🦟 Aga Khan University (AKU) Short Course 2026 — Harnessing Implementation Science to Address Vector-borne Diseases | 6-8 July 2026 | Karachi, Pakistan | Medical College — Dept of Pathology & Community Health Sciences | International Faculty from University of Washington | For Public Health Professionals, Policymakers, Epidemiologists, Researchers & Postgraduate Students | Venue: AKU Stadium Road Campus | Register Now via Google Forms | Contact: chs.cep@aku.edu
🦟 Aga Khan University Short Course 2026 — Implementation Science for Vector-borne Diseases | 6-8 July, Karachi
The Aga Khan University (AKU) Medical College — one of Pakistan's most prestigious medical institutions and a globally recognized center of academic excellence — is offering a three-day short course on "Harnessing Implementation Science to Address Vector-borne Diseases: An Implementation Research Approach" from 6-8 July 2026 at the AKU Stadium Road Campus in Karachi, Pakistan. This course brings together international faculty from the University of Washington, USA alongside AKU's leading experts to deliver cutting-edge training in implementation science applied to one of Pakistan's most pressing public health challenges.
The course is designed to help participants bridge the "know-do gap" in public health by applying Implementation Science to overcome barriers in vector-borne disease (VBD) control — translating proven interventions into sustainable, real-world practice within Pakistan's health system. Vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, Zika, and leishmaniasis pose significant health burdens in Pakistan, and this course equips professionals with the tools to design, implement, and evaluate effective control programs. The course is jointly organized by the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and the Department of Community Health Sciences at AKU. Registration is open now via Google Forms.
📊 Course Overview — AKU Implementation Science Short Course 2026
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Course Title | Harnessing Implementation Science to Address Vector-borne Diseases: An Implementation Research Approach |
| Institution | Aga Khan University (AKU) — Medical College |
| Type | Short Course (3 Days) |
| Dates | 6-8 July 2026 |
| Venue | Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU Stadium Road Campus, Karachi |
| Organisers | Dept of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine + Dept of Community Health Sciences |
| International Faculty | Dr Anjuli Wagner & Dr Judith Wasserheit — University of Washington, USA |
| AKU Faculty | Dr Imran Naeem, Dr Erum Khan, Dr Mohammad Zeeshan, Ms Humaira Shafaq, Ms Zahida Azizullah |
| Target Audience | Public Health Professionals, District Managers, Policymakers, Epidemiologists, Researchers, PG Students |
| Registration | Google Forms (Link Provided) |
🏛️ About Aga Khan University (AKU) Medical College
The Aga Khan University (AKU) is one of Pakistan's premier private universities and a globally recognized institution for medical education, research, and healthcare. Founded by His Highness the Aga Khan, AKU's Medical College is consistently ranked among the top medical schools in Pakistan and the region. The university operates the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) — a state-of-the-art tertiary care facility in Karachi — and has an extensive network of community health programs, research centers, and academic collaborations worldwide.
AKU's Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS) is a leader in public health education, research, and community-based interventions in Pakistan. The Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine is renowned for its diagnostic excellence and research contributions. This short course brings together the expertise of both departments, augmented by international faculty from the University of Washington — one of the world's leading public health institutions — to deliver a world-class learning experience in implementation science for vector-borne disease control.
🎯 What You Will Learn — Course Objectives
- Bridge the "Know-Do Gap": Understand why proven interventions often fail to translate into real-world impact, and learn how implementation science can close this gap in vector-borne disease control.
- Implementation Science Frameworks: Gain practical knowledge of implementation science theories, models, and frameworks applicable to vector-borne disease programs in Pakistan's health system.
- Barrier Identification & Analysis: Learn to identify and analyze the multi-level barriers (individual, organizational, community, policy) that impede effective vector-borne disease control.
- Implementation Strategies: Develop evidence-based strategies to implement proven interventions for diseases like dengue, malaria, chikungunya, Zika, and leishmaniasis.
- Monitoring & Evaluation: Design robust M&E frameworks to track implementation outcomes, measure fidelity, and evaluate the effectiveness of VBD control programs.
- Sustainability & Scale-Up: Learn approaches to sustain successful interventions and scale them across districts, provinces, and national health systems.
- Research-to-Practice Translation: Acquire skills to design implementation research studies that generate actionable evidence for policy and practice.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Understand strategies for engaging policymakers, community leaders, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders in VBD control.
