Fellow

Prof. Hajera Mahtab

(Fellow, 1998)

Professor Hajera Mahtab was born on 22 September, 1941 in Calcutta.

She obtained 1st Division in Senior Cambridge from the University of Cambridge in 1956; stood Sixth in the combined order of merit in Intermediate Science, University of Dhaka in 1959; graduated (M.B.Ch.B) from the University of Liverpool in 1964; obtained D.T. M&H from University of Liverpool in 1965; FCPS (Medicine) from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan in 1970 and FRCP from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, U.K. in 1998.

Dr. Hajera received higher training in endocrine disorders and diabetes at Kings College Hospital, London, UK as a Commonwealth Fellow from September, 1972 for one year. Attended Post Graduate courses in UK on the public health and epidemiology aspects of diabetes and recent advances in endocrinology and in Japan on appropriate technology in diabetes management.

Dr. Hajera was Research Asstt., IPGMR (now BSMMU) from 1966- 1972; Asstt. Professor of Medicine, IPGMR from 1973-1976; Associate Professor of Medicine, Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Heart Hospital from 1980 - 1990 and then Professor of Medicine, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital from 1990 - 1998. She retired from government service as Professor of Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College on 21st September, 1998. On deputation to BIRDEM from October 1976 as Senior Consultant in Medicine, subsequently appointed as Director, Clinical Services, Research and Academy, BIRDEM till retirement in September, 2003. She was reappointed as Honorary Advisor of the National Healthcare Network, a project of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh from September, 2003 till December 2004. Elected as a Member of the National Council of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh in January, 2005. Chairman National Healthcare Network and Member, Board of Management of BIRDEM and Ibrahim Medical College from January, 2006.

Research interests of Professor Hajera Mahtab is diabetes in the young and adolescent. She established the "Under 30" Clinic in BIRDEM; She is also interested in epidemiology of DM, pregnancy and diabetes and diabetes healthcare delivery; training and education of doctors and other allied healthcare providers, such as, nurses, technicians, health educators and nutritionists. She is currently course chairman on the prevention of foot complications in diabetes and established a country-wide surveillance network in order to collect data regarding morbidity and mortality related to diabetes.

So far she has more than 70 papers published in national and international journals. She also supervised the dissertations and theses of several Postgraduate students of FCPS, M.D. and Ph.D. especially in the field of diabetes and endocrine diseases and internal medicine.

She was editor, Diabetes and Endocrine Journal jointly published by the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh and Endocrine Society of Bangladesh. Also Editor of "Kanti" a Newsletter in Bangla published by the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh. She edited and authored chapters in several books on diabetes and its complications for doctors, and diabetic persons.

Professor Hajera was the Project Manager of the WHO country program on Diabetes from 1977 and Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes (BIRDEM) from 1982. Member, Advisory Council for Health and Medical Research of the South-East Region of the WHO from 1983 - 1986. Chairman of the South-East Asia Regional Council of the International Diabetes Federation from November, 2000 till August, 2003. She (1980 - 1981) and also short-term Consultant to the Ministry of Health of the Sultanate of Oman for the epidemiological survey of diabetes from 1989 - 1991.

Professor Hajera Mahtab was the President of the Endocrine Society of Bangladesh, Life member of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Medical Association; Fellow of College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bangladesh and the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh; Member, International Diabetes Federation (IDF); European Association for the Study of Diabetes; American Diabetes Association, and Chest and Heart Association of Bangladesh. She is a Fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences.

Professor Hajera travelled widely and attended numerous conferences presenting papers and posters, or as invited lecturer or chairperson in both national and international meetings.

She visited UK, USA, Australia, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and different countries in Europe.