Dr Rozina Karmaliani

Dr Rozina Karmaliani – Complete Profile

Name: Dr Rozina Karmaliani
Profession: Public health scientist, nurse educator, researcher, academic leader
Current Roles:

• Implementation Scientist & Associate Director, South & Central Asia, Brain & Mind Institute, Aga Khan University (AKU)

• Professor & long-time senior faculty member at AKU School of Nursing & Midwifery (AKU-SONAM)

Education & Academic Qualifications

Dr Karmaliani has an extensive educational background in nursing and public health:

📌 Diploma in Nursing – Aga Khan University, Pakistan (1987)
📌 Diploma in Midwifery – Aga Khan Hospital/AKU, Pakistan (1988)
📌 Post-RN Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) – Aga Khan University (1991)
📌 Master of Public Health (MPH) – University of Minnesota, USA (1994)
📌 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – University of Minnesota, USA (1997)
📌 PhD in Nursing – University of Minnesota, USA (2000)
→ She was the first Pakistani to earn a PhD in Nursing from the University of Minnesota.

Career & Leadership

Aga Khan University (AKU)

Dr Karmaliani has served AKU for nearly 30 years in multiple academic, research, leadership, and administrative capacities, including:

• Dean of AKU School of Nursing & Midwifery (AKU-SONAM) (2019–2022) — guiding growth of nursing education and leadership in Pakistan.

• Faculty Member, Community Health Sciences — teaching and mentoring graduate students.

• Implementation Scientist & Associate Director, Brain & Mind Institute — focusing on mental health, adolescent wellbeing, and violence prevention in South & Central Asia.

She has also contributed to nursing program development in other countries (e.g., Afghanistan, East Africa, Syria, and Egypt), advancing higher education in nursing regionally.

Research & Scholarly Contributions

Dr Karmaliani’s research portfolio spans women’s, child, and adolescent health, with special strengths in:

• Prevention of gender-based violence and violence against women & girls

• Mental health promotion & suicide prevention from a health systems perspective

• Community health nursing practices

• Health systems strengthening and public health policy

She has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, supervised graduate students, and secured national and international research grants supporting her work.

Major Achievements & Honors

Dr Karmaliani’s contributions have earned her prestigious recognition nationally and internationally:

Fellow, American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) — First Pakistani nurse and first from Central & South Asia ever inducted into this global nursing academy (inducted Oct 2022).

WHO Global 100 Nurse & Midwife Leader (2020) — recognized for outstanding nursing leadership worldwide.

Women Leaders Award — HUM TV (2022) — for exceptional leadership as a woman in health and science.

Juran Fellowship Award for Leadership in Quality and Distinguished Leadership Award from the University of Minnesota — highlighting global leadership impact.

Impact & Legacy

Dr Karmaliani is widely regarded as a trailblazer in nursing education and public health in Pakistan and South Asia. Her work has helped:

• Elevate nursing as a science and profession in higher education.

• Strengthen research culture and evidence-based practice in maternal, child, and mental health.

• Build leadership capacity among healthcare professionals.

She is also a role model for women in STEM, health sciences, and academia — bridging community health needs with policy and education.

Summary