Zulfiqar Bhutta

Dr Bhutta has successfully collaborated with major multi-national and bilateral agencies, and governments on policy, research and knowledge transfer-based interventions aimed at improving the health and welfare of children and families. The synergies emerging from being jointly appointed at the two institutions have had a lasting impact. Over the next 12-18 months, Prof Bhutta will transition out of his position as Director COE​ WCH but shall retain oversight of his research grants.

Dr Bhutta’s distinguished career includes many awards and significant recognition of his work. He was designated a Distinguished National Professor of the Government of Pakistan

in 2007, and has served as Dean, Faculty of Paediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Pakistan and the Founding Chairman of the National Research Ethics Committee, Government of Pakistan. He is currently a member of the Prime Minister’s Task Force for Health and the Chair of the Medical & Allied Disciplines panel of the Higher Education Commission of the Government of Pakistan.

Among his many awards, he has received the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) for his contribution towards education and research (2000), the inaugural Global Child Health Award (2009) by the Program for Global Paediatric Research for outstanding contributions to Global Child Health and Research and the WHO Family Health award for contributions to primary care (2014). Dr Bhutta has been elected an honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Paediatrics for contributions to international child health and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences USA. At the Aga Khan University, Dr Bhutta received the University Research Award (2005), the University Award of Distinction (2012) and at the Convocation in November 2019, Dr Bhutta became a Distinguished University Professor.

His research interests include newborn and child survival, maternal and child undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. He is on several international editorial advisory boards including Lancet, BMJ, PLoS (Public Library of Science) Medicine, PLOS ONE and is the co-Chair of the Campbell Nutrition platform.

​Dr Bhutta received his MBBS from the Khyber Medical College, University of Peshawar; Fellowships from the Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health (UK), Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, London & Edinburgh; and a PhD from the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Dr Bhutta’s accomplishments have had great impact, both nationally and globally, with policy makers, health professionals, health educators but, most importantly, on marginalized children, families and communities around the world.