Karachi, The Aga Khan University Medical College’s (AKU-MC) journey of innovation and excellence in medical education over the past 40 years has been featured in the prestigious Journal of Postgraduate Medical Education, published by Oxford Academic. The article, titled ‘A Journey of Innovation: 40 years of Pioneering Medical Education at the Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan,’ provides an in-depth review of the institution’s significant impact on healthcare and medical education in Pakistan and beyond.
According to The Aga Khan University, the paper highlights AKU-MC’s role as Pakistan’s first private university established in 1983 and its evolution into a global institution that has significantly improved healthcare standards. The review focuses on the college’s flagship five-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program, known for its introduction of problem-based learning, team-based learning, and innovative patient simulation methods in Pakistan. Since its inception, the program has grown from admitting 50 students to 100 annually, producing a total of 2,888 graduates.
The publication outlines AKU-MC’s approach to integrating research into its curriculum from an early stage, its unique assessment of clinical clerkships, emphasis on holistic student development, and exposure to community dynamics and public health through its urban health program. It also discusses the inclusion of psychiatry, family medicine, and geriatrics in the MBBS certification curriculum to address healthcare gaps. The college’s achievements include receiving several awards for curriculum excellence, faculty engagement, and assessment rigor, notably the ASPIRE Stellar Award in 2023.
Furthermore, the review sheds light on AKU’s Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) program, which has produced 3,983 graduates and influenced postgraduate medical education across Pakistan. AKU-MC has pioneered residency programs in anesthesia and family medicine, among others, and achieved a landmark accreditation from ACGME-I, demonstrating its role as a model for other institutions.
AKU-MC alumni have assumed key positions within Pakistan’s healthcare sector and internationally, contributing to major healthcare initiatives, research organizations, and specialized centers. The institution’s commitment to developing socially conscious healthcare professionals is evident in its mission and the engagement of its alumni, approximately half of whom are PGME alumni, through robust relations programs.
Dean Adil Haider expressed gratitude for the peer-reviewed journal’s decision to publish the review, highlighting it as an opportunity for other institutions to learn from AKU’s experience. He emphasized the collective effort behind the medical college’s success and looked forward to continuing its service.
The article also mentions AKU’s Department of Continuing Professional Education (DCPE) and Department for Educational Development (DED), both pivotal in enhancing professional development among healthcare professionals in Pakistan and ensuring effective delivery of teaching and learning strategies. AKU’s commitment to raising healthcare and medical education standards has influenced policy and practice, improving healthcare quality in the region as it marks its 40th anniversary.