Alma Mater Archives

AKU Alumnus Adnan Hyder (1990) awarded Medal of Distinction by Safe Kids Worldwide for his work to prevent childhood injuries

July 19, 2019 By Saeed

Adnan Hyder, MD, PhD, MPH, received the C. Everett Koop Medal of Distinction from global organization Safe Kids Worldwide for his work to prevent childhood injuries. Hyder, the senior associate dean for research and a professor of global health at Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH), was recognized at the Safe Kids Worldwide International Childhood Injury Prevention Convention on July 18. The convention brought together over 500 safety professionals to collaborate on ways to protect children on the road, at home and at play.

Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations, works to prevent unintentional childhood injuries. The C. Everett Koop Medal of Distinction, named after Safe Kids Worldwide founding chairman C. Everett Koop and the organization’s highest honor, recognizes a professional who embodies Koop’s legacy of working to protect all families and children.

For over 20 years, Hyder has worked to improve global health, road safety and children’s health in low- and middle-income countries around the world. He has co-authored over 300 scientific papers and numerous reports on road safety, children’s health and ethics, including a December 2018 commentary in The Lancet Public Health that called on policymakers to make global roads safer. Prior to joining Milken Institute SPH, Hyder founded and directed the International Injury Research Unit at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He has worked with partner organizations, including the World Health Organization, to avert injuries and related fatalities, serves on the boards of Youth for Road Safety and Health Systems Global, and represents Milken Institute SPH at the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration.

“I am honored to receive this recognition from Safe Kids Worldwide, who are pioneers in the global effort to protect children from preventable injuries around the world,” Hyder said. “We’ve made great progress as a community to make roadways and homes safer for all, including children, but we must continue to push forward and enact worldwide change to prevent unnecessary injuries and deaths.”

Learn more about Hyder’s research here.

Source: Milken Institute School of Public Health | The George Washington University

February ’17 Update on AKUAANA Initiative for 2016: The Ibrahim Haidri Outreach Clinic

February 10, 2017 By Saeed

Dear Alumni,

The AKUAANA Executive Council, after working for well over 6 months with consensus, decided to partner with AKU to support the “Ibrahim Haidri Outreach Clinic” in Karachi, Pakistan. The clinic will provide treatment for anemia in pregnant women, directly impacting infant mortality and perinatal morbidity. Our AKU Alumnus Anita Zaidi, ’88 is helping us at the location. Our estimated cost to support the clinic is $17,000 per year.

I would like to especially thank Mohsin Ali, Aneel Chowdhary and Namirah Jamshed (all from ’96) who helped the Executive Council in reviewing the project specifics. Their input was vital in moving the project forward. In fact, the Class of ’96 took the lead and adopted the project for their Class Gift. Additionally, I would like to thank the Class of ’94, who helped in the vetting of the project and gave us major insight.

As a first step, on May 21st, 2016 at the Regional AKUAANA Reunion in Virginia, we did a silent auction of paintings from renowned Pakistani artists. These paintings were acquired by support of a number of sponsors, and luckily we were able to jump start the project by raising $5,800.

Since the start of the project, we have collected $68,895 till December 2016. The project was officially launched on August 15th, 2016 at the Ibrahim Haidri site. As per our understanding and commitment with the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, a six-monthly impart report for the project will be shared with the donors by the end of February, 2017.

The AKUAANA Executive Council is looking at the alumni to support AKUAANA in moving this project forward, and hope you can help us in this endeavor.

Click here to send your donation directly to AKU. While donating, please don’t forget to designate the donation to “AKUAANA fund” and to mention your year of graduation under the Donation Information section.

Let us show the power of our alumni body and help fund this project!

Habib Chotani: President
Faisal Qureshi: Immediate Past President
Rehan Khan: Secretary
Amber Syed: Treasurer
Abdul Basit Saeed: Web Manager

AKU Alumnus Faheemullah Beg (2012) leads Indiana University team to become Runners-Up at 2016 ACP Doctor’s Dilemma

June 9, 2016 By Saeed

Faheemullah Beg, Class of 2012, recently led the Indiana University team to become Runners-Up at the 2016 American College of Physician (ACP) Doctor’s Dilemma (colloquially known as medical jeopardy).

Indiana Doctors’ Dilemma Team (left to right): Cassidy Overpeck, Tony Saliba, Faheem Beg

The annual ACP Doctor’s Dilemma Competition is a hallmark program for the College. Held each year at the annual Internal Medicine Meeting, it brings together some of the brightest residents from around the world in a friendly, but highly competitive, environment. The competition tests the medical knowledge of up to 50 teams, each representing an ACP chapter. After three days of competition, the winning team is awarded the coveted “Osler Cup” and is granted a place in ACP history.

