Lt General Azhar Rashid (Retd) was born on 12th May 1955
and is a distinguished cardiac surgeon and medical educator with over 45 years of experience in the field of cardiac surgery. He served the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/National Institute of Heart Diseases (AFIC/NIHD)
for nearly three decades, where he also held key leadership positions including
Commandant of AFIC/NIHD, Director General Surgery, and ultimately Surgeon General/Director General Medical Services of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
A graduate of King Edward Medical College, Lahore, and Cadet College Hasan Abdal, Lt Gen Azhar Rashid became a Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (FCPS) in 1986. He received advanced training in cardiac surgery at St. Thomas’ and Guy’s Hospital, London, and is also a graduate of the National Defence University, Islamabad. Committed to medical education, he earned a Master’s in Health Professions Education (MHPE) in 2022 and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching & Ethics.
Following his retirement from the Pakistan Army in May 2015, he served as Dean of Health and Medical Sciences at Riphah International University and Principal of its medical college. He currently serves as a visiting consultant at a private hospital.
In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) in 2007 by the Government of Pakistan. He has authored over 35 publications, participated in numerous national and international conferences, and delivered presentations on both medical and interdisciplinary topics.
Beyond his professional life, he enjoys golf, reading, writing English poetry, and engaging in thoughtful conversations. In earlier years, he was an avid squash and cricket player. He is happily married for forty years, with four children and a grandson.
A graduate of King Edward Medical College, Lahore, and Cadet College Hasan Abdal, Lt Gen Azhar Rashid became a Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (FCPS) in 1986. He received advanced training in cardiac surgery at St. Thomas’ and Guy’s Hospital, London, and is also a graduate of the National Defence University, Islamabad. Committed to medical education, he earned a Master’s in Health Professions Education (MHPE) in 2022 and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching & Ethics.
Following his retirement from the Pakistan Army in May 2015, he served as Dean of Health and Medical Sciences at Riphah International University and Principal of its medical college. He currently serves as a visiting consultant at a private hospital.
In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) in 2007 by the Government of Pakistan. He has authored over 35 publications, participated in numerous national and international conferences, and delivered presentations on both medical and interdisciplinary topics.
Beyond his professional life, he enjoys golf, reading, writing English poetry, and engaging in thoughtful conversations. In earlier years, he was an avid squash and cricket player. He is happily married for forty years, with four children and a grandson.