👨🏫 Distinguished Speakers & Faculty
| Speaker | Designation | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Imran Naeem | Assistant Professor, Dept of Community Health Sciences | Aga Khan University (AKU) |
| Dr Anjuli Wagner | Associate Professor, Global Health | University of Washington, USA |
| Dr Judith Wasserheit | Professor Emeritus, Global Health | University of Washington, USA |
| Dr Erum Khan | Chair and Professor, Dept of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine | Aga Khan University (AKU) |
| Dr Mohammad Zeeshan | Assistant Professor & Section Head, Dept of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine | Aga Khan University (AKU) |
| Ms Humaira Shafaq | Senior Instructor, Dept of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine | Aga Khan University (AKU) |
| Ms Zahida Azizullah | Research Specialist, Dept of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine | Aga Khan University (AKU) |
👥 Who Should Attend — Target Audience
- Public Health Professionals: Working on vector-borne disease control, infectious disease programs, or health system strengthening at district, provincial, or national levels.
- District Managers: District health officers, executive district officers (health), and district coordinators responsible for implementing VBD control programs.
- Policymakers: Officials from Ministries of Health, provincial health departments, and regulatory bodies involved in health policy formulation for infectious diseases.
- Epidemiologists: Field epidemiologists, disease surveillance officers, and public health surveillance professionals tracking vector-borne disease trends.
- Researchers: Health researchers, implementation scientists, and academic faculty interested in translating research evidence into practice.
- Postgraduate Students: MPH, MSPH, PhD, and other postgraduate students in public health, epidemiology, health policy, or related fields seeking to build implementation science skills.
🦟 Why This Course Matters — Vector-borne Diseases in Pakistan
Pakistan faces a significant and growing burden of vector-borne diseases. Dengue outbreaks have become an annual phenomenon in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar, with thousands of cases reported each year. Malaria remains endemic in many parts of the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Sindh. Emerging threats like chikungunya, Zika virus, and leishmaniasis add to the disease burden. Despite the availability of proven interventions — vector control, community engagement, early diagnosis and treatment, and surveillance systems — the gap between what we know works and what is actually implemented remains wide.
This course directly addresses this "know-do gap" by equipping professionals with implementation science tools to overcome real-world barriers — limited resources, weak health systems, community resistance, policy inertia, and operational challenges — and translate proven interventions into sustainable, scalable vector-borne disease control programs within Pakistan's health system.
🌐 How to Register
Step 1: Access the Registration Form
Visit the Google Forms registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQ6yehGoOa9ikpRK-Fb_CKURd-ur6VRcLhzZa8pcbxrE5RqQ/viewform?usp=header
Step 2: Complete the Form
Fill in all required details — name, organization, designation, contact information, and any relevant background in public health or vector-borne diseases.
Step 3: Submit Registration
Submit your registration. For any queries, contact the organizers at the emails provided below.
📞 Contact Information
| Contact Person | |
|---|---|
| CHS Continuing Education Programme | chs.cep@aku.edu |
| Zahida Azizullah | zahida.azizullah@aku.edu |
| Asia Khan | asia.khan@aku.edu |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Q: When is the course?
A: 6-8 July 2026. - Q: Where is it held?
A: AKU Stadium Road Campus, Karachi — Dept of Community Health Sciences. - Q: Who should attend?
A: Public health professionals, district managers, policymakers, epidemiologists, researchers, and postgraduate students. - Q: How do I register?
A: Via the Google Forms link provided above. - Q: Who can I contact?
A: chs.cep@aku.edu | zahida.azizullah@aku.edu | asia.khan@aku.edu.
🏁 Final Words
The AKU Implementation Science Short Course 2026 is a unique opportunity for public health professionals in Pakistan to learn from world-class faculty — including experts from the University of Washington — and gain practical skills to bridge the know-do gap in vector-borne disease control. If you are involved in dengue, malaria, or other VBD control programs, this course will equip you with the implementation science tools to make your interventions more effective, sustainable, and scalable. Register now via the Google Forms link. 🦟
🦟 Register for AKU Implementation Science Short Course 2026! Vector-borne Diseases | 6-8 July 2026 | AKU Stadium Road Campus, Karachi | International Faculty from University of Washington | For Public Health Professionals, Policymakers & Researchers | Register via Google Forms | Contact: chs.cep@aku.edu
🦟 Register Now — Google Forms 📧 Contact — chs.cep@aku.edu