Co-founder and CEO of the Center for Contemporary Sciences
Known for
Neurologist, public health specialist, animal ethicist
Aysha Akhtar is an Americanneurologist,public health specialist andanimal ethicist.[1][2] Akhtar is co-founder, CEO, and President of the Center for Contemporary Sciences.[2] She is a US veteran.
Akhtar has a master's degree in public health and is double board-certified in both neurology andpreventive medicine.[1] She was a Medical Officer for theFood and Drug Administration's Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats and Commander in theU.S. Public Health Service.[3] She was previously Deputy Director of the Army's Traumatic Brain Injury Program.[4]
In 2019, Akhtar authoredOur Symphony with Animals: On Health, Empathy, and Our Shared Destinies which combines medicine, social sciences and personal stories.[6] Her book explores how empathy with animals deeply affects humans' health and well-being. Akhtar argues that animals are co-equals, worthy of compassion and respect.[7] She has stated that "I am on a mission to show how treating animals with kindness is not only good for animals, but also good for us."[8]
She was a speaker at The Rethinking Animals Summit and the DC VegFest in 2019.[9][10]
^DeGrazia, David (2013). "Reviewed Work: Animals and Public Health: Why Treating Animals Better Is Critical to Human Welfare by Aysha Akhtar".Journal of Animal Ethics.3 (1):108–109.doi:10.5406/janimalethics.3.1.0108.
