Dr. Akhtar earned his medical degree from Rawalpindi Medical College, University of Punjab, as part of the 10th batch. He completed his residency in Anesthesiology at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, where he gained extensive clinical experience. He later held senior specialist roles at the University of Witwatersrand and the University of New South Wales in Australia, further refining his expertise in anesthesiology. Currently, he practices as an Anesthesiologist at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, where he plays a key role in patient care. In addition to his clinical work, he serves as a Physician Quality Improvement (PQI) Champion, actively contributing to the NH PQI initiative. His dedication to quality improvement is evident in his ongoing efforts to enhance patient outcomes through structured initiatives.

With over 15 years of teaching experience at UBC/UNBC, Dr. Akhtar has taken on several leadership positions, demonstrating his commitment to medical education and training. He has served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesia at the University of British Columbia, where he has mentored and trained numerous medical students and residents. He also held the role of Discipline-Specific Site Lead in the Department of Anesthesia at UBC for six years, overseeing training and curriculum development. Additionally, he served as the Head of the Anesthesia Department and as the Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee, ensuring that healthcare standards were maintained and continuously improved. His passion for quality improvement is reinforced by his certification and training from the Clinician Quality Academy and Health Quality BC. His role in quality assurance and physician engagement reflects his deep commitment to advancing healthcare systems. Furthermore, he served as the PQI Adviser for Northern Health for six years, where he provided strategic guidance to quality improvement initiatives. He is also an active member of the QI Steering Committee of Doctors of BC, contributing to province-wide quality enhancement efforts. Additionally, he serves as a physician member of the Facility Engagement Committee for Doctors of BC at UHNBC, reinforcing his leadership in medical governance.

Dr. Akhtar is a lifetime APPNA member and currently serves as an APPNA Council member, actively contributing to the organization’s mission. He has been involved in various APPNA committees, playing a key role in healthcare advocacy and organizational development. His contributions include serving on the APPNA Advocacy Committee in 2024 and the Task Force APPNA Canada in 2024. In 2025, he took on additional leadership roles as Co-Chair of the APPNA Advocacy Committee, a member of the APPNA National Health Care Day Committee, and a member of the APPNA Canada Transition Committee 2025.

Dr. Akhtar is deeply committed to improving healthcare in regions facing significant challenges, particularly in motherland.Through APPNA’s philanthropic initiatives, he actively works to enhance medical access and healthcare services in underserved communities. He strongly believes that collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector is essential to addressing the pressing healthcare needs of these populations. By leveraging resources and expertise, he aims to implement sustainable projects that create a lasting impact. His passion for global health and his efforts to drive meaningful change underscore his lifelong dedication to medical service.

Outside of his professional commitments, Dr. Akhtar enjoys golfing during the beautiful summers in British Columbia. Golfing provides him with a relaxing and enjoyable way to unwind while staying active. His love for the sport complements his professional dedication, allowing him to maintain a well-rounded lifestyle

Dr. Afzal graduated from Rawalpindi Medical College. She completed  her postgraduate specialist training in Dublin, Ireland. Since relocating to British Columbia in 2009, she has been practicing as an adult psychiatrist. She also holds clinical faculty position at the University of British Columbia and is actively engaged in resident education, as well as mentoring International Medical Graduates (IMGs).

Dr. Afzal is an advocate for initiatives that promote mental health, work-life balance, and resilience among healthcare providers. She has been physician lead in developing  and implementing  a local physician wellness initiative for Pakistani physicians in BC.  She has done several public education radio talks on major mental disorders. She is  also actively involved in charitable work within her  community, dedicating her time and effort to support causes both locally and in Pakistan.

Dr. Afzal feels honoured to be a part of the APPNA family and is  particularly excited about the launch of its newest chapter in BC. As a board of director of the APPNA BC chapter, she is  looking forward to a dynamic and fulfilling year ahead, dedicated to strengthening the  community and advancing  its  shared goals.

Dr. Nadia Khan completed medical school at the University of Alberta and her General Internal Medicine Fellowship and Masters in Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary.

She is Professor and Head of General Internal Medicine and Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. She is a clinician-scientist in health services research and epidemiology at the Center for Advancing Health Outcomes in Vancouver, Canada. Her research area includes marginalized groups including ethnic and gender impacts of cardiovascular disease risk factors, health services utilization and cardiovascular disease management. 

Dr. Khan published over 180 peer-reviewed articles and previously held the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Career Scientist in Ethnicity and Chronic Disease Management. 

Dr. Khan is a general internist at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver and is the Director of the SPH Hypertension clinic, Vice President of the Canadian Hypertension Specialist Society, and an American Hypertension Society Clinical Specialist in Hypertension. Dr. Khan is the past President of Hypertension Canada (2016-2020) and lead for Research and Education at the International Society of Hypertension (2016-2024).

Dr. Nadeem began his journey at King Edward Medical College Lahore , followed by family practice training in South Africa. After gaining nine years of experience in the UAE, he relocated to British Columbia in 2006, where he has dedicated himself to serving the local community.

Currently, Dr. Nadeem is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia. He is committed to educating the next generation of medical professionals while maintaining a full-time practice at the University Hospital of Northern BC. In this role, he provides comprehensive patient care and actively mentors medical students and residents.

Dr. Nadeem is passionate about improving healthcare in Pakistan and fostering collaboration with other organizations to enhance medical initiatives. He believes in the power of partnerships to drive meaningful change and is dedicated to working with various stakeholders to address health challenges and promote better healthcare outcomes for underserved communities.

Dr. Sayed Salman Subzwari is a graduate of DOW medical college, Karachi. He completed his family medicine residency training at University of British Columbia. He also holds a master degree in Epidemiology from UBC. He has published peer reviewed articles in epidemiology.

Dr. Subzwari has been practicing family medicine since 2012. After his residency training he practiced medicine as a rural family physician taking care of patients at long term care facility, hospital, emergency department and medical clinic in interior BC for 3 years.

He’s currently working in Abbotsford as a family physician and also works at Abbotsford Regional Hospital in department of psychiatry. He provides his patients comprehensive primary care, taking care of newborns, young families and also geriatric patients. His areas of special interest are chronic disease management, preventive medicine and doing office procedures. He also worked as a lead physician in eating disorder clinic for 5 years.

Outside his work he enjoys travelling and spending time with his family.

Dr. Khalid Javed is a dedicated Family Physician based in Prince George, British Columbia, with a strong commitment to community health and physician integration. A graduate of Nishtar Medical University, Dr. Javed furthered his medical education with specialized training in South Africa. He also gained valuable international experience while working in the UAE for three years.

Since 2005, Dr. Javed has been practicing in Prince George, where he has built a reputation for compassionate patient care. In addition to his clinical practice, he serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, where he is actively involved in teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Dr. Javed is passionate about enhancing community health services and fostering collaboration among physicians. He is excited to join APPNA BC, where he looks forward to contributing to the organization’s mission and supporting the health needs of the community