I joined Aga Khan University three decades ago on June 16th, 1991 as ‘Assistant Professor’ and in June 15, 2021, completed thirty years of my full-time service here. I must admit that if it was not for AKU, like so many others, in all probability I would have ended up somewhere outside Pakistan. So, what is special about AKU which kept me here to date?
The reason wasn't financial remuneration as I started on a very modest salary package and there were many opportunities around the globe offering far better financial packages. Second common reason quoted by many who come back from abroad is to live with their parents; this was again not the case for me as my father passed away when I was only 19 years old and my mother was with me and willing to travel abroad. In a nutshell it was foremost living on my own soil and serving my own people and country in my humble capacity even if it was a drop in the ocean and secondly it was the Pathology department of AKU, located in a 3rd world country but with a vision and infrastructure of the first world. It has been most fulfilling for me to have an opportunity to teach and train some of the brightest minds of the nation at undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels as well as practice a specialty at a place where there is so much diversity. I have an invaluable opportunity to interact with highly motivated young medical students and FCPS trainees behind the microscope, supervise PhD students, work on original local research and publish and disseminate knowledge. This is my true legacy; to see my students working and serving at various leadership positions around the globe. Last but not the least, to be able to make a small contribution to patient management. By clinching a correct diagnosis, we pathologists who largely work behind the scenes make conclusive grounds for a proper treatment to follow, hence save lives.
