Dr. Zufishan Alam profile picture

Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator

Dr. Zufishan Alam

Dr. Zufishan Alam is an Assistant Professor at the School of Health Sciences. Trained as a medical doctor from Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Pakistan, she developed profound interest in Public Health, with specific focus on Preventative Healthcare and Epidemiology. 

School of Health Sciences

Academic Biography

  • Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
  • Digital Innovation in Public Health
  • Maternal and Reproductive Health
  • Migrant and Global Health Equity
  • Data Driven Health Promotion
  • Behavioural Epidemiology
  1. PhD in Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Australia, 2023
  2. Certificate in Higher Education Teaching, The Derek Bok Centre for Teaching and Learning, Harvard University, USA, 2023
  3. Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Pakistan, 2009

Dr. Zufishan Alam has nearly a decade of research and academic experience in public health. Before joining Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, she served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the United Arab Emirates University, where she contributed to public health research and education. Trained as a physician at Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Pakistan, she later earned her PhD in Public Health from the University of Queensland, Australia, supported by the prestigious Research Training Program Scholarship, by Commonwealth Government of Australia. Her expertise spans preventive healthcare, biostatistics, epidemiology, and health promotion, with a focus on reducing health disparities among culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Dr. Alam’s contributions to research were recognized with the Excellence in Higher Degree Research award from the Public Health Association of Australia. She continues to teach and supervise learners in public health and research methodology, with ongoing academic collaboration with the University of Queensland, Australia

Recent Publications

An overview of academic publications documenting research focus, methodological depth, and scholarly engagement.

  1. Elbarazi, I., Alam, Z., Alshebli, M., Alsunaidi, L., Albluwi, G., Faheem, F., ... & Al-Maskari, F. (2025). Exploring knowledge, attitude, practices and barriers toward colorectal cancer screening in the United Arab Emirates: a mixed-methods study. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1548258.
  2. Lisa, M. F., Jonathan, M. K., Miranda, L. M., Bhangdia, K., Crist, A., Penberthy, L., Alam, Z., ... & Bhakta, N. (2025). The Global, Regional and National burden of cancer, 1990-2023, with forecasts to 2050: a systematic analysis fort the global burden of disease study 2023. The Lancet, 1-22.
  3. Alam, Z., Alnuaimi, S. N. S., Abubaker Al Shaka, H., Alderei, S. S. S., Bamakhrama, A. A. A., Khorzom, H., ... & Rahma, A. T. (2025). E-Health literacy and attitudes towards use of Artificial Intelligence among University students in the United Arab Emirates, a Cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Digital Health, 7, 1574263.
  4. Alam, Z., Elbarazi, I., Al Shehhi, B., AlSafi, M. M., Al Wahedi, M., Maarouf, I. A., ... & Al-Houqani, M. (2025). Tobacco smoking patterns in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: a comprehensive analysis of trends before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1607965.
  5. Farooq, M., Rahma, A. T., Alam, Z., Al Banna, M., Hafeez, U., Alao, D. O., & Cevik, A. A. (2025). Transforming Professionalism Education in Clerkships: A Student-Driven Approach Utilizing The Hidden Curriculum. Perspectives on Medical Education, 14(1), 149.
  6. Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risks 2023 Collaborators. (2025). Global, regional, and national burden of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2023. Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
  7. Alam, Z., Alseari, S., Alameemi, M., Alzaabi, M., Alkhoori, R., Östlundh, L., ... & Al-Rifai, R. H. (2024). Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome among infertile women in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon, 10(24).
  8. Bryazka, D., Reitsma, M. B., Abate, Y. H., Abd Al Magied, A. H., Abdelkader, A., Abdollahi, A., ... & Behnoush, A. H. (2024). Forecasting the effects of smoking prevalence scenarios on years of life lost and life expectancy from 2022 to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet Public health, 9(10), e729-e744.
  9. Vollset, S. E., Ababneh, H. S., Abate, Y. H., Abbafati, C., Abbasgholizadeh, R., Abbasian, M., Alam..Z., ... & Ariffin, H. (2024). Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403(10440), 2204-2256.
  10. Schumacher, A. E., Kyu, H. H., Aali, A., Abbafati, C., Abbas, Alam, Z., J., Abbasgholizadeh, R., ... & Amzat, J. (2024). Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403(10440), 1989-2056.
  11. Elbarazi, I., Lootah, S., Al Shamsi, F., Al Marzouqi, N., Al Matrooshi, M., Al Awadi, F., ... & Al-Maskari, F. (2024). Physicians’ attitudes towards obesity management in the primary care clinics in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates: A qualitative study. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 17(4), 914-923.
  12. Elbarazi, I., Alam, Z., Ali, N., Loney, T., Al-Rifai, R. H., Al-Maskari, F., & Ahmed, L. A. (2024). Health literacy among pregnant women in the United Arab Emirates: The Mutaba’ah study. Women's Health, 20, 17455057231224179.
  13. Alam, Z., Mohamed, S., Nauman, J., Al-Rifai, R. H., Ahmed, L. A., & Elbarazi, I. (2023). Hesitancy toward vaccination against COVID-19: A scoping review of prevalence and associated factors in the Arab world. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 19(2), 2245720.
  14. Elbarazi, I., Alam, Z., Abdullahi, A. S., Al Alawi, S., AlKhanbashi, M., Rabaa, A., ... & Al-Maskari, F. (2023). Knowledge, attitudes and practices of women in the UAE towards breast and cervical cancer prevention: A cross-sectional study. Cancer Control, 30, 10732748231211459.
  15. Alam, Z., Abdalla, M. A., Alseiari, S., Alameemi, M., Alzaabi, M., Alkhoori, R., ... & Al-Rifai, R. H. (2023). Polycystic ovarian syndrome among women diagnosed with infertility in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence studies. Women's Health, 19, 17455057231160940.
  16. Alam, Z., Cairns, J. M., Scott, M., Dean, J. A., & Janda, M. (2023). Interventions to increase cervical screening uptake among immigrant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One, 18(6), e0281976.
  17. Alkaabi, A. J., Alkous, A., Mahmoud, K., AlMansoori, A., Elbarazi, I., Suliman, A., ... & Al-Maskari, F. (2022). The prevalence and correlates of depression among patients with chronic diseases in the United Arab Emirates. Plos one, 17(12), e0278818.
  18. Alam, Z., Ann Dean, J., & Janda, M. (2022). Cervical screening uptake: A cross-sectional study of self-reported screening attitudes, behaviours and barriers to participation among South Asian immigrant women living in Australia. Women's Health, 18, 17455057221096240.
  19. Alam, Z., Dean, J. A., & Janda, M. (2022). What do South Asian immigrant women know about HPV, cervical cancer and its early detection: A cross-sectional Australian study. Journal of Migration and Health, 5, 100102.
  20. Alam, Z., Deol, H., Dean, J. A., & Janda, M. (2022). Reasons behind low cervical screening uptake among South Asian immigrant women: a qualitative exploration. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1527.

Alam, Z., Shafiee Hanjani, L., Dean, J., & Janda, M. (2021). Cervical cancer screening among immigrant women residing in Australia: a systematic review. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 33(8), 816-827.