Dr. ZAHRA KHAN      

B. Sc (PU), M. Sc (UAF),  M. Phil (KEMU), PhD (MUG) Austria

Assistant Professor

E. Mail: zahrakhan@uvas.edu.pk

Biography:

Dr. Zahra Khan, is Assistant Professor, Department of Food Sciences and Human Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. She holds B. Sc and M.Sc degrees in Food and Nutrition and M. Phil degree in Public Health and Preventive Medicine from King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan. Dr. Khan is a pioneer faculty member of this department and has worked devotedly for the development of this discipline at UVAS. Fortunately, in 2013 she was selected for a foreign scholarship offered by Higher Education Commission (HEC) for PhD. She chose Medical University of Graz and recently completed PhD from Austria with Distinction. The main focus of PhD research was on Pediatric/ Neonatal Nutrition. She worked in Children Hospital Graz, Austria for almost four years in different disciplines and got the opportunity to enhance clinical and research skills. She participated in numerous PG courses internationally and presented her work all over the world. Her work received due appreciation in the field of Pediatrics and received awards of recognition. She has published her findings in peer review journals. Dr. Khan is an active member of different professional bodies. She considers herself as a very enthusiastic young professional who believes: “We should work together to make this World a better place for future generations!”

Areas of Interest:

• Conducting Community based nutritional assessment surveys  
• Planning therapeutic nutrition for Medically Fragile Children (MFCs)
•  Conducting the assessment of nutritional support of MFC

Publications

Professional Trainings/Seminars

• Attended a training course on “Tube feeding optimization Program” at Interdisciplinary Therapy Center for Eating and Feeding Disorders, Graz. Austria 16.7.2018 to 10.8.2018
• Attended Master class on Parenteral Nutrition in NICU and PICU arranged by ESPGHAN in Paris, France, 23-25 November, 2016
• Participated in Young Investigator Forum arranged by ESPGHAN in Bergen, The Netherlands, 21-24 September, 2016
• Participated in Summer School arranged by ESPGHAN Committee for Nutrition at Cambridge University, London, UK 5-10 July, 2015.
• Attended a course on “Pathology of the Oesophagus” arranged by Austrian Society of Pathology 25th April, 2015
• November, 2013- attended 20th ESPEN course of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care

  Awards and Fellowships

• Won “International Exchange Award” to attend short-term fellowship from European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN)
• Secured a travel grant from Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan to present my work at International conference held in New Zealand
• Won a highly competitive scholarship for PhD studies jointly funded by Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan- Osterreichischer Austauschdienst (OeAD)

Oral Presentations

• Khan Z and Urlesberger B. “Principles of transition from tube feeding to oral feeding in preterm infants” at a Scientific Symposium arranged by Children Hospital, Medical University of Graz, Austria. June, 10th, 2017.
• Khan Z, Sitter C and Urlesberger B. Acquisition of oral feeding skills in preterm infants born <32 weeks. Annual Meeting of ESPGHAN at Pargue, May 9-13, 2017.
• Khan Z, Morris N, Wallner-Liebmann S, Haiden N and Urlesberger B. Impact of Prematurity on development of body fat mass. Invited Speaker at Symposium “Human Milk Oligosccharides” Medical University of Graz, September 2, 2016.
• Khan Z, Morris N, Dunitz-Scheer M and Urlesberger B. Growth pattern and body composition of very preterm infants from birth to discharge. Oral presentation, at A workshop of Tube Management in Pediatric Patients, April,2016
• Khan Z, Morris N, Wallner-Liebmann S, Haiden N and Urlesberger B. Growth pattern and body composition of VLBW and ELBW infants from birth to discharge: A prospective study. Oral presentation, at XXIX ALPE ADRIA PERINATAL CONGRESS held in Bassano del Grappa-Italy, October 9 –10,2015
• Khan Z, Morris N, Wallner-Liebmann S and Urlesberger B. Growth pattern of very preterm infants from birth to discharge: Oral presentation, Summer School at Kings College, Cambridge University, London, UK. July 5-10, 2015
• Khan Z, Ahmed M, Asad Z, Khan A, Urlesberger B, Morris N and Wallner-Liebmann S. Determinants of nutritional status in high risk infants aged 1-3 years in a rural area of Pakistan. Oral Presentation, International Student Congress 2014, Graz, Austria.
• Khan Z, Ahmad M, Afzal S. Assessment of psycho-social determinants for lack of exercise behavior in an urban population in Lahore, Pakistan. Oral Presentation, Dietitians New Zealand Conference 2011, Nelson, New Zealand. Nutrition and Dietetics; 68 (Suppl.2): v-vii.

Poster Presentations

• Khan Z, Sitter C, Pansy J and Urlesberger B. Acquisition of oral feeding skills in preterm infants born less than 32 weeks. Poster Presentation at WCPGHAN, Montreal, 2016.
• Khan Z, Pahsini K, Marinschek S, Dunitz-Scheer M. ENS cannot always prevent malnutrition in early childhood.  Poster Presentation at 2nd Nutrition and Growth, Vienna, 2016.
• Khan Z, Morris N, Wallner-Liebmann S, Haiden N and Urlesberger B. Growth pattern and body composition of preterm infants from birth to discharge: A prospective study. Poster Presentation at 1st Congress of Joint European Neonatal Societies, Budapest, 2015.
• Khan Z., Marinschek S., Dunitz-Scheer M. Nutritional/Growth outcomes in a large cohort of medically fragile children with enteral nutrition support selected for tube weaning. Poster Presentation at 2nd Nutrition and Growth, Barcelona, 2014.
• Khan Z, Nawaz M, Khan A and Bacha U. Hemoglobin, Red Blood Cell Count, Hematocrit and Derived Parameters for Diagnosing Anemia in Elderly Males. Poster Presentation at National Science conference, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 2012.

Projects:

• “Determining the optimal time to introduce FULL oral feeds in preterm infants in order to establish successful breastfeeding during hospital stay” with collaboration of Division of Neonatology, The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child’s Health Lahore.  Worth of 0.5 million funded by HEC, Islamabad (as Principle Investigator)
• Comparison between different feeding protocols and existing protocol for the treatment of acute malnutrition (a cluster randomized controlled clinical trial) in collaboration of World Bank, World Food Program and Department of Health, Punjab. Pakistan. (Worth 02 million) (as Principle Investigator)