Conference Sessions
Learn Through Curated Sessions and Presentations
Please note: Sessions and speakers are subject to change as confirmations are finalized. We strongly encourage you to check back regularly for updates and new additions. The final agenda, including session times, will be shared closer to the conference dates.
GIHPC Distinguished Cardiovascular Lecture - Benefits of Shifting Gears Early: From Disease Management to Attaining Optimal Cardiovascular Health
There is a growing recognition that cardiovascular disease risk is determined very early in life during childhood and adolescence. Recent studies show that this risk is determined even before a child is born based on in utero exposures. This represents a risk but also an opportunity to improve cardiovascular health early in life. This presentation will discuss some of the recent findings related to these concepts and population based approaches to improve cardiovascular health.
Speaker
Salim Virani, MD, PhD
Keynote: GIHPC Distinguished Future of Healthcare Fireside Chat
Focused on the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and its power to either amplify or combat medical misinformation. Drawing on her leadership at the intersection of medicine, technology, and digital trust, this keynote will explore how AI can be responsibly leveraged to improve clinical decision-making, patient engagement, and public understanding of health. The keynote will challenge health professionals to take an active role in shaping ethical, accurate, and human-centered uses of AI as stewards of truth in the future of healthcare.
Speaker
Geeta Nayyar, MD, MBA
Keynote: GIHPC Distinguished Health Innovations Fireside Chat
This keynote will reflect on how meaningful innovation in health is driven not only by technology, but by purpose, partnership, and bold leadership. Drawing from his experiences in disease eradication and global preparedness, this keynote will share how individuals and institutions can turn vision into action and achieve impact at scale. The lecture will inspire health professionals to move beyond traditional roles, embrace collective responsibility, and recognize their power to make a lasting difference—locally and globally.
Speaker
Larry Brilliant, MD, MBA, FACEP
GIHPC Distinguished Leadership Lecture
Reflections on leading academic health systems through complexity, innovation, and global transformation.
Speaker
Sulaiman Shahabuddin, DHA, MBA, MS
GIHPC Distinguished Global Health Fireside Chat
This session reviews global trends in health service coverage, acknowledging early gains but emphasizing recent stagnation and widening disparities. Participants will explore the drivers of uneven progress, the risks of poor-quality care, and innovative approaches to organizing resources that advance equitable, sustainable Universal Health Coverage.
Speakers
Gijs Walraven, MD, PhD, MPH
Karim Damji, MD, MBA
Making a Health Influencer
Our ability to communicate our solutions, ideas, research, and personality, to the general public, is paramount to generating more impact, more influence, more revenue, and most important, more trust and accurate information. There is no greater threat to the health profession right now than the current mistrust of our experts. And there’s no better way to overcome this mistrust than to learn how to communicate by being more human. This keynote is interactive and will completely change the way you talk about who you are and what you do.
Speaker
Reef Karim, DO
Transforming Care Through Artificial Intelligence: Promise, Pitfalls, and Practice
This session provides a critical appraisal of AI technologies in clinical care and population health. Topics include data quality, model validation, ethical use, equity impacts, and system-level readiness. Attendees will learn how to evaluate AI solutions and apply best practices that support responsible adoption and measurable improvements in healthcare outcomes.
Speakers
Shariq Khoja, MB, BS, MS, PhD
Zahra Hoodbhoy, PhD, MBBS
Leadership Beyond the Clinic: Advancing Health and Civil Society
This session examines how health professionals contribute to civil society through leadership in policy, advocacy, and system transformation. Participants will explore the roles clinicians play in shaping legislation, strengthening professional practice, and advancing community well-being. Emphasis is placed on translating clinical insight into societal impact and sustainable change.
Speakers
Adil Shamji, MD
Karima Velji, PhD
Hon. Suleman Lalani, MD
From Access to Impact: Redesigning Primary Care for Underserved Populations
This session examines the role of primary care in preventing noncommunicable diseases, especially in underserved communities. Topics include community-based programs, early risk identification, and ways to strengthen service delivery. Participants will gain practical frameworks for designing equitable, sustainable, and high-impact prevention efforts.
Speakers
Gijs Walraven, MD, PhD, MPH
Karim Damji, MD, MBA
Zeenat S. Khan, PhD, MSN, MHA
Strengthening Community Health: Models of Accessible, High-Value Primary Care
This session focuses on the role of community-based health centers in delivering accessible primary and preventive care. Participants will analyze approaches to serving uninsured and underinsured populations, enhancing continuity of care, and building partnerships that improve health outcomes and reduce disparities across diverse communities.
Speakers
Aslam Khan Ghalib, MBA
Gulshan Harjee, MD
Nazmudin Bhanji, MD
Nooruddin Punjwani, MD
Global Perspectives in NCD Prevention: Risk, Resilience, and Population Health
Focused on global trends in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, this session explores early-life factors, modifiable risks, and prevention frameworks adaptable across settings. Participants gain practical tools for designing and evaluating interventions aimed at reducing NCD burden and strengthening long-term population health outcomes.
