.MM

My WayShazia Naz Waris, Post RN BScN ‘09

Everyone has a life story and I wantto share my enriching experiences asa nurse with my fellow nurses.

I had never met a nurse before Ijoined this profession. During myhigh school years, I read aboutFlorence Nightingale in a textbookand she so captured my attentionthat I wanted to pursue nursing. Itwas not easy entering this profes-sion as my entire family did notsupport my decision. “We do notwant to waste our girls on nursing;nurses have no worth” were thewords of one uncle. Nonetheless Iwas able to join the profession atthe young age of 16. I came to livein a hostel and it was a challenge toadjust to the new environment. Butwith the support of my teachers andfriends, I was able to excel in mynursing diploma. Today, I stillTTvividly remember the words of myprincipal, “You are the right hand ofour institute.”

There were many memorableincidents during my diploma pro-gramme. As a second year student, Ishared a room with three others.One particular day, thinking it was 6am and that we were late for clini-cals, we hurriedly changed into ouruniforms and rushed for breakfast –only to glance out of the windowand see stars shining in the darksky. It was 6 pm and not 6 am and areflection of how passionate andenthusiastic we were about ournursing duties.

On completing my diploma, Ijoined Aga Khan University Hospitalas a registered nurse in 2003. I willnever forget those early days oflearning and how I progressed inrefining my nursing skills. I soonrealised that the nursing profession

was the right choice for me. With theWWgreat nurse leaders at the Hospital asrole models and mentors, there havebeen many opportunities to matureand increase my nursing capacities.

For three years I worked as abed-side nurse in the obstetric unitwith postnatal mothers and new-borns. I was a unit team leader andalso worked as a nursery nurse, spe-cial care nurse and medication nurse.In 2007, Aga Khan Universityoffered to sponsor my Post RNBScN studies – and that was one ofthe happiest moments of my life. Itreaffirmed the fact that my dedicatedefforts had not been wasted.

I completed my two-year degreeprogramme and rejoined the sameobstetric unit as a Clinical NurseInstructor where my main responsi-bilities are in staff development,patient safety and satisfaction. Wehave a multidisciplinary teamapproach that is exciting and chal-lenging and always a learning expe-rience for me.

I hear from other nurses aboutthe lack of work satisfaction but Idon’t agree. I feel that I am one ofthe luckiest people in the world. Myprofession has not only given mesatisfaction but has also made meone of the strongest earning mem-bers in my family, which now seesme as a role model.

I want to continue this amazingjourney in nursing. The challengesthat I have faced and overcome inlife have made me a stronger per-son. I am also proud of how Ichanged my family’s perceptionabout the profession, and I ampleased to know that they are nowproud of my achievements as a pro-fessional nurse.

A Journey Just BegunShirin Chunara RN Diploma ’91,Post RN BScN ’96

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R E F L E C T I O N S

I am a proud AKU alumnus living inthe USA. Like many of us, I too hada dream: to pursue higher education,the seed of which was sown when Iwas only a second year nursing stu-dent. Looking at many of our facultywho had Master’s and PhD degrees

– back when not manynurses had these cre-dentials – I wouldalways wonder, whatit would be like to bea nurse with a gradu-ate degree to hername? Seventeenyears later, I hold anMSN degree and am aFamily NursePractitioner. This is avery different rolefrom a traditionalnurse for now thescope of what I can dohas increased: I havethe authority to diag-nose as well as pre-scribe medicines. This

is quite challenging asone has to keep abreast of new med-ical guidelines and also learn aboutnew diseases and conditions.

What I have learnt is that the skyis the limit. We are very fortunatethat our roots in nursing come fromAga Khan University School ofNursing and we can very proudly telleveryone that we are AKU grads!

Higher education can open thedoors to many opportunities in thefuture. We can make a difference ina person’s life, or in a community, ina nation and together in the wholeworld. But equipping one’s self withadequate formal education is thekey. In education the “journey hasjust begun”.

Ayesha Vellani

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Tell us about your early years?I received my medical education inKarachi, Pakistan from theAdamjee Science College in 1984and a medical degree from AKU-MC in 1990. After interning for ayear at the University Hospital, Idid my residency at the WashingtonHospital Centre, serving as the

chief resident in general surgeryfrom 1997-98. Later, I did a fel-lowship in trauma and surgical crit-ical care at Washington HospitalCenter, followed by a postdoctoralresearch fellowship at theUniformed Services University ofthe Health Sciences in Bethesda,Maryland. I was associate profes-

sor of surgery at the GeorgetownUniversity Medical School and theUniformed Services University ofthe Health Sciences. I then shiftedto the Massachusetts GeneralHospital (MGH) in 2005.

