Hina Sharif

As a Pharmacist and Public Health Researcher with a strong academic foundation from the University of Karachi and Aga Khan University, I bridge pharmacy and public health to advance community well-being. My research focuses on syndemics—intersecting infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and COVID-19—with non-communicable diseases, cancers, multimorbidity, and mental health, particularly in marginalized populations. Through evaluating determinants, extending syndemic frameworks, and designing prevention strategies, I contribute to impactful healthcare policies, education programs, and evidence-based interventions.

Published Work:

• Sharif, H., Sheikh, S.S., Seemi, T., Naeem, H., Khan, U. and Jan, S.S., 2024. Metabolic syndrome and obesity among marginalized school-going adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study. The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia, 21. PMID: 38322154
• Sharif H, Jan SS, Sharif S, Seemi T, Naeem H, Jawed Z. Depression and suicidal ideation among individuals with type-2 diabetes mellitus, a cross-sectional study from an urban slum area of Karachi, Pakistan. Frontiers in public health. 2023 Feb 23; 11:1135964. PMID: 36908405
• Sharif H, Sheikh SS, Salman A, Jawed Z, Karim I, Sohail T, et al. Evaluating the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin addition to insulin and oral antidiabetic medication (OAD) regimen in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and obese patients. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2024 Feb 01: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT06145360. PMID: 38767103
• Sharif H, Hammash M, Anwer W, Hassan N, Seemi T, Sheikh SS. Evaluation of oral health among persons with multimorbidity in the marginalized population of Karachi, Pakistan: A multicenter cross-sectional study. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences. 2024 Mar 21. PMID: 38571699
• Sharif H, Jan SS, Sharif S, Seemi T, Naeem H, Rehman J. Respiratory Diseases' Burden in children and adolescents of marginalized population: A retrospective study in slum area of Karachi, Pakistan. Frontiers in Epidemiology. 2023 Jan 11; 2:1031666. PMID: 38455318
• Sharif H, Sheikh SS, Thompson AM, et al. Prevalence of Mental Disorders Among Patients with Multimorbidity Visiting Primary Care Settings in Slums of Karachi, Pakistan. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health. 2024; 15. PubMed PMID: 38813988
• Seemi T, Sharif H, Sharif S, Naeem H, Naeem FU, Fatima Z. Anxiety levels among school-going adolescents in peri-urban areas of Karachi, Pakistan. PLoS one. 2023 Oct 19;18(10):e0289967. PMID: 37856459
• Sharif S, Sharif H, Rehman J, et al. Is a sedentary lifestyle a leading causal factor of obesity and distress in type 2 diabetes? A cross-sectional study in low socioeconomic areas of Karachi, Pakistan. BMJ Public Health 2023;1: e000149. doi:10.1136/ bmjph-2023-000149
• Sheikh SS, Sharif H, Sharif N, Siddiqui Jr H. A Retrospective Public Health Assessment and Management in Terms of the Social and Clinical Risk Factors of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Northern Canada. Cureus. 2024 Feb 1;16(2). PMID: 38435208
• Thompson AM, Thompson JM, Sharif H, Seemi T, Sharif S. Unveiling Barriers to the Modern Contraceptive Uptake in the Urban Slums of Karachi: Perceptions, Attitude, and Accessibility. Cureus. 2024 Mar 14;16(3). PMID: 38618467
• Naeem H, Sharif S, Sharif H, Seemi T. Self-esteem levels in school-going adolescents across the slums of Karachi, Pakistan: a cross-sectional analysis. Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2023 May 19; 2:1175826.
• Sheikh SS, Sharif H, Seemi T. Predicting Diabetes Distress using Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale and Diabetes Distress Scale-17: A Cross-sectional Study in Slums of Karachi, Pakistan. IAPS Journal of Practice in Mental Health. 2023 Jul 1;1(2):48-61.
• Sharif H, Sharif S, Zaighum I. Reasons of brand switching and preference in prescription medicines: A comparison between physicians and pharmacists of Karachi. The Pharma Innovation. 2016 Jul 1; 5(7, Part B):99.
• Seemi T, Sharif H, Sheikh SS, Hassan N. Oral Health Status among Children and Adolescents of Slums of Karachi, Pakistan: A Multicenter Cross-sectional Study. Journal of Primary Care Dentistry and Oral Health. 2024 Sep 1;5(3):104-12.
• Seemi T., Sharif H., Sharif S., Hashmi M., Naeem H. (2024). COVID-19 Vaccine uptake among opulent vs slums of urban setting in Karachi, Pakistan. A cross-sectional study. Indonesian Journal of Community Health Nurs., 9(1), 36-43. Doi: 10.20473/ijchn.v9i1.49988
• Sharif H, Sharif S, Diwan H. Direct Analysis of Substandard Antibiotics Sensitivity Pattern against Common Isolates of Pathogens via Modified Oucherlony Technique: A in vitro Study in Karachi.

