Rizwana started her medical training in the University of Peshawar. She graduated from there with first class honours and after further training in surgery, both in Peshawar and Lahore. She came to Ireland in 1997 to pursue advanced training in ophthalmology. Training took place primarily in the prestigious Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin, but she also worked in several of the major Dublin Training Hospitals such as St Vincent’s University Hospital, the Mater, Beaumont and Crumlin Children’s Hospital. She also spent some time at Cork University Hospital.