Qatar Journal of Public Health
Editors-in-Chief
Sheikh Mohammed Hamad J. Al-Thani, PhD, Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Qatar
Dr. Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin J. Al-Thani has been the Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in the State of Qatar since 2008. Currently, he is the Director of Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention Programs at MOPH, Qatar. Dr. Al-Thani has headed several national committees, including Chairing the National Preventive Health Committee. His other affiliations include being the Assistant Professor of Public Health (courtesy) at Weill Cornell Medical College, Qatar, Executive Board Member, and Member of the Executive Board of Health Ministers' Council, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States. He has also participated in many research activities that have had a positive impact on public health programs in the region. Dr. Al-Thani graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University (1998) and received an Arab Fellowship in Community Medicine in 2006. He gained a Fellowship from the Faculty of Public Health in London in 2010 and obtained a Master's in Business Administration in 2014 from HEC Paris.
Dr. Maha Al-Shamali, M.B.B. Ch, ABCM, Qatar Council of Healthcare Professionals, Doha, Qatar
Dr Maha Al-Shamali is an experienced Community Medicine Consultant with a proven track record in surveillance and communicable diseases control programs. She was recently promoted to a leadership role as the Head of Surveillance and Outbreaks Section at the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in the State of Qatar. She led the successful implementation of the Mass Gatherings Early Warning, Alert, and Response System (MG EWARS) project for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Dr Al-Shamali has provided technical leadership and operational management support to surveillance and COVID-19 case investigation teams (a team of more than 110 members). Furthermore, she supervised the development of workflows, data collection tools, data analysis, and production of epidemiological bulletins for COVID-19 and other diseases. This includes data from electronic surveillance systems, event-based surveillance (including epidemic intelligence from open Sources, EIOS). Additionally, she played a vital role in planning, developing, and implementing vital communicable disease programs and frameworks for critical diseases, such as Tuberculosis (TB), Viral Hepatitis, Food Poisoning, MERS-CoV, and STIs/ HIV. In addition, she participates in direct health screening programs, training and awareness raising programs, and surveillance systems strengthening aimed at disease elimination while facilitating data analysis and knowledge sharing on public health impact.
Managing Editor
Dr. Devendra Bansal, PhD, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
Dr. Devendra Bansal is a Public Health Scientist with 23 years of academic and professional experience. He has worked at institutions such as PGIMER in India, Institut Pasteur in France, and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. Currently, he is employed at the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in the State of Qatar, where his research focuses on epidemiology, one health, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and zoonotic and vector-borne diseases. Dr. Bansal has published over 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has received funding from agencies, including the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Institut Pasteur & Fondation des Treilles in Tourtour, France, Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
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Senior Editors
Dr. Hadi M. Yassine, PhD, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
Hadi Mohamad Yassine is an Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases and Section Head of Research at the Biomedical Research Center (BRC), Qatar University. His research and teaching experiences have been fostered by several years of intensive work at state-of-the-art and multi-disciplinary institutions. He has published over 200 articles, many of which are in top-tier scientific journals. He was named a highly cited researcher (top 0.1% worldwide) by Clarivate in 2021, 2022, and 2023. He received several awards in recognition of his work and contributed to seven patents on new designs of viral vaccines.
Dr. Hayat Mohamedbek, MBBS, MD, MSc, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
Dr. Hayat Khogali is a Senior Public Health Physician and Medical Epidemiologist. She holds an MBBS, MD, and a Master's in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She has worked with the Sudan FMOH as the Head of National Epidemiology and the Zoonotic Disease Program. She has extensive progressive experience in the field of public health with a focus on communicable disease surveillance, outbreak investigation and control, humanitarian emergency and response, implementation of IHR core capacities, MCH, immunization programs, planning, monitoring, and evaluation. With strong expertise in epidemiological data analysis, vaccine-preventable disease reporting systems, and one health concepts, she has also taught and supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students, managed academic programs, and published in peer-reviewed journals. Since 2016, Dr. Khogali has worked at Qatar's Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), leading the Expanded Program on Immunization, coordinating with stakeholders to align with WHO strategies, and supporting measles elimination targets. She played a key leadership role in Qatar's COVID-19 response as Deputy National Lead for contact tracing, contributing to guideline development, vaccination rollout, and technical oversight. Most recently, she supported public health operations during the FIFA World Cup 2022 as part of the Public Health Emergency Operation Center team.
Dr. Laith Abu-Raddad, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar
Laith J. Abu-Raddad (Ph.D.) is a Professor of Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. His academic career is distinguished by numerous high-impact studies published in journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Science, and The Lancet. His research spans a spectrum of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis C virus, tuberculosis, and SARS.
