Romaina Iqbal

Associate Professor
Department of Community Health Sciences

Section Head, NCD and Mental Health, Department of Community Health Sciences

Director, Continuing Education Programme
Adjunct Associate Professor, Faculty of Public Health and Social Sciences, Khyber Medical University

Telephone: 92 21 34930051

Publication

Education

Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Health Nutrition (Distance Learning Based), Public Health Foundation, India (2016-2017)
Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, McMaster University, Canada (Feb 2005 – Dec 2006)
Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition, McGill University, Canada (Sep 2000 - Feb 2005)
Master of Public Health, Baqai Medical University, Pakistan (1997-1998)
Master of Science in Home Economics (Food & Nutrition), Karachi University, Pakistan (1993-95)

Research interests

Modifiable risk factors (diet, physical activity, body composition, tobacco consumption) of cardiometabolic diseases (Diabetes and CVD)
Methodological work in Public Health Nutrition
Strengthening NCD and Nutrition Research in Pakistan
Cardiovascular diseases: Establishing community-based cohort studies, Case-Control Studies on stroke and AMI, Family-based interventions.
Diabetes Mellitus: Prevention, lifestyle interventions, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus studies and interventions
Tobacco Control: Smokeless tobacco use patterns, cessation trials, second-hand smoke exposure reduction, market surveys on nicotine products

Experience

Associate Professor, Departments of Community Health Sciences and Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan, 2014 To Present
Section Head: Non-communicable Diseases, Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Pakistan, 2019 to Present
Program Director, MSc. Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Pakistan, 2012 - 2016
Assistant Professor, Departments of Community Health Sciences and Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan, 2007- 2014
Lecturer, Faculty of Health Sciences, Baqai Medical University, Pakistan, 1995-1999
Lecturer, Nutrition Epidemiology Course, Faculty of Women Education, Allama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan, 1997-1999
Lecturer, Hospital Dietetics Course, Faculty of Women Education, Allama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan, 1995-1997

Professional associations

Chair organizing and Scientific committee. Triple Burden of Malnutrition in Pakistan. Breaking the silos between the world of undernutrition and NCDs. Organiser Pakistan Nutrition Society in Collaboration with UK Nutrition Society, Karachi, Pakistan, 2021
Chair-Scientific Committee 4X4. Four shared risk factors for four common NCDs in Pakistan organised by Pakistan Nutrition and Dietetics Society, and UK Nutrition Society, Lahore, Pakistan, 2019
Member Scale Up Nutrition Academia and Research Group (SUNAR), 2017
Founding Member Pakistan Nutrition Foundation, Pakistan, 2017
International Member American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2017
Interest Groups: Diabetes, Weight Management, and Public Health Nutrition
Organizing Committee Member International Diabetes and Endocrine Congress (2016) hosted by Baqai Medical University, Pakistan
Member American Society of Nutrition, 2016
Associate Editor Journal of Diabetology
Lifetime Member of National Association of Diabetes Educators in Pakistan, 2015
Weekly talk show- Health Pakistan, RAAH TV, 2016
Member Medical College Committee for Educational Programs- Dean’s Committee, 2012-16
Lifetime Member Pakistan Nutrition and Dietetics Society (PNDS), 2007

Awards and honours

Ranked amongst top ten most prolific scientists in Health in Pakistan Score by Pakistan Council of Science and Technology, 2017
Significant Contribution to Research from CHS Department Appreciation Award by the Dean Medical College Aga Khan University, Pakistan, Summer 2017
NIH -Travel award for attending the 7th International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods, held in Washington DC, 2009
Travel grant from AKU to attend 5th International Diabetes in Pregnancy Conference in Sorrento, Italy, 2009
Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, post-doctoral research fellowship worth 82,000 CAD for 2 years,  2005-2006
Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship for a doctoral degree in Canada award worth 100,000 CAD for 4 years 2000-2004
First Position in Master of Public Health Program, Baqai Medical University, Pakistan, 1998
Merit Award Certificate for outstanding academic performance in High School Certificate (HSC) Exam, Awarded by Rotary Club of Karachi East, Pakistan, 1991
Bronze Medal for the Third Position in High School Certificate(HSC) Exam 1990 Awarded by High School Certification Board, Karachi, 1992
Two-year Merit Scholarship from the Higher School Certificate Board, Karachi, 1990-1992

Grants and research activities

Mobile Consulting in Low-income Settings in Pakistan in collaboration with the University of Warwick, funded by the National Insititute for Human Research's Global Health Research Unit. ​

Created on:04/26/2016 Last modified:12/06/2023

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