First ever PhD Public Health defence held at KMU (August 24, 2021)

Khyber Medical University (KMU) - Institute of Public Health & Social Sciences (IPH&SS), Peshawar first ever two PhD scholars Dr. Aliya Hisam and Dr. Fayyaz Ahmad open defense was held at KMU main auditorium. The defense was attended besides external examiners Prof. Dr. Muhammad Faruq Umar Al Shifa school of Public Health,  Health Services Academy Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Shamsa Rizwan Fazaia Medical College, Air University Islamabad, vice chancellor KMU Prof. Dr. Zia ul Haq, Registrar Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem  Gandapur, Meritorious Prof. Dr. Jawad Ahmad, Director IPH&SS Dr. Saima Afaq, Dr. Naseem Khan and by a large number of faculty members from basic and clinical sciences, medical and allied health sciences students, M. Phil and PhD Scholars, medical journalists, colleagues from the department of health and partner organizations. 
The title of the theses of Dr. Aliya Hisam Associate Prof. Army Medical College, Rawalpindi was “Effectiveness of mobile health augmented cardiac rehabilitation (MCard) on health related quality of life, behavioral and clinical outcomes in post acute coronary syndrome patients, A randomized controlled trail”, where as her supervisor was Prof. Dr.  Zia Ul Haq. The other topic was “Smokeless Tobacco control in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan (STOP): Mixed methods research” conducted by Dr. Fayyaz Ahmad and his supervisor was Dr. Muhammad Naseem Khan Ex director KMU-IPH&SS. It is worth mentioning that these research theses are already successfully reviewed form UK, Germany, China and USA. 
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Zia-ul-Haq, while addressing the function, said that today is a historic day for the KMU family, especially for the public health community, because ten years ago we embarked on a journey from the Master of Public Health program which now resulted in the form of two PhD graduates. He said that in the past the public health sector has been neglected in all respects but KMU has given it significant importance and proved that it is as important in health sector as any other discipline.  
Prof. Zia-ul-Haq said that public health is the backbone of the health delivery system, so it is expected that the graduates graduating from KMU in public health, especially PhDs, will play a significant role to serve the country in general and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular. Finally, he congratulated both PhD scholars Dr. Aliya Hisam and Dr. Fayyaz Ahmad on the successful defense and completion of PhD degrees and hoped that other scholars will also complete their degrees within or before the stipulated time span.