Abida Khatoon Haque, M.D.
Cornell Weill Professor of Pathology
Houston, Texas
We are honored to spotlight Dr. Abida Khatoon Haque, a pioneering physician, educator, and community leader whose career spans over five decades in the United States and Canada.Currently a retired Professor of Pathology at The Methodist Hospital and affiliated with Cornell Weill Medical College, Dr. Haque has left an indelible mark on the fields of pulmonary pathology, medical education, and cross-cultural health leadership.
Early Life & Education
Born in Hyderabad, India, Dr. Haque graduated with honors from Osmania University in 1965.
She pursued postgraduate training in obstetrics and gynecology in India 1965-67, and in
pathology in Canada and the United States, and became board-certified in Anatomic and Clinical
Pathology in 1979.
Medical & Academic Leadership
Dr. Haque served over 25 years at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Galveston,
where she rose from instructor to professor and held leadership roles in autopsy services,
cytopathology as Director of Anatomic pathology, and in pathology education. She has trained
and mentored over 300 pathology residents and fellows. She taught second-year medical
students in pathology for 25 years. She later served as Medical Director at San Jacinto Methodist
Hospital and as attending Surgical Pathologist at The Houston Methodist Hospital. She retired in
2019 as Professor emeritus.
Her dedication to medical education included over 700 contact hours with medical students
annually and contributions to their key medical curricula. As a mentor, she has inspired
numerous students and colleagues to pursue academic excellence and community service.
Research & Publications
Dr. Haque’s groundbreaking research includes work on asbestos toxicity, pulmonary
hypertension, lung cancer, obesity-related and sickle cell disease related pulmonary pathology.
She received and collaborated with other investigators to receive 14 grants from National
Cancer Institute and National Institute of Health, and contributed to Phase II clinical trials on
thoracic oncology .
She was Section Editor of Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
Her research portfolio includes:
85 peer-reviewed publications
35 articles in non-peer-reviewed journals
137 conference abstracts/posters
54 invited national and international presentations
Co-editor of four acclaimed books on pulmonary pathology
Contributor to nine medical textbooks
Her work is widely cited and has advanced understanding of lung disease and thoracic oncology
at the molecular level.
Service, Recognition, and Community Engagement
Dr. Haque was awarded the Sitara-e-Deccan by the Houston Hyderabad Association for her outstanding service. She also received the Medical Excellence Award for her work on acute respiratory distress syndrome in HIV patients.
In addition to academic accolades, she has been an editor, journal reviewer, and active member
of numerous pathology organizations.
She has served as President of IMANA (Islamic Medical Association of North America), where she restructured operations, improved communications with chapters, and initiated international student programs, including collaborations with King Fahad Medical City in
Riyadh.
Locally, Dr. Haque co-founded a volunteer group providing educational support to underprivileged children in Houston, India and Pakistan. She served as Sunday school teacher at her ISGH masjid.
Dr. Haque also writes poetry in her spare time, and has participated in local mushairas. Her collection of poetry is recently published entitled “Baad-e-Saba”.
Family & Personal Life
Dr. Haque and her husband, Dr. Waheed Haque, have lived in Houston since 1979. Their son Sajid is a pulmonologist and Intensive Care physician, and daughter Misha is an Ophthalmologist, both successful physicians, and they are blessed with four grandchildren.
Advice to the Next Generation
In her own words:
“Have faith in Allah, and ask for His guidance in everything. Choose your friends wisely—those who share your values. Always respect your parents and elders. Stay focused on your goals, aim for the best colleges, and remain open-minded. With hard work and integrity, you will
succeed—and through service to others, you will find purpose.”
Dr. Abida Haque stands as a role model in our community—living proof that academic excellence, spiritual commitment, and social responsibility can coexist to build a better future.