Hamad A. Al Ghafri, MD, MBBS, MPH, PhD
Candidate for Regional Director
Region IX - Canada/International
Hamad A. Al Ghafri, MD, MBBS, MPH, PhD is the Director General and the Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborative Centre for Substance Use Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders at the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), Abu Dhabi, UAE).
He received his medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology; his Master of Public Health from Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, Louisiana, USA; and his PhD from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
In addition to his work at the NRC and with multiple international research and policy programs, Dr. Hamad Al Ghafri is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences of the United Arab Emirates University. He is an Emeritus Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology.
Candidate Questionnaire Responses
1. What have been your greatest contributions to ASAM or to the field of addiction medicine over the last 10 years?
My greatest contributions to our field have very well aligned with ASAM鈥檚 in 鈥渋ncreasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction鈥�. To improve education and professionalize the addiction workforce I serve as a president of the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) and can easily join forces to improve and disseminate the knowledge and practice of the ASAM internationally through the ISAM.
Also am a board member of the International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR) which will complete the picture of having a unified international academic approach to international societies in knowledge transfer. Previously as Chair of the Commissioners of the Global Centre for Credentialing and 麻豆区 of Addiction Professionals (GCCC) of the Colombo Plan. I have published wide clinical and policy-focused research, and. I led the development and management of the NRC which now has evidence-based treatment programs, a research program, an educational program for both staff, and a program throughout the community to educate on addictions.
Previously and still till now we continue to join forces with colleagues from the ASAm in sharing knowledge and expertise through many ASAM/ISAM joint educational panels for the national meetings in Orlando, New Delhi, Busan, and Abu Dhabi. ISAM would not exist if it were not for ASAM鈥檚 leadership in 1997, and I have worked to bring these organizations again closer together.
2. How would your election to the ASAM Board of Directors benefit ASAM and the field of addiction medicine?
My election to the ASAM Board of Directors would benefit ASAM, our international members, and our field by bringing closer together the knowledge and skills of members around the world on preventing and treating the disease. I was an observer at ASAM Board meetings and understand the many strengths of our organization.
Through my work as Chair of the Technical Advisory Group of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and WHO, Mental Health Advisor to the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the WHO, a president of the International Society of Addiction Medicine, as well as with other major international prevention, treatment, policy, and education organizations such as ICUDDR and the Columbo Plan, I can bring to ASAM an understanding of the resources and colleagues around the world that could benefit ASAM in pursuing its mission. Many experts, documents, and data around the world are not well-known in the US, even among specialists. My election to ASAM could make that bridge and bring you, my international member colleagues, a stronger connection with ASAM leadership.
ASAM is an organization of members, and it is the role of the Regional IX Director to represent ASAM members around the world. While I have naturally been focused on the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region in which I live, as you can see my work has been truly worldwide in scope. I know many of you in Region IX through our international meetings with WHO, ISAM, ICUDDR, and Columbo Plan.
Please do me the honor of receiving your vote and allowing me to represent you in ASAM.