Maha El Akoum is a scientist and public health professional with over a decade of expertise in research and policy analysis in the Middle East.
Currently serving as the Manager of Content and Policy and a Research Fellow at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) in Doha, Qatar, Maha has positioned herself at the forefront of advancing healthcare initiatives.
Her research portfolio reflects a diverse range of interests, spanning palliative care, non-communicable diseases, health systems development, genomics, and precision medicine. Maha has demonstrated a profound commitment to patient safety, leading national initiatives like the Academy for Emerging Leaders in Patient Safety in collaboration with MedStar Health.
She has also spearheaded various research projects investigating the pivotal role of nurses in fostering a culture of safety. Since joining WISH in 2015, Maha has successfully managed numerous research forums and co-authored multiple reports addressing critical topics such as health system resilience, palliative care, childhood obesity, and the intersection of Islamic ethics and infertility. Beyond her contributions in the academic sphere, Maha is also a key contributor to Qatar’s largest online news blog.
Her articles cover a wide spectrum of issues, ranging from ethical approaches to genetic testing, to mental health. Maha holds a Bachelor of Sciences in biological sciences from the American University of Beirut and a Master of Public Health degree from Imperial College London. She is also currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Genomics and Precision Medicine at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Qatar.