Pakistani lady-doctor wins prestigious international university award

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI- A Pakistani lady doctor - Dr Saida Rasul, who serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Section of Dentistry, at the Department of Surgery, in Aga Khan University has recently won the "Order of British Columbia 2015", the province’s highest form of recognition and a prestigious accolade, for her community services.

According to media reports; Dr Saida is a volunteer at AKU where she has applied her professional expertise to build capacity, set up dental clinics and develop preventive dental programmes as part of the University Hospital system operating in East Africa, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Chancellor of the Order - Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon has stated that; “For 26 years, the Order of British Columbia has recognized the remarkable accomplishments and efforts by extraordinary British Columbians. This year we honor British Columbians from a variety of fields. Each recipient illustrating the positive difference just one person can make in the lives of many. The Order of British Columbia recognizes British Columbians whose positive impact is felt throughout the province and, in some cases, the world,” said Premier Christy Clark. “This year’s recipients have utilized their talent and passion to make a difference. On behalf of all British Columbians, I want to thank them for their dedication, and all they do to make British Columbia a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.”

Distance learning supported by faculty at Canadian and American universities complements the programmes. Working with a team of volunteers, she has helped AKU set up a diploma in dental hygiene programme to train dental health workers from the same regions on promoting oral health and disease prevention in communities.

In Canada, she had been very active in securing funding for the Centre for Performing Arts, on Hastings Street in Vancouver, and fundraising for the Centre for the Comparative Study of Muslim Cultures and Societies at Simon Fraser University. During her tenure on the board of governors of SFU, she also stewarded capital projects.

The Order of British Columbia was established in 1989 to recognize those who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in any field of endeavor benefiting the people of the British Columbia or elsewhere.