Committees

Dr. Samar Al Moazen is a Syrian family physician, academic, and public health leader with more than two decades of experience in family and community medicine, medical education, and health systems strengthening. She holds an MD from Damascus University, a Master’s degree and Syrian Board certification in Family and Community Medicine, and a WHO-endorsed Regional Diploma in Family Medicine from Aga Khan University.

Dr. Al Moazen serves as Lecturer in Family and Community Medicine at Al Sham Private University, Tutor for the Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine at the Rila Institute of Health Sciences (UK), and Supervisor for the UNRWA Diploma in Primary Health Care and Reproductive Health. She is President of the Syrian Board of Family Medicine, President of the Syrian Association of Family Medicine, a member of the Training & Programs Committee of the Arab Board of Health Specialties, and a member of the Executive Board of WONCA EMRO.

Her professional interests include family medicine education, health workforce development, evidence-based practice, health systems resilience, and primary health care strengthening. She has contributed to numerous regional conferences, scientific committees, research projects, and publications advancing family medicine in Syria and the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Dr. Hesham Abdussalam Ben Masaud is a dual-certified Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine Consultant with over two decades of clinical, educational, and public health experience in Libya. He integrates frontline patient-centered care in primary care, hospital, and humanitarian settings with national leadership in health system development.

Currently serving as President of the General Practice Council for the Libyan Board of Medical Specialties, Dr. Ben Masaud drives postgraduate medical curriculum reform, national training standards, and modern assessment systems. He has led vital public health initiatives, including the May Measurement Month hypertension campaigns, and collaborates with international bodies like WHO and UNICEF on maternal and child health guidelines.

In recognition of his exemplary service, leadership, and dedication to strengthening primary healthcare, Dr. Ben Masaud was honored with the prestigious WONCA EMR 2026 Regional Five-Star Doctor Award, celebrating his outstanding contributions as a clinician, educator, communicator, and manager.

Dr. Fatima Zohra M’CHICH ALAMI is a senior Family Physician and Medical Educator based in Rabat, Morocco, with over 30 years of clinical and leadership experience. Since establishing her private practice in 1992, she has become a prominent figure in medical politics, actively contributing to the development of Family Medicine in Morocco, the Maghreb, and the Arab world.

As the President of MG Maroc since 2010 and a Council Member of WONCA EMR, Dr. M’CHICH ALAMI holds foundational roles in several regional and international federations. Deeply committed to advancing her profession, she is particularly involved in continuous medical education and pedagogy. Her academic and professional background includes a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, specialized training in internship mastery, as well as numerous publications and presentations at international congresses.

Dr. Saeed Soliman is Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, and a PHC consultant at the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO EMRO), where he leads regional collaboration between WHO and WONCA on strengthening family medicine and primary health care.

Through his WHO EMRO role, he drives regional programmes on PHC workforce development and training of trainers, including the Regional Professional Diploma in Family Medicine. With over 15 years of experience in clinical practice, medical education, and health systems strengthening, he is a Fulbright Scholar, Harvard Clinical Research Scholar, and author of more than 50 peer-reviewed publications.

A Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (FRCGP Int.), Prof. Soliman continues to champion regional partnership between WHO and WONCA in advancing family medicine training and PHC systems strengthening.

Dr. Manal Hamdy Mohamed El Sayad is an Assistant Lecturer of Family Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt, and works at Menoufia University Hospital.

She obtained her Master’s Degree in Family Medicine in 2021 and is currently pursuing her PhD in the same specialty.

Dr. El Sayad serves as the Executive Secretary to the Chairman of the Egyptian Family Medicine Association. Her professional interests include primary health care, preventive medicine, medical education, and community-oriented healthcare.

Dr. Mohammad Alazemi, MBBS, MD, MRCGP(Int), is the President-Elect of the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) Eastern Mediterranean Region. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Gulf Association for Family Medicine and former President of the Kuwait Association of Family Medicine and General Practitioners.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Management Development from the Institute of Leadership at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and is a Fellow in Lifestyle and Sports Medicine from Imperial College London.

Dr. Alazemi has held senior leadership positions in Kuwait’s health sector. His professional interests include family medicine, primary health care leadership, medical education, lifestyle medicine, and healthcare innovation.

