Salima Somani, an alumnus of the Aga Khan University (AKU) and currently associated with the University of Central Asia (UCA) as a Resource Person for Nursing Education continues her scholarly work in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Her recent publications include:
A literature review about effectiveness of massage therapy for cancer pain (co-authors include Saima Merchant and Sharifa Lalani), published in Journal of Pakistan Medical Association (JPMA) – Issue Vol:63, No.11, November 2013, Pages 1418-1421,
(http://www.jpma.org.pk/PdfDownload/5194.pdf).
Complementary and alternative medicine in oncology nursing (co-authors include Dr Fauziya Ali, Dr Tazeen Saeed Ali, Nasreen Sulaiman Lalani), published in British Journal of Nursing (BJN) – Volume 23, Issue 1, January 2014, Pages 40-46. This publication is based on Salima’s MScN thesis.
(http://www.internurse.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.cgi?uid=102608;article=BJN_23_1_40_46;format=pdf)
Salima also carried out a comprehensive situational analysis of the Nursing Education, Profession and Practice in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on behalf of UCA. The study included visit to clinical settings and observing nursing care provided to the patients, observing clinical teaching to assess methods and models using for clinical teaching; assessing documents related to curriculum and organization structure for Nursing Education. The goal was to generate a clear understanding of the healthcare system in Bishkek, with a focus on nursing education and practice. The population under study was nursing students and professionals. It is expected that the findings and recommendations will inform leaders, administrators and educators at nursing schools, health and education ministries and policy makers to improve planning and implementation of nursing education and practices, and by extension, health care in the Kyrgyz Republic. Therefore, she also presented the report as part of UCA’s Public Lecture Series (http://www.ucentralasia.org/news.asp?Nid=303) and has submitted a manuscript to an international peer review journal to disseminate the learning from the study.
Salima completed her Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing in 2010, Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nursing in 2003, Bachelor of Arts in 1999, and Diploma in Nursing (RN) in 1998. She is a Licensed Registered Nurse with the Pakistan Nursing Council and a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International, Inc. – Rho Delta Chapter.
Salima has worked in different capacities in clinical settings at the Aga Khan University Hospital, as a Faculty member at the AKU – School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM) and as a Resource Person for Nursing Education at UCA. Her experience spans from nursing practice, leadership, education, curriculum and research (through AKU and the Aga Khan University Hospital) to policy review and reforms (through UCA) covering a broad spectrum around Nursing education, profession and practice in the developing world, particularly, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.