LAHORE: The University of Health Sciences Lahore (UHS) has formally launched the first session of the Discipline-Specific Faculty Council (DSFC) for Psychiatry, marking a significant step toward structured academic governance and standardized decision-making in postgraduate medical education.
Held on 1 January 2026 at University of Health Sciences Lahore, the session brought together senior psychiatry faculty to deliberate on curriculum alignment, teaching standards, assessment frameworks, and continuous professional development within the discipline.
Purpose of Discipline-Specific Faculty Councils
According to UHS, the DSFC initiative is designed to promote academic clarity, consistency, and accountability across affiliated institutions. Each council brings together senior faculty from the same specialty to collectively review curricula, guide teaching and training standards, assess discipline-specific needs, and address matters related to examinations and accreditation.
This structured approach enables faster academic feedback from departments and ensures that both students and teachers receive consistent, discipline-aligned guidance.
Academic leadership, patronage
The Psychiatry DSFC operates under the patronage of Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore, Vice Chancellor UHS. The council is academically led by Dr Sadia Yasir, Head of the Psychiatry Department at Jinnah Hospital Lahore.
The session was organized by the Directorate of Postgraduate Studies (DPS), UHS, with Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore serving as the academic host.
State-of-the-art psychiatry discourse
A key academic highlight of the session was a state-of-the-art lecture by Dr Sadia Yasir titled “Smiling Faces – Silent Distress”, focusing on the often-overlooked dimensions of mental health presentation and diagnostic sensitivity in clinical practice.
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In addition, case-based discussions were presented by the Psychiatry Department of Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore and Jinnah Hospital Lahore, reinforcing applied learning and evidence-based psychiatric decision-making.
Faculty participation
The session also featured academic contributions from Dr Fatima Saleem, Assistant Professor at Jinnah Hospital Lahore, and Dr Arooj Fatima, Senior Registrar, further strengthening multidisciplinary academic engagement.
Advancing psychiatry education in Pakistan
The introduction of Discipline-Specific Faculty Councils reflects UHS’s broader commitment to modernizing medical education governance, ensuring alignment with current clinical practice, and supporting structured postgraduate training across Pakistan.
Medical News Pakistan will continue to closely follow developments emerging from UHS faculty councils and their impact on medical education, clinical training, and national healthcare standards.