Prof. Muntadhar Saad Jaber is a Consultant Family Medicine physician and Medical Adviser at the Training and Development Center of the Iraqi Ministry of Health.

He is President of the Iraqi Family Physicians Society, a Member of the Arabic Board of Family Medicine in Iraq, and Chairman of the Regional Professional Diploma of Family Medicine in Iraq.

He is also the former Technical Director of the Iraqi Health Insurance Authority.

Dr. Najat Mohammed Issa Alzadjali, MD, MRCGP, Arab Board, DCH, is a Senior Consultant in Family and Community Medicine, health system strategist, and academic leader from the Sultanate of Oman.

With more than 25 years of experience, she has dedicated her career to advancing primary health care through clinical excellence, health policy, medical education, and leadership. She currently serves as President of the Oman Family Medicine Society and Treasurer of WONCA Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Dr. Alzadjali is Founder and Executive Director of the Sohar Healthy City Initiative, which achieved WHO Healthy City recognition in 2024. She remains committed to strengthening resilient, people-centred primary care systems across the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Dr. Huda Soud Al-Duwaisan is a distinguished Kuwaiti consultant family physician, clinical leader, and medical educator with more than three decades of experience in primary healthcare, clinical governance, medical education, quality improvement, chronic disease management, mental health, and community health.

She has played a pioneering role in the development of family medicine and primary healthcare in Kuwait. From 1998 to 2025, she led Yarmouk Primary Healthcare Center, overseeing clinical services, workforce development, quality and patient safety, education, digital transformation, and community partnerships. Under her leadership, Yarmouk became Kuwait’s first Healthy City within the WHO Healthy Cities Network, establishing a model for integrated, community-oriented primary healthcare.

Dr. Al-Duwaisan served as Chairperson of the Primary Healthcare Faculty at the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization (KIMS) from 2008 to 2022, contributing significantly to the advancement of family medicine training and professional development. She is also a trainer and examiner for the Kuwait Family Medicine Board.

A strong advocate for patient-centered and comprehensive family medicine, she founded and led several innovative primary-care programs, including initiatives in mental health, obesity management, nocturnal enuresis, practice management, and the Healthy City model. She also introduced the Ideal Family Medicine Clinic, expanded online healthcare services, strengthened clinical governance and quality-improvement systems, and established the first AHA-licensed Heartsaver training site in a Kuwait primary healthcare center.

Dr. Al-Duwaisan is the President of the Kuwaiti Association of Family Physicians & General Practitioners, serving in leadership roles including 2012–2022 and again in 2026. She is currently Vice Chair of the Yarmouk Healthy City Coordinating Council and continues to contribute to primary healthcare through clinical practice, medical education, leadership, and community health initiatives.

She holds MRCGP (International) and FRCGP (International) qualifications and is recognized for her longstanding commitment to strengthening family medicine, improving healthcare quality and accessibility, and promoting healthier communities in Kuwait.

Her career reflects a sustained commitment to transforming primary healthcare through clinical excellence, education, innovation, and community-centered leadership.

Dr. Rahimullah Rahimi is an Afghan physician, Family Medicine specialist, medical educator, and healthcare leader with over 25 years of experience in clinical medicine, public health, and postgraduate medical education. He has dedicated his career to strengthening Afghanistan’s healthcare system through physician training, healthcare leadership, and quality improvement initiatives.

Since 2009, Dr. Rahimi has served as an Instructor of Family Medicine, mentoring Afghan physicians to become Family Medicine specialists. He served as Deputy Program Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program from 2009 to 2019 before being appointed Program Director. He later assumed the role of Educational Director, where he continues to lead postgraduate medical education, curriculum development, and faculty development.

Dr. Rahimi served as President of the Afghan Family Medicine Association (AFMA) from 2011 to 2014 and has again held the position since 2019, working closely with the Ministry of Public Health to strengthen Family Medicine and advance primary healthcare in Afghanistan.

His previous experience includes serving as Chief of Internal Medicine at Ghazni Civil Hospital, Provincial Tuberculosis Coordinator, and a member of the Performance and Quality Improvement Committee. He also worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a trainer and with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) as a medical doctor.

