Thousands of female doctors missing from healthcare system: Tessori

Sindh Governor and Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Chancellor Kamran Tessori has urged female medical and dental graduates to actively contribute to the healthcare sector instead of shelving their degrees.

Addressing the 14th convocation of the DUHS as the guest of honour, Tessori appealed to the mothers present on the occasion to ensure that their daughters and daughters-in-law are given the opportunity to utilise their education and serve the nation.

He emphasised that thousands of female doctors in Pakistan are not practising after completing their education, which is detrimental to the healthcare system. Speaking at the ceremony held at the Ojha Campus Cricket Ground, he stressed that empowering women in the medical field is crucial for the country to progress alongside the rapidly advancing world.

He congratulated the 2,523 graduating students, including four PhDs, and urged them to maintain the same dedication in their professional lives as they showed in their studies. He highlighted the importance of staying in Pakistan and contributing to the nation’s progress. Drawing inspiration from Arshad Nadeem, the Olympic gold medallist, he said success comes from determination and hard work, rather than resources.

“Making a name for yourself while staying in this country is a challenge, but with passion and diligence, it can be done,” he remarked. He also praised the contributions of Pakistani doctors globally, and cited examples of talent from the country excelling abroad.

He also encouraged students to think positively, value their homeland, and avoid negative thoughts. He stressed the importance of gratitude and reliance on Allah’s promises for sustenance.

DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Saeed Quraishy discussed in his address the transformative role of artificial intelligence in the medical field. He highlighted the shift toward precision medicine, which is expected to replace the one-size-fits-all approach, and shared that traditional bedside medicine is becoming less relevant.

Quraishy assured the graduates that the DUHS is keeping pace with advancements by offering state-of-the-art facilities and introducing new programmes, such as molecular medicine, forensic science, and cardiovascular technology.

He encouraged the graduates to appreciate life beyond their profession, and to always carry the honour of being a Dow alumni. Pro VC Prof Nazli Hossain also highlighted the challenges of adapting to rapidly evolving medical technologies, and urged the graduates to uphold the legacy of the DUHS.

The convocation honoured top-performing students with 78 medals, including gold, silver and bronze awards, for their achievements in 14 institutes and colleges of the DUHS. Best Graduate awards were presented to Eisha Farid of the Dow Medical College (DMC), Izma Khanof Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health & Sciences, and Mashook Rahim, a BSN graduate from Tharparkar.

Out of the 2,523 graduates, the DMC produced 327 medical graduates while the Dow International Medical College 137 medical graduates. Several other institutes under the university conferred degrees in diverse fields, including dental sciences, pharmacy and nursing.

DMC Principal Prof Saba Sohail congratulated the graduates, and reminded them of their responsibility to give back to society, urging them to bring positive change as ambassadors of the DUHS.