The Nursing SPIRIT '24 –Students' Perspectives In Research and Innovation Trends is more than just a symposium—it is a launchpad for bold ideas, groundbreaking research, and global collaboration. “This is how we raise the status of nursing in Pakistan and other lower-middle-income countries," declared Dr Salimah R. Walani, Dean of SONAM, Pakistan in her inspiring opening remarks.
Organized by SONAM's Office of Graduate Studies and driven entirely by the students with administrative support, SPIRIT 2024 exemplifies the power of student leadership in advancing nursing research and innovation.
From the inspiring keynote address by Dr Ann Kurth, President of the New York Academy of Medicine, to remarks from Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of AKU, the symposium reaffirmed the critical role of nursing in tackling global challenges like the climate crisis and healthcare system resilience.
“The climate crisis is already impacting health, 88% people facing health consequences of environmental threats are in low- and middle-income countries." said Dr Kurth. “Building healthcare system resilience is very important thing for nursing to be doing because nurses and midwives make up the foundation of healthcare workforce. They are key to driving solutions through education, local action, collaboration, and policy engagement."
Dr Shahabuddin underscored His Highness the Aga Khan's vision of AKU as a research-led university. “If we are to address Pakistan's immense disease burden, we need innovation and knowledge creation. SONAM's role is to facilitate, collaborate, and provide tools necessary for nurses to do world-class research."
The impacts of previous SPIRIT symposiums led to students presenting their work on international platforms. This year, an astounding 230 abstracts poured in from nursing students across the globe, showcasing the immense potential of this evolving field. Following a rigorous selection process, nine oral presentations and 75 posters were chosen, each highlighting innovative and impactful research. This year, SPIRIT'24 was a resounding success. The event was attended by over 544 participants from Pakistan and beyond. Furthermore, our social media platforms, particularly Facebook, garnered an impressive viewership of over 5000.
A few student presentations are worth highlighting. Ms Faiza Jokhio contributed under the theme of Patient Care Outcomes with her study titled "Effectiveness of Kangaroo Mother Care on Physiological Functions Among Preterm Infants."
Ms Aneela Ilyas conducted her research under the theme of Innovation in Education, presenting her study titled "Readiness, Perceptions, and Attitudes of Healthcare Providers in Pakistan Regarding Interprofessional Education: A Mixed-Methods Study."
Under the theme of Population and Community Health, Mr Ibrahim Shah shared his study titled "Assessing Primary Healthcare Professionals' Awareness and Understanding of the Relationship Between Climate Change and Mental Health in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study."
The SPIRIT symposium also encouraged participants to move beyond simply consuming knowledge and to become creators of it. Attendees were urged to publish their work, build meaningful connections, and ensure their research reaches a global audience.
Established as the first school at Aga Khan University, SONAM has consistently advanced nursing and midwifery education and practice in Pakistan and beyond.