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Dr. Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari, PhD, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar
Al-Kuwari is a Senior Consultant in Preventive Medicine and Executive Director of Strategy Planning and Health Intelligence at the Primary Health Care Corporation. Academically, he is a Professor of Community Medicine at the College of Medicine, Qatar University, and a Trainer in Family and Community Medicine Residency programs. He is also the former Program Director of the Community Medicine Residency program. Prof. Al-Kuwari has over 100 scientific papers published in Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Primary Healthcare.
Dr. Ivana Bozicevic, MD, University of Zagreb, WHO Collaborating Centre for HIV Strategic Information Zagreb, Croatia
Ivana Božičević (MD, MSc, DrPH) is a Professor of Public Health at the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia. She serves as a Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for HIV Strategic Information. She holds a DrPH from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Her research interests are the epidemiology of HIV and STIs and the evaluation of interventions.
Associate Editors
Dr. Abid Muhammad Saeed, PhD, Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Doha, Qatar
Dr. Abid Saeed (MBBS, MSPH, MSc FETP, DrPH) is working as a Public Health Physician at the Health Protection & Communicable Disease Control Department (HP-CDC) of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Qatar. Currently, he is a Public Health Expert with over 14 years of experience in epidemiology, communicable disease control, and health promotion. He has completed his DrPh with a major in Epidemiology at Mahidol University, Thailand. He has served in key roles within international organizations, like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the MOPH, Qatar, focusing on disease surveillance, outbreak response, and public health strategy implementation. Dr. Saeed has contributed to significant public health efforts, including polio eradication, COVID-19 control, and combating vaccine-preventable diseases. His research and fieldwork span across Pakistan, Balochistan, and Qatar, with numerous publications on infectious diseases and public health systems.
Dr. Reshma Javed, MD, Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Doha, Qatar
Dr. Reshma Javed (MBBS, MD) is a Public Health Physician at Health Protection & Communicable Disease Control Department, Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Qatar. She has served as an Assistant Professor in Community Medicine, with clinical and administrative experience in primary healthcare. Her research interests include epidemiology and public health interventions.
Dr. Sayed Mohamed Himatt, PhD, Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Amman, Jordan
Dr Sayed Himatt, a Seasoned Public Health Professional whose expertise focuses on communicable disease control, epidemic intelligence, IHR (2005), one health, and mass gatherings. Currently, he is promoting the one health approach in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Dr. Khalid Hamid Elawad, PhD, Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar
Dr. Khalid Elawad is a Medical Doctor and Public Health Consultant. With over 21 years of international experience in the field of public health as a Senior Public Health Advisor. Dr. Khalid is currently the Health Protection Manager at Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) in Doha, Qatar. Dr. Khalid's role is key in the development and shaping of Qatar’s national healthcare strategy. Dr. Khalid is also heavily involved in various local committees, such as the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee, the Infection Prevention and Control Committee, the Public Health Committee, and the National Health Protection Committee. Dr. Khalid has also conducted several public research studies in the field of Infection Control, as well as co-authoring multiple books focused on Health Promotion and Communicable Disease Prevention.
Dr. Hanan F. Abdul Rahim, PhD, Qatar University, Qatar
Dr. Hanan Abdul Rahim is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, and the Associate Director of the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) at Qatar University. Before moving to Qatar in August 2008, Dr. Abdul-Rahim was at the Institute of Community and Public Health (ICPH), Birzeit University, Palestine, where she coordinated and taught courses in the Institute's Diploma and Master's in Public Health Programs. Dr. Abdul Rahim's research interests are at the intersection of social science and public health, with a special interest in the social determinants of health, noncommunicable diseases, and the health and well-being of women. Her previous research has focused on reproductive health in the context of health systems building in developing countries, particularly in relation to women and noncommunicable diseases. Dr. Abdul Rahim has authored and co-authored a number of research and policy-oriented articles and reports. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Salem College, NC, USA (1992); a Master of Science in Biology from Illinois State University, USA (1994), and earned her Ph.D. from the Faculty of Medicine (epidemiology), University of Oslo, Norway in 2003.
ORCID; Google Scholar; ResearchGate
Dr. Iheb Bougmiza, PhD, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar
Dr. Mohamed Iheb Bougmiza is a Consultant and an Associate Professor in Preventive and Community Medicine. Currently, he is Director of the Community Medicine Residency Program in Qatar. Dr. Bougmiza received his MD degree in 2003 from the College of Medicine, Sousse University, Tunisia. He has also completed a Master of Public Health at Bordeaux II University, France, and other degrees in Health Quality and Risk Management at Paris Diderot University, France. He is passionate about non-communicable diseases and lifestyle medicine. He is running a lifestyle clinic in primary care. Dr. Bougmiza has a 17-year of teaching experience for Undergraduate and Postgraduate medical students in Sousse University, Tunisia, Senghor University, Egypt, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, and the Community Medicine Residency program, Qatar. Dr. Bougmiza has extensive experience in quantitative research methods and has published 90 articles. Out of them, 77 are indexed in PubMed. He is a reviewer for many medical journals.