Speakers
Salim Virani, MD, PhD
Zahra Hoodbhoy, PhD, MBBS
Mohammed Ali, MD, MSc, MBA
Hidden in Plain Sight: Oral Health and Systemic Risk
This session examines how oral health can signal early signs of systemic disease, with a focus on shared inflammatory and microbial pathways. Participants will learn strategies for risk assessment, integrating oral and medical diagnostics, and using coordinated care models to improve outcomes across diverse patient populations.
Speakers
Jin Xiao, DDS, PhD
Muhammed Walji, PhD
Advancing Mental Health Access: Integrating Evidence, Systems, and Person-Centered Care
This session looks at ways to improve mental health care in real-world clinical and social settings. Topics include integrated care models, and novel approaches to diagnosis and treatment, that support culturally responsive, patient-centered care. Participants will gain perspectives aimed at improving access and effectiveness of mental health outcomes.
Speakers
Najma Siddiqi, PhD
Salimah Meghani, PhD, MBE, RN, FAAN
Healing the Healers: Self-Help Tools & Burnout Prevention
Despite growing awareness of healthcare provider stress and burnout, many clinicians struggle to access practical support and effective strategies for maintaining wellbeing. This session brings together experts in mental health, resilience, and clinical leadership to explore evidence-based approaches for preventing burnout and promoting sustainable professional fulfillment. Equally important, participants will gain actionable self-help tools and strategies to strengthen resilience, enhance work-life balance, and support long-term mental and emotional health.
Speakers
Reef Karim, DO
Anum Ali, PhD
Innovation in Health Research: From Mechanisms to Meaningful Outcomes
This session reviews recent advances in immunology, epidemiology, and early disease detection. Participants will examine new methods and how research findings move into clinical practice. The session offers frameworks for using emerging evidence to improve prevention, diagnosis, and clinical decision-making.
Speakers
Mandeep Sagoo, MD
Saad Omer, MPH, PhD, MBBS
Evidence and Prevention at Scale: Reimagining Health for Diverse Populations
This session examines how infection prevention, maternal–child health evidence, and population-level factors influence global health outcomes. Participants will explore system-level challenges, regional disparities, and evidence-based approaches to improve resilience and equity, with a focus on applying research and best practices to sustainable, scalable global health solutions.
Speakers
Nizam Damani, MBBS, MSc
Zohra Lassi, PhD
From Community Service to System Leadership: Journeys of Impact Across the AKDN
This session highlights the leadership pathways of professionals who advanced from community-based service within AKHB to program and system leadership across the AKDN. Participants will explore lessons learned in developing clinical service lines, strengthening quality, and navigating organizational growth. Emphasis is placed on strategic leadership, innovation, and mission-aligned impact.
Speakers
Fazila Lalani, MD
Khairunnissa Karim, NNP, BC
Mansoor Saleh, MD
Nasiruddin Jamal, MD
Leading for Impact: Strengthening Health Systems Across the AKDN
This session examines leadership principles that advance high-quality, equitable care across diverse health and academic systems. Participants will explore strategies for operational excellence, institutional governance, cross-country coordination, and mission-aligned growth. Emphasis is placed on translating AKDN’s values into sustainable models that improve clinical outcomes, education, and population health.
Speakers
Rashid Khalani, MBA
Farhat Abbas, MD, FRCS, FACS
Aziz Jan, MS
Tania Bubela, PhD, JD, FRSC
Leading with Purpose: Advancing Excellence in Nursing
This session highlights nurse leaders serving as CEOs and university deans who are building bridges across countries, disciplines, and systems to drive meaningful global impact. It will offer insight into how these leaders translate nursing values into executive action, shaping policy, strengthening health systems, advancing education, and inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Speakers
Zeenat S. Khan, PhD, MSN, MHA
Salimah R. Walani, PhD, MPH, MSN
Building Climate-Resilient Health Systems: Evidence, Equity, and the Green ICU Model
This session addresses how climate change influences disease patterns, operational readiness, and patient outcomes. Participants will examine approaches to sustainable practice, including the Green ICU concept, and gain strategies for integrating environmental stewardship into clinical workflows and health-system planning.
Speaker
Faisal Masud, MD
Lisa Patel, MD, MESc, FAAP
Ethical Reasoning in Healthcare: Principles, Context, and Clinical Application
This session provides a comprehensive overview of ethical reasoning in healthcare, linking broader moral and cultural frameworks with practical clinical ethics methodologies. Participants will engage with tools for analyzing dilemmas, evaluating competing values, and supporting accountability in decision-making across diverse care settings.
Speakers
Bashir Jiwani, PhD, MA
Shirin Karsan, MS