DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY UNIT-I
Prof. Syed Atif Hasnain Kazmi MBBS, BSc, MCPS, MD Professor of Dermatology

Brief History and Introduction

The department was founded by the Late Professor Emeritus Syed Ghulam Shabbir in 1960, as the subject of dermatology was declared as an essential specialty of medicine for the patients. However, the present building of the department was completed in 1970. The Department is also the Largest Skin Unit in this country which has assumed the status of referral centre for the diagnostically and therapeutically difficult cases from all over Pakistan. There is a 60-bedded in-patient department where around 1000 patients are admitted annually.

In addition to teaching undergraduates, the department also imparts postgraduate training for FCPS, MD and DCPS. There are about 50 qualified FCPS Dermatologists in the country. Among them, 30 have been trained in this department. Besides this, 36 MCPS and 2 MD in the subject received their grooming here. Recently, the department has started working on Teledermatology under the supervision of Professor Syed Atif Hasnain Kazmi. It is heartening to note that these qualified dermatologists have taken up their assignments as heads of various departments round the country. Moreover, nurses, family physicians & postgraduates from other disciplines of medicine and ophthalmology get their compulsory training for dermatology in this department. The department is also actively engaged in research projects and more than 100 papers have been published in the National and International Journals.

From Left to Right
1st Row: Dr. Zahida Rani, Dr. Muhammad Nadeem, Dr. Shahbaz Aman, Prof. Atif Hasnain Kazmi, Dr. Ijaz Hussain, Dr. M. Saleem Khan, Dr. Khalid Mahmood
2nd Row: Dr. Asif Raheem, Dr. Qurat-ul-Ain Sajida, Dr. Masood Sohail, Dr. Usma Iftikhar, Dr. Neelofar Nazim, Dr. Shehla Shaukat, Dr. Sameera Naveed
3rd Row: Dr. Ali Raza, Dr. Asim Sohail, Dr. Kanwal Khalid, Dr. Samreen, Dr. Huma Ashraf, Dr. Asmat-ullah Qazi, Dr. Shaukat Mahmood
4th Row: Dr. Sadaf, Dr. Afshan, Dr. Nuzha, Dr. Aisha
5th Row: Dr. Shaista, Dr. Rabia, Dr. Beenish, Dr. Khadija, Dr. Mahmood Alam Pasha

Faculty List

S.NO. NAME DESIGNATION QUALIFICATIONS
1. Syed Atif Hasnain Kazmi PROFESSOR BSc, MBBS, MCPS, MD
2. Dr. Ijaz Hussain Associate Professor MBBS, FCPS
3. Dr. Shahbaz Aman Assistant Professor MBBS, MCPS, FCPS
4. Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Assistant Professor MBBS, FCPS
5. Dr. Zahida Rani Senior Registrar MBBS, FCPS
6. Dr. M. Saleem Khan Senior Registrar MBBS, FCPS

Introduction of Various Departmental Sections

Leprosy Cell

Leprosy Cell, Mayo Hospital, Lahore is a well established regional centre. This cell was established in 1972. This unit is working in collaboration with an NGO i.e. Rawalpindi Leprosy Hospital with a hope to control leprosy. It caters for the patients coming from all over Pakistan particularly Punjab including Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Sahiwal, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal districts and Azad Kashmir. Leprosy is a chronic infectious Mycobacterial disease which particularly affects the skin, nerves and eyes. The disease results in mutilating deformities and disabilities leading to strong social stigma. The centre also offers domiciliary treatment, health education, social rehabilitation and advice regarding eye care to these patients.

The disease is endemic in Pakistan. Although, the overall prevalence rate is below 1 in 1000, the incidence of disease is still over 1 in 10,000. At present, 988 patients are registered here. The total burden of the disease in Pakistan is around 40,000 to 60,000 patients. Of this load, 14% patients belong to Punjab. About 25% of patients present with deformities and disabilities. This high rate is due to the delay in the diagnosis and management of leprosy.