Dr. Ali S. Omrani, PhD, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar
Dr. Ali Omrani is a Senior Consultant in Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and a Clinical Professor of Infectious Diseases at Qatar University, Qatar. He completed his training in adult infectious diseases and medical microbiology at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and the Royal College of Pathologists, and a member of multiple societies. His research interests include the management of infections caused by extensively resistant pathogens, infections in immune-compromised hosts, and infections in critically ill patients.
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Dr. Sami G. Al-Ghamdi, PhD, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
Dr. Sami G. Al-Ghamdi is an Associate Professor of Sustainable Built Environment & Climate Change Resilient Infrastructure at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia. He holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh (2015), an MSc in Civil and Construction Engineering from Western Michigan University (2010), and a BSc in Architecture and Building Science from King Saud University (2005). He is a LEED-accredited Professional with a specialty in green building design and construction from the U.S. Green Building Council, and a building performance analyst professional by Autodesk. Dr. Al-Ghamdi is the founder and PI of KAUST Urban Lab at KAUST. He conducts multidisciplinary research on the complexities of the built environment and trains the next generations of scientists capable of developing innovative solutions to mitigate climate change; optimize energy, water, and material consumption; and improve the quality of life. He has published more than 120 refereed, Scopus-indexed papers.
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Dr. Marwa Farag, PhD, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar
Dr. Marwa Farag is an Associate Professor at the School of Public Administration and Development Economics, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies in Qatar. Prior to joining the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, she held the position of Associate Professor at the School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan in Canada. Previously, she worked as a Senior Research Associate at the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy, Global Institute for Health and Development at Brandeis University. Dr. Farag's international field experience includes working in Iraq on health financing and resource allocation issues and in health sector reform in Egypt. Dr. Farag's primary research areas are health policy, health financing, health economics, and health program planning and evaluation. Dr. Farag has a Master's in Health Policy, Planning and Financing (Health Economics) from the London School of Economics and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, UK. She has a second Master's in International Health Policy and Management, and a PhD in Health Policy from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, USA. Dr. Farag was also a Research Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government (KSG), Harvard University, the USA, for two years.
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Dr. Ahmed El Idrissi Hamzi, PhD, Independent Consultant, Morocco
Dr Elidrissi is a Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Regional Expert with a history of working at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Dr Elidrissi supported the development of Qatar's One Health Framework and 5-year strategic action plans. He has also completed a Consultancy Mission in Qatar for the WHO Joint External Investigations on Zoonotic Diseases.
Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Sallam, M.D., Ministry of Public Health, Doha (MOPH), Qatar
Dr. Mohamed Sallam is a committed public health professional working in the Surveillance and Outbreak Section at Qatar's Ministry of Public Health. With a background in medicine and advanced training in epidemiology, tropical medicine, and surveillance, he has contributed to various health initiatives, including disease prevention and outbreak management. Dr. Sallam has supported critical projects, such as the implementation of the Surveillance And Vaccine Electronic System (SAVES), and played a role in Qatar's COVID-19 response. He was also involved in public health surveillance for the Arab World Cup 2021 and FIFA World Cup 2022, where he led the team of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system to enhance disease monitoring. In addition to his technical work, Dr. Sallam has contributed to STI guidelines, and he actively guides students and healthcare professionals. His work focuses on improving public health through education, collaboration, and sustainable disease prevention efforts.
Dr. Khalid Elmardi Abdelgadir, MD, Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Doha, Qatar
Dr. Khalid Elmardi is a Consultant Specialist in Public Health at the Health Protection and Communicable Diseases Control Department at the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Qatar. He has a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, an MD degree from the Sudan Medical Specialization Board, a PhD degree from Maastricht University, and a Fellowship from the Faculty of Public Health, UK. He has over 20 years of experience in the field of epidemiology, communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases, vector control, non-communicable diseases, vaccination programmes, health information systems, health system strengthening, and health policy. He successfully led the design and implementation of many health projects funded by leading global agencies, like the GFATM, UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, and the Islamic Development Bank. Dr. Khalid also has academic experience in teaching public health in health institutes for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. He also has good experience in quantitative and qualitative research design and conduct. Most of his research work is published in peer-reviewed journals. He is further serving as a reviewer for many indexed journals.
