PakAlumni Worldwide: The Global Social Network
Pakistan is the Second Biggest Source of Foreign Doctors in US and UK
When US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke suffered a massive heart attack in 2010, the doctors who responded to this emergency were both foreign: one from India and the other from Pakistan. Dr. Farzad Najam, a graduate of King Edward Medical College in Lahore, was the chief heart surgeon at George Washington University Hospital at the time. Dr. Monica Mukherjee, a junior cardiologist at the hospital, assisted Dr. Najam in the operating theater. This episode illustrates the high profile presence of South Asian doctors in the United States.
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| Doctor Brain Drain. Source: Statista |
More recently, Dr. Mansoor Mohiuddin, a 1989 graduate of Karachi's Dow Medical College, made global headlines when he implanted a pig heart in a patient at University of Maryland School of Medicine. Considered one of the world’s foremost experts on transplanting animal organs, known as xenotransplantation, Muhammad M. Mohiuddin, MD, Professor of Surgery at UMSOM, joined the UMSOM faculty five years ago and established the Cardiac Xenotransplantation Program with Dr. Griffith. Dr. Mohiuddin serves as the program’s Scientific/Program Director and Dr. Griffith as its Clinical Director.
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| Top Countries of Origin of Foreign Doctors in the US. Source: OECD |
The pervasive presence of South Asian doctors in the United States is confirmed by OECD (Organization for Cooperation and Development) statistics on foreign doctors in OECD member nations. While India has remained the top source of foreign doctors since 2013, Pakistan has moved up from third to second spot in this period. As of 2016, there were 45,830 Indian doctors and 12,454 Pakistani doctors among 215,630 foreign doctors in the United States. India (45,830) and Pakistan (12,454) are followed by Grenada (10,789), Philippines (10,217), Dominica (9,974), Mexico (9,923), Canada (7,765), Dominican Republic (6,269), China (5,772), UAE (4,635) and Egypt (4,379).
In percentage terms, 21% of foreign doctors come from India, 6% from Pakistan, 5% each from Grenada, Philippines and Dominica and 4% from Mexico.
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| Pie Chart of Origins of Foreign Medical Graduates in US. Source: OECD |
Many of these "foreign doctors" are US citizens, born and raised in the United States, who travel abroad to study at foreign medical schools. Their reasons vary from ease of admissions to lower costs. This is particularly true of the medical schools in the Caribbean nations.
Many Caribbean nations have established medical schools to especially cater to the demand from the United States. In 2007, Pakistan, too, set up Dow International Medical College as part of Dow University of Health Science (DUHS).
Indians and Pakistanis also make up the top two nationalities among 66,211 foreign doctors in the United Kingdom. There are 18,953 doctors from India, 8,026 from Pakistan, 4.880 from Nigeria and 4,471 from Egypt in the UK.
The list of 25,400 foreign doctors in Canada is topped by South Africans (2,604) followed by Indians (2,127), Irish (1,942), British (1,923), Americans (1,263) and Pakistanis (1,087).
There are 25,607 Pakistani medical school graduates currently working in all of the OECD member countries which are considered the rich industrialized nations. These Pakistani doctors account for 10.6% of 242,000 Pakistan-trained doctors practicing now. 74,455 Indian doctors working in OECD nations make up 7.3% of about 1,020,000 of all India-trained doctors in practice.
In spite of losing 10.6% of its doctors to "brain drain" compared to India's 7.3%, Pakistan still has more doctors per capita (1.1 per 1000 population) than India (0.7 doctors per 1000 population), according to the World Bank. Pakistani medical colleges admit 16,000 students a year compared to 92,000 in India.
As the populations age and demand for medical services grows in the West, more and more of it is being met by recruiting health care workers, including doctors and nurses, from the developing world.
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Riaz Haq
Over 1,000 Pakistani doctors obtain US residency in one year: PMDC - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
https://www.dawn.com/news/1903083
ISLAMABAD: Around 1,061 Pakistani doctors — the highest ever in a single year — have obtained residency positions in the United States (US), Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) President Professor Rizwan Taj revealed on Tuesday.
Notable institutions, from where the maximum number of doctors have achieved residency positions include King Edward Medical University, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Dow Medical College, Shifa College of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) and Khyber Medical University.
Mr Taj claimed that the “impressive performance of the doctors exemplified the standards set by the PMDC in overseeing medical education in the country and its strong curricula and training programmes”.
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There are a significant number of Pakistani doctors practicing in the United States. The Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) represents over 15,000 physicians of Pakistani descent serving in the USA and Canada. APPNA also provides humanitarian aid and supports medical education in Pakistan. Many Pakistani doctors also pursue careers in the US after completing their residency programs.
Apr 10, 2025
Riaz Haq
Pakistan-American surgeon appointed Chief AI Officer at US college of medicine
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2587116/pakistan-american-surgeon-appo...
Dr Adil Haider says AI can strengthen healthcare systems at scale if implemented responsibly
Pakistani-American surgeon-scientist Dr Adil Haider has been appointed the Inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO) at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CI MED), the world’s first engineering-based medical school, according to a press statement issued on Wednesday.
The newly created role marks a major milestone in Dr Haider’s global career spanning Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. As CAIO, he will lead the strategic and responsible integration of artificial intelligence across medical education, research, and clinical innovation at CI MED.