Dermatosurgery

In the present era of rapid technological advances, dermatosurgery has become an essential component of dermatology. Our department has a well-equipped operation theatre where sophisticated procedures like punch grafting for resistant cases of vitiligo, dermabrasion for recalcitrant hyperkeratotic skin disorders, cryotherapy for warts and other conditions and chemical peeling for resistant melasma are carried out. This centre has the potential to act as a nucleus for the dermatologic surgery in the country.

Mycology & Histopathalogy

The Departmental Laboratory is equipped with facilities for dermatohistopathology and mycology, in addition to basic haematology and biochemistry tests. This laboratory is perhaps the best departmental facility in the country. On an average, about 10,000 tests are performed annually.

Patch Test Clinic

Patch test clinic, also first of its kind countrywide, started functioning in 1994. Patch testing is the only scientific way to confirm the diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis. It helps in the identification of cause and hence in the management of allergy. So far, almost 1500 patients have been tested while around 10,000 patients have been treated as follow up cases.

Prof. Syed Atif Kazmi Examining a patient in the consultant’s OPD

Laser Clinic

In 1995, LASER unit was established for the treatment of vascular and pigmentary disorders of skin which were hitherto untreatable. The use of laser surgery in dermatology is the first of its kind in Pakistan where patients with diseases like freckles, lentigines, pigmented nevi and vascular blemishes are treated. The cost of single laser treatment in UK or US is Rs. 30,000 to 40,000 besides travelling and boarding expenses. Usually, four to six visits are needed at monthly interval.

Photochemotherapy

In the Photochemotherapy unit, ultraviolet A and B lights are used for the treatment of chronic skin disorders like vitiligo, psoriasis and mycosis fungoides (a type of skin malignancy). This facility is, also, the only one of its kind in government sector in Pakistan. On an average, 4000 patients are treated per year.

Library, Audio-visual Section, Computer Section, Auditorium

The department has a well-maintained library, audiovisual section, computer section and a well-equipped auditorium with a seating capacity of 60 persons. Through these facilities, the department is actively involved in teaching the undergraduate and post-graduate medical students, nurses and general practitioners.

List of Postgraduate Candidates

1. Dr. Ahmed Gardezi FCPS
2. Dr. Asif Rahim FCPS
3. Dr. Ali Raza Syed FCPS
4. Dr. Zaib Ashiq FCPS
5. Dr. Usma Iftikhar FCPS

1. Dr. Khalid Mahmood MD
2. Dr. Ali Raza Syed MD
3. Dr. Mehmood Alam Pasha MD
4. Dr. Masood Sohail MD
5. Dr. Dr. Shaukat Hotiana MD

1. Dr. Shehla Shaukat DCPS
2. Dr. Qurat ul Ain DCPS
3. Dr. Abdul Hameed DCPS
4. Dr. Asim Suhail DCPS
5. Dr. Neelofer DCPS
6. Dr. Inayat Kachoo DCPS
7. Dr. Samreen DCPS
8. Dr. Asmat Ullah Qazi DCPS
9. Dr. Sameera Naveed DCPS

List of Undergraduate Programs MBBS

1. Weekly Lectures (Total 22 Lectures: 45 minutes each)---4th Year MBBS Class
2. Group Discussions in the OPD (3 hours daily for one week)--4thYear MBBS Class
History Taking
Case Presentations (Common Skin Problems)
Demonstrations (Common Skin Problems)
Laboratory Methods
Minor Surgical Procedures
Cautery
Cryotherapy
3. College CPC (Case Presentation & Lectures on Common Skin Diseases) Final Year MBBS Class

Teaching Programs For MD, FCPS And DCPS Students

1. Daily Morning Teaching Rounds in the Ward (8.30 AM – 10.30 AM)
2. Daily OPD (Group Teaching in the Consultant’s OPD 11.00 AM – 1.30 PM)
3. Journal Club (Weekly on Wednesday 11.00 AM – 1.00 PM)
4. Group Discussions on Recent Advances in Dermatology (Weekly on Monday 11.00 AM – 1.00 PM)
5. Clinical & Histopathological Slide Sessions (Twice a Month on Friday 10.30 AM – 12.00 PM)
6. Departmental CPC: Lectures & Case Presentations (Weekly on Friday 9.00 AM – 10.30 AM)
7. Morbidity and Mortality Conference (If & when required)
8. Medical Writing & Research Methodology Classes (Twice a Month on Friday 10.30 AM – 12.00 PM)

