Public Health Education

Dr. Sara Osman is a seasoned public health leader, medical educator, and accreditation expert with a distinguished track record in academic governance, institutional quality, and global health systems. She currently serves as the Associate Dean for Quality at Gulf Medical University (GMU) in the United Arab Emirates, where she oversees academic standards, program accreditation, and institutional effectiveness across a wide portfolio of health-related programs. Dr. Osman holds a PhD in Community Medicine with specialization in global health and health professions education accreditation. Her work bridges the domains of policy, public health, and higher education—making her a valued contributor to health workforce development and public health system strengthening across the Eastern Mediterranean Region and globally. She was recently appointed as Vice Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee (AFC) at The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (TGF), representing all developing countries. In this global leadership role, she provides high-level oversight on the financial and operational stewardship of one of the world’s largest public health financing mechanisms. Dr. Osman also serves as a Member of the Recognition Committee at the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), representing the Eastern Mediterranean Region. From 2019 to 2024, she was a WFME Assessor, conducting international accreditation site visits and advising national accrediting bodies on quality standards in medical education. Her prior international roles include serving as focal point for Sudan to the GAVI Board (2015–2019), advocating for vaccine equity and resilient health systems. She has also led national accreditation reform in Sudan, serving as Head of Accreditation for Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy Schools and holding advisory roles in graduate competency frameworks and health professional regulation. With over 14 years of experience in policy design, academic regulation, and cross-sectoral health reform, Dr. Osman is widely respected for her ability to translate regulatory frameworks into practice and for her contributions to shaping the future of health workforce education and governance in the region.

Dr. Zaher Ahmad Nazzal is a distinguished Palestinian medical professional, educator, and researcher specializing in Community Medicine. Born on September 1, 1972, Dr. Nazzal holds an MD from Istanbul University's Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty (1999) and completed the Arab Board certification in Community Medicine at Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar (2009). With over two decades of experience, he has made significant contributions to public health, medical education, and research in Palestine and beyond.

Currently serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at An-Najah National University (ANNU) since 2011, Dr. Nazzal has held several leadership roles, including Head of the Research Unit, Head of the Family and Community Medicine Department, and Coordinator of Clinical Scientific Research at ANNU. He also led the establishment of the An-Najah Child Institute for Child Developmental Disorders and managed multiple high-impact projects, such as the HERA Project on healthcare responses to violence and abuse.

Dr. Nazzal is an active member of numerous professional committees, including the Palestinian Board Committee of Community Medicine and the Arab Board of Community Medicine. His research focuses on diverse public health issues, including non-communicable diseases, COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance, and maternal and child health. He has authored over 90 peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals, addressing critical health challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

As a dedicated academic supervisor, Dr. Nazzal has guided numerous MPH students in research projects, further enriching the field of public health. Fluent in Arabic, English, and Turkish, he is proficient in statistical analysis tools like SPSS and reference management software.

Dr. Nazzal’s work demonstrates a commitment to improving healthcare systems, advancing medical education, and addressing pressing public health concerns in Palestine and the wider region.

Dr. Rajaa Al-Raddadi is an Associate Professor and Consultant in Preventive Medicine and Public Health with extensive qualifications, including MD in preventive medicine and public health, Master’s in Medical Education, Diploma in Clinical Research, and Diploma in Preventive Cardiology. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Scientific Council for the Saudi Board in Preventive Medicine under the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS). In addition, she is the Head of the Community Medicine Department and Chairman of the Research Ethics Committee at King Abdulaziz University. She is also Presedent of Bahith Society for Health Research, and board member of the Scientific Council of the Arab Board in Community Medicine. With over 170 published research papers, Dr. Al-Raddadi has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Research Award from RDIA, the Mohammad bin Rashid’s First Award in Cardiovascular Disease, the Ministry of Health Research Excellence Award, and the Faculty of Medicine’s Highest H-index distinction at King Abdulaziz University from 2020 to 2024.

<

Prof. Salim Adib is a medically-trained epidemiologist, who obtained a Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH) in 1991 at the University of Michigan (Ann-Arbor, USA). He has been involved in various academic activities, research, community service and public consultations in the USA (1986-93) and Kuwait (1995-2002). Between 2010 and 2012, he was the Manager of the Department of Public Health of the Emirate of Abu-Dhabi (UAE). In 2013, he served as a Professional International Expert for the Non-Communicable Diseases Department, WHO-East Mediterranean Regional Office (Cairo). He was the International Epidemiological Association Council Member for the Middle-East and North Africa from 2014 to 2021, and is now the Chair of the Lebanese Epidemiological Association which he co-founded in 1993. Prof. Adib has been on the Executive Council of the Association of Francophone Epidemiologists (ADELF) since 2017. He currently chairs the Committee on Subspecialties in the Arab Board for Community Medicine, an accreditation entity administered by the League of Arab States. Salim Adib is now a Professor of Public Health Practice at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. In November 2023, Prof. Adib was listed among the top 2% on worldwide research impact in an assessment run by Harvard.