Award of Distinction
Dr Yasmin Amarsi
This year, the University has the honour of presenting the Award of Distinction to Dr Yasmin Noorali Amarsi.
Dr Yasmin Amarsi is a nursing pioneer as well as an original contributor to Aga Khan University’s mission for quality higher education.
She has been part of the University since its founding and has helped to develop quality nursing education in Pakistan. She has also been instrumental on behalf of AKU and the Aga Khan Development Network to take the knowledge and expertise of the AKU School of Nursing to Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt as well as to bring it right here to East Africa.
Dr Amarsi has played a direct role in introducing problem-based nursing education. She has contributed her expertise in areas that have led to the development and improved status of the nursing profession around the developing world.
Since 1980, Dr Amarsi has served the Aga Khan University School of Nursing in various capacities. She grew from a faculty member in the Diploma in Nursing Programme where she taught the Fundamentals of Nursing, and progressively took on more responsible roles, culminating in her appointment in 2002 as the Dean of the School of Nursing, Pakistan.
As part of her leadership role in Pakistan, Dr Amarsi oversaw the establishment of the Advanced Nursing Studies Program in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, which are the foundational programmes of the Aga Khan University Faculty of Health Sciences in East Africa.
In 2009, Dr Amarsi was appointed the Foundation Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa and is playing yet another pioneering role in the health profession by contributing to the design of an innovative curriculum which will put medical and nursing students together in a two-year liberal arts core curriculum.
Dr Amarsi holds a Diploma in General Nursing, Diploma in Midwifery, Diploma in Ward Administration and Diploma in Teaching Administration from the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi, Pakistan. She was the first graduate of the longstanding partnership of AKU with McMaster University in Canada, completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from McMaster.
In 1993, Dr Amarsi completed her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Arizona after which she returned to McMaster to complete a Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences.
In addition to having received gold and silver medals from the College of Nursing at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Dr Amarsi was honoured by McMaster University in 2009 with a Doctor of Science, honoris causa for her contribution to nursing education, curriculum development and strengthening academic systems in developing countries.
Those who know Dr Amarsi are aware that she is a trailblazer in the truest sense. Through her humility and deep belief in her cause, which is to further the nursing profession at AKU, she stirs others to passionately follow her lead.
On behalf of the University, I would like to express our gratitude to Dr Amarsi for her service in improving the quality standards of nursing education and healthcare in Pakistan. Dr Amarsi, we applaud your steadfast efforts in the enhancement of the nursing profession and its standing in society, as well as in the advancement of women.
Ladies and gentleman, on behalf of the Chancellor and the University’s Board of Trustees, it give me great pleasure to present Dr Yasmin Amarsi the University Award of Distinction.
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