In a momentous stride for global mental health advocacy, Pakistani psychiatrist 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.

This historic appointment makes her the first Pakistani and the first South Asian to lead the prestigious global organization since its inception in 1937. The announcement was formally made following elections held during the 27th IACAPAP World Congress in Hamburg, Germany.

A Legacy of Clinical Excellence and Advocacy

Dr. Mian is the founder and chief executive of the Synapse Pakistan Neuroscience Institute, a social enterprise dedicated to transforming the mental health landscape in Pakistan. Previously, she served as the founding dean of students and chair of psychiatry at Aga Khan University.

Her extensive training includes adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, followed by a faculty tenure at Baylor College of Medicine before her repatriation to Pakistan to address local healthcare disparities.

Global Impact and Future Vision

In recent years, Dr. Mian has served in IACAPAP’s executive leadership, spearheading international initiatives to facilitate access to child and adolescent mental health services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Her four-year term is poised to strengthen global cooperation on youth mental health, addressing the World Health Organization's estimate that one in seven people aged 10 to 19 experiences a mental health condition.

Read the full original report here.

Official Announcement

Related Topics:

#Pakistan#Mental Health#Healthcare#Aga Khan University#IACAPAP#Dr Ayesha Mian#Child Psychiatry#Global Leadership#Synapse Pakistan
zara
zaraStaff Writer

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