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Newsletter Online
July 2003
VOL 4. NO.2

Endocrinology: An Evolving Speciality in Pakistan

Endocrinology is a branch of medicine that deals with diseases resulting from hormonal imbalances in the body. In Pakistan, it is increasingly being recognised as an important speciality both among physicians and the general public.

AKU has played a key role in the evolution of this field in the country. The endocrinologists at AKU have taken the lead in establishing a professional body, the Pakistan Endocrine Society, for academic activities and increasing awareness about this field.
Dr. Abdul Jabber, Associate Professor, and Head of the section.

Since its inception in 1999, the Section of Endocrinology at AKU has provided quality patient care and education. Presently, with three full-time and one part-time faculty, and with an expected addition of a full-time faculty from September 2003, the section is one of the busiest outpatient care providers among the Hospital's clinical departments. The section also offers numerous sub-speciality clinics, including Diabetes, General Endocrine and Bone Metabolism. Lipid, Thyroid and Obesity clinics are scheduled to start in 2003.

"With the commitment of our faculty and fellows and full support from nursing and allied services, the Section of Endocrinology has been able to provide the highest standards of outpatient care to those with complex diseases, such as    diabetes and thyroid disorders," says Dr. Najmul Islam, Associate Professor. Dr. Islam, a graduate of Dow Medical College, did his postgraduate training from UK before joining AKU. He subsequently went for further training in clinical work and research to the Department of Endocrinology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
Dr. Najmul Islam, Associate Professor
Dr. Abdul Jabber, Associate Professor, heads the section. He had been away on a one-year training leave at Sheffield University, UK, for research work and publications since mid-2002. Dr. Naeemul Haque, the first consultant endocrinologist in Pakistan to be trained in USA, is an active member of the section, providing full support and advice from his extensive experience in this discipline. After completing her training in USA , Dr. Lubna Zuberi, an AKU graduate (MBBS '88), recently joined the section as Assistant Professor.

The Section of Endocrinology takes special pride in its teaching programmes, which train medical students and residents.The first to initiate a fellowship programme in Endocrinology in Pakistan, the  section provides advanced training to internists who have already completed their post-graduate qualifications such as MRCP, FCPS or Diplomate of American Board of Internal Medicine.

With the objective of producing fully trained endocrinologists, this two-year programme involves rotations at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in the sections of Neuroradiology, Nuclear Medicine, Paediatric Endocrinology, Chemical Pathology and Reproductive Endocrinology/ Infertility.
Dr. Lubna Zuberi, Assistant Professor, is a recent addition to the section.

The section is actively involved in imparting Continuing Medical Education to general practitioners in the field of endocrine and diabetes, and has been conducting programmes in Karachi and the interior of Sindh province. Furthermore, it has taken responsibility for educating    nurses and patients, particularly in diabetes and thyroid related disorders. A monthly diabetes awareness programme is conducted at AKUH, focusing on the various aspects of diabetes and its care. Additionally, the section is involved in clinical research, as well as collaborating with the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences in basic research.

The comprehensive Section of Endocrinology at AKU incorporates clinical care, postgraduate teaching and research, and has become a replicable model for other national medical institutions.