​Alumni Spotlight

Dr Saadia Farooqui MBBS '06​

In a rapidly evolving world, how do you stay motivated and continue learning in your field?

As a paediatric ophthalmologist, I have the privilege of caring for children and supporting their families. What motivates me is knowing that improving a child's vision can have an impact far beyond their eyesight -  it will influence their development, education and quality of life. The opportunity to make that difference keeps me motivated to continually learn, improve and provide the best possible care for my patients and their families.

What inspired you to pursue ophthalmology as your specialty? Was there a defining experience, mentor, or moment that influenced your decision?​​

My interest in ophthalmology began during our two-week rotation in year 4. Dr Azam Ali's teaching session videos and his clinical acumen with cataract surgeries left a lasting impression on me. I was drawn to how visual the specialty is: recognizing subtle clinical signs, connecting them to the underlying pathology, and making a direct difference to a patient's vision. That short rotation ultimately inspired me to pursue ophthalmology as my career.

Kindly share some of your key research interests and highlight any impactful projects you have been involved in.​

One of my key interests is paediatric ophthalmic genetics. I had the opportunity to establish a paediatric ophthalmic genetics programme at my hospital, one of the first of its kind in Singapore. The programme has since become an important avenue for managing children with complex inherited eye conditions, many of whom require a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis, counselling and long-term care. It's been especially meaningful to me to bring together clinical care, genetics and research to improve outcomes for these children and their families.

Reflecting on your time at AKU, is there a memorable moment, experience, or anecdote that stands out? How would you describe your overall journey there?​​

There are many memorable moments from my time at AKU, but what stands out most are the friendships, shared experiences and the sense of growing up together through medical school. We spent five formative years together studying, working on the wards, supporting one another through difficult periods, and also enjoying many memorable moments outside medicine. People watching in the quad, breakfast after early morning surgery rounds, “muftas” at the conference lunches -  these are experiences that still live in memory.

As an AKU alumna, how do you see the role of the alumni community in fostering collaboration and engagement both locally and globally?​​

As the world becomes increasingly connected, I think the role of the alumni community is more important than ever. AKU alumni are now spread across the world, working in diverse specialties and institutions. Maintaining strong links within this global network creates opportunities for alumni and current students to learn from one another, strengthen education and mentorship, and develop meaningful collaborations. It also allows us to share experiences and expertise across geographical boundaries while maintaining our connection with AKU.​

Looking back, which aspects of AKU’s environment or values have had the most lasting impact on your personal and professional growth?​

My time at AKU shaped me both personally and professionally. Coming from Quetta and a relatively sheltered environment, joining AKU exposed me to people from very different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. That diversity encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, broaden my outlook and grow as a person.

Academically, one of the most important transitions came in the third year, when we moved from predominantly classroom-based learning to clinical exposure. Applying what we had learnt to the care of real patients brought medicine to life and reinforced the importance of responsibility, empathy and patient-centred care.

AKU has an environment that encouraged curiosity, high standards and continuous learning, while also exposing us to a diverse community. Those experiences have stayed with me and continue to influence both the person and the doctor I am today."

Past Spotlight

  1. D​​​r Philomena Drago
  2. Dr Bashir Hanif
  3. Dr Sehreen Khan
  4. Dr Naila Baig Ansari
  5. Dr Muhammad Asim Khan
  6. Dr Azam Jan
  7. Dr Rahat Naz
  8. Dr Faysal Subhani
  9. Dr Alina Sadaf
  10. Dr Hamid Daud Naeem
  11. Dr Muhammad Tahir Yousafzai
  12. Dr Sana Sheikh
  13. Dr Muhammad Yaser Hassan
  14. Dr Sabha Bhatti
  15. Dr Hadi Khan​