Dr. Ayesha I. Mian has been elected president of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) [1].
Her appointment marks a shift in global mental health leadership by incorporating expertise from low- and middle-income countries. As the first Pakistani and South Asian to lead the organization, Mian's role represents a milestone for psychiatric representation in the Global South [2].
Mian will lead the organization for the 2026-2030 term [1]. The IACAPAP is a long-standing global body that was established in 1937 [1, 2]. Based in Karachi, Pakistan, Mian brings a regional perspective to a body that coordinates child and adolescent mental health standards, and professions worldwide [1].
The election recognizes the growing influence of medical professionals from developing economies in shaping international health policy. The appointment is viewed as a major milestone for global child and adolescent psychiatry [2].
By leading the organization for a four-year term [1], Mian is positioned to influence how the international community addresses mental health disparities. The IACAPAP continues to serve as a primary hub for professionals across various allied psychiatric disciplines globally [1].
“Dr Ayesha I. Mian becomes first Pakistani and South Asian to lead IACAPAP”
The election of Dr. Mian signals a diversification of leadership within the global medical establishment. By placing a South Asian professional at the head of an organization founded in 1937, the IACAPAP is acknowledging that the challenges of child psychiatry in low- and middle-income countries are central to the global health agenda, rather than peripheral.
