KARACHI: The Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) held its 12th convocation on its Ojha campus on Thursday to award degrees to over 2,000 successful students.

The official data shows that female students outclassed their male counterparts in all disciplines, winning over 85 per cent of the total 111 medals. Two transplant surgeons received honorary degrees of Doctor of Science (DSC).

Speaking at the convocation, DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Saeed Quraishy, the chief guest, shed light on how the world had transformed in recent decades, creating new challenges, especially for the developing countries.

“Development in all sectors of life has been incredible. In medicine, science has discovered the next generation mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid), a better treatment for diabetes mellitus seems evident, while gene editing is today a dinner table discussion,” the vice chancellor said.

He urged the students that while they prepare for new challenges in professional lives, they must not forget the core human values.

“It’s equally important that you adhere to human values in practical life. Be always respectful, tolerant and forgiving. Practice compassion and integrity,” he said while telling students that they had to be a good human to become a good doctor.

Prof Quraishy also shared the milestones the university has achieved in recent years. “The Dow University is today among the top 600 universities in the world due to the combined effort of its faculty. It’s the first time we have awarded e-conferred honorary degrees to those who are eminent achievers nationally and internationally and one of them is a Dow alumnus.”

Prof Saba Sohail, the chairperson of the convocation committee, and Dr Zeba Haq, secretary, also spoke. Registrar Dr Ashar Afaq performed the oath-taking ceremony.

The gold medal recipients were Mishal Shan Siddiqui (Dow Medical College), Marium Batool Abbas (Dow International Medical College). Wajeeha Ahmed (Dow Dental College), Arfa Fatima (Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences), Sukaina Hasan (Dow International Dental College), Aliza Aftab Sheikh (Dow College of Pharmacy) and Fatima Ejaz; Fakhra Asghar and Mehmoodul Hasan (enrolled with the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation).

Tehreem Yasin Sharif, Shagufta Shakil, Yumna Tariq, Saba Pirzada and Sadia Sheikh of the Dow Institute of Medical Technology; Rumna, Zarqa Anwar, Mehwish Aqeel, Anara, Naik Parveen, Omer Farooque, Imtiaz Ali, Falak Shireen, Muhammad Kamran Hussain Soomro, Qurratul Ain, Sulaiman Shafqat, Abida Feroz, Similia Pervez, Nashila and Muhammad Farooq Khan of Dow Institute of Nursing and Midwifery and affiliated nursing institutes also received gold medals.

Other gold medal recipients were Maheem Mirza and Mumtaz (School of Dental Care and Professionals), Aliza Haider and Neha Shamriaz Khan (Institute of Business and Health Management), Iqra (Dow Institute of Radiology), Zahabia Fatima and Aqeela Kamran (School of Public Health) and Diya Anwar (Dow College of Biotechnology).

During the programme, a documentary on the services of DUHS was also screened.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2022