Ongoing Researches:

1. Empagliflozin vs Metformin on Metabolic Dysfunction in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome With or Without Comorbidity or Multimorbidity funded by Horizon Pharmaceutical. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06140108

2. Urban PHC Policy Analysis and Evidence Generation: A Mixed methods research to understand the gaps in policy and implementation funded by Bill & Malinda Gates Foundation.

• Masters of Science in Public Health, Effectiveness of Educational intervention on foot-care among individuals having Type 2 Diabetes at slums of Karachi, Pakistan. A randomized control trial., NCT06358846
• Master’s in Management, Reasons of brand switching and preference in prescription medicines: A comparison between physicians and pharmacists of Karachi, a qualitative study.

Secured Grants:

• Awarded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant for Urban Primary Health Care (PHC) development.
• Received two time funding from Horizon Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd for a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT).

Research Presentations:

• Presented an oral presentation at the 14th International Public Health Conference: Transforming Research into Action, Redefining Public Health through Social and Behavior Change at the Health Services Academy.
• Delivered a presentation on Optimizing Antibiotic Use in Primary Healthcare Settings in Slums of Karachi, Pakistan: A Preliminary Investigation at the National Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Summit 2024 under the theme “One World, One Health.”
• Presented research titled Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity among Marginalized School-Going Adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study at the Healthy Futures: Preventing NCDs in Young Hearts and Minds Conference.

Certifications and Collaborations:

• Completed the Fogarty AKUPI-NCD Research Certification (ACCME accredited), a collaboration between Aga Khan and Duke University.
• Participated in the course "From Evidence to Impact in Public Health - The Contribution of the Department of Community Health Sciences."
• Learning New Strategies and Approaches in Community Involvement (CEI) funded by Center for Impact and University of York

• Syndemics of infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, and COVID-19)
• Non-communicable diseases and their intersections with mental health and multimorbidity
• Prevention strategies for syndemics and multidrug resistance in marginalized populations
• Evaluation of social determinants of health impacting chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma
• Adolescent health, with a focus on obesity and metabolic syndrome in underserved communities
• Antimicrobial stewardship and optimization of antibiotic use in primary healthcare settings
• Health system strengthening and capacity building in urban and slum populations

• Pulmonary Capacity Test Camp: Organized a health camp focusing on pulmonary health in slum areas, sponsored by Macter Pharmaceutical Pvt Ltd.
• Women Wellbeing Event: Led a Women’s Wellbeing event on International Women's Day 2022, promoting health education and awareness for women in underserved communities.
• Ramadan Health Camps: Coordinated Ramadan-driven health camps throughout the year 2022, providing healthcare services to marginalized populations during the holy month.
• Diabetes Health Camps: Organized diabetes screening and health education camps, sponsored by Warrick Pharmaceutical, to raise awareness and provide care for individuals at risk of or living with diabetes.
• Children's Health Checkup Camps: Facilitated children’s health checkup camps, sponsored by Horizon Pharmaceutical, focusing on preventive care and early diagnosis in children from disadvantaged communities.
• SPIRIT-D Project Involvement: Actively engaged as a member of the Community Advisory Panel (CAP) for the SPIRIT-D project of the University of York, contributing to the development of community-based interventions.