NEW YORK, Sept 28, 2025: Dr. Maryam Shoukat, a 27-year-old physician from Pakistan who recently moved to the United States to pursue her medical residency, tragically passed away on Sunday after suffering acute liver failure.
She lost her life just half an hour before surgeons at Rutgers University Hospital in New Jersey were scheduled to perform her liver transplant.
Dr. Shoukat came to the US with a dream of serving humanity and building a career dedicated to healing and compassion. Earlier this month, doctors diagnosed her with severe liver failure and admitted her to Rutgers University Hospital, where her condition deteriorated rapidly.
Specialists urged an urgent liver transplant, and her husband, Dr. Hamza Zafar, immediately sought help from the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA). APPNA launched an emergency fundraising campaign without delay and raised nearly $400,000. The hospital responded to this extraordinary effort by reducing the transplant cost from $900,000 to $450,000, which made the surgery financially possible.
The hospital placed Dr. Shoukat on the transplant list and quickly identified a compatible liver donor. Doctors finalized the arrangements for the critical surgery, and her family and supporters held out hope for her recovery. Yet, just thirty minutes before the procedure, her health suddenly collapsed, and despite medical efforts, she passed away.
The devastating news shook the Pakistani-American community and APPNA members, who expressed profound grief over the loss of a young doctor committed to service and humanity. They honored her courage and determination, emphasizing that although her life ended far too soon, her struggle and dream to heal others will continue to inspire countless people.