Can you tell us a little bit moreabout your work at MGH?

When Care Matters

D I S T I N G U I S H E D A L U M N I

Hasan B. Alam, MBBS ’90 is Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and the Director ofSurgical Critical Care Fellowship Program. He is also the Director of Research, Division of Trauma,Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dr Alam is aninternationally renowned investigator in the field of trauma research, and an inspiring teacher in both clinical and laboratory settings.

15

After I took up the directorship ofthe Surgical Critical Care/AcuteCare Surgery Fellowship at MGH,under my leadership, this pro-gramme has become one of themost sought-after fellowships in theUS. I am also the Medical Directorof the Knight’s Surgical Laboratoryat MGH. Currently, I am goingthrough the promotion process to beappointed as full professor at theHarvard Medical School.

What other activities are youinvolved in outside HarvardMedical School?I have had several administrative andleadership responsibilities over thelast few years which span acrosslocal, regional, and national arenas.Since 2008, I have chaired theAmerican College of SurgeonsCommittee on Trauma and the StateTrauma Outcomes Committee for theDepartment of Public Health in theCommonwealth of Massachusetts. Iam also a consultant to theMassachusetts Health Commissionerfor trauma related issues.

At the national and internationallevels, I am part of 15 major soci-eties to which I actively contributeon various committees. Recently, Iwas elected as a member of theAmerican Surgical Association, thenation’s oldest and most prestigioussurgical organisation whose mem-bership is widely acknowledged as aseal of academic excellence. I amalso on the editorial boards of fourpeer-reviewed journals including theCritical Care Medicine, the mostprestigious publication in its fieldand also serve as an ad-hoc reviewerfor 20 publications.

What is the focus of your research?My interest is in developing lifesaving methods for trauma patients.Therefore, my research workfocuses on innovative methods forcontrolling bleeding, resuscitation,cooling the body for preservation,developing drugs to prevent deathfollowing lethal injuries, treatments

for brain injury, and design of newtools and devices. A number of myfindings have been translated intoclinical practice during the wars inIraq and Afghanistan, and havesaved many lives.

How do you obtain funding foryour research work?Over the last 10 years I havesecured competitive federalresearch grants from a variety ofsources. These projects developedadvanced dressings for the controlof bleeding, new methods forreplacing lost blood, drugs to main-tain life following massive injuries,and improved our understanding ofthe cellular changes during shock.In 2009 alone, I was awarded threegrants as a principal investigatorworth nearly $8 million (includinga new R01 grant from the NIH).Soon after my arrival at the MGH,I established a première traumaresearch programme which wasfunded by numerous grants fromthe US Department of Defense andthe National Institutes of Health.

What do you believe is theimpact of your work? How arepeople benefiting from it?Injuries are the leading cause ofdeath for young people. In the US,more individuals under the age of34 are killed by injuries than allother causes put together.

Even in developing countriesintentional and unintentionalinjuries are rapidly becoming amajor health care issue. The eco-nomic impact of death and disabili-ty in this segment of the populationis clearly huge. Developing meth-ods to save lives of these youngpeople has enormous health care,social, and economic implications.

Within two years of joining theMGH, you were awarded theCharles J. McCabe SurgicalResident’s Teaching Award. Howwould you assess your journey asa teacher?

Teaching is the most enjoyableaspect of my academic career, andthe major reason why I will nevergo into private practice. In manyways we try to evolve into rolemodels. I have benefited enor-mously from my teachers at AKUand in the US, and I continue touse them as inspiration during myown development and growth. Insome sense this is a journey with-out an end.

You appear to have struck a bal-ance between research and teach-ing, clinical work and adminis-trative responsibilities. Give usan insight as to how you man-aged to successfully achieve this? There is no simple formula, butexperience has taught me that fivethings are critical for success: 1)Finding the right mentors, 2)impeccable time management, 3)careful planning and setting mean-ingful goals, 4) writing regularly,and 5) marrying the right person.My residents often laugh about thelast point, but without a supportivespouse you can’t juggle all theseresponsibilities without sacrificingyour family.

Intelligence and hard work arenot as important as discipline andperseverance. You will find nearlyeveryone around you to be intelli-gent and hard working. But, in ademanding academic environment,people who can’t manage theirtime properly don’t thrive.Similarly, the common trait in allacademically successful individualsis that they write very well, andthey write regularly.