Research Projects of the Department In 2006

Research Projects Completed

Eleven scientific research projects have been completed under the supervision of Prof. Syed Atif Hasnain Kazmi and most of them have been published in the Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists (JPAD) during the years 2004-2005, which is a recognized journal by the PMDC:

1. Evaluation and pattern of nickel dermatitis in patients with allergic contact dermatitis (Dr. Saleem Khan, Faculty Member)
2. Bone mineral density in patients of Pemphigus on long-term steroid therapy (Dr. Zahida Rani, Faculty Member)
3. Parthenium weed: a growing concern in Pakistan (Dr. M. Nadeem, Faculty Member)
4. Vitiligo: new etiology-based treatments (Dr. A. Hameed, DCPS Student)
5. Quality of life issues and new bench marks in the assessment of skin diseases (Dr. Zahida Rani, Faculty Member)
6. Food and Skin (Dr. Shahbaz Aman, Faculty Member)
7. Therapeutic evaluation of Psoriasis in Pakistan (Dr. M. Nadeem, Faculty Member)
8. Dermatology Life Quality Index in patients with allergic contact dermatitis (Dr. Zahida Rani, Faculty Member)
9. Efficacy & safety of low dose methotrexate in patients of chronic eczema (Dr. Ali Raza Syed, FCPS Student)
10. Role of combination of Hydroquinone, Retinoic acid and Fluocinolone acetonide (Trimelasin) in patients of Melasma (Dr. Shehla Shaukat, DCPS Student)
11. Adverse effects noted after three weeks local application of Betamethasone Dipropionate on skin of healthy volunteers (Dr. Masood Sohail, MD Student)

Current Research Work

Seven new research projects have been started:

1. Etiopathogenesis of Melasma in females in relation to Estrogen and Progesterone (Researcher: Dr. Khalid Mahmood, MD Student)
2. Role of different treatment modalities in onychomycosis (Researcher: Dr. Shahbaz Aman, Faculty Member)
3. To assess the efficacy & safety of topical 1% clotrimazole in cutaneous Leishmaniasis (Researcher: Dr. Ali Raza Syed, MD Student)
4. Kashmore: Focus of cutaneous Leishmaniasis (Researcher: Dr. Ali Raza Syed, FCPS Student)
5. A hospital-based clinico-aetiological study of Stevens Jhonson Syndrome (Researcher: Dr. Ahmed Gardezi, FCPS Student)
6. The study of allergic contact dermatitis in children (Researcher: Dr. Zahida Rani, Faculty Member)
7. Seroprevalence of HCV in chronic urticaria (Researcher: Dr. Asif Rahim, FCPS Student)

Annual targets, regarding functions and the data regarding output during the year ending 31st December, 2005

Teaching Programs

Postgraduates
Teaching rounds Daily
Group discussions Daily
Departmental CPC Once Weekly
Morbidity and mortality conference As and when required

Undergraduates

Scheduled lectures/ demonstrations Accomplished
Nursing class 8 8
Dispenser class 2 2
4th year MBBS 22 22
Pharmacist Training 2-4 weeks attachment 2 pharmacists attended

Emergency Teaching
(For Family physicians, nurses and PGs)

Scheduled teaching sessions 20
Classes taken 20
Clinico-Pathological Conference for Final Year Class

Cases presented 4

B) CLINICAL WORK

1. INDOOR ROUNDS

Daily, on working days

2. OUTPATIENTS

No of patients seen (2005) 1,12,464
No. of patients admitted for management 848

3. SERVICES

1. Patch tests 55
2. Punch grafting 44
3. Cryotherapy. 5,600
4. Chemical peeling 240
5. Cautery 2800
7. Epilation 430
8. Mycology 2340
9. Departmental Laboratory More than 10,000

4. EMERGENCY CLINICAL WORK

No. of patients attended 350
No. of patients admitted 89

5. A.V.H ADMISSIONS

No. of patients admitted Calls attended by the teaching staff