Dr. Rahimi completed his medical degree at Nangarhar Medical University and his specialization in Family Medicine at Cure International Hospital. He has also completed advanced training in leadership, healthcare quality, obstetric emergency care, gastroenterology, and health program management. Fluent in Dari and Pashto, with good proficiency in English, he remains committed to advancing medical education and improving healthcare services across Afghanistan.

Prof. Abdul Munem Al Dabbagh — MB, ChB, DM, FIBMS (FAMCO). Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Consultant Physician.

Ex-Chairman of the Scientific Council of FM & CM in the Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research); WONCA/EMR advisory board member; WHO Temporary Adviser; International member of the AAFP; principal founder and scientific adviser of the Iraqi Family Physician Society; and Managing Editor of the Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal. He has authored or co-authored more than 50 articles in Family and Community Medicine and supervised more than 35 PhD and Master candidates in the field.

Prof. Dr. Hala Shaheen is a professor of family medicine with extensive experience in teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Her work focuses on training future physicians in comprehensive, patient-centered care, with a strong emphasis on practical learning and academic excellence.

She currently serves as Head of the Family Medicine Department, where she leads academic activities, supports faculty development, and helps guide departmental progress. She is also a member of the promotion committee responsible for evaluating and upgrading teaching staff, reflecting her commitment to higher education and professional standards.

She earned a master’s and doctoral degree in family medicine and also holds a diploma in clinical nutrition, which broadens her clinical perspective. Through teaching, leadership, and academic service, she strives to advance family medicine and prepare skilled, compassionate healthcare professionals.

Prof. Maha Abdelrahman Mowafy is a Family Physician and Professor of Family Medicine with extensive experience in primary health care, reproductive health, maternal health, and health systems strengthening. She is a former Head of the Family Medicine Department at Kasr Alainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. She currently serves as Head of the Health Program at a United Nations organization in Egypt’s Country Office, where she leads strategic initiatives and partnerships with the Ministry of Health and Population and other national stakeholders to improve access to quality reproductive, maternal, and family planning services at primary health care settings.

Prof. Mowafy has contributed to the development and implementation of national policies and programmes aimed at reducing maternal mortality, expanding family planning services, promoting respectful maternity care, and strengthening the health workforce, including support for midwifery. Her work focuses on evidence-based approaches, capacity building, quality improvement, and advancing universal access to integrated primary health care services.

She is actively engaged in national and regional professional networks and remains committed to advancing people-centred, resilient, and equitable health systems.

Prof. Mervat Elrafie is a professor of public health, a trainer in family medicine, and an examiner with more than 20 years of experience. She specializes in Maternal and Child Health and in Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

She has more than 40 research works in the fields of maternal and child health, epidemiology, nutrition, and family medicine. She is also a member of many scientific NGOs and a consultant for JSI, WHO, and other agencies.

Prof. Shereen Bahgat is a distinguished Professor of Family Medicine and an expert in clinical nutrition at the Zagazig University Faculty of Medicine, Egypt. With extensive experience in undergraduate medical education across years 2 to 5, she specializes in designing advanced instructional strategies, including Case-Based Learning (CBL).

Prof. Bahgat brings extensive expertise to institutional quality assurance, program accreditation, and advanced medical psychometrics, ensuring rigor in modern medical assessment methods. Her forward-thinking contributions include developing comprehensive simulation proposals, such as a specialized simulated-patients center, to bridge theoretical knowledge with humanistic clinical practice. She remains strongly dedicated to reinforcing the primary care infrastructure across the region by integrating vital management, lifestyle-modification strategies, and communication skills directly into undergraduate medical curricula.

Dr. Suha Hamshari is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, and holds a Master’s Degree in Medical Education from the University of Dundee.

She serves as the Honorary Secretary of WONCA EMR and is the Head of the Palestinian Association of Family Medicine. She is also the Head of An-Najah Medical Clinics and the Head of the Insurance Department at An-Najah National University.

Dr. Hamshari represents WONCA EMR in the Membership Committee and the Women Working Party. She is also a member of the International Development of Family Medicine in Palestine Committee (FFMP), the Training Committee of the Arab Board of Family Medicine, and the Scientific Committee of the Palestinian Board of Family Medicine.