All of my trainees are requiredto write something every day, atleast five days a week. Whetherthey write a manuscript, grant pro-posal, research protocol, blog orpoetry is not as important as thefact that they acquire the disciplineto write on schedule. The writtenword is the currency of academicpromotion, and you can’t succeedwithout being a prolific writer.

D I S T I N G U I S H E D A L U M N I

Why did you choose nursing asa career?I wish I could say that I knew allabout the wonderful possibilitiesof a career in nursing at the veryoutset but my professional begin-nings were not very well thoughtout. The motivation at the timewas the emphasis by His Highnessthe Aga Khan on the profession ofnursing and its promise forimproving both the lives of peopleand the social standing of women.

What are your current involve-ments?My role at Penn Nursing includesteaching, advising and mentoringstudents as well as developing andsustaining a programme ofresearch on health disparities,health care decision-making,behavioural economics and symp-tom management outcomes in vul-nerable populations. I am also anAssociate Fellow of Bioethics atUniversity of Pennsylvania Schoolof Medicine and a member of theNew Courtland Center forTransitions and Health.

In a nutshell, my role is to con-tribute to the rich academic cultureof the University through scholarlywork, leadership and to prepare thenext generation of nurse cliniciansand researchers.

What can you tell us about yourcurrent research? What do youbelieve is the impact of yourwork?My research programme, supportedby the National Institutes of Healthand other grants, is geared towardsimproving health outcomes in themost vulnerable populations. Mycurrent research is related to cancerpain treatment disparities amongracial and ethnic minorities; itaddresses why certain groups ofindividuals are treated differentially

in health care and the mechanismsthat make irrelevant characteristicsrelevant in health outcomes. Mywork has raised awareness of theseissues and I have participated atnational level to strategise policiesto ameliorate these disparities.

My research has also exploredinequities in opioid (such as mor-phine) availability for pain reliefbetween developed and developingnations; a component of this workincludes efforts to understand thepolicy-level impediments underly-ing these international disparities.

What stereotypes, if any, have youfaced about nursing? What haschanged and why?Although we have come a long way,stereotypes about nursing are stillpresent in many segments of socie-ty. The stereotypes have changed ininstances where nurses have steppedout of their traditional roles anddemonstrated potential as leadersand visionaries.

By way of an example – andsince I am a pain disparitiesresearcher – a number of past presi-dents of the American Pain Societyhave been nurses. These nurses haveoffered leadership and vision to alarge national professional bodycomprising of bench scientists,anaesthesiologists, surgeons, den-

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The New Face of Nursing

C O V E R S T O R Y

Salimah Meghani, Post RN BScN ’97, went on to earn several degrees from the University ofPennsylvania: MSN in Adult Acute Care, MBE in Biomedical Ethics and PhD in Nursing/HealthDisparities. She has also completed her postdoctoral training from the University of Pennsylvania,School of Nursing at the Center for Health Disparities Research. She is now Assistant Professor in theBiobehavioral and Health Sciences Division, Penn Nursing.

17

tists, clinical psychologists and pain special-ists among others.

I believe that such a cross-disciplinarypartnership is one avenue to addressingstereotypes among health professionals. Atthe same time there is a need to educate thepublic about the important contributions nurs-es make nationally and internationally.

If stereotypes about nursing still exist inthe 21st century when nurses are contributingto valuable research, impacting clinical out-comes and changing health policy, then per-haps we need to re-evaluate if we have failedas a profession to articulate our important roleto the public.

What are some of the challenges you facedand still face in your career path?Professionally, among the most importantchallenges are to strive continually to stayahead of the rapid developments in the field,finding balance among the many roles, and toremind myself that I must learn everyday andrenew my perspectives.

In terms of career options in nursing, thesky is the limit cliché appropriately applies.One can choose to become a bedside nursemaking a direct difference to patient popula-tions, or can aspire to become an academicianpreparing the next generation of qualifiedprofessionals, a cutting edge scientist leadinga team of researchers, or a policy maker influ-encing how health care is to be delivered.

How did Aga Khan University contributetowards preparing you for your currentrole?I give AKU credit for equipping me with thetools and aspirations to be successful in arigorous scholarly environment. TheUniversity really provides its graduates witha sound foundation which makes their futuretransitions smooth and seamless.

