When patients walk into the
Aga Khan Maternal and Child Care Centre (AKMCCC) in Hyderabad today, many are surprised to find a specialist they once had to travel hours to see in Karachi. That specialist is Dr Muhammad Saleem — one of Pakistan’s leading experts in diabetes and endocrinology, and a physician who chose service over comfort.
In 2022, after advanced training in the UK, Dr Saleem made a choice few of his peers do: he came back to his hometown in Pakistan, instead of accepting more prosperous opportunities abroad. More than anything he desired to improve health care in his country with the knowledge gained from his extensive training and education.
He soon became the first endocrinologist to work at Aga Khan Hospital, Hyderabad, as a Consultant Endocrinologist. For patients, it meant local access to specialized, evidence-based care for health issues that were rampant in the region.
“Diabetes and endocrine disorders are a rapidly growing challenge in Pakistan—particularly in Sindh,” Dr Saleem explains. “My role is not just to treat patients but also to educate them, create awareness, and train other providers so that care can reach beyond the clinic walls.”
His efforts are already bearing fruit. His team has seen earlier diagnoses in young patients, better control in long-term diabetics, and improved outcomes for those with complex conditions such as thyroid disorders and hormonal imbalances. Looking ahead, he hopes to establish a centre of excellence in Hyderabad that combines clinical care, education, and research — “so that in the long run, we can prevent these diseases from developing entirely.”
Dr Saleem’s journey is deeply rooted in the Aga Khan University. After beginning as a research fellow, he went on to complete his internship (house job) and postgraduate training at AKUH, clearing the FCPS exam in Internal Medicine on his first attempt. He also served as an Instructor in the Department of Medicine, later securing the University’s only fellowship position in Endocrinology at AKUH at that time. Dr Saleem’s research on oral diabetes medicine won him AKUH’s Best Research Fellow in 2021, cementing his reputation as an emerging leader in the field.
Dr Saleem’s pursuit of excellence also took him abroad, where he trained at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and Heartlands Hospital in the UK. Today, he is a member of the American College of Endocrinology as well as the Pakistan Endocrine Society.
With more than 10 years of experience at AKUH, Dr Saleem has achieved a rare milestone in Pakistan, clearing FCPS Diabetes & Endocrinology in his first attempt – a distinction very few achieve. His expertise in the field places him among the few top specialists in the country, dedicated to advancing medical research and treatment.
But accolades and affiliations were never the end goal. “Seeing how even small interventions can make a huge difference, reminds me that I can have a far greater impact here than anywhere else,” he says. “That’s why I came back — because here, access to specialist care can completely change the course of someone’s life.”