This year, Indiana University School of Medicine again represented the Indiana Chapter. It was a historic competition as Indiana blew through the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday to reach the Final Four on Saturday, May 7 to compete against Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. No Indiana team had ever advanced this far in the competition. (Test Text)

Source: Indiana Governor’s Newsletter May 2016

AKUAANA Outreach Clinic Initiative, 2016: a collaborative effort with AKU

May 31, 2016 By Saeed

Dear alumni,

Over the last several months, the AKUAANA Executive Council has been working on identifying a common project in Pakistan to adopt and support. We looked at various potential projects including those within AKU, as well as non-AKU programs like The Citizens Foundation.

We have kept the alumni in the loop by discussing with them via teleconferences (led by Rehan Khan ’94, Secretary AKUAANA), individual discussions, and sharing pertinent information on Facebook to keep this process as transparent as possible.

The Council, after getting input from the Alumni body, felt that as a first project of AKUAANA we should collaborate with AKU. In the future, however, we would also like to consider projects that may be outside of AKU, if that is what our membership recommends.

Some valid considerations voiced out by our alumni regarding doing a project with AKU included:

“We are from AKU and we want to give back to AKU!”
selecting a project that supports educational activity of AKU medical students
supporting primary care
having an AKU alumnus on the ground to help with the project
that the project not be outrageously expensive

We had multiple meetings and discussions with the Resource Department at AKU to identify a project that would have the above mentioned goals. Once we identified the project, we then worked with the AKU Resource Department on its details, especially its budget. Mohsin Ali, Aneel Chowdhary and Namirah Jamshed (all from ’96) helped the Executive Council in reviewing the project specifics. Their input was vital in moving the project forward. After an intense review and many discussions with the AKU Resource Department, we are confident with our choice and are now moving forward with the project.

The AKUAANA Executive Council, with consensus, has decided to partner with AKU to support the “Ibrahim Haidri Outreach Clinic” in Karachi, Pakistan. The clinic will provide primary care to women and children, with special focus on anemia treatment in pregnant women, directly impacting infant mortality and perinatal morbidity. Our AKU alumna Anita Zaidi, ’88 is heading the research program at the location, so we have feet on the ground as well. At a cost of $17,000 per year to support the clinic, the Council does not find this project to be outrageously expensive. Further details are given in this presentation.

As a first step, on May 21st at the Regional AKUAANA Reunion in Virginia, we did a silent auction of paintings from renowned Pakistani artists. These paintings were acquired by support of a number of sponsors, and luckily we were able to jump start the project by raising $5800.

Now the AKUAANA Executive Council is looking at the alumni to support AKUAANA in moving this project forward, and hope you can help us in this endeavor.

Let us show the power of our alumni body and help fund this project!

Habib Chotani
President AKUAANA

Faisal Qureshi
Immediate Past President

Rehan Khan
Secretary

Amber Syed
Treasurer

Abdul Basit Saeed
Web Manager

AKU Alumnus Arif Sarwari (1989) awarded with prestigious WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching

April 7, 2016 By Saeed

Arif Sarwari, Associate Professor Medicine at West Virginia University

Arif Sarwari (Class of 1989), Associate Professor of Medicine, is among six inspirational West Virginia University faculty members that have been honored with the 2016 WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching.

“These six professors truly go above and beyond in the classroom, inspiring our students to attain new and exciting knowledge and reach for achievements beyond the ordinary,” said Provost Joyce McConnell. “Their passion for teaching is the rock-solid foundation supporting the exceptional education offered here at WVU.”

The WVU Foundation established the awards in 1985 as a way to celebrate faculty who have established patterns of distinguished teaching and exceptional innovation in teaching methods, course and curriculum design and instructional tools.

“The WVU Foundation is privileged to be able to annually provide these awards due to the generosity of our donors,” said Cindi Roth, Foundation president and CEO. “WVU is fortunate to have such high caliber faculty. We salute this year’s recipients who are truly super stars in their fields of study.”

Arif Sarwari kindles the flame of curiosity to engage his students as they learn to perform patient exams, take patient histories and make proper health assessments. He respects his students and pays close attention to their needs. He has earned numerous institutional and national awards recognizing his skillful teaching in the classroom, at the bedside and in his practice.

