Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
Microsoft outage An issue is affecting Microsoft services, including Outlook access. This is a global outage. We will update as soon as more information becomes available.
Skip to main content

Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 556 5507
Email
sumerasaeed.akhtar@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department
Department of Primary Health Care (Dunedin)
Qualifications
Pharm D, MPhil, PhD (Otago)
Research summary
Health equity, improving health outcomes, health promotion, health intervention
Memberships
  • Public Health Association of New Zealand
  • International Pharmaceutical Federation
  • Overseas Registered Pharmacist

Research

Sumera is a strong qualitative emerging health researcher with experience leading qualitative projects on the medicine practices of migrant women, migrant women's health, management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among South Asian women, and navigation of the healthcare system.

Her research focuses on health equity, specifically equity in healthcare access. She has expertise in engaging with minority populations, especially women, to understand their barriers to optimal healthcare, improve health outcomes, and reduce inequity. She has substantial experience engaging with migrant women to understand women's and children's health. She is interested in how people's knowledge influences medicine use and health access and how their knowledge can be improved.

Research Projects

Improving service delivery for NZ South Asian women with gestational diabetes

  • Grant: Research Career Development Award, HRCNZ ($115,021)

Lived Experiences, Knowledge and management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among New Zealand South Asian Women

  • Grant:: Post Doctoral Fellowship Award, Lottery Health Research, 2025-26 ($160,000)

Publications

Batool, A., Aslam, A., Boota, N. M., Mustafa, A. G., & Akhtar, S. S. (2026). Migraine burden and occupational impact among corporate employees attending neurology clinics in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. International Journal of Occupational Safety & Ergonomics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/10803548.2026.2737567 Journal - Research Article

Akhtar, S. S., & Leitch, S. (2026). South Asian women's perspectives and recommendations on gestational diabetes care and postpartum type 2 diabetes prevention in Aotearoa New Zealand: A qualitative study. Journal of Diabetes Research, 2026(1), 8712576. doi: 10.1155/jdr/8712576 Journal - Research Article

Aamir, M., Nafeesa, B., Aslam, A., Mustafa, A. G., Elahi, M., Elahi, A., … Akhtar, S. S. (2026). Insulin prescribing challenges and physician-suggested interventions: Evidence from a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, 9(5), e70337. doi: 10.1002/edm2.70337 Journal - Research Article

Ijaz, M., Aslam, A., Fatima, M., Anwar, M., Akhtar, S. S., Jamshed, S., … Alqahtani, N. (2026). Quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression among patients with cancer: Insights from a tertiary care hospital. Medical Science Monitor, 32, e952446. doi: 10.12659/msm.952446 Journal - Research Article

Aamir, M., Aslam, A., Boota, N. M., Elahi, A., Elahi, M., Mustafa, A. G., & Akhtar, S. S. (2026). Patient-reported perceptions and barriers in accessing surgical care in a tertiary healthcare setting: A cross-sectional study from Pakistan. Health Science Reports, 9, e72839. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.72839 Journal - Research Article

Back to top