ISLAMABAD: Pakistani psychiatrist Dr Ayesha Mian has been elected president of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, becoming the first Pakistani and first South Asian to lead the global body since its founding in 1937.
The association announced Dr. Mian’s election for the 2026–2030 term following elections held during the 27th IACAPAP World Congress in Hamburg, Germany.
Her election marks a major international achievement for Pakistan’s medical and mental health community, highlighting the country’s growing contribution to global child and adolescent psychiatry.
IACAPAP represents child and adolescent psychiatrists and allied mental health professionals worldwide. The organisation works to promote research, policy, training and clinical practice to improve the mental health and development of children and adolescents.
Dr Mian is the founder and chief executive of Synapse – Pakistan Neuroscience Institute. She previously served as founding dean of students and chair of psychiatry at Aga Khan University.
She trained in adult, child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and later served on the faculty of Baylor College of Medicine before returning to Pakistan.
In recent years, Dr Mian has served in IACAPAP’s executive leadership and led international initiatives to expand access to child and adolescent mental health services, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Her four-year term is expected to strengthen global cooperation on youth mental health.
