Over 300 doctors, nurses graduate from AKUH

KARACHI: The Aga Khan University (AKU) trustees, alumni, faculty and staff bid farewell to 323 graduates at the 23rd AKU Convocation on Saturday.

Ninety-seven doctors graduated from the medical college while 24 students received their Masters of Science degrees.

This year, 21 students graduated from the university’s Institute for Educational Development and 162 students successfully became certified nurses from AKU’s School of Nursing.

Twelve of the nurses received Masters degrees. There were 19 Masters of Bioethics graduates as well - the inaugural batch of the programme.

With much applause and appreciation, Rinam Rahmatullah received the Best Graduate Award from the School of Nursing and Dr Saulat Sajjad Sheikh from the Medical College.

Khushnood Lashari, the federal health secretary and the chief guest at the convocation, highlighted the hardships the country is facing in the aftermath of the floods.

He urged the graduates to “build institutions, create knowledge, set benchmarks of quality by using best practices, develop models for change, inspire ethical practice and lead by example.”

The chief guest at the convocation’s afternoon programme, Sindh High Court’s Chief Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany reminded the graduating doctors that they should not treat the medical profession as merely a career.

“Rather, you must have compassion for your fellow human beings and the desire to serve humanity,” he said.

Meanwhile, Aga Khan University Hospital’s president Firoz Rasul called for resilient leadership. “Leaders who have the capacity to bounce back from misfortune, disruptive change, and crises see a new horizon with greater opportunities and engage those around them to achieve that vision.”

The university also distributed awards the Award of Excellence in Education to Dr Shaista Masood Khan and the Award of Distinction to Dr Terrence Gibson and Dr Riaz Qureshi.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2010.