The Team
Ahmed A. Arif, MBBS, Ph.D., C.P.H., FACE
Dr. Ahmed Arif is a founding member of the Muscular Dystrophy Registry of Pakistan. Dr. Arif who himself has spinal muscular atrophy conceived the idea of establishing the registry in Pakistan. Currently, he is a Professor (with tenure) of Epidemiology in the Department. of Public Health Sciences at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. He received his medical degree from Sind Medical College (now Jinnah Sindh Medical University), Karachi, M.S in Biology from Western Kentucky University, and Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Texas, School of Public Health at Houston, TX, USA.
His research activities include portfolio of projects that focuses on studying determinants of respiratory morbidity among children, working adults, and the elderly population. He was PI or co-investigator on several grants funded by CDC/NIOSH and NIH. He has published more than 55 research papers in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Arif has taught courses in epidemiology, public health data analysis, and health survey design to undergraduate and graduate students. He has mentored several graduate and doctoral students. Dr. Arif is a fellow of American College of Epidemiology and Certified in Public Health.
Sara Khan, MD
Dr. Sara Khan is a founding member and PI of the Muscular Dystrophy Registry of Pakistan. Dr. Khan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine (Neurology division) at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi Pakistan. She is also director of neurophysiology laboratory, residency director for neurology, and fellowship director for the neurophysiology programs at AKUH. Her research interests include neuropathies, motor neuron diseases, and hereditary neuromuscular disorders, including muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy. She oversees the enrollment of participants and data collection activities in Pakistan. Dr. Khan is Diplomate American Board of Neurology and Neuromuscular Medicine.
Sohail Raza
Mr. Sohail Raza is a founding member of the Muscular Dystrophy Registry of Pakistan. He runs a software development company in Netherlands. Mr. Raza provides technical expertise and hosting services for the registry. Mr. Raza is involved in various philanthropic activities to support children with muscular dystrophy in Lahore.