Brigadier Helen Mary Roberts has been serving the Pakistan Army Medical Corps as a pathologist for 26 years. Born and raised in Hyderabad, she belongs to the Christian community and is the first female Christian to rise to the rank of Brigadier. Her promotion was celebrated all over the country as she wasn’t only a trailblazer for her own community but also for the female workforce of Pakistan.
As a hematologist, she sojourned across Pakistan and the USA, serving not only in Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) but also at King’s College and Stanford University. Her voyage serves as a Polaris for the female population of Pakistan to follow their dreams and aim for the bigger things in life. Brigadier Helen shattered the glass ceiling as she donned her uniform and proved her mettle in an otherwise male-dominated industry. Her love for her country preceded the bounds of biases and restrictions. She is an emblem of Pakistan’s pride in its minorities and trust in ‘merit and national representation’.
Q. Can you share your journey of becoming a brigadier in the military with us?
I was born and raised in Hyderabad, Sindh. I did my matriculation from St Mary’s Convent School and FSc from Nazareth College with flying colours. I did my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore. I did my Fellow of College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) training in hematology (pathology) from the AFIP Rawalpindi. After a decade, I felt great pride in being posted there as a Consultant Hematologist. I was selected for an on job training in molecular hematology at King’s College, London and Stanford University, USA.
Moreover, I am a passionate advocate for student-centred medical education and trained at Aga Khan University, Karachi, in Health Professional Education. I have supervised the training of more than 20 trainees in hematology to date. Out of more than two decades of service, I have served as a pathologist for 15 years. My military journey has been full of pride for wearing the uniform and serving the beloved motherland across the country.
Q. How do you see the socioreligious landscape of Pakistan empowering women?
With the active promotion of awareness for equity, embracing diversity, and protecting rights for all as enshrined in the constitution and defined by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, women have started to contribute to the economic landscape, safeguarding their rights. Religion and gender based segregation at the workplace limits a woman’s potential to achieve professional finesse. Thus, tolerance has to be inculcated at the grass root level not only for different religions but for female participation as well.
Q. As a woman belonging to a minority, what unique challenges have you had to face?
Generally, my service has been very fulfilling and free from any prejudice of gender or religious bias. I felt challenged, but fortunately, the institution of the Armed Forces has stringent checkpoints to ensure respect and protection for all with no discrimination based on gender or religion.
Q. Can you recall an event from your personal or professional life that helped you stay steadfast on your path?
My loving parents, siblings, husband, and children have been a constant source of encouragement and support throughout my personal and professional life. I especially remember my late mother, who taught me to rely on divine faith, and my late father, who was a very honest and hard-working person. My life is meaningful only due to their legacy and values.
Q. Being a woman in a leadership position, what advice would you give women who aim at shattering the glass ceiling?
• Have an unshakable belief in yourself and trust in your abilities.
• Remember to set clear aims and define your vision.
• Always work hard and persevere to overcome all obstacles with innate resilience.
• Be proud of yourself. Embrace your uniqueness and celebrate your strengths.
• Always work on improving skills and knowledge in your relevant field of expertise.
• Dare to step out of your comfort zone for meaningful personal and professional growth.
• Always empower and lift other women in your journey along the way.
• Learn to celebrate your successes and achievements, no matter how small.
Remember that shattering the glass ceiling and overcoming barriers requires courage and persistence!
Q. What kind of challenges did you face in your career, and how did you overcome them?
I think all professional women, including myself, face the biggest challenge of managing work-life balance. Our lives revolve around our families, and we strive daily to lead well-balanced lives as homemakers and professional women. Military life also has unique challenges, such as postings to far-flung areas and participating in annual military exercises. Therefore, adjusting to and managing the educational demands of children with each posting was quite challenging. I have been able to face and manage these challenges only with the support of my husband.
Q. What is the guidance you would want the women of Pakistan to follow?
You must have unwavering faith in God Almighty and believe in yourself. Hard work and selfless service never go unrewarded. Women in Pakistan need to remember that believing in themselves is the first step towards unlocking their potential and creating positive changes in themselves, their families, and society. As women become a part of the greater perspective and a global out view of Pakistan they need to rise above the mundane. To achieve greatness a woman must accept her limitations and be self-aware of her boundaries. Be the change that you wish to see around you.
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