I see AKU as an oasis of hope for manywhose beginnings are humble but futuresremarkable. I would note that AKU has avery progressive academic culture that is rig-orous, dynamic and socially responsive, andthat leverages national and internationalpartnerships. However, three areas whereAKU can develop and improve further areresearch intensiveness, cross-disciplinarypartnerships, and building strong endowmentfunds for the University.

D I S T I N G U I S H E D A L U M N I

Nominations Wanted!

The AKU-NAMA Editorial Board seeks nominations for distin-guished alumni profiles from all programmes, departments andentities. Please send a short profile of your nominee to: alumni@aku.edu

There were long balconies before the small hostel roomsAnd it was barely light enough to see the heavy cloudsDrift before the sun could break another day.

Another young man sitting on one of those rooftopsSmiled and reassured me saying it will go well,And I inspired appraisal and air in the same breath.

There were biscuit crumbs and long bones onA crumpled white bed sheet in my room, andThe room itself was full of dreams,

Which often emerged fromTeabags or sugar tins, a set of strings or a dusty book,And slid into the closet, hushed between a rowOf shirts, or inside the knot of a tie I could not tie.

That was the problem - where to look for them, especiallyWhen the wind blew bleating wet and stark, and thereStill was a faraway place alive with things that made it home.

They were dreams but all were not as roses.Some were monsters that I thought if I ever saw,I would want to die.

And most of this time, although I was not there, as it were, ina world without me,The Indian-red building heaved with allegoriesOf young minds in sleep and awe, as the body in excess cameapart in their hands.

It was strange to know thyself as body,Or to think in those days what beckoned meTo the sounds I did not know and words I could not say.

Vigil at AKU

Taimur Khan, MBBS ’02

Words cannot express the festiveatmosphere at the medical collegealumni reunion in Dallas, Texas thisJuly. It was by far the largest AKUMedical College alumni reunion heldin recent memory with over 150attendees. Even though it was a week-end of stormy weather, we were notto be deterred. Those present at thereunion will agree that dealing withdelayed flights, last minute scramblesfor tickets and accommodation wereall finally well worth the effort.

Speaking on the occasion, pres-ident of the AKU AlumniAssociation, North AmericanChapter, Dr Faiz Bhora, encouragedthe alumni to actively participate intheir Association and acknowledgedindividuals who have been activemembers. Farhat Abbas, Dean ofthe Medical College in Pakistan,then expounded on the possibilityof collaboration between alumniand the University.

AKU is expanding internation-ally and Carol Ariano, VicePresident, Human Resources gavespecific examples of positions thatthe University is currently lookingto fill and the role alumni couldplay in this process. The formal partof the evening ended with Louis R.Ariano, Registrar, thanking alumnifor attending the celebrations. Thiswas followed by a short video onAKU that captured the differencethe University has made and itsambitious goals to become a com-prehensive university in severalparts of the globe.

Post dinner, awards were handedout to key persons to acknowledgetheir contribution to the growth ofAKUANA followed by a pleasantsurprise: a show by talented alumni.Hafeez Diwan, MBBS ’91 was theMC and stand-up comedian for theevening while singers Saira Khan,

MBBS ’89, Asad Abbas, MBBS ’89and Ali Kizilbash, MBBS ’90 enter-tained the audience with their amaz-ing vocals. Some impromptu singingand dancing took place with every-

one present having a wonderful time.Two anniversary celebrations wereannounced: the Class of 1990 andthe Class of 1995 celebrating their20th and 15th anniversaries respec-

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Medical College in DallasShain Amershi, Executive Coordinator, AKU Alumni Association North America

R E U N I O N 2 0 1 0

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their graduation, the MBBS Class of 1990reunite in Dallas. Adeel A. Butt

AKU’s first MBBS graduates at the Alumni Reunion in Dallas: (l-r) Dr Asad AbbasAbidi ’89, Dr Basith Ghazali ’88 and Dr Shahid Shafi ’88. Abdul Haq Wahedna

tively. Both Classes took the oppor-tunity to make short presentationsabout their ‘life journey’ with theClass of 1990 announcing that theywere raising funds to set up anendowment for the University.

Last but not least, the local organ-ising committee, Azam Kundi, MBBS’92, Basith Ghazali, MBBS ’88, andSaira Khan, MBBS ’92 among others,must be acknowledged for theirefforts to make this an exemplaryevening for alumni to meet and cele-brate their successes.

The event also saw discussionsbetween alumni and University facul-ty and staff on a permanent alumniaku.edu email address, a visiting fac-ulty programme, and the challengesof accommodating medical studentswaiting to be placed in US institutionsfor their electives.

