Prof Saira Afzal MBBS, MCPS, FCPS, M.Phil, PhD, Postdoctoral fellow (US), Certification in Curriculum Development (US), FRCP,FFPH (UK), Masters in Medical Education(MME), Program Director PhD and M.Phil Preventive Medicine and Public health.
Chairperson and Head of the Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, Director of Foreign Affairs and Internal linkages,
Dean, Faculty of Public Health and Preventive Medicine King Edward Medical University, Lahore.
Professor Afzal graduated from King Edward Medical College and completed her specialization in Internal Medicine from College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. She completed her M.Phil in Preventive Medicine and PhD in Public Health. She is a Faculty Member of College of Physicians and Surgeons Lahore Pakistan and King Edward Medical University Lahore. Professor Afzal is certified in Research Methodology and in Curriculum development from Johns Hopkins, US. She is also editor of an indexed and well reputed research journal “Annals of King Edward Medical University, Lahore” and Editorial Board member in International Journal of Public health.
Saira has published more than 100 research papers, editorials and expert opinions in national and international medical journals. Her research interests include epidemiology, preventive medicine, health education, curriculum development, environmental health, occupational health, and maternal and child health.
She has provided technical consultations to international organisations such as UNICEF and has worked as Public Health Expert and did her post doctoral in Research Project Global Real Time Infectious Diseases Surveillance in collaboration between Johns Hopkins and Purdue University USA. She has also contributed in pretesting, training, post testing, planning, evaluation, monitoring and audit of Projects (Helping Baby Survive, Helping Baby Breathe) especially designed for rural areas and vulnerable populations with international collaborations.
Additionally, Prof Afzal has worked as consultant and Public Health Expert in Project for System Oriented Health Improvement and Promotion (SOHIP Project) by Canadian Investment Authority and wrote several chapters in book on health promotion. She is also a focal person in Project Responsible Citizenship and Community Services at King Edward Medical University with British Council.
Currently, Saira is working on “Assessment of obesity and its risk factors among elementary and high school going children in an urban community” research project with NHIR grant for non communicable diseases in collaboration with Planning and Management Unit Punjab Public Health Agency (PPHA). She is also involved in teaching and training undergraduate students and supervising postgraduate students. She wrote textbook of Community Medicine.
Professor Afzal is contributing as an epidemiologist and expert in Public Health and Community Medicine in NGHRU project United Kingdom. She is the member of Corona Experts Advisory Group and Technical Working Group. She made Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for Punjab Government and also contributed to the National Guidelines for Corona Virus suppression, mitigation and containment policies.She awarded many national and international awards for her altruistic services for public health and COVID-19. It includes South Asian Talent Award, Award of Excellence for services in COVID-19 by Faculty of Public health United Kingdom.
During covid she fought fearlessly serving patients till their last breath. Extended unprecedented services as Incharge Corona Helpdesk, an initiative of Governor Punjab, under supervision of VC KEMU, managing innumerable patients, in Pakistan and Globally.
