Department of Physiology

Human Physiology deals with the study of functions and mechanisms working within the organ systems. The subject of Physiology is being taught in the first two years of under graduate M.B.B.S course at Shifa College of Medicine. The subject is being taught in an integrated modular curricular system where the function of a system is taught in co- relation with the structural details (Anatomy) and biochemical aspects (Biochemistry). The Department of Physiology has been striving to impart high-quality basic education to its medical students. The goal is to help students develop the ability to think critically and apply basic principles of Physiology to solve problems related to health and disease in Pakistan and to train them as competent physicians and researchers for tomorrow.

The Physiology laboratory is well equipped with the latest and modern apparatus and instruments like Power lab, Spiro lab, Spirometer, Binocular microscopes, Ophthalmoscope, Perimeter, PEF meter, Centrifuge, ECG machine etc. The laboratory is also provided with overhead projector and multimedia facilities to help students benefit maximally from the experimental work.

The Department is also recognized for postgraduate FCPS training in Physiology since 2002. So far ten postgraduate students have passed out, adding to the prestige of the institution. Three FCPS residents are currently undergoing training under the supervision of Dr. Riffat Shafi (Professor and Head of the Department, Physiology). The Department is actively involved in research. This includes the comprehensive research carried out by the postgraduate students as a prerequisite for their FCPS qualification, as well as research carried out by faculty members in the fields of Clinical Physiology and Medical Education. The mission is to promote and establish a research environment, which is conducive to learning and creating new knowledge.

Research Publications

Following research papers of the faculty members have been recently published in prestigious journals

Moin H, Shafi R, Ishtiaq A, Liaquat A, Majeed S, Zaidi NN. Effectiveness of analog of Humanin in ameliorating streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in Sprague Dawley rats. Peptides. 2023 Jul 1;165:171014.
Yousaf A, Moin H, Majeed S, Shafi R, Mansoor S. The positive impact of introducing modified directed self-learning using pre–small group discussion worksheets as an active learning strategy in undergraduate medical education. Medical Education Online. 2023 Dec 31;28(1):2204547.
Abida Shaheen, Fahad Azam, Afrose Liaquat, Khurram Irshad, Hania Ahmer, Hania Naveed. Effect of Ramadan fasting on post-exercise heart rate recovery at two minutes and body composition in healthy male adults: findings from Pakistan”. Pak J Physiol 2022;18(2):10‒14.
Khurram Irshad, Ifra Ashraf, Fahad Azam, Abida Shaheen. Burnout prevalence and associated factors in medical students in integrated modular curriculum: A cross-sectional study. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(4):801-806. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.4.5052.
Fahad Azam, Abida Shaheen, Hania Naveed, Afrose Liaqat, Hania Ahmer, Khurram Irshad. Correlation between Post Exercise Heart Rate Recovery and Body Composition in Healthy Female Adults. Proceedings SZMC 2022;36(2):29-34.
Relationship Of Burnout with Screen Time In Under Graduate Medical Students Khurram Irshad, Fahad Azam, Ifra Ashraf, Abida Shaheen, Nosheen Kazmi, Arsalan Ahmed, Danish Iltaf Satti, Adil Baloch in Proceedings S.Z.M.C, 2023.
Burnout prevalence and associated factors in medical students in integrated modular curriculum: A cross-sectional study. K Irshad, I Ashraf, F Azam, A Shaheen – Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 2022
Relationship Of Burnout with Screen Time In Under Graduate Medical Students Khurram Irshad, Fahad Azam, Ifra Ashraf, Abida Shaheen, Nosheen Kazmi, Arsalan Ahmed, Danish Iltaf Satti, Adil Baloch in Proceedings S.Z.M.C, 2023.
Effectiveness of modified Valsalva maneuver by using wide bore syringe for emergency treatment of supraventricular tachycardias: Findings from Pakistan. H Ashraf, T Fatima, I Ashraf, S Majeed – Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 2023
Effect of Depression on Serum Levels of Follicular Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone in Male Population of Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
Correlation of serum anti-müllerian hormone levels with serum follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels in male patients of depression.
“Effectiveness of analog of Humanin in ameliorating streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in Sprague Dawley rats” published in PEPTIDES in April 2023. Authors: Hira Moin, Riffat Shafi, Ayesha Ishtiaq, Afrose Liaquat, Sadaf Majeed, Nilofar Nasir Zaidi.
Empyema Necessitans: As a Rare Complication of Latent Tuberculosis Infection (CASE REPORT).
Effect of Kisspeptin on serum prolactin and gonadotropins level in BALB-c mice with induced chronic stress. JCPSP. 2018; 29: 41-44 (Ifra Ashraf, Irum Rehman, Khurram Irshad, Riffat Shafi)
Effect of recombinant irisin on body mass index, serum insulin, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels in obese female BALB/c mice. JCPSP. 2019; 29: 736-740 (Sadaf Majeed, Riffat Shafi, Hira Moin, Ifra Ashraf, Khurram Irshad, Affroze Liaquat)
Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices towards premenstrual syndrome among university students in Islamabad and its impact on their daily life. RMJ. 2019; 44: 588- 593 (Sadaf Majeed, Hira Moin, Riffat Shafi, Khurram Irshad, Ifra Ashraf, Kholood Janjua)
Effect of tribulus terrestris on nifedipine induced changes on morphology of testis. RMJ. 2018; 43: 767-771 (Qaiser Aziz, Shazia Muazam, Sidra Hamid, Humaira Fayyaz Khan, Riffat Shafi, Hussain Ali)
Effect of almond and atenolol on serum luteinizing hormone in male BALB-c mice. PJP, 2018; 14: 37-40 (Irum Rehman, Ifra Ashraf, Shakir Khan, Farheen Masood)

