Pakistan’s first-ever doctorate in nursing has been awarded by the Aga Khan University (AKU)’s School of Nursing and Midwifery to Khairulnissa Ajani. As part of her PhD, Ms Ajani conducted research into hypertension or high blood pressure – a condition that affects one in every three adults in Pakistan. Ms Ajani currently serves as assistant dean of teaching, learning and undergraduate programmes at the AKU school. The AKU school is the first nursing institution in Pakistan to have launched bachelor’s, master’s and PhD qualifications in nursing.