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Zainab Samad

Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine
Medicine, Cardiology

Overview


Dr. Zainab Samad is chairwoman of the Department of Medicine at Aga Khan University (AKU) in Pakistan and currently serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University. 

She attended Medical School at the Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan and thereafter completed her residency training in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Cardiology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. Additionally, she completed advanced training in cardiovascular imaging, specifically in clinical echocardiography, cardiac MRI and SPECT-myocardial perfusion imaging. She is also trained in quantitative methods with a Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Research degree from the National Institutes of Health- Duke Clinical Research Training Program. She served on faculty in the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine for nine years before accepting the position at AKU in 2018. She resides full-time in Karachi.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine · 2018 - Present Medicine, Cardiology, Medicine

In the News


Published May 30, 2018
A 'Superstar' Duke Researcher Returns to Pakistan to Serve as First Female Chair of Medicine at Aga Khan University
Published June 2, 2015
Women, stress and the risk of heart disease
Published October 14, 2014
Stress affects women, men with heart disease differently, study shows

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Recent Publications


Longitudinal study of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome risk assessment among adolescents and young adults (10-45 years) in Pakistan (LIFECARD): Study design and methodology.

Journal Article Prog Cardiovasc Dis · January 20, 2026 OBJECTIVE: LIFECARD is a community-based longitudinal cohort in Pakistan investigating how anthropometric, environmental, and mental health factors (anxiety and depression) and lifestyle behaviors in low middle income country settings influence cardiovascu ... Full text Link to item Cite

Longitudinal trends in stroke risk factors and mortality over 20 years from a central stroke referral center in Pakistan using clinically digitized data.

Journal Article eNeurologicalSci · December 2025 BACKGROUND: Limited data exists on long-term stroke trends in low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan, despite its growing burden. Understanding these trends is crucial for informing healthcare strategies and public health interventions. This ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University, School of Medicine · 2009 M.H.S.
Aga Khan University (Pakistan) · 2000 M.B.B.S.