Oral and Poster Presentations

Tooba Jamal presented oral presentation “Ameliorating effects of Synbiotics on Cortisol and Betatrophin levels on exposure to stress” in 18^th Pakistan Physiology Society International Conference on 7^th October, 2023
Tooba Jamal presented poster “Impact of Synbiotics on Stress-Induced Alterations in Cortisol Levels and Lipid Profile in Male Sprague Dawley Rats” in 4^th International Conference on lifestyle Medicine Pakistan Physiology Society International Conference on 24^th October, 2023
Dr. Riffat Shafi (Professor and Head of Department), presented a paper) “A study of usefulness of feedback on knowledge based assessment and using the results to develop a future design” at the 16 TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE of PAKISTAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY (Supplementary)held at Azad Jammu Kashmir Medical College, June, 2019.
Dr.Riffat Shafi presented a poster “Effectiveness of Feedback on knowledge based assessment” at 1st National Scientific Congress held by Shifa International Hospital and Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University Islamabad, December, 2018) (Received 1st Prize on poster presentation).
Dr. Riffat Shafi presented an oral presentation on “Impact of faculty development program on academic excellence at Shifa College of Medicine” at ICME 2015, international conference on medical education, future challenges in health professions education, in Istanbul, Turkey, October, 2015.
Dr. Sadaf Majeed (Assistant Professor, Physiology), one of the faculty members, presented a poster “Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices towards premenstrual syndrome among university students in Islamabad and its impact on their daily life”at the 16 TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE of PAKISTAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY (Supplementary) held at Azad Jammu Kashmir Medical College, June, 2019.

Awards

Dr Ifra Ashraf was awarded with “The Best Resident Physiology” award at the Resident Evening held at Shifa International Hospital in, 2017.
Dr Sadaf Majeed was awarded with “The Best Resident Physiology” award at the 5 th Resident Evening held at Shifa International Hospital in April, 2018.

Conferences Attended

The whole faculty attended the 16TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE of PAKISTAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY held at Azad Jammu Kashmir Medical College, June, 2019.
Dr. Riffat Shafi attended the 6 th ICME held in October 2019 at Pak-China Centre, Islamabad, organized by Riphah International University.

Recently Passed Out Postgraduate Students

Dr. Riffar Shafi passed MHPE in 2018 (Master’s in Health Professions Education: Accreditation and Assessment, by CenMEDIC for FAIMER / Keele University UK)
Dr. Ifra Ashraf passed FCPS Physiology in 2016.
Dr. Sadaf Majeed passed FCPS Physiology in 2018.

Future Plans

The Department indents to carry out research projects which could contribute to solve the problems related to health and disease in Pakistan and to the effective strategies in the field of health professions education. The currently ongoing projects are the following:

Prevalence and associated factors of burnout syndrome among medical students in an integrated modular curriculum.
Effect of analogue of humanin on streptozotocin induced diabetic nephropathy in Sprague dawley rats.
Factors influencing breast feeding practice in mothers coming to a tertiary care hospital in the capital of Pakistan.
Faculty development program: Way to excellence. Using concept maps for improved learning.
Introduction of “Socrative” (an online audience response system) as a formative assessment tool in undergraduate medical education.
Effect of Adropin on gentamycin induced acute kidney injury in Sprague dawley rats.
The Department also plans to contribute to the field of Physiology by continuing the quality postgraduate training and adding to the pool of learned and knowledgeable physiologists in Pakistan.

Faculty Profiles