Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) recently honored Dr. Naseem Salahuddin, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases, with the prestigious title of Professor Emerita. The ceremony celebrated her invaluable contributions in academia and beyond, transforming the field of Infectious Diseases in Pakistan.

Professor Naseem Salahuddin graduated from Fatima Jinnah Medical College in 1967 and gained Board Certification in Internal Medicine from the US in 1977 with Fellowship in Infectious Diseases. Since returning to Pakistan, her influence on the clinical fraternity has been profound. She has aided the development of clinical services, served as a CPSP supervisor, and mentored doctors across the country and beyond.

The two most important areas where Dr. Naseem Salahuddin has impacted are Infectious Diseases (ID) and Education. Ironically, there was no other Infectious Diseases specialist in the field in a country replete with infectious diseases. Dr. Naseem, through her unstinting efforts, pioneered this important discipline. She introduced the Infectious Diseases fellowship program, founded the professional Infectious Diseases society and the Infectious Diseases journal. Her scholarly articles and educational outreach have not only raised awareness but also elevated the standard of care in infectious diseases. She is recognized internationally for her relentless battle against the fatal disease rabies and complicated tuberculosis. Today Infectious Diseases is an established and much sought after specialty.

Having joined IHHN in 2007, her impact on Pakistan’s healthcare system since then is awe-inspiring. Amongst her list of accomplishments, her internationally acclaimed role in Rabies prevention, introducing the One Health concept to Pakistan through the Rabies Free program is noteworthy. Under her leadership, the Rabies Prevention Program at IHHN has emerged as a national leader, treating over 30,000 dog bite patients in 2023 alone. Under her watch, centers for surveillance of dog bites and rabies were set up across the country. She has also been on the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Rabies since 2004, as well as the WHO STAG Neglected Tropical Diseases.

At IHHN, Dr. Naseem has established robust clinics for HIV and tuberculosis, which provide free, compassionate, and holistic care to patients completely free of cost. As a leading researcher, she has been country and site PI for multinational drug trials for multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis and Covid vaccines.

Dr. Naseem is a prolific writer of not just clinical science, but her travels, her experiences and her opinions in books and newspaper articles. Dr. Naseem Salahuddin is the author of If Stones Could Speak (2018), and Among my Own- the Untold Stories of my People (2022).

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Naseem’s commitment to bettering society is commendable. Starting in her home premises, Dr. Naseem founded the Citizens’ Education Development Foundation, from where she spread literacy to over 50,000 marginalized children of Karachi’s kachi abadis through home schools and a mobile bus school, across three decades of organized effort. Many of the students, over 50% girls, are opting to study further, working as teachers, nurses, and beauticians, and delaying marriage. These young women are empowered through education, and will emancipate the next generation!

Dr. Naseem’s impact was celebrated at the ceremony by senior leaders and heads of departments at IHHN, including Dr. Syed Zafar Zaidi, CEO of IHHN; Dr. Ashar Alam, Medical Director, Indus Hospital Korangi Campus; and Dr. Shamvil Ashraf, Executive Director, Medical Services, IHHN. Also in attendance were her former students and residents, now occupying high positions, who each paid tribute to her mentorship and zeal for serving the underprivileged.