Dr Zainab Samad, a trailblazing cardiologist and Professor of Medicine, leads the Department of Medicine at Aga Khan University (AKU) in Pakistan while also serving as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Duke University. She and eight collaborators were featured in Progress through Partnership, the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) Impact Report 2023-2024, for their transformative global health contributions. Dr Samad has been instrumental in addressing Pakistan’s critical health challenges, emphasizing the "continuous and consistent use of data to inform the state of health in Pakistan and to identify areas of improvement."
As a consulting cardiologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, Dr Samad has witnessed the shifting health landscape. While Pakistan continues to grapple with infectious diseases and maternal health issues, rising rates of obesity, hypertension, and heart disease have increased the need for creative, data-driven solutions. "We face dire economic challenges and resource scarcity," she acknowledges. "However, these challenges also represent opportunities for rapid innovation." "Through this work, our trainees are demonstrating that amidst great challenges, there are also reasons for great hope."
In response, Dr Samad and DGHI faculty launched a groundbreaking training programme in 2018, aimed at empowering early-career researchers to develop strategies for preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular illnesses—the leading cause of death in Pakistan.
Her impact extends beyond training future healthcare leaders. Dr. Samad spearheaded the creation of the Health Data Science Center at Aga Khan University, which uses clinical data to better understand Pakistan’s evolving health burdens. "We need partners like DGHI to leverage their unique voice and influence to tackle global south problems and to highlight the successes along the way," she shares. "The problems we face are significant, but by training others, we can work together to address them." Through data analytics, her team is driving policies that address these critical issues with precision.
Dr Samad’s connection to global health is deeply personal. A native of Pakistan and an alumna of Aga Khan University, her experiences, including her medical training at Duke University, provide her with a unique perspective on the power of international collaboration.
Her recognition in the DGHI Impact Report underscores her profound impact on healthcare in Pakistan and beyond. Dr Samad's work is not only advancing knowledge but also strengthening the bridge between academic institutions and local health systems. As she continues to lead innovative approaches to managing the noncommunicable disease crisis, her legacy as a global health visionary grows ever stronger.
