Welcome Address to AKU President at Aga Khan University Convocation 2006

By Dr Nawal Salahuddin
Associate Professor,
Section of Pulmonary, Department of Medicine, on behalf of AKU Faculty

Your Highness, Mr Rasul, Members of the Board of Trustees, Acting Provost, Deans of the Medical & Nursing Schools, Chief Guest, Graduating Students, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Asalaam alaikum.

My name is Nawal Salahuddin and I am very proud to be a graduate of the AKU medical school, Class of 1990. I am now a member of the teaching staff in the Health Sciences.

On behalf of the faculty of the Aga Khan University, it is my privilege today, to formally, welcome Mr Firoz Rasul as the newest President of the AKU.

I would like to take this opportunity to talk a little about what the faculty of this university represents. We are a group of highly trained individuals, many of whom are recognized as experts in their fields of specialization. Some of us have left behind promising academic careers in the best universities across the world. Others have given up lucrative practices and consultancies in this country.

All this because we believe in and are deeply committed, to establishing and maintaining the challenge for Excellence that is AKU.

We welcome you, Mr Rasul, to join us on this endeavor.

I can promise you that there will be tough times ahead. Unfortunately in the past, there have been epidemics and natural disasters. There will be crises, drifts in the international geopolitics and sadly, undrinkable coffee at 2 am!

But by working together, we can promise, that in the mountains of Kashmir and in Karachi's kutchi abadis, AKU will continue to deliver world class health care and support for development of primary care systems.

That in educational institutions and examination halls, that now stretch from East Africa to Pakistan, AKU will continue to set the standard for academic excellence that characterizes its medical, nursing and graduates in education and social development.

And that in research labs and patient care areas; cutting-edge, compassionate, ethical and cost-efficient health care will remain the top most priority.

So, Mr Rasul, Welcome to the AKU.