The six honorees will receive a $5000 honorarium from the WVU Foundation and be recognized by WVU President Gordon Gee, Provost McConnell and Cindi Roth at the April 6 faculty and staff awards dinner at Blaney House.

Source: Six earn WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching

AKU Alumni Survey, 2016 – Medical College

March 11, 2016 By Saeed

Dear Alumni,

It is with great pleasure that I invite you to take the AKU Medical College Alumni Survey, 2016. Having completed your degree/diploma programme from the Medical College, Pakistan, you are in a unique position to provide useful feedback regarding your experiences. In addition, we look forward to gaining a better appreciation of individual pathways since graduation whether they lead to further academic pursuits or important career choices. Finally, your responses will be immensely helpful in understanding your connection with the alma mater since graduating and how this relationship could be strengthened further.

The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete. Please know that responses submitted will be kept confidential in accordance with the University’s Confidentiality of Student Records Policy. The only communication you may receive from the University would be on your stated preferences for participation as alumni going forward.

The survey can be accessed here (link removed after this survey was completed).

If you have any questions about the survey, please feel free to contact Mr Abdul Haq Wahedna, Senior Manager, Alumni Affairs, at alumni@aku.edu .

The survey will be available for a limited time, therefore, we look forward to your early participation, and ask that you actively share the link with your alumni colleagues encouraging them to participate as well.

Best regards,

Louis R Ariano
Associate Vice-Provost & University Registrar
Aga Khan University
South-Central Asia, East Africa & UK
P.O. Box 3500 | Stadium Road | Karachi 74800 | Pakistan
Tel: +92 21 3486 4440 | Fax: +92 21 3494 4294
Mobile: +92 (0) 345 823 3405
Skype: louis.ariano

Sitara-i-Imtiaz conferred on Dr. Farhat Abbas

August 16, 2015 By Saeed

Dr. Farhat Abbas, Dean, AKUMC
Photo credit: Aga Khan University

Dr Farhat Abbas, Dean, Medical College and The Hussein Cumber Professor, Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University, was conferred the Sitara-i-Imtiaz – the third highest civilian award by the Government of Pakistan – for his achievements in the field of medicine by President Mamnoon Hussain.

The announcement was made on Independence Day, August 14, and the award will be presented to Dr Abbas in an investiture ceremony on Pakistan Day in March 2016.

Dr Abbas has been awarded the G.B. Ong Gold Medal from Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1992-3, the International Guest Scholarship from American College of Surgeons in 2002, the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan in 2010, and elected a Fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences in 2012.

“This is indeed a huge honour and privilege for my family and me. In essence, it is a joint recognition of my colleagues at the Aga Khan University, for what we do together, and of my family, for their superb support and encouragement,” said Dr Abbas.

Dr Abbas holds an MBBS and FCPS from Pakistan, and an FRCS from the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Glasgow. He is also a Fellow of the European Board of Urology and the American College of Surgeons.

Dr Abbas joined AKU in 1985 as a Resident in the Department of Surgery and is currently a Professor of Urology. He has served in several leadership positions in the University including that of Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education; Medical Director; Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs; Chief Operating Officer, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi; and Interim Dean, Medical College before taking up his current role as Dean, Medical College.

Source: Sitara-i-Imtiaz conferred on Dr Farhat Abbas

AKU Convocation, 2014, Karachi – Process for requesting alumni invitations

November 7, 2014 By Saeed

Dear AKU Alumni,

It is a pleasure to share with you that AKU Convocation, 2014 will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2014, 5:00 pm at the AKU Cricket Ground at the Stadium Road campus. The event will acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2014 from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Medical College, and Institute for Educational Development.

As is customary, a limited number of seats have been reserved for alumni at the event. In order to request an invitation, we ask that you kindly complete the following information and email at alumni@aku.edu by Wednesday, November 12, 2014.

First name:
Last name:
Name at Enrollment (if different):
Degree/Diploma received:
Year of graduation:
Mobile telephone number:
Email address:

Please note that the Chancellor is not expected to preside over this year’s ceremony. Also, invitations through this process are for alumni only and do not include spouses or families. Finally, as space for the Convocation is limited, in case requests outnumber seats available, successful applicants will be determined by ballot, and will be informed by email.

All alumni are also invited to register for the Alumni Reunion on November 27, 2014 at the AKU Auditorium on the AKU website. Last date to register for the Reunion is November 20, 2014.

In case of any related queries, please feel free to stop by the Office of Alumni Affairs or write to us at alumni@aku.edu

Best regards,

Abdul Haq Wahedna
Alumni Affairs
Aga Khan University

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