Foundation of PAD
The Pakistan Association of Dermatologists (PAD) was founded in January, 1979. The idea for a
body to represent Dermatologists of the Country was conceived for the
simple reason that none existed. The vision conceived by Dr. Nusrat Ali
Shaikh, Dr. Syed Ghulam Shabbir, Dr. Tahir Saeed Haroon, Dr. Aleem Saeed
Qureshi and Dr. Zarina Fazalbhoy, 25 years ago is now an established
reality. The Constitution was drafted by Dr. Tahir Saeed Haroon and Dr.
Aleem Saeed Qureshi. Objectives of this Forum were to provide a platform to
the Dermatologists of the Country to meet their colleagues and
contemporaries from allied disciplines, to hold regular meetings to promote
the cause of Dermatology, encourage research and presentation of scientific
papers allied to Dermatology, to improve patient care, to promote teaching
of Dermatology at both Undergraduates & Postgraduates level and to
formulate policies on matters related to Dermatology in Pakistan in association
with the Government authorities. Karachi
was chosen as the Headquarter of the Association. The First Office Bearers
of this blossoming Association were Dr.
Nusrat Ali Shaikh (President), Dr. Tahir Saeed Haroon (General
Secretary), Dr. Aleem Saeed Qureshi (Joint Secretary), Dr. Mrs.
Malik Tharani (Treasurer), Prof. Syed Ghulam Shabbir (Chairman
Editorial Board) and Dr. Zarina Fazalbhoy, Dr. Jalil Siddiqui, Dr. A.
Sajid Khan and Dr. Iqbal A. Chaudhry as Executive Members.
Prof. Ijaz Hussain is the current President, Dr. Sheeraz Ahmed Dawach the General Secretary and Dr. Manzoor Hussain Memon is the Treasurer (2023) of PAD.
At the time of inception, PAD
comprised of only 33 Life and Associate Members, today PAD has over 350 Life Members. The
first National Conference of Dermatology was held at Karachi
in 1982 whereas the first International Conference was organized at Rawalpindi in 1983.
Since 1982, these Annual Conferences have become a regular event, attended
by a large number of delegates not only from Pakistan but also from other
Countries. These conferences provide interaction between senior
academicians and youngsters and promote continuous medical education
programme. New office bearers are selected after every two years in the General
Body Meeting. So far, 29 Conferences have been organized.
Besides Annual Conferences, PAD
has been actively involved in various academic and clinical activities.
Monthly clinical meetings are held in different cities in which interesting
clinical cases are discussed and lectures are delivered on Dermatological
and allied subjects by the Dermatologists and other eminent personalities
from allied disciplines. Juniors are particularly encouraged to
participate. Courses and seminars on dermatology are arranged for Family
Physicians. Free consultation camps are held in outreach areas to provide
free clinical consultation and medicines.
Various recommendations are sent to the government, from time to time. A
scheme to provide financial assistance to postgraduate trainees has been
planned. PAD is also a member of
International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and South Asian
Regional Association of Dermatology (SARAD).
JPAD
Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists (JPAD) is the official journal of the
association. Published quarterly, it primarily aims at documenting the
local research. The first issue of JPAD was distributed in 1992 by Dr. Sharaf Ali Shah who was the Editor
till 1997. Later, Dr. Yasmeena
Khan took over as the Editor of JPAD. Due to her efforts, the standard
of the journal improved and was published regularly. It was recognized by
PMDC, was registered with ISSN and indexed in Embase/ Excerpta
Medica, Netherlands,
and Index Medicus WHO Alexandria, Egypt and it was included in Extra Med
Consortium in UK.
It is also listed in Ulrich's Periodicals Directory, New Jersey USA and in
Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre Delhi, India. In 2003, Dr.
Yasmeena Khan was succeeded by Prof.
Dr. Ijaz Hussain. Now, the JPAD is also available on-line.
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