2025 Educational Ambassador Program impact: Highlights from India, the Maldives, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, and Tajikistan
Aimun Ahmed presents a lecture at the Istiqlol Medical Center in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Tajikistan has a limited number of trained nephrology specialists. According to Olimdzhon Mirzozhonov from the Istiqlol Medical Center (IMC) in Dushanbe, gaps in kidney care skills make it extremely challenging to treat patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly younger patients presenting at advanced stages.
In July, ISN Educational Ambassador (EA), Aimun Ahmed, provided critical support to clinicians at the IMC, strengthening local expertise in early diagnosis, disease management, and renal pathology — a key step toward improving outcomes and expanding kidney care services in the country. Dr. Ahmed delivered an intensive week-long training program on CKD and glomerular disease, combining lectures with practical workshops on topics including CKD screening in low-resource settings, interpreting kidney function tests and biopsies, glomerular disease diagnosis and treatment, and hands-on ultrasound-guided biopsy training.
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The ISN Educational Ambassadors Program helps healthcare centers close gaps in kidney care by connecting them with international experts who can address their specific needs. Find out what can be achieved by revisiting EA visits from 2025:
January
Urinary sediment analysis at Almenara Hospital, Peru
Giovanni Battista Fogazzi offered training in urinary sediment analysis to help address a critical knowledge gap at the center. Participants have since established a structured urinary sediment unit and remain in close contact with Dr. Fogazzi.
Interventional nephrology at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, India
Shahbaj Ahmad helped establish a comprehensive interventional nephrology service, training staff in vascular access, biopsies, and imaging-guided procedures. “The training has significantly and lastingly impacted CMC, its patients, and the broader medical community,” said Manish Lalwani, assistant professor at CMC’s nephrology department.
March
Kidney pathology at Kigali University Teaching Hospital (KUTH), Rwanda
Swarnalata Gowrishankar supported the establishment of a kidney pathology laboratory, providing hands-on guidance and laying the foundations for sustainable training in renal pathology.
June/July
Electrolyte and acid-base disorders at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), Maldives
Mogamat Yazied Chothia trained clinicians in a simplified, physiology-based approach to managing electrolyte and acid-base disorders through interactive theory and case-based learning. “Many [participants] said they felt better able to think like clinicians and tailor treatment to individual patients,” said Ahmed Abdulla, consultant sub-specialist in nephrology at IGMH.
September
POCUS training at Khan Research Laboratory Hospital (KRLH) in Islamabad, Pakistan
Saeed Ahmed led point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training for nephrologists, improving real-time imaging skills for bedside decision-making. According to Nosheen Anjum, consultant nephrologist at KRLH, the training strengthened the center’s capacity to train future healthcare professionals and has improved patient safety.
These visits demonstrate the ISN Educational Ambassadors Program’s commitment to building local expertise, enhancing patient care, and fostering sustainable improvements in kidney health worldwide.
