Pakistani Doctor Leads Global Mental Health Organization

Dr. Ayesha I.

Mian of Pakistan became president of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) for the 2026-2030 term. Her election represents a first for both Pakistan and South Asia, as no one from the region has previously led the organization since its founding in 1937.

Dr. Mian is an alumna of Aga Khan University and previously taught at the University of Texas and Baylor College of Medicine.

She returned to Pakistan in 2013 and established the country’s first Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship training program at Aga Khan University. Currently, she leads Synapse.

Pakistan Neuroscience Institute, focusing on clinical services, education, research, and advocacy to improve mental health systems within Pakistan. Her election signals increasing recognition of expertise within low- and middle-income countries.