KARACHI: In a significant milestone for Pakistan’s healthcare and academic community, Prof. Dr. Sumaira Khowaja-Punjwani, Principal of the College of Nursing & Midwifery at Ziauddin University, has become the first Registered Nurse in the country to earn a dual PhD.
According to details, her doctoral qualifications include specializations in Bioethics and Global Public Health from the United States, along with a PhD in Health Professions Education from Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU). With this achievement, she is also regarded as the youngest health professional in Pakistan to attain dual-PhD status across nursing and allied health disciplines.
The accomplishment is being seen as a major step forward for the nursing profession in Pakistan, highlighting the growing role of nurses in research, academic leadership, and global health discourse. Experts believe that such achievements reflect the increasing importance of nursing professionals in shaping healthcare systems through evidence-based practice and education.
The development is expected to inspire aspiring healthcare professionals, particularly in the field of nursing, while contributing to the advancement of nursing education and research in the country.
