Karachi: Professor Karim Damji has been appointed as the Dean of the Medical College, Pakistan. He is set to take on this pivotal role on August 11, 2025.
According to The Aga Khan University, Dr. Damji is a globally respected clinician, academic, and leader with decades of experience and a longstanding commitment to AKU’s mission. Dr. Damji is the inaugural Laila Endowed Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at AKU, Pakistan. He has been a part of the AKU family for the past three decades, having served as a volunteer with AKU in Pakistan, East Africa, and Afghanistan.
Dr. Damji completed medical school and a research fellowship in ocular pathology at the University of British Columbia, followed by a residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Ottawa. He furthered his expertise with a research fellowship in Ophthalmic Genetics and a clinical fellowship in Glaucoma at Duke University, alongside an Executive MBA from Queen’s University.
Dr. Damji’s academic career began at the University of Ottawa as a clinician scientist and glaucoma specialist. He later moved to the University of Alberta, where he served as a Professor for over ten years. At both universities, he directed the ophthalmology residency programs and chaired the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Alberta, where he is now Professor Emeritus.
Renowned for his contributions, Dr. Damji is a sought-after global speaker and has served as President of the Canadian Glaucoma Society and the Canadian Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology. He pioneered selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) research, which is now used worldwide, including at AKU, to lower eye pressure in glaucoma patients. Additionally, he has contributed to global best practice standards related to glaucoma, including the use of telehealth approaches.
Dr. Damji’s current research focuses on stem cell therapy for glaucoma, technology use to improve access for underserved communities, benefits of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, and an innovative ‘sandwich’ training model to develop eye care leaders, especially in Sub Saharan Africa. With over 180 peer-reviewed publications, he is also a senior editor for the Shields Textbook of Glaucoma. His outstanding contributions have earned him prestigious awards for excellence in teaching, research, humanism, and global health, including the 2017 University of British Columbia Alumni Global Citizenship Award.