Mark your dairies: AKU AlumniReunion 2011 will be held on the July4 weekend in St. Louis, Missouri.Hopefully there will be an even betterturn out next year.

Please visit the AKUANA web-site for more information on activi-ties and events: www.akualumni.net

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Houston, October 10, 2010: Houston was the setting for an unusual cricketmatch between Team 1 and Team 2! In the first 10:10 match (10 overseach) Team 1 beat Team 2. In the second match of 8 overs each, Team 2took revenge and beat Team 1.

R E U N I O N 2 0 1 0

Team 1: Asad Khan (c), Behzad Zafar, Zain Urfi, Mustafa Raoof, Waleed Kayani,Ali Hashimi, Umair Khan; Team 2: Ali Kazmi (c), Ahmed Awais, Safdar Ansari,Fraz Ahmed, Zakariya Imam, Salman Bandeali, Imran Tahir.

AKUTEXANS’ Match

Nurses Reunite!

Dinner at the AKU-SON Alumni Reunion, Dallas. Abdul Haq Wahedna

20

People in New Positions

Dr Robert Armstrong has been appointed theFoundation Dean, Medical College, East Africa. In thisrole Dr Armstrong will serve as the Chief AcademicOfficer and Chair, Academic Committee, East Africa.Before joining AKU, he was Associate Professor andHead, Department of Paediatrics at the University ofBritish Columbia and Chief, Paediatric Medicine at BCChildren’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital. DrArmstrong has conducted extensive research in the areasof childhood disability, the development of population-based strategies for the prevention of developmental dis-orders and clinical and health services strategies forimproving outcomes of children with disabilities.

A prize winning author, researcher and scholar in lan-guage testing, Professor Rea-Dickins is the newDirector, AKU-IED, EA, as well as the Principal of theTanzania Institute of Higher Education. Her career experi-ences include assignments in Sub-Saharan Africa includ-ing five years at the University of Dar es Salaam,Tanzania and appointments at the University of Warwickand University of Lancaster, UK. Prior to joining AKU,she held the position of Chair of Applied Linguistics inEducation at the Graduate School of Education,University of Bristol, UK. She has written and/or edited10 books, and guest edited special issues of leading jour-nals in the field of language testing and assessment ineducation. A book co-authored by Professor Rea-Dickinswas awarded the Frank Bell Prize.

Zahir Janmohamed has been appointed the newDirector General, Resource Development. He has over 25years of experience in the financial and non-profit sectors.Amongst his various voluntary leadership experiences, hehas served on the board of the Scarborough Hospital inCanada, as well as been a trustee of the United Way ofGreater Houston and The Post Oak School in Texas. Hewill be responsible for expanding the University’sresource development base and donations.

Dr Rahat Qureshi has been appointed as the Chair,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at AgaKhan University, Karachi. She holds an MBBS fromDow Medical College and is a Fellow and Member ofthe Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UK.She has been associated with the department for over23 years.

Dr Anita Zaidi has been appointed the Chair,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. She graduat-ed from AKU in 1988 and pursued her residency in pae-diatrics and fellowship in medical microbiology fromDuke University, North Carolina and a fellowship ininfectious diseases at the Children’s Hospital, Boston,Harvard Medical School. Dr Zaidi also holds a Master ofScience in Tropical and Public Health from the HarvardSchool of Public Health.

Campus Talk

The Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)presented its Merit Award for Excellence in Planningfor District or Campus Component to AKU for aUniversity Village land use plan for its new Faculty of Artsand Sciences in Pakistan. This award was presented to theUniversity and Goody Clancy, the planning consultant dur-ing a ceremony at SCUP’s annual conference. The univer-sity village will provide 500-plus acres of residentialneighbourhoods, retail, service and entertainment facilitiesfor students, faculty, staff and their families.

The University’s Department of Emergency Medicinewas recently designated as a World Health OrganizationCollaborating Centre, one of the first in the world foremergency medicine and trauma care. The Centre willcarry out public health research in emergency medicineand trauma care, focusing on the epidemiology of injuriesand on identifying cost-effective solutions for emergencycare. It will also be involved in the capacity building ofpublic health professionals in injury prevention and con-trol, and of emergency health care providers in the princi-ples of emergency trauma care.

AKU’s Flood Relief Efforts

The University’s response to Flood 2010 is a ‘living’demonstration of its guiding principles of impact, access,quality and relevance: over 620 faculty, staff and studentsvolunteered their time for field or administrative work;AKU employees contributed a day’s salary to fund med-ications, collecting over Rs 7.9 million towards this effort;and health services in the field were backstopped by theentire University’s machinery.

