Aishath Shaheen Ismail is a distinguished professional with a Master of Public Health from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and a BSc (Hons) in Applied Human Nutrition from Leeds Beckett University, England. Her academic achievements lay a solid foundation for her illustrious career, primarily dedicated to the advancement of public health and nutrition education.

Beginning her journey at the Maldives National University (MNU) in 1993, Ismail has held various prestigious positions, showcasing her dedication and commitment to academia and public health. Her roles evolved from Assistant Tutor to Senior Lecturer, and eventually to Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, a position she held with distinction from 2011 to 2019. Further cementing her leadership within the academic community, Ismail was appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) at MNU, a role she excelled in from 14^th November 2019 until 13^th November 2023. In her latest appointment, she serves as a Research Fellow at the Research Development Office of MNU since 14^th November 2023, continuing her commitment to fostering academic and research excellence.

Ismail’s research interests lie at the intersection of public health, nutrition, and food science, areas where she has made significant contributions through her scholarly work and research endeavours. Her dedication extends beyond academia into strategic health planning and policy formulation, where she has played a pivotal role in developing national health master plans, strategic action plans on non-communicable diseases and nutrition strategies for the Maldives.

In addition to her academic and research pursuits, Ismail has been an active member of several key and scientific boards within the Maldives. Her involvement with the Maldives Board of Health Sciences, Maldives Allied Health Council, and the National Health Research Council underscores her commitment to advancing the health science field. Presently she is a member of the National Health Research Council and serves on the Advisory Board of the Judicial Academy, contributing her expertise to broader societal and governance issues.

Aishath Shaheen Ismail’s career is marked by her profound impact on public health and nutrition in the Maldives, driven by the unwavering dedication to improving health outcomes and educating the next generation of health professionals. Her contributions to academia, research and policy demonstrate her leadership and commitment to making a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and communities.

1. Public Health
2. Nutrition and food safety
3. Environmental issues related to Nutrition and food safety

1. Ismail, A. S., Sairah, K., & Ferdous Azam, S. (2024). A Baseline Study on Complementary Feeding Knowledge Among Mothers in the Maldives. Nanotechnology Perceptions , 20(S11), 394–402
2. Ismail, A. S. (2024). Pilot Study On Assessing Breastfeeding And Complementary Feeding Knowledge And Practice Among Mothers Of Children Under 2 Years Old. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 7742–7750. https://doi.org/10.53555/kuey.v30i5.4231
3. Naila, A., Raheem, R. A., & Ismail, A. S. (2022). Fatty Acid Composition in Local and International Food Products Available in the Maldives. Current Nutrition & Food Science, 18(1), 82–89. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573401317666210830100532
4. Raheema Abdul Raheem, Naila, A., Shaheen Ismail, A., & Kasturi, K. (2022). Assessment of trans-fats in the Maldivian diet. The Maldives National Journal of Research, 10(2), 30–44. https://doi.org/10.62338/82cv7h26
5. Shehenaz Adam, A., Ismail, A. S., Haleem, H., Abdul Raheem, R., Riyaz, A., Nishan, F., Shakeeb, S., Ali, S., Naila, A., Rasheed, M. F., Ahmed, N., Musthafa, H. S., Abdul Sattar, A., Najeeb, F., & Shareef, M. (2022). Higher Education Challenges under COVID-19 Pandemic in the Maldives. In Higher Education and the COVID-19 Pandemic (pp. 62–80). BRILL. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004520554_005
6. Ismail, A. S., Fatima, M.-A., & Khatibi, A. A. (2021). A mini review on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices among mothers of young children with policy interventions. International Journal of Medical Toxicology & Legal Medicine, 24(1and2), 50–56. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-4614.2021.00008.5
7. Robotin, M., Shaheem, M., & Ismail, A. S. (2016). Using consensus methods to develop a country-specific Master of Public Health curriculum for the Republic of Maldives. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 73. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S95614

1. Research
2. Public health and nutrition

Committees of MNU: University Council, Academic Senate, Committee on Courses, Higher Degrees Committee, Procurement committee, Human Resource Management Committee, Faculty Management committee, faculty Advisory Committee, Academic Review committee

Other Committees:  National Health Research Council, Breastmilk substitute committee, National Allied Health Council, Advisory committee of Judicial Academy of Maldives