Dr. Suha Khalifa is a distinguished family medicine physician with 19 years of experience. A graduate of Jordan University of Science and Technology, she holds both the American and Jordanian Boards of Family Medicine. She currently serves as President of the Jordanian Society of Family Medicine, where she leads efforts to advance the practice and recognition of family medicine nationwide. Previously, she served as Chairman of the Scientific Committee.

Dr. Khalifa holds a regional leadership role with WONCA EMRO Jordan and serves as Head of the Supervisory Arm of the IDF MENA NDP Regional Commission. As an Assistant Professor at the University of Jordan, she combines clinical expertise with academic instruction. A recognized consultant in family medicine, she serves as a board examiner for both the Arab and Jordanian Boards of Family Medicine and is an active member of the Scientific Committee of the Jordanian Board of Family Medicine.

Prof. Nagwa Nashat Abd El-Hamid Hegazy is a Professor of Family Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt. She is Director of the Medical Education and Human Resources Development Center at Menoufia University and Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Education.

With over two decades of experience in clinical practice, academic leadership, and medical education reform, she has advanced family medicine nationally and internationally. She holds an M.D. and M.Sc. in Family Medicine from Menoufia University and is a FAIMER Fellow.

Her work focuses on medical education, public health, primary care, educational innovation, digital learning, and healthcare quality. She serves on national and international academic boards and scientific committees, including the WHO EMRO Steering Committee for the Regional Professional Diploma in Family Medicine.

Prof. Marwa Mostafa is a Professor of Family Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, and Director of the Medical Education Development Centre. She previously served as Chair of the Family Medicine Department at Cairo University.

She is a physician, educator, and academic leader with more than 20 years of experience in clinical practice, medical education, research, and academic leadership. In 2023, she was appointed Head of the Continuing Professional Development Committee of the Arab Board of Family Medicine.

She is a FAIMER Fellow and an International Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (FRCGP [INT], UK).

Prof. Mosleh Abdelrahman Ismail Soliman is Professor and Head of the Department of Family Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt. With more than three decades of experience, he has played a pivotal role in family medicine education and training across Egypt and the Arab region.

He currently serves as Head of the Scientific Council of the Egyptian Board of Family Medicine and Vice-Chair of the Training Committee of the Arab Board of Family Medicine.

His expertise spans family medicine education, primary healthcare systems, physician training, assessment, and healthcare quality improvement.

Prof. Nagwa Eid Sobhy Saad is Head of the Egyptian Board of Internal Medicine at the Egyptian Health Council and Head of its Family Medicine Guideline Committee.

She is Academic Head of the Clinical Department and Head of the Internal Medicine Department at the Army Forces Medical College, and serves as a member of the Egyptian Health Authorities Council and the Egyptian Committee for Development of Primary Health Care.

Her professional roles have included Head of the Family Medicine Department at Cairo University, Minister’s Advisor for Family Medicine Affairs, and Head of the Egyptian Family Medicine Board.

Prof. Najlaa Lakkis is a specialist in Family Medicine and Occupational Medicine, with a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She is also board certified in Aesthetic Medicine and serves as President of the Lebanese Society of Family Medicine.

She is a Clinical Associate and Core Faculty Member in the Department of Family Medicine at the American University of Beirut, contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, curriculum development, and mentorship.

Prof. Lakkis is a Member at Large and Head of the Scientific Committee of WONCA Eastern Mediterranean Region. Her interests include family medicine education, public health, epidemiology, healthcare quality improvement, and evidence-based clinical practice.

Prof. Olfat Farag is Professor of Public Health at the University of Mansoura. She has held positions including Chair of the Department of Public Health and Dean of the Faculty of Nursing.

She has contributed to medical education, planning, and evaluation, and has served on the Egyptian Supreme Council of Education’s committee for promotion of faculty staff in public health and family medicine.

Prof. Farag has worked with the Ministry of Health and Population on women’s health, reproductive issues, and primary healthcare programmes. She is Chair of the Egyptian Community Medicine Association and a board member of the Egyptian Medical Women Association.