5 minute read
A Vision of Health
A Vision of Health
At just 21 years old, Old Boy Aly Sultan ‘21 is the definition of a global citizen.
Written by Cassandra Houghton and Kloe Phelan
Few people in their early twenties can claim to have worked with the World Health Organisation, studied at Stanford and Oxford Universities, and helped restore sight in remote communities. Then again, few are as worldly and purpose-driven as Old Boy Aly Sultan, ‘21.
Now a rising senior at Stanford University, where he studies International Relations with a specialisation in Economic and Social Development, Aly divides his time between the United States and his home country of Papua New Guinea (PNG) - a nation whose needs, strengths and future remain central to his ambitions in health, development and service.
[My parents] built their lives around improving healthcare in Papua New Guinea, and growing up around their work taught me the value of service, resilience and purpose.
“I grew up in Papua New Guinea, a country that I am proud to call home,” Aly shared. “Life there was vibrant and full of contrasts. From the warmth of tight-knit communities to the very real challenges of limited access to healthcare and infrastructure; that experience is at the heart of why I do what I do.”
It was within that environment—rich in community but marked by systemic gaps— that Aly’s sense of duty began to take root. However, it was the sudden loss of his father in his senior year of school that gave his calling a deeper sense of meaning and urgency.
In 2021 Aly was in the thick of Year 12 studies when his father, Mohammad Sultan OBE, tragically passed away from COVID-19.
“Losing him changed everything,” he said.
The sorrow felt by Aly and his mother, Amyna—Doctor and Director at the Laila Foundation—became a shared motivation to deepen their commitment to the Foundation – a family-run initiative established by Mohammad 30 years ago in memory of his sister.
The Laila Foundation is committed to making eye health services accessible to underserved communities. Through mobile outreach and surgical interventions, the Foundation brings life-changing care to those who would otherwise go without.
While celebrating 30 years of the Laila Foundation in February, Mohammad’s visionary efforts were posthumously acknowledged. Not only was he the Founder of the Laila Foundation, but also the Founder of the Pacific International Hospital in PNG – the first private tertiary care facility in the country.
The Sultan family are renowned for lovingly delivering advanced care to tens of thousands of people.
It is easy to see where Aly draws his inspiration.
“[My parents] built their lives around improving healthcare in Papua New Guinea, and growing up around their work taught me the value of service, resilience and purpose,” he said.
And inspiration is not in short supply. Aly shared an experience he’ll never forget, from a recent cataract outreach in Hela Province, PNG:
“Joane Simons, a brave eight-year-old girl, had lived in darkness since the age of four due to bilateral cataracts. I was assigned as her chaperone, walking beside her as she entered the clinic – cautious, uncertain, and unable to see more than shadows,” he recalled.
“After her surgery, I stood nearby as she opened her eyes, blinking in the sunlight. A smile slowly spread across her face and then came the moment that truly lit up her world. She turned, looked up, and saw her father’s face clearly for the first time she could remember.”
The work of the Sultan family was recognised by members of the British royal family during a Commonwealth engagement. Both Mohammad and Amyna were made Officers of the Order of the British Empire.
Aly notes that his mother, even following the passing of her husband, “never wavered in her commitment to service… despite an even greater workload.” Her example, he says, “shaped the kind of leadership I aspire to.”
Jump at the opportunity. It broadens your perspective, builds resilience, and helps you discover what you’re capable of.
At BGS, Aly was Boarding Captain and participated in many clubs and activities, including the Gender Respect Committee. He says the skills gained in these clubs and activities continue to inform his approach to running outreach camps in PNG today.
Aly’s first contributions to the Laila Foundation saw him use his proficiency in interpreting Tok Pisin to connect locals and visitors. Then, during the school year, he would stay connected to his hometown through a not-for profit initiative of his own.
Artists back in PNG would receive emails from the young philanthropist asking if they were interested in having their work purchased and displayed in eye care shops in Port Moresby. Any money raised would fund his parents’ sight restoration projects.
Since graduating from BGS, Aly has interned with the World Health Organisation, completed a stint studying healthcare economics at Oxford University, and worked on public health initiatives across several provinces in PNG.
When asked what sustained him during difficult periods, he cites the grounding of his Ismaili Muslim community, as well as football, golf, squash and latenight conversations with friends where they debate everything from politics to technology and start-ups.
“These moments not only keep me grounded,” he said, “but constantly broaden my thinking beyond the classroom.”
Aly encourages anyone considering international pathways to take the leap.
“Jump at the opportunity. It broadens your perspective, builds resilience, and helps you discover what you’re capable of.”
Service has always been a core value in my family - it’s the rent we pay for our time on this Earth.