Dr Haider joins Carle Illinois after completing a transformative 6.5-year tenure as Dean of the Aga Khan University Medical College in Pakistan. During his leadership, the institution quadrupled its research funding, achieved top-100 global ranking status, and secured multiple international accreditations. Widely respected for his mentorship and accessibility, he remained a popular figure among students.
Speaking on his appointment, Dr Haider said artificial intelligence has the potential to strengthen healthcare systems at scale if implemented responsibly and grounded in real clinical needs.
CI MED Dean Mark Cohen said the appointment reflects the institution’s commitment to making artificial intelligence foundational to the future of medicine, adding that Dr Haider’s leadership would ensure innovation remains ethical and patient-centred.
Dr Haider will also serve as Medical Director for Research Informatics at Carle Foundation Hospital and as a Visiting Professor at the University of Illinois’ Grainger College of Engineering.
Dr Haider has authored over 450 publications, secured more than $200 million in research funding, and founded Boston Health AI in 2024, with a mission to improve care for one billion patients worldwide.
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CI MED Appoints International Expert to Lead AI Initiatives
https://medicine.illinois.edu/news/ci-med-appoints-international-ex...
Carle Illinois College of Medicine has appointed internationally recognized surgeon-scientist, biotech entrepreneur, and academic leader Dr. Adil Haider as its inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO).
In this newly created role, Haider will lead the strategic vision, development, and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) across CI MED. He will be responsible for advancing AI-enabled medical education, translational research, and clinical innovation.
Adil Haider (left) has been appointed by CI MED Dean Mark Cohen (right) as the college's first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.
Adil Haider (left) has been appointed by CI MED Dean Mark Cohen (right) as the college's first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.
“By establishing the role of chief AI officer, Carle Illinois is signaling that artificial intelligence is not peripheral, but foundational to the future of medicine,” said CI MED Dean Mark Cohen. “Dr. Haider brings a unique combination of academic rigor, clinical expertise, and entrepreneurial experience. His leadership will help ensure that AI at Carle Illinois is innovative, ethical, and meaningfully improves health outcomes, transforming our clinical, research, innovation, and educational missions for the future.”
In addition to his duties at CI MED, Haider will serve as the medical director for research informatics at Carle Foundation Hospital, strengthening alignment between academic innovation and real-world clinical practice. In this dual role, Haider will help integrate advanced informatics and AI-driven tools to enhance care delivery, clinical efficiency, and the patient experience across the Carle Health system.
Jan 15
Riaz Haq
https://www.uabmedicine.org/news/uabs-sheikh-is-one-of-the-first-fe...
University of Alabama at Birmingham Assistant Professor Saulat Sajjad Sheikh, MBBS Division of Transplantation is one of the first female transplant surgeons from her originating country, Pakistan.
Sheikh attended medical school at the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan, where she was conferred the “Best Graduate” award. She subsequently completed her general surgery residency at York Hospital, York, Pennsylvania. Sheikh graduated from UAB’s Abdominal Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery Fellowship in 2020.
During her residency, Sheikh considered specializing in gastrointestinal surgery; but after experiencing the gratification of changing an individual’s life by successfully transplanting a kidney or liver, abdominal transplant surgery was her new goal. Curing end-stage organ disease and offering a renewed chance at life for a patient became a passion for Sheikh.
Sheikh had several barriers to overcome before she could become a transplant surgeon. The Journal of Pakistan Medical Association reported in 2016 that 69.6 percent of registered medical doctors were male. When she decided on the field, Sheikh knew it was rare for a female medical doctor to specialize in surgery, let alone abdominal transplantation.
“Transplant surgery in Pakistan is not easily accessible, and there are only a few established transplant centers,” Sheikh said. “It was such a privilege and honor to attend one of the finest medical schools in Pakistan and then complete the rest of my training in the United States.”
According to a recent study conducted by Aga Khan University Hospital, where Sheikh attended medical school, 72 percent of female surgeons in the AKUH Department of Surgery said cultural barriers to a surgical career existed because of their gender. Further, about 40 percent of the women report having been discouraged by family or close friends from pursuing surgery as a career field.
Not only did she face gender barriers, but Sheikh also had personal challenges. She simultaneously began her two-year fellowship while single-handedly caregiving for her 7-month-old daughter. At the time, her husband, current UAB Acute Care Surgery Fellow Zain Hashmi, M.D., was still finishing his general surgery residency at the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore.
“It was certainly difficult raising a child and completing my fellowship, but I had to remind myself of my ‘why,’” Sheikh said. “I chose UAB because of the potential for growth, mentorship and stability. Dr. Jayme Locke is an incredible role model for me. She was the only female faculty in transplant at UAB when she started here. I have been with the UAB Division of Transplantation for just over two years, and I feel like I am barely scratching the surface with how far I can go.”
As an only female child from a conservative family, Sheikh said she was lucky her parents permitted her to capitalize on the available opportunities and sent her off into the world to pursue her goal of becoming a transplant surgeon. Both her mother and father are retired physicians —her mother is an OBGYN, and her father practices family medicine.
“My parents were and continue to be supportive of my pursuing my dreams to become a transplant surgeon, even though they often received side comments from the community, doubting my career and life path,” Sheikh said. “When I first started out on this journey, it felt like a distant dream; but now here I am, living my dream every day.”
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