At present, AKU is providing basic health care in 14districts, 10 in Sindh, three in the Punjab and one inBalochistan. Teams are providing services through camps,mobile units, and basic health units or hospitals temporar-ily taken over from the government.

In addition, more long standing issues such as malnu-trition are also being addressed. AKU has linked up withthe Ministry of Health’s National Programme for FamilyPlanning and Primary Health Care to reach out to the mostvulnerable of children in Sindh. A rapid nutrition survey ofchildren under 5 in AKU-run relief centres and the sur-rounding communities has been completed with the resultsfeeding into an in-depth review of the nutrition trainingoffered to LHWs. Micronutrient supplements and supple-mentary foods are also being distributed. AKU doctors andparamedics staff are counselling communities on WASH(water, sanitation and hygiene) to educate about the longterm benefits to the child, the family and the community.

In the recovery phase, the University is using itsexperience to empower communities to sustain this effortin the longer term.

C A M P U S H A P P E N I N G S

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C L A S S N O T E S

Medical College

1995

Muna Bhutta, with an MRCOGfrom the UK, presently works as aConsultant, Obstetrics andGynaecology in Riyadh, SaudiArabia. She is a mother of four andher husband, Dr Waheed Hashmi, isa general, paediatric and laparoscop-ic surgeon.

1997

Suraiya Rahman moved fromKansas to Los Angeles with her fami-ly this summer. Practicing as a paedi-atric hospitalist in Kansas, she devel-oped an interest in teaching. She isnow enrolled in the Master ofAcademic Medicine, an online pro-gramme customised for working pro-fessionals at the University ofSouthern California (USC). She washappy to find a fellow alumnus fromthe class of 1999 in one of her cours-es. Suraiya also teaches first and sec-ond year medical students at USC’sKeck School of Medicine, whichreminds her of AKU. One of thecourses she teaches is Professionalismin the Practice of Medicine.

1998

Adil Haider was recently appointedDirector of the Centre for SurgeryTrials and Outcomes Research, JohnsHopkins School of Medicine.

2001

Agha Feroze’s special interests liein aesthetics and anti-aging proce-dures. He has set up clinics inRawalpindi and Islamabad which heruns with his wife’s help. He is alsothe founder and managing directorof two local charities.

Asad Ali is Assistant Professor atthe Department of Paediatrics andChild Health at Aga KhanUniversity, Karachi.

Ayesha Hasan is currently paediatricChief of Staff at the WinnieCommunity Hospital in Texas.

Yassar Ahmed recently finished hisinfectious diseases fellowship fromthe Baylor College of Medicine inHouston and is now an infectious dis-eases consultant within the TexasMedical Centre.

2002

Hamid Bashir remembers the classof 2002 as very diverse, involved inmusical events and annual days.During his residency and fellowshipdays in the US, aware of the negativeimage of Pakistan, he set upMusic4Cause, a forum to promotepeace and harmony via music. In lessthan a year, its YouTube page hasreceived more than 8,000 hits. Hismusic has made it to the ARY musicchannel and he performed for theDaniel Pearl World Music Day.

Muna Ahmed welcomed a new addi-tion to her family, Zorina, who wasborn September 14, 2010.

2006

Fazal Arain is currently doing a PhDin neuroscience from VanderbiltUniversity, Nashville, Tennessee.

2007

Zuhaib Ibrahim won the first prizein the surgical resident jeopardy heldby Pennsylvania keystone chapter ofthe American College of Surgery.Residents from eight general surgeryresidency programmes participated inthis event.

2009

Hassan Khan, who did his MSc inEpidemiology and Biostatistics fromAKU, is working as a research coor-dinator at the Community HealthSciences Department at Aga KhanUniversity, Karachi. He is also the

Karachi site coordinator of a researchstudy on developing a model surveil-lance system for cardiometabolic dis-eases, with Emory University, for theCentre for Cardiometabolic RiskReduction for South Asia.

2009

Abdul Saboor Memon, after com-pleting his residency in anaesthesiafrom AKU, has been working as aSenior Registrar at the MemonMedical Institute, a project of MemonHealth and Education Foundation.

2010

Anam Khan recently got married toWaleed Kayani MBBS ’07, who isdoing his residency at the BaylorCollege of Medicine.

Komal Masood recently got engagedto Ehad Afreen KEMU ’10.

