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Dean, Medical College, Pakistan

Entity

Aga Khan University

Location

Karachi, Pakistan

Introduction

Founded in 1983, the Aga Khan University (AKU) was Pakistan’s first private university and quickly established itself as a leading health sciences centre in the region. Since then, it has expanded into disciplines including education, media and communications, Muslim civilisations and more recently arts and sciences. From 2000 onwards, the University broadened its geographic presence to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan, and the United Kingdom. In recent years, it has been ranked among the leading universities in Asia and Africa, and in some subjects, the world.

Today, AKU is deeply rooted in six countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe. It is home to more than 3,600 students and many of its 17,000 alumni hold leadership positions in both locally and globally renowned institutions from Karachi to New York. With 7 hospitals and over 350 outreach clinics, it cares for more than 2 million patients annually, making it one of the largest private health care providers in Pakistan and East Africa. Its work in marginalized communities has not only saved thousands of lives but has also generated knowledge that government and non-governmental organizations can use to improve public welfare.

The Aga Khan University Medical College, Pakistan was the first private medical college in Pakistan and continues to rank as #1 by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council out of 170 medical colleges nationwide. It works closely with other teaching schools and the University Hospital to produce excellence in academic programmes and medical practice. 

Responsibilities

Position Overview

AKU is a premier institution dedicated to advancing education, research, and healthcare in Asia, Africa  and beyond. The Medical College is committed to training the next generation of healthcare leaders, fostering innovative research, and promoting health equity. We are seeking a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as the Dean of the Medical College. 

The Dean will provide strategic leadership and oversight for the college’s academic programmes, research initiatives, and community engagement efforts. The ideal candidate will be a distinguished physician with a strong record of academic leadership, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a passion for advancing medical education and healthcare delivery in the local and regional context

Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

The accountabilities and responsibilities of the Dean are to:

Work collegially and constructively with:

  • The Vice Chancellor and President, Provost, Senior Leadership, and other Deans to implement AKU’s strategic plans and lead strategic planning and implementation in the Medical College;

  • The CEO of AKU Health Services to assure quality of care and to contribute to planning and development of the health system and its priorities;

  • The Deans of the AKU Medical College, East Africa and the Deans of the School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM), Pakistan and East Africa on educational programming, research collaboration, faculty development and resource sharing;

  • The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and other governing bodies to provide oversight on compliance with laws and regulations;

  • Leadership of medical colleges in Karachi and across Pakistan.

Provide an outstanding student education experience and foster a culture of innovation and excellence in teaching and education by:

  • Overseeing the delivery of all academic programmes to ensure they are sustainable, of high quality, impactful, and effectively managed and delivered;

  • Attracting high calibre students of diverse backgrounds;

  • Managing enrolment planning and student progression and certification;

  • Advancing quality improvement strategies for teaching and learning as well as innovation in medical education, including but not limited to e-learning and simulation;

  • Supporting the personal and professional welfare of students, including through arts, culture, sports and publications;

  • Creating and coaching opportunities for faculty.

Foster a culture that celebrates, nurtures, and develops excellence in education, clinical practice and research by: 

  • Attracting and retaining high performing faculty and staff;

  • Embedding performance development, quality improvement, and regular evaluation processes;

  • Developing leadership and pathways for professional advancement aligned with effective talent management strategies;

  • Supporting welfare of faculty and staff and ensuring opportunities for participation in the life of AKU;
    Supporting an environment respectful of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging;

  • Being an exceptional communicator. 

Enhance the research profile of the Medical College, Pakistan by:

  • Attracting, retaining, and supporting research-intensive faculty;

  • Improving the quality  and impact of research outputs, including grants, publications, and citations and the mobilization of research into policy and practice;

  • Strengthening the digital and physical research infrastructure;

  • Facilitating meaningful interdisciplinary research partnerships and collaborations, nationally, regionally, and globally.

Build and sustain relationships with external partners, alumni and donors;

Effectively manage the budget and financial and human resources of the Medical College;

Work with external partners to:

  • Champion medical education in Pakistan and Central Asia;

  • Provide leadership and support to AKU’s health-related activities in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Requirements

Skills and Experience

The Dean shall have an MBBS/MD or equivalent and the capacity and vision to provide strategic leadership to the Faculty in the development and implementation of its mission, goals and objectives. 

The Dean should have:

  • Substantial experience in education, research, professional service, faculty development and leadership in academic administration;

  • A distinguished research record demonstrated by funding, publications, and impact;

  • Experience in the development and implementation of strategic plans;

  • The capacity to apply sound evidence-based, productive and visionary decision making in a complex environment;

  • Strong communication skills and the ability to handle complex academic, administrative and financial issues;

  • The capacity to manage change and successful implementation of new programmes;

  • Demonstrated capacity to represent the Medical College in external settings through networking, partnership  and coalitions;

  • A strong understanding of the relationship between the academy and the health system;

  • An understanding of the opportunities and challenges of the local environment, including the role of AKU Medical College, Pakistan, as the nation’s premier center for medical education and research in the country, and the consequent responsibilities of leading the region in innovation, research, education and clinical service;

  • International experience, including in low and middle-income country contexts, is an advantage;

  • Should be appointable as full Professor on appointment in a comparable peer institution;

  • Frequent travel within Pakistan and internationally will be required.

To Apply

​​Interested candidates should submit a CV to the search partner, Daniel Frost, Cielo Executive Search at AKU@cielotalent.com

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopting appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between a diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

Applications should be submitted latest by November 1, 2024