An estimated 80 million Pakistanis suffer from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) today and another 8 million are forecast to be affected by 2025. A lack of exercise, a poor diet and bad habits such as consuming tobacco are some of the main factors to blame for these life-style related diseases in Pakistani society.
Treating these NCDs which include diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses, breathing disorders and common mental diseases, requires medical specialists with extensive practical experience.
These specialists are often the product of postgraduate medical education (PGME) programmes consisting of a one-year internship followed by up to 7 years of intensive study and practice in a specific area of medicine through residency followed by fellowship medical training.
Today, 186 specialists received their certificates in areas relevant to the treatment of NCDs such as cardiac surgery; diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism; pulmonary medicine; medical oncology and psychiatry at AKU’s 21st PGME graduation ceremony.
Speaking about how advanced education can help treat NCDs Dr Muneer Amanullah, PGME Interim Associate Dean and Associate Professor at AKU, explained that experiencing and studying all stages of a disease gives PGME graduates the judgment and confidence to treat complex NCDs.
“Many Pakistanis suffer from issues tied to blood pressure, abnormal blood sugar levels and breathing problems that can represent symptoms of an underlying NCD,” he said. “The skills gained through the PGME programme enables doctors to quickly differentiate between significant and insignificant symptoms, to investigate the root cause of ill health, and to manage the course of treatment so as to avoid undesirable side-effects and complications.”
Beyond their clinical experience, PGME graduates are also scholars who have studied treatment innovations in their field, communicators who know how to empathise with patients, and researchers who are committed to evidence-based healthcare.
“The combination of medical knowledge, practice-based learning and soft skills imparted through the programme enables PGME graduates to serve society by meeting the needs of the most unwell patients,” Dr Amanullah concluded.
During the event, graduating students also shared their personal stories, the ups and downs of their journey through the graduate programme. In her valedictorian speech, intern Dr Rashna Virji spoke about dealing with up to 40 patients at one time while on call. While such periods were challenging, the variety of patients seen on a daily basis enables interns to quickly hone their skills.
She explained how training from cardiologists helped her learn how to interpret an ECG – electrocardiogram – a test used to determine the occurrence and severity of heart attack. Over the course of her internship, she understood how to independently read these tests and determine the appropriate course of treatment.
“We had all studied the ‘science of medicine’ in medical school, but we learnt the ‘art of practicing medicine’ during our internship. And none of this would have been possible without having great teachers,” Dr Virji added.
In his speech at the ceremony, Dr Fazal Khan, chief resident in the cardiothoracic surgery section, spoke of how the range of disciplines under the PGME programme has enabled residents to treat patients with multiple complications.
He recalled: “I still remember a night on-call where I had to deal with an emergency case that required the general surgery, anaesthesia and orthopedics teams to work together to save the life of a polytrauma patient. AKU has large teams of specialists in paediatrics, nephrology, cardiology, critical care and pulmonology who work day in and day out for the speedy recovery of our patients. Their work ethic demonstrates how staff at the Aga Khan University truly believe that the patient comes first.
“After all the sleepless nights during our residency, we look forward to making a difference in patients’ lives as consultants, instructors or fellows,” he added.
In his address to the graduating class, chief guest and AKU alumnus Dr Saleem Islam MBBS ’92, Division Chief, Paediatric Surgery, and Programme Director, Paediatric Surgery Fellowship, at the University of Florida’s College of Medicine, said: “The attainment of an MBBS is an entrance ticket to the world of medicine and PGME is absolutely essential in attaining the necessary skills to treat patients.”
“AKU has revolutionised the landscape of PGME in particular through the development of residency programmes for all disciplines. These programmes are a unique amalgam of US and British styles of teaching, and have acted as a rising tide by elevating standards for all.”
Ten awards were handed out on the night to the top researchers, interns and residents from residencies in 33 disciplines and fellowships in 27 sub-specialties.
Over 60 per cent of AKU PGME graduates are working in Pakistan and more than 25 per cent of the clinical faculty at AKU are graduates of its own PGME programme. Since the launch of the AKU’s programme in 1985, 2,883 certificates have been awarded to specialists.
