RCD Symposium Brings Together Experts to Rethink Healthcare Education

Rehman College of Dentistry (RCD) hosted a major academic symposium on 25 June, calling for a radical transformation in how healthcare professionals are trained across Pakistan.

Titled Transforming Health Education: From Tradition to Innovation, the event drew leading academics, practitioners, and educationists from both Pakistan and the UK, united by a shared concern: that conventional teaching methods are failing to meet the demands of a fast-evolving healthcare landscape.

The line-up of keynote speakers included Professor Emeritus Tariq Saeed Mufti, Prof Junaid Sarfraz Khan, Dr Soban Sadiq, Prof Rehana Rehman, Prof Sonia Ijaz Haider, Prof Abida Shaheen and Prof Fahad Azam—each bringing a distinct voice to the discussion on healthcare education reform.

From integrating research into undergraduate learning to embracing digital tools and competency-based models, the emphasis remained on building a future-ready curriculum.

Opening the session, Prof Dr Ghulam Rasool made an impassioned case for change. “There’s still a lot of ground to cover,” he told attendees. “But RCD is working to produce not just dentists, but researchers who can move the field forward.”

The urgency of this shift was echoed by Dr Naseer Ahmed, who warned of the growing chasm between medical knowledge and traditional curricula. “Information doubles every few months. If we don’t keep pace, we’ll be left behind,” he said. “We need to move beyond outdated textbooks.”

Panelists spoke candidly about the need for leadership, policy support, and investment in research culture within medical and dental institutions. They also offered practical ideas—ranging from simulation-based teaching to global academic partnerships—to make healthcare education more relevant to present-day realities.

The day-long symposium saw active participation from students, young faculty members, and senior clinicians, underscoring a shared appetite for reform across generational lines.

Speaking after the event, Dr Naseer Ahmed expressed gratitude to RMI’s leadership, including Shafique Ur Rehman and the Principal of RCD, for backing the initiative. “It was an honour to host Prof Junaid Sarfraz Khan, Prof Fahad Azam, Prof Rehana Rehman, Prof Abida Shaheen, Dr Soban Sadiq, and Prof Sonia Ijaz Haider,” he said. “We look forward to creating more such spaces for rethinking and reshaping the future of health education.”

The event, while academic in tone, struck a clear message: tradition alone cannot equip future healthcare workers for the challenges ahead.