Dr. Sandeep Meharwal, FHI 360, North Carolina, USA
Dr. Sandeep Meharwal is a Public Health Professional with 2 decades of experience in diagnostics, medical microbiology, research, teaching, and training. Dr. Meharwal has extensive experience in implementing newer diagnostic technologies in the field, providing leadership and technical support to build sustainable laboratory capacity in resource-limited countries. In his years of experience, Dr. Meharwal worked with several countries in Asia and Africa to strengthen laboratory approaches and share best practices. He has published many publications in journals, books, and articles for international meetings/conferences. He also serves as a member of the WHO expert group on TB diagnostics. He is a trained Microbiologist and is currently serving as Program Director for the Infectious Diseases Department, Global Health Population Division of FHI 360, and Project Director of a CDC-funded Enhancing Global Health Security (EGHS) project.
Dr. Praveen K Bharti, PhD, National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
Dr. Praveen K. Bharti is a Scientist at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in New Delhi, India. With a strong academic background and extensive research experience, Dr. Bharti has made significant contributions to the fields of infectious diseases and epidemiology, particularly in Malaria control and elimination. Dr. Bharti completed his Ph.D. in Biotechnology, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of Plasmodium parasite resistance to antimalarial and host-pathogen interactions. His research interests include vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics. Over the years, he has published 150 research articles in reputable scientific journals and has been involved in various national and international collaborations. In addition to his research work, Dr. Bharti is committed to mentoring young scientists (Supervised 10 PhD) and contributing to capacity building in public health research.
Dr. Deepesh Khanna, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, USA
Dr. Deepesh Khanna is an Assistant Professor at Nova Southeastern University. He specializes in foundational sciences with expertise spanning kinesiology, public health, and medicine. He holds a PhD in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University, an MPH in Environmental Health and Epidemiology, an MD from Awadesh Pratap Singh University, and an MBA in Finance from Lincoln Memorial University. His doctoral research explored the effects of diet and exercise-induced weight loss on inflammatory markers in sedentary obese women, reflecting his focus on exercise physiology and health outcomes. Since joining Nova Southeastern in 2019, following faculty roles at Arkansas Tech University and Lincoln Memorial University, he has built an extensive publication record on public health challenges, including obesity-related metabolic complications and neurological impacts of COVID-19, and has presented at major conferences such as APHA and the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. Recognized with awards including the Texas A&M Outstanding Alumni Award and multiple Nova Southeastern honors for scholarship and service, Dr. Khanna is also a certified public health professional and an active member of APHA and the Society for Public Health Education, combining research, teaching, and mentorship to advance healthcare knowledge and practice.
MOPH Team
- Hamad Pattalaparambil, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar.
Email: [email protected]
- Naeema Saeed A Al-Sulaiman, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar.
Email: [email protected]
HBKU Press Team
Dr. Salah B. Ajjur, Head of Academic & Journals Publishing
Dr. Salah B. Ajjur is the Head of Academic & Journals Publishing at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Press. With over 16 years of experience in the academic publishing industry, both in Arabic and English, Dr. Salah has overseen the publication of numerous high-impact journals and scholarly articles. He holds a Ph.D. from HBKU, Doha, Qatar, and has authored more than 36 publications. Dr. Salah has a strong background in peer-review management, editorial processes, digital publishing, and publisher housekeeping management. Under his leadership, HBKU Press has implemented innovative publishing strategies and technologies, enhancing the visibility and accessibility of academic research. An active member of several professional organizations, Dr. Salah frequently speaks at industry conferences and events. He is committed to advancing the dissemination of knowledge and fostering collaboration among researchers, editors, and reviewers. Additionally, he is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of publishing professionals and contributing to the ongoing development of the academic publishing field.
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Safi Ullah, Journals Publisher
Dr. Safi Ullah serves as the Journals' Publisher at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Press. He has extensive experience in academic research, publishing, and editorial processes, having worked on numerous scientific publications and journals. Dr. Safi manages manuscript submissions, coordinates the peer review process, and ensures high-quality production standards for QScience journals.
Email: [email protected]
Natacha Fares, Production and Digital Specialist
Natacha Fares is a Design and Production Specialist at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Press, where she manages the creative direction of various projects, including books and academic journals. She serves as the liaison between authors, contributors, and the production team for the esteemed academic journals hosted on the QScience platform. She has several years of experience in diverse creative fields and holds a Master's in Graphic Design from the Université Saint-Esprit (USEK), Lebanon.
Email: nfares@hbku.edu.qa