Mariam Anis got engaged to FarooqKhan MBBS ’06, who is doing hisresidency at the University ofCincinnati and they are due to getmarried this coming February.

Institute for EducationalDevelopment

2006

Najma Raja, a graduate from theCentre of English Language’sAdvanced Diploma programme, wasrecently awarded a shield for theMost Dedicated Teacher from theprincipal of the PECHS GovernmentCollege for Women.

2007

Anthony Gioko was one of theregional winners of the 2010Innovative Teacher Awards at thePan-African Innovative EducationForum hosted by the MicrosoftPartners in Learning Network. “Iwill tell my students this is likeplaying in the World Cup, but better

22

– it’s for teachers!” He received hisaward for Innovation in Content,one of the four main competitioncategories and went on to representAfrica at the sixth annual WorldwideInnovative Education Forum held inSouth Africa in October.

Shairoze Jessani is currently work-ing as head of the academic unit of ahigher secondary school. She attend-ed a summer programme on Islam inCambridge last year.

In recognition of her 20 years ofservice at the Habib Girls’ Schooland for her contributions to improv-ing the School’s education system,Simeen Saleem, senior coordinatorin the Science Department, wasnominated for the ServiceExcellence Award, KFC in 2009.

School of Nursing

1983

Shehnaz Jiwany sends greetings toall former colleagues and cherishesthe sweet memories of working withthem at Aga Khan University and isthankful to the AKU-NAMA teamfor helping her connect with friendsonce again.

1985

Mehmooda Afroz has worked as amidwife for 12 years; of these, ninehave been with AKHS where she isAssistant Manager, NursingDevelopment. Currently she is doingher BScN – her dream ever sinceshe received her midwifery diplomain 1986 from Aga Khan Hospital forWomen, Garden (formerly AgaKhan Maternity Home, Garden) –and plans to go onto a Master’s inMidwifery from AKU.

Rozina Dattu has completed herPost RN BScN programme this year,and is working as head nurse at theAga Khan Hospital for Women andChildren, Kharadar.

1986

Karima Gulwani specialises ingeriatric nursing and is in her 12thyear as the Director of Nursing atSanta Monica Convalescent Centre.

1991

After having a baby in March,Amynah Pradhan returned as anOncology Research Nurse at theNational Institutes of Health inBethesda, Maryland, and as a NursePractitioner at a family practice clin-ic. Being an advanced practice nursehas broadened her horizon in deliv-ering primary care to the public andshe hopes that this programme canalso be brought to Pakistan.

Fauzia Pesnani (formerly Molwani)worked at AKU for almost eight yearsbefore shifting to Shell Pakistan as anoccupational health nurse/administra-tor. Developing a keen interest in thisfield, she enrolled in a three-yearpostgraduate diploma programme inOccupational Health and SafetyManagement at the University ofSouth Australia, Adelaide. SinceJanuary 2009, she has been workingwith a leading pharmaceutical compa-ny. She has also completed theOHSAS (Occupational Health andSafety Management Systems)18001:2007 Lead Auditors courseoffered by SGS.

Nasreen Hussain sends greetings toall the alumni.

Shirin Valliani is a proud AKUalumna living in the USA. Havingcompleted her MSN in FamilyNurse Practice, she feels fortunate tohave fulfilled these dreams. Hermessage to colleagues and friends isto always feel proud of their roots asthey reach for the sky.

1992

Shireen Jan Mohammad is work-ing as a Child Care Health

Consultant with Catco Kids Inc. Inthis current role, she has updatedhealth policies, developed and con-ducted medical training programmesrelated to the health of the child,evacuation plans and health andsafety inspections.

1998

Muhammad Afzal is the Principalof Department of Nursing,University of Lahore. In 2005, hewas appointed Deputy Manager,Nursing at the Liaquat NationalHospital in Karachi and in 2006 waspromoted as Manager. After hisMScN, he joined Saida WaheedFMH College of Nursing, Lahore asSenior Nursing Instructor.

1999

Rozmeen Shivji is working at theUniversity of Chicago as an AcuteCare Nurse Practitioner.

After graduation, Shamsa Viranimoved to Los Angeles, California,where she pursued her Bachelor’sand Master’s in Nursing, and gradu-ated as a Nurse Practitioner/ClinicalNurse Specialist from the Universityof California, Los Angeles in 2006.She is currently working at LosAngeles County Hospital as a NursePractitioner in Internal Medicine andat a Rape Crisis Centre in LA. “Astough as the job is, it makes memore understanding, patient andempathic nurse and helps me see avery different side of nursing care.”

