AKU alumna Dr Ayesha Mian elected president of global child psychiatry association

KARACHI: Pakistan has secured another major milestone in global healthcare leadership as AKU Medical College alumna Dr Ayesha Mian has been elected President of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) for the 2026–2030 term, one of the world's leading organisations dedicated to advancing child and adolescent mental health.

The announcement, shared by Aga Khan University Medical College, recognises Dr Mian's decades of contributions to child and adolescent psychiatry, medical education, mental health advocacy and global professional leadership. Her election places a Pakistani psychiatrist at the helm of an international organisation that brings together clinicians, researchers, educators and policymakers working to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people worldwide.

Founded in 1937, IACAPAP is a global professional association representing child and adolescent psychiatrists and allied mental health professionals from more than 90 countries. The organisation promotes research, education, clinical excellence, policy development and international collaboration to improve mental healthcare for children and adolescents across diverse healthcare systems. Through international congresses, educational programmes, policy initiatives and freely accessible learning resources, IACAPAP plays an influential role in shaping child and adolescent mental health services worldwide.

Dr Mian is widely recognised as one of Pakistan's leading child and adolescent psychiatrists. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Synapse Pakistan Neuroscience Institute and previously served as the Founding Dean of Students and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Aga Khan University. She has also been instrumental in establishing Pakistan's first Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) fellowship training programme, helping expand specialist mental health services and workforce capacity in the country.

Her international leadership extends well beyond Pakistan. Over recent years, Dr Mian has served in several senior leadership roles within IACAPAP, including as a Donald J. Cohen Fellowship Programme Coordinator and later as an IACAPAP Councillor, contributing to global education, mentorship and capacity-building initiatives before being elected president for the upcoming term.

The appointment comes at a time when child and adolescent mental health is receiving unprecedented global attention. According to international health experts, increasing rates of anxiety, depression, developmental disorders, self-harm and the mental health impacts of conflict, displacement, climate change and digital technologies have reinforced the need for stronger global leadership, research collaboration and equitable access to specialist mental healthcare.

For Pakistan, Dr Mian's election represents more than an individual achievement. It highlights the growing international recognition of Pakistani expertise in psychiatry, medical education and mental health leadership while strengthening the country's voice in shaping future global strategies for child and adolescent mental healthcare.

As President of IACAPAP, Dr Mian is expected to work with mental health professionals, academic institutions, governments and international organisations to advance education, research, advocacy and capacity building aimed at improving mental health services for children and adolescents around the world. Her appointment also reflects the increasing contribution of Pakistani clinicians to leadership roles within influential global health organisations.

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