Sadia Abbas Ali's contributions to teaching, innovation, and patient care in the field of nursing and midwifery in Pakistan is nothing short of incredible.
As a Senior Instructor at AKU's School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM) with professional qualifications from Aga Khan University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery from the University of Dundee, and a Master of Health Professional Education from AKU Medical College, Ms Ali blends academic excellence with hands-on experience to shape the future of nursing education.
Innovating Nursing Education
Ms Ali has been instrumental in introducing innovative teaching techniques at SONAM.
A simulation champion, Ms Ali has played a key role in integrating simulation-based education into nursing and midwifery programmes. Her contributions helped her team earn the prestigious Aga Khan University Collaborative Award for Teaching for their work on virtual simulation in nursing education. She was also part of the team that secured endorsement of clinical simulation standards by the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL).
A Pioneer in Research
Ms Ali's work is opening doors to better maternal health care and nursing education, a historically underexplored and undervalued field in Pakistan.
Her research addresses pivotal challenges in nursing education, focusing on the facilitators and barriers to implementing competency-based nursing curricula. She is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship for capacity building in research. The funding facilitated her in exploring the experiences and perceptions of women and healthcare providers regarding pregnancy loss and bereavement. Her findings aim to inform strategies for improving mental health support for Pakistani women facing pregnancy loss.
She also secured a research grant from AKU's Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) for a study on virtual simulation in nursing education, underscoring her dedication to integrating innovative teaching methodologies into curricula.
Beyond the Classroom: Capacity Building and Advocacy
Ms Ali's impact extends far beyond academia. She has facilitated national and international training programmes for healthcare providers and contributed to the development of maternity care clinical practice guidelines for Aga Khan Health Services, Pakistan (2020–2023).
In collaboration with McMaster University, she co-authored and edited an e-book on family planning for midwives and Lady Health Visitors, providing critical resources to improve maternal and newborn health services.
Her Vision for the Future
Ms Ali aims to transform the future of midwifery education and practice. Her work highlights the integration of research, simulation, and community engagement to empower nurses and midwives in delivering high-quality care. Through her teaching, she seeks to instill critical thinking, compassion, and leadership in her students, preparing them to excel in both local and global healthcare contexts.
Ms Ali's contributions exemplify her unwavering commitment to advancing nursing and midwifery education while addressing critical societal challenges, making her an invaluable asset to Aga Khan University and beyond.
