Simulation, artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation took centre stage as The Aga Khan University (AKU) convened SIMPACT 2026 simultaneously in Karachi and Nairobi, bringing together healthcare educators, clinicians, researchers, innovators and students from across Pakistan and East Africa. The hybrid conference created a shared learning experience across two continents under the theme, Simulation Reimagined: AI & Beyond.
Organised by AKU's Centre for Innovation in Medical Education (CIME) in Karachi and Nairobi, SIMPACT has become a leading platform for advancing simulation-based healthcare education across the regions where AKU operates. Held on September 16 and 17, 2026, the conference explored how AI, immersive technologies, advanced analytics and next-generation learning systems are transforming healthcare training, workforce development and patient safety.
The two-city event connected participants in real time, fostering cross-regional dialogue on the future of healthcare education. Across both locations, attendees participated in pre-conference workshops, research presentations, innovation showcases, keynote sessions and panel discussions examining the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into healthcare learning and practice.
"The future of healthcare will be shaped by institutions that are willing to invest in emerging technologies and new ways of learning," said Dr Atta-Ur-Rahman, former Chairman of Pakistan's Higher Education Commission and keynote speaker at the Karachi conference. "Simulation, enhanced by AI and immersive technologies, gives Pakistan an opportunity to prepare its healthcare workforce for that future."
In Karachi, participants explored the rapidly evolving intersection of AI and healthcare through more than 80 research presentations, panel discussions and technology demonstrations. A major highlight was SIMVENTION, an exhibition of locally developed AI-powered healthcare solutions. Featured innovations included an Urdu-English talking avatar for medical training, a culturally sensitive adolescent health chatbot and an AI-assisted tuberculosis screening pipeline, showcasing the growing innovation ecosystem emerging from Pakistan.
Meanwhile, in Nairobi, SIMPACT 2026 highlighted the role of simulation and AI in strengthening healthcare systems across East Africa. Participants attended more than 10 pre-conference workshops and engaged in discussions on responsible AI adoption, clinical education and patient safety. The Nairobi programme also featured SIMQUEST 2026, an interactive simulation challenge that tested participants' teamwork, clinical decision-making and problem-solving skills through realistic, high-intensity healthcare scenarios.
Emphasising the importance of maintaining a human-centred approach to technological innovation, global keynote speaker Professor Thomas Thesen, Director of the AI & Digital Health Curriculum at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, urged educators to remain actively engaged in the learning process:
"As educators, we must always maintain control of the learning interactions. We can't just hand it over to AI. We have to maintain the human touch," he said.
The Karachi programme also featured remarks from Dr Dabeer Ahmed, Special Assistant to Dr Azra Pechuho, Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Government of Sindh.
"Every hospital we build in Sindh is only as strong as the workforce trained to run it," said Dr Ahmed. "It is the vision of Dr Pechuho that every healthcare professional in Sindh should be trained using simulation. In support of this vision, the Government of Sindh is establishing advanced healthcare simulation facilities in four medical colleges across the province, helping to strengthen the skills and preparedness of our healthcare workforce."
By connecting two regions through a shared platform for innovation, SIMPACT 2026 demonstrated AKU's commitment to advancing healthcare education through simulation, technology and collaborative learning. As AI continues to transform healthcare worldwide, the conference provided a timely forum for exploring how these tools can enhance training, strengthen healthcare systems and ultimately improve patient care.
Through its unique two-city format spanning Karachi and Nairobi, SIMPACT 2026 showcased not only the future of simulation-based education but also the power of global collaboration in shaping safer, smarter and more effective healthcare for all.
