Q and A with Mohammed Alim
Mohammad Alim is a research fellow at the George Institute for Global Health in India and is based in Hyderabad. A pharmacologist by training his current research focus is on stroke and rehabilitation. He is co-ordinating the ATTEND trial which is currently looking at generating evidence to prove the efficacy of family-led rehabilitation of stroke survivors in India.
Q: How long have you been working at The George Institute?
A: 1 year and 4 months
Q: What inspires you in the work you do and why?
A: Clinical operations are fun to me. I enjoy a lot being part of them. The zeal to become an independent researcher following the footsteps of the senior research faculty at George Institute inspires me every day.
Q: What is your current research focus?
A: My current research focus is on stroke and rehabilitation but it has been multidisciplinary working mostly in the area of non -communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and now stroke.
Q: What are the examples of other work/projects you been involved with at The George Institute?
A: I am also involved in systematic reviews and other projects like CHIRI and Medicine Pricing survey which is also a part of CHIRI Project. Enchanted was one of the other projects where I was responsible for its operations in India.
Q: What is your professional background?
A: I am a Pharmacologist. I have completed my Masters in Pharmacy with Pharmacology as my specialization.
Q: Are you currently studying and if so what?
A: Currently I am pursuing PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad. India.
Q: What value/s of The George Institute do you appreciate the most and why?
A: Firstly I appreciate the humanitarian commitment, as the research that is being carried out by George Institute will help identify barriers for treating non-communicable diseases by helping the poor and disabled.Secondly the creativity and Can do approach gives me a platform to balance my personal and professional life and think about new ideas.
Q: Why do you enjoy working at The George Institute/George Clinical?
A: George Institute gives a good platform to balance my personal and professional life unlike other job which have fixed timelines. The work environment and culture is totally different here and allows me to take decisions under guidance from seniors leaders of the institute. The open door policy and free/casual communication with line manager gives me more freedom for expression.
Q: What do you do to unwind at the end of the day?
A: I complete all my priorities at work for the day, have a cup of coffee with my colleagues and leave for home. When I reach home my daughter comes running towards me with sweet smile on her face and hugs me which completes my day and refreshes me. I play with her for some time and then take her out for a ride with my wife to have a cup of ice cream most of the times.
Q: What is your biggest achievement so far?
A: I have few achievements in each tenure of job at different organization, completed few drug trials at Dr. Reddys’(Pharmaceutical Company and few exams in St. Jude Medical (Medical Device Company which manufacture and market pacemakers and ICD’s) but my biggest achievement was to get enrolled in the PhD program which took my career and me a step further to become an independent researcher.
