Dr Robyna Khan

Associate Professor of Anaesthesiology and Bioethics at Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi

Dr. Robyna Irshad Khan is an Associate Professor of Anaesthesiology and Bioethics at Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi. She holds an MBBS from Pakistan and an FCPS in Anesthesiology from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan. Additionally, Dr. Khan completed MHSc in Bioethics from the University of Toronto and has received specialized training in Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

With over 25 years of clinical and academic experience, Dr. Khan has played a pivotal role in launching the Master of Bioethics program at AKU, a project funded by a prestigious NIH/Fogarty International grant. This grant helped establish a contextually relevant bioethics curriculum in Pakistan, marking a significant milestone in the country’s healthcare education. She is the program director and principal investigator of this project. Additionally, she has multiple research grants and peer reviewed publications to her credit.

Dr. Khan's contributions have earned her several accolades, including the Fogarty International Scholarship, the Faculty Development Award, and the Outstanding Teacher Award. Her research interests focus on bioethics, pain management, and innovations in anesthesia education. Dr. Khan has been instrumental in curriculum development, including establishing an Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia training module and the development of a widely acclaimed Pain Toolkit in Urdu. She also authored a highly regarded textbook for anesthesia technicians in Pakistan, significantly contributing to the allied health professionals’ education in the region.

She currently chairs the Ethics Review Board (ERB) at AKU that oversees the functioning of eight Ethics Review Committees (ERC) of AKU across different geographies and has been recognized for her leadership in developing tools for monitoring ethics compliance of research in Pakistan.

Dr. Khan's dedication to education and service extends beyond the classroom. She has developed and taught numerous courses, and workshops that contributed to the advancement of anesthesia, bioethics, and allied health professionals’ education in Pakistan, benefiting hundreds of professionals.