WFSA's footprint is large: as an umbrella body of 134 national anesthesia societies, the organisation seek to raise standards in the field through research, advocacy and educational programmes. For Professor Khan, this is an opportunity to do more.
“My interests are in tackling the anaesthetic challenges in lower and middle income countries, particularly South Asia,” Professor Khan explains. “The challenges include a shortage of adequately trained anaesthetic manpower, the retention of trained individuals, non-availability of essential drugs staff for busy hospitals and a lack of quality equipment. This is compounded by a lack of safety standards and trained researchers in many institutions.”
She adds: “Although anaesthesia is currently considered quite safe, there are still several threats to patient safety which exist especially in lower and middle income countries in the form of unsafe clinical practices. It is essential that these are addressed. Dealing with these issues requires both research into what causes these problems and interventions to correct them. Currently there is little published data available on anaesthesia and surgery-related safety practices in South Asia."
Leading is not a new role for Professor Khan: she has served as a leader in multiple international and national anaesthesia organisations, as a founding member of the South Asian Confederation of Anaesthesiologists in 1991 and the first Dean of the Faculty of Critical Care, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan from 2009 to 2015.
Professor Khan started at AKU just before the commissioning of the University Hospital in August 1985, as a senior instructor in anaesthesia in August 1985, marching through several roles before becoming the chair of the department between 2002 and 2010. As a faculty member with over 140 publications in national and international journals, she has been a mentor and role model to many postgraduate students.
Speaking about AKU’s role in her career, Professor Khan said that it has not only provided “the path for an academic career and honed my research capacities, it has opened up numerous other opportunities that have enabled me to establish links around the world.”
“At WFSA, I am honoured to be leading another important committee in an institution that works with the World Health Organization, governments and health institutions to make an impact on how anesthesia and medicine is practiced around the world.”
