Advancing surgical and medical education: insights and lessons from neurosurgery in Pakistan

Hammad Atif Irshad; Eman Anwar; Taha Shaikh; Dahir Ashfaq; Muhammad Shakir; Ather Enam

doi:10.1055/s-0045-1812294

Advancing surgical and medical education: insights and lessons from neurosurgery in Pakistan

Hammad Atif Irshad
, Eman Anwar
, Taha Shaikh
, Dahir Ashfaq
, Muhammad Shakir
, Ather Enam

Research output: Other contribution

Abstract

In this article, we have summarized the current landscape of neurosurgical education in Pakistan, highlighting key gaps in training, mentorship, and academic resources. In this narrative review, we explore original articles and reviews that discussed the factors affecting the surgical and medical education in Pakistan, published between January 2000 and July 2025. At the undergraduate level, exposure to surgical subspecialties like neurosurgery is often limited and inconsistent, which may affect students' interest in pursuing such fields. Postgraduate training programs also exhibit significant variation in the quality of mentorship, academic activities, and access to modern teaching resources like simulation-based learning. Based on the latest assessment of medical education pertaining to neurosurgery in Pakistan, recommendations for the way forward are provided in this article.

Original language	Undefined/Unknown
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0045-1812294
Publication status	Published - 29 Oct 2026

Publication series

Name	Medical College Documents

Access to Document

10.1055/s-0045-1812294Licence: Unspecified

http://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_mc/632

Cite this

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abstract = "In this article, we have summarized the current landscape of neurosurgical education in Pakistan, highlighting key gaps in training, mentorship, and academic resources. In this narrative review, we explore original articles and reviews that discussed the factors affecting the surgical and medical education in Pakistan, published between January 2000 and July 2025. At the undergraduate level, exposure to surgical subspecialties like neurosurgery is often limited and inconsistent, which may affect students' interest in pursuing such fields. Postgraduate training programs also exhibit significant variation in the quality of mentorship, academic activities, and access to modern teaching resources like simulation-based learning. Based on the latest assessment of medical education pertaining to neurosurgery in Pakistan, recommendations for the way forward are provided in this article.",

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AU - Irshad, Hammad Atif

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AU - Shaikh, Taha

AU - Ashfaq, Dahir

AU - Shakir, Muhammad

AU - Enam, Ather

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AB - In this article, we have summarized the current landscape of neurosurgical education in Pakistan, highlighting key gaps in training, mentorship, and academic resources. In this narrative review, we explore original articles and reviews that discussed the factors affecting the surgical and medical education in Pakistan, published between January 2000 and July 2025. At the undergraduate level, exposure to surgical subspecialties like neurosurgery is often limited and inconsistent, which may affect students' interest in pursuing such fields. Postgraduate training programs also exhibit significant variation in the quality of mentorship, academic activities, and access to modern teaching resources like simulation-based learning. Based on the latest assessment of medical education pertaining to neurosurgery in Pakistan, recommendations for the way forward are provided in this article.

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