I work as health policy and strategy advisor for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the global practice. I am responsible for advising teams working on different projects in the region as well as providing guidance on the technical assistance and advisory services with focus on evidence-based policies and pragmatic solutions that are fit-for-purpose and contextualized for the political, economic and social situations of countries at different levels of income and institutional capacities. I cover a wide range of technical areas including health policy reform, health insurance, health service delivery, noncommunicable diseases, and population policy.

I was responsible for the policy advice and technical assistance to the GCC countries in health and human development. I have provided and/or managed technical assistance on the following: health strategy in Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia; evaluation of the implementation of the health transformational plan in Saudi Arabia; cost-effectiveness and health financing in Oman; fiscal coordination of health in the United Arab Emirates; and in the GCC countries: assessment of public–private partnerships; introduction of Health in All Policies and behavior economics to reduce risk factors of noncommunicable diseases; health governance; and investment in human capital. I also directed several executive seminars for health policy makers at the International Monetary Fund – Center for Economics and Finance.

I worked as Team Leader and Health Policy Specialist responsible for the design, preparation, and supervision of implementation of a project portfolio amounting to more than US$3.5 billion. These projects were carried out in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Djibouti, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the Horn of Africa, Bangladesh, and India. I also provided technical assistance to, and prepared strategy and policy reports for more than 22 countries on a wide range of health domains, including maternal and child health, population and family planning, public health, health systems, hospital reform, service delivery, health insurance, health financing, health workforce, noncommunicable diseases, and implementation and delivery science. I also held additional positions, including sector coordinator for human development in more than 11 countries, regional coordinator for health policy in South Asia, global focal point for noncommunicable disease, and a champion of implementation and delivery science, as well as a coordinator of knowledge, learning, and innovation.

I managed the Health Policy Reform Program (US$80 million), where I interacted with high-level officials in government and donor agencies, led the program design, and directed all aspects of the program, including negotiating annual policy reforms, evaluating MOHP performance in achieving reforms, and determining budget transfers. I also provided technical guidance and strategic direction, managed the technical assistance team, and approved work plans and country activity plans.

I managed a portfolio of health and population projects totaling about US$100 million with the MOHP, other public sector organizations, and universities where I designed, managed, and monitored program implementation of two national population projects; planned technical assistance; and developed institutionalization and sustainability plans. I also provided technical guidance and strategic direction, conducted strategic and technical analyses, including a strategy for introducing new contraceptives. In addition, I provided policy advice to USAID on health and population policy, health research, and quality of care.

I managed, coordinated, and instructed on two programs in Health Care Administration and Medical Secretarial studies in the Center for Adult and Continuing Education. I also led the design of training courses and curriculum development in health management for health care organizations such as UNDP, AMIDEAST, and Washington Health Care.

I managed three USAID-funded projects in Jordan and Egypt with the MOH, the Regional Center for Training in Reproductive Health, and the Health Insurance Organization. I provided technical assistance in grant management, program planning and evaluation, management information systems, quality assurance, social marketing, information, education, and communication, and management of training operations.

I conducted research for the Department of Population Sciences and International Health on “Obstacles to new and improved vaccine development.”

I designed a disease surveillance system, established a data collection network, conducted data analysis and validation, and prepared the MIS work plans for the Expanded Program on Immunization, Acute Respiratory Infections, Child Spacing, and Child Nutrition programs of the Child Survival Project.

I managed program operations, including contract negotiation and management, budget planning and execution, and program monitoring and evaluation.

I managed the health clinic services and assisted the French Project Manager in health insurance and project operations.

I provided clinical outpatient and inpatient services in urban hospitals and worked in rural areas in primary health care units to provide essential health services including maternal and child health, family planning, and immunization.

I performed outpatient, pre- and postoperative, and inpatient services in pediatrics, general medicine and surgery, gynecology and obstetrics, anesthesia, emergency room, and oncology.