Building research impact in health – an interview with Dr. Sahibzada Nasir Mansoor

“Rising Scholars was a game changer… I applied it in all my research, teaching and mentorship activities – and I proudly say that I transferred whatever I learned to the aspiring next generation.”

In many parts of the world, health professionals face a dual challenge: delivering care to patients with limited resources while also building the research skills and confidence needed to improve healthcare in the long term. Access to mentorship, training, and opportunities to publish is often limited, making it harder for doctors to share their knowledge and strengthen health systems. Rising Scholars, hosted by INASP, helps to bridge this gap by providing the tools, networks, and support that empowers researchers to grow and, in turn, support others.

Pakistani physician Dr. Sahibzada Nasir Mansoor is a consultant in rehabilitation medicine, a pain specialist, and a medical educator. He has been part of the Rising Scholars community since 2015. Through grants, facilitation, and mentorship, he has grown as both a researcher and a trainer during this time. He now chooses to pass on his skills to the next generation of healthcare professionals.

In this interview, Dr. Mansoor reflects on his journey, the role Rising Scholars has played in his career, and the lessons he carries forward.

Could you start by introducing yourself and your area of work?

I am a consultant physician in rehabilitation medicine, a medical educationist, and a pain specialist. I work with people of all ages living with disabilities, from children to the elderly, helping them to achieve the best possible functional outcomes. Pain management is one of my favourite areas because it allows me to relieve suffering directly.

Alongside my clinical work, I have a passion for teaching. I train supervisors for the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan and conduct workshops on educational planning, evaluation, and assessment of competence.

What inspired you to become a doctor, and what keeps you motivated in this field?

Since childhood I was exposed to doctors and hospitals and saw them serving humanity with dedication. I also saw the suffering of people due to lack of quality health care. That inspired me to become a doctor myself.

Even today, what satisfies me the most is when I can relieve someone’s pain, help a patient achieve their functional potential, or teach and guide a colleague or junior.

What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?

Networking, good mentors, and a passion to grow were the key factors that helped me overcome obstacles. They also gave me experience in research reading, writing, and publishing, which became vital later in my career.

The greatest challenge was finding the right direction and motivation to serve my community. I was fortunate to have an excellent mentor, who guided me and exposed me to many opportunities.

How did you first become involved with Rising Scholars?

I was introduced by my mentor, Dr. Farooq Rathore [Farooq Rathore is an engaged Rising Scholars steward]. I found the platform very useful and started engaging, learning, and collaborating.

The turning point came when I applied for a Rising Scholars (then AuthorAID) workshop grant in 2015. Although my first application wasn’t successful, I reapplied the following year and was awarded a grant. With careful budgeting, I was able to conduct five research-writing workshops across Pakistan, reaching more than 200 participants.

That experience gave me confidence, new networks, and the motivation to keep going. From that day onward, I never stopped.

What role has Rising Scholars played in your development?

It was truly a game changer. Finding mentors, collaborating with experts and students around the world, securing a grant, guest facilitating MOOCs, attending the Rising Scholars facilitator bootcamp, and writing blogs all gave me confidence and experience.

I applied what I learned in all my research, teaching, and mentorship activities, and I proudly say that I passed this knowledge on to the next generation.

Are there any particular success stories with Rising Scholars that stay with you?

Every moment with INASP and Rising Scholars was valuable. But the moment that motivated me the most was receiving that original research grant. That recognition changed everything – it gave me the confidence to do more, achieve more, and serve those in need of guidance.

How is the support you received continuing to make a difference today?

The support I received has multiplied. It’s not only helping me but also benefiting the students and colleagues I have trained. The mentorship, workshops, and teaching methods I learned through Rising Scholars are now embedded in my practice and continue to ripple out to others.

I owe a major part of my growth to INASP and Rising Scholars for encouraging leadership and supporting research in low- and middle-income countries.

Many thanks for your time, Dr. Mansoor.

Dr. Mansoor’s journey shows how early opportunities and mentorship can ignite a chain reaction of impact. From winning a workshop grant to training hundreds of peers and mentoring the next generation, his story reflects Rising Scholars’ role as a catalyst for research impact and leadership in healthcare.

Impact through Rising Scholars

• Advancing locally relevant health knowledge. Through Rising Scholars, INASP provides a flexible programme of online resources that enables researchers and community innovators like Dr. Mansoor to strengthen their skills, deepen their confidence and forge new collaborations, inspiring new thinking and new solutions to global health challenges.
• Scaling local research training: Over the last three years, INASP has supported 23,000 researchers to gain new knowledge and strengthen their skills so that they can create relevant and rigorous knowledge to tackle the growing complexity of global challenges. With a Rising Scholars grant, Dr. Mansoor delivered five research-writing workshops across Pakistan, reaching more than 200 participants.
• Building mentorship capacity for health professionals. Rising Scholars has an 18-year history of finding new ways to bridge the learning gap for early career scholars. For Dr. Mansoor, INASP’s support gave him the confidence to step into new teaching and mentoring roles that continue to multiply impact. He became a facilitator, senior facilitator, and bootcamp graduate, shaping the skills of young researchers and health professionals.

Title image: Dr Mansoor conducting a workshop in Pakistan