Rukhsana Ayub Aslam Receives GHETS Grant for Work in Service Learning

Rukhsana Ayub Aslam, M.B.B.S, F.C.P.S
Associate Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Head, Department of Health Professions Education
Al Nafees Medical College
Islamabad, Pakistan

Congratulations to Rukhsana Ayub Aslam (PHIL 2009), who was recently awarded a grant from Global Health through Education, Training and Service (GHETS) for her work in service learning. Dr. Aslam is currently conducting a service learning project with 15 students from Al Nafees Medical College in Islamabad, Pakistan, in partnership with a local NGO. The project, titled Cascade of knowledge—using service learning to improve health of the community, is aimed at preventing and treating iron deficiency anemia (IDA) through improved knowledge of the causes, effects, and prevention of IDA, with a focus on the facilitators and inhibitors of iron absorption in the diet and medication. Through this work, Dr. Aslam hopes to provide students with contextual real life learning opportunities that will lead them to develop a stronger sense of social responsibility.

Dr. Aslam also presented a paper, titled Educating women of reproductive age about iron deficiency anemia through service learning, at the November 2013 annual conference of The Network: Towards Unity for Health in Ayutthaya, Thailand.