INAUGURAL CEREMONY OF THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AT FATIMA JINNAH MEDICAL UNIVERSITY THEMED “ NEW ERA, NEW DIMENSIONS”

The inaugural ceremony of the Annual Conference was held at Fatima Jinnah Medical University on 21st December 2023.

Fatima Jinnah Medical University and Fatima Jinnah Medical College, in collaboration with the Alumni Association of North America and the UK, organized the Grand Seminar under the dynamic leadership of Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal. Secretary organizing committee Prof Bilquis Shabbir moderated the ceremony.

Health Minister of Punjab, Prof. Dr. Javed Akram, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

Prof. Aamer Zaman Khan, Prof. Mahmood Ayaz, Dr. Shehla Javed Akram. Prof. Akbar Chaudhry, Prof. Aftab Chaudhry, Mr. Farrukh Ali Shah, Prof. Qazi Saeed, Prof. Shamsa Humayun, Prof. Shireen Khawar, Prof. Munazza Iqbal, Prof. Farrukh Kamal, and Prof. Nighat Mir attended the event as Guests of Honor.

President of the Fatima Jinnah Medical College Alumni Association of North America, Dr. Hibba Haider, former President Dr. Fizza Rafiq & Dr. Fauzia Anwar, and Dr. Warda Tariq Shafi from the Fatima Jinnah Medical College Alumni Association of UK participated as Special Guests.

Prof. Kamran Khalid Khawaja, Prof. Noreen Akmal, Prof. Ayesha Malik, Prof. Bilquis Shabbir, Prof. Muhammad Nadeem Kasuri, Deans, Heads of Departments, Faculty members, Nursing Principals, Medical Superintendents, and a large number of students participated from the university side.

The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Professor Bilquis Shabbir served as the Stage Secretary.

Professor Aamer Zaman Khan gave a detailed lecture on Competency-Based Medical Education.

Professor Naveed Sayed, Chief Scientist, University of Calgary, Canada, delivered a detailed lecture on the use of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education. He said the use of artificial intelligence in the medical sciences is very important. He added that there is a huge potential of Artificial Intelligence in the healthcare sector. Our human brain has unique properties that cannot be matched by artificial intelligence.

In the welcome address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal thanked the Hon’ble Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Javed Akram, Guest of Honours Prof. Aamer Zaman Khan, Prof. Mahmood Ayaz, Mr. Farrukh Ali Shah Sahib, members of the Alumni Association, and all the participants. He gave a brief history of Fatima Jinnah Medical College and University. He also informed about the establishment of the Thalassemia Institute and the Fatima Jinnah Institute of Mother and Child Health and the recent ranking of the university. He further informed that Artificial Intelligence cannot replace medical experts but provides support to clinicians and doctors to diagnose critical diseases.

He also acknowledged the contribution of Fatima Jinnah Alumni Associations in the relief activities carried out in the flood affected areas in 2022. He said that the services of Fatima Jinnah Medical College Alumni Association of North America in the rehabilitation work in the flood-affected areas are unprecedented. In Kashana e Fatima Jinnah (Kashani Village), more than 300 houses, a community centre, school, training centre and a dispensary have been built so far in collaboration with Fatima Jinnah Medical University and Fatima Jinnah Medical College Alumni Association of North America. He also thanked Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, the Founder and current Chief Executive of the Customs Healthcare Society, for his contribution in rehabilitation work in the flood-affected areas. He further informed that a record 50 Pre-Conference Workshops were held at Fatima Jinnah Medical University this year, which highlighted the innovative aspects of medicine, education and research. Fatima Jinnah Medical University and Fatima Jinnah Medical College in consultation with the Alumni Association of North America and the UK made this international conference a huge success.

Dr. Hibba Haider during her address thanked the Chief Guest Prof. Javed Akram, Vice Chancellor Prof. Khalid Masood Gondal and all the distinguished guests. She informed the participants about the recent performance of Fatima Jinnah Medical College Alumni Association of North America. She especially thanked Prof. Khalid Masood Gondal for providing support and platform on behalf of Alumni.

Dr. Fizza Rafique thanked all the guests, including the Chief Guest and the Vice Chancellor. She advised the students to keep using their potential in a positive way for a happy and successful life.

Dr. Mahmood Ayaz, Vice-Chancellor of King Edward Medical University, said that Alumni Associations are the treasurers of any institution. The Alumni of Fatima Jinnah Medical University have a zeal and zest that have not been seen anywhere else. Alumni provide their institution with a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Fatima Jinnah Medical University is developing day by day under the dynamic leadership of Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal.

Mr. Syed Farrukh Ali Shah said that it is our prime duty to contribute to Pakistan with diligence, dedication, and passion. He further said that by using Artificial Intelligence, we could facilitate the treatment of deadly diseases like cancer.

Prof. Aamir Zaman Khan said that the Alumni Associations of Fatima Jinnah Medical University are very active & vibrant and are playing an active role in the up-gradation of the university and the hospital.

Chief Guest Prof. Dr. Javed Akram said that Alumni Associations play the role of Pakistan’s Ambassador abroad. He said that the Health Informatics Department will be established at Fatima Jinnah Medical University soon. Knowing the skills of Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence is very important for the doctors of today’s time. We have started the work of construction and development of hospitals for the betterment of patients. We are providing packages for poor and needy patients. We are going to start the project of establishment of a Community Centre, initially in the form of a Clinical Trial Unit, for the poor and needy patients. If successful, then such clinics will be set up all across Pakistan. The project is primarily the idea of Dr. Shehla Javed Akram, who has been significantly contributing to the cause. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony for the Community Centre Project was also held on this occasion.

At the end of the ceremony, Professor Khalid Masood Gondal also distributed honorary souvenirs to the Chief Guest, Guest of Honours, International Experts, and Members of Alumni Associations from the United Kingdom and the United States. Principal Prof. Noreen Akmal delivered the vote of thanks.