Rozina
Lalji
Rozina Lalji is a member of the SONAM classes of 1989 (Diploma) and 1996 (BSN). She earned her master’s degree in nursing from St. Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois (in the Clinical Nurse Leadership Program), in addition to two American certifications in wound care and case management. She is an active member of the Wound Care Institute, the Case Management Society of America, and the National Association for Health Care and Quality. Currently, Rozina is a Quality Performance Specialist in Value-Based Care at the Access Community Health Network in Chicago. Before moving to the U.S., she worked in various fields of nursing at the Aga Khan University and Hospital; she was, for instance, a Senior Nursing Instructor at the School of Nursing and Hospital.
Would you please tell me about your early life?
I hold the distinction of being the first child born in the new Aga Khan Health Centre in East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh. In 1971, when East Pakistan and West Pakistan separated, my family relocated to West Pakistan in search of a better future. I began my education at the Mohammadi Girls Academy in Malir, Karachi and later transferred to the Sir Sultan Mohammad Shah Aga Khan School, where I completed high school. The exceptional services I received during that time laid the foundation for my future success.
In 1985, I enrolled in the Aga Khan University School of Nursing, where I earned a diploma in Nursing in 1989 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1996. Initially, I had sought a career in finance, but the college I attended did not meet my learning needs or provide the stimulating environment I had experienced at Aga Khan Schools. Consequently, I left finance in search of a program that would challenge me. In the 1980s, young people typically aspired to become doctors, teachers, or engineers, and few professions were available to women, which disappointed me. However, I eventually chose to attend the School of Nursing, captivated by the stunning architecture, vibrant colors, lakes, and gardens of Aga Khan University and Hospital. The comprehensive library, diverse books, campus tour, and dedicated faculty convinced me that I should pursue a career in nursing.
Reflecting on my life, I realize that my education and growth have been shaped by the many influential women I encountered along the way. The healthcare services and education I received were provided free of cost, and I am grateful for the Aga Khan Foundation's support in all my educational endeavors. I never fully appreciated the vital role that donors played in supporting my education. Determined not to take my education for granted, I applied the skills I acquired in the classroom to clinical settings, working at the hospital on weekends while earning an income. This experience gave me confidence and enabled me to become a self-reliant and productive individual. English was the medium of instruction, and students were encouraged to learn a second language. This mastery of English opened doors for me in Pakistan, the United States, and beyond, facilitating my success on a global scale.
What did you do following graduation?
After obtaining my Diploma in 1989, I served in various departments at Aga Khan University Hospital. In 1996, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and briefly worked at the Islamic Mission Hospital. Later in the same year, I rejoined the Aga Khan University School of Nursing, where I dedicated myself until 2001 to the education of second-year students.
In addition to teaching, I undertook several leadership roles at AKUSON. Among my accomplishments was the development of the second-year Generic BSN curriculum, a task that I had the privilege of carrying out with my faculty team. We not only created the curriculum, but also implemented it, which was an enriching experience.
Before leaving Pakistan, I was a dedicated member of the Pakistan Nursing Federation, actively contributing to its mission and goals. My professional journey in the field of nursing has been full of growth and fulfilling experiences, shaping me into the healthcare professional I am today.
When did you and your family come to the U.S.?
In 2001, my family and I relocated to the United States. Thanks to my robust education at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at AKU, I was well prepared to pass all necessary examinations in the U.S. I take immense pride in the fact that the School equipped me with the skills to learn, educate, and practice in a community healthcare setting.
Not only did I practice as a nurse, but I also had the valuable opportunity to instruct second-year students in community health nursing. This experience proved to be invaluable when I settled in Chicago. Once again, I found myself working as a community health nurse, serving as a home-health clinician and wound-care consultant in some of Chicago’s most challenging neighborhoods.
Through this work, I gained a wealth of knowledge about minority communities, health inequities, justice, cultural diversity, social determinants of health, and the U.S. healthcare system. I also learned about the profound impact these factors have on human lives. Interestingly, many of the issues I encountered in Chicago were also present in Pakistan, further reinforcing the importance of providing culturally sensitive care. These are skills and behaviors that my education had instilled in me, preparing me to navigate and address these challenges effectively.
You have created a legacy gift benefitting SONAM: you will leave a percentage of your 401(k) to the School following your passing. Why have you done so?
Everything I’ve accomplished in my life has been greatly influenced by the Aga Khan Foundation and the empowered women who contributed their services through the Aga Khan’s schools and health services. I firmly believe that the act of sharing offers more rewards in return, and that the highest level of happiness and fulfillment comes from lifting others up. Sharing and service are integral to the Ismaili Muslim Community and culture, and if one is fortunate to have abundance, sharing becomes a moral obligation. I’m now aware that numerous discreet donors supported my education through the Aga Khan Foundation, and this cycle of generosity must continue to pave a brighter future for other women who look to the future with hope, just as I did.
I owe a great deal of gratitude to our community, parents, and teachers who, despite limited resources, educated me. My mother-in-law, in particular, played a crucial role in encouraging me to pursue higher education, regardless of my responsibilities as a mother. She supported me by taking care of my children while I was earning my bachelor’s degree. Without that support, I would have faced significant challenges in completing my BSN. Many other women, experts in their respective fields, have shaped my career and education. As a token of my gratitude, I created a Nursing Endowed Scholarship Fund in 2021 in honor of my mother-in-law, who helped me to reach new heights in my education.
A few years ago, my husband and I faced a health scare that made us realize the importance of proper estate planning. In addition to providing for our children and grandchildren, we recognized the need to include organizations and foundations that we’ve committed to in our lifetime. We are grateful to the Aga Khan Foundation Midwest Giving Legacy Group — and particularly its Chicago Team — who educated us on directing our legacy gift toward a cause that would benefit future generations. Inspired by the education that enabled me to create my 401(k), I decided to leave a portion of the legacy gift to SONAM, to girls’ education. I have directed that my gift flow into, supplement, my Endowed Scholarship Fund, empowering even more nursing students over time. I feel my contribution is small compared to what His Highness and the Aga Khan Foundation have done for my family and me. My hope is that my legacy gift will aid young nurses, empowering them to dream big for themselves, their families, and the communities they will serve.
I wish to convey my deepest gratitude for the education and training I received from the Aga Khan Schools and University. As an alumna, I feel incredibly fortunate to have learned from such dedicated and knowledgeable educators. My heartfelt thanks go to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and the Aga Khan Foundation, whose vision has prepared me to flourish as a woman, a mother, and, above all, a nurse. The values and principles instilled in me during my education will undoubtedly serve as the foundation for my professional practice for years to come.
A note on endowed funds
An endowed fund is invested in AKU’s general endowment, which is the investment portfolio of the University. The endowment — and so each of the endowed funds within it — pays out approximately five percent of its value each year, supporting everything the University does — teaching, research, financial aid, and on and on. Quite simply, the payout from the endowment is the lifeblood of AKU: the University could not function without it. The endowment — and the endowed funds within it — will exist as long as AKU exists.
An endowed fund, then, is like a “miniature endowment:” it, too, exists forever, and it, too, pays out five percent or so of its value each year. A donor can name an endowed fund after himself or herself, a family member, or anyone else he or she might wish to honour and memorialise. What is more, an endowed fund grows over time, with the endowment as a whole, thus increasing the good it does.