In October 2009, she took a six-month sabbatical and went to workin Egypt with the Aga KhanFoundation. AKU-SON has part-nered with the Egyptian Om-Habibeh Foundation (an AKDNaffiliate) in Aswan, to build localnursing capacities.

2001

Mehtab Jaffer is presently workingas a Clinical Nurse Instructor in out-

C L A S S N O T E S

23

patient services at AKU. She finds ita challenging task to work withcountless specialities in a clinic butit helps her acquire new skills whileworking with different consultantsand surgeons.

2002

Farida Khan was promoted to theposition of Acting Director at AlShifa College of Nursing,Islamabad.

2003

Shela Hirani has completed herAdvanced Diploma in Early ChildDevelopment from AKU’s HumanDevelopment Programme and hasdefended her Master’s thesis onTesting Psychometric Properties ofan Instrument Designed to MeasurePakistani Urban Working Mothers’Perceptions about BreastfeedingSupport. Shela is currently workingas a Senior Instructor at AKU-SON.

2004

Kashmira Nanji completed herMSc in Epidemiology andBiostatistics at AKU in 2009 andreceived a distinction for her thesis.She was recently appointed SeniorInstructor, Research, Department ofFamily Medicine.

Zohra Jassani (formerly Kabirani)is working for Aga Khan HealthService, Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.She is proud to work as an AKUgraduate in a sister organisation inthe East African region.

2006

Rozina Mahnojia is currently livingin Melbourne, Australia and is work-ing in geriatric care.

Saima Khan married just after hergraduation and has a two-year-oldbaby boy, Shanaf Ali. She isenrolled in the bioethics programme

at Aga Khan University and willgraduate in 2011.

2007

After graduation, Atiya Khowajaworked at the Cardiac IntensiveCare Unit (ICU) at AKUH andrecently enrolled in the Master’s inhealth policy management pro-gramme at AKU.

Minaz Mawani completed her criti-cal care nursing course from GeorgeBrown College, Ontario and isworking at Cardiac ICU, AKUH.

Sindhu Sharifani was promotedAssistant Head Nurse at the AgaKhan Hospital for Women andChildren, Kharadar.

2008

Saima Rajpali is working as a regis-tered nurse at the Bone MarrowTransplant Unit, AKUH sinceNovember 2008. She delivered apresentation, ‘Specialised NursingCare Dealing with BMT’ as part of aprogramme to mark the 100th bonemarrow transplant procedure carriedout at the Hospital.

2009

Gulzar Habibullah was offered aposition as guest lecturer in theSchool of Nursing, Khyber MedicalUniversity. She has also been workingas Vice Principal in the CommunityMidwife School, Battagram under theNational Maternal, Newborn andChild Health Programme.

Shireen Arif is currently working atBaqai College of Nursing as SeniorNursing Instructor and YearCoordinator. Her recent achievementsinclude six published articles, present-ed at an AKU Research Assembly, inaddition to her contributions for inter-national publications.

Class notes compiled by Alina Sadaf MBBS ’13

C L A S S N O T E S

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We regret the error in Vol. 3, Issue 1,p.18: Dr Adnan A. Hyder is Class of1990 not 2000.

Request forContributions

The editors of AKU-NAMA inviteyou to contribute to the next issueof the magazine.

Your story may highlight inter-esting career options, unique jobexperiences, ground-breakingresearch, innovative public serviceinitiatives, or other materials ofparticular interest to the alumni.You can also contribute opinionpieces on trends in education andmodern technology, book reviewsand travelogues. Letters to the edi-tor are also welcome.

Article length should beapproximately 500-600 words.Photographs are welcome but theymust be high resolution digital pho-tographs (JPEG files over 1MB).

Articles can be submitted atwww.aku.edu/alumni/alumni_frmarticles.asp

Class notes can be submitted atwww.aku.edu/alumni/alumni_class-notes.asp

Do you know any alumni stillnot on the AKU-NAMA mailinglist? Send them towww.aku.edu/alumni/alumni_con-tact.asp

Thank you for all your previ-ous submissions, feedback and sug-gestions. Now let’s keep the ballrolling for the upcoming issue.

AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, STADIUM ROAD, P.O. BOX 3500, KARACHI 74800, PAKISTAN

TEL: +92 21 3493 0051, FAX: +92 21 3493 4294; EMAIL: ALUMNI@AKU.EDU; WEBSITE: WWW.AKU.EDU/ALUMNI