Public Health as Target

An interactive online panel - with an in-person viewing at the Trent University Symons campus (Peterborough) - and discussion about the current medicide and humanitarian crisis in Palestine, with a special focus on Gaza.

In-person viewing will be held at the Trent Symons campus in ENW room 114.

(Z oom link will be sent prior to the event to registered participants)

What are the social determinants of health in Palestine? What has been the impact of medicide in the Gaza Strip? Public Health Experts Dr. Sawsan Abdulrahim (American University of Beirut, Lebanon), Dr. Danya Qato (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader, USA), and Dr. Samer Abuzerr (University College of Science and Technology-Khan Younis, Palestine) will present on an interactive panel about the current medicide and humanitarian crisis in Palestine, with a special focus on Gaza.

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Sawsan Abdulrahim

Professor of Public Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut

Sawsan Abdulrahim is Professor of public health in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Her research focuses on social inequalities and health, and the structural conditions that influence the wellbeing of displaced populations. She is IDRC Research Chair of Forced Displacement at AUB and a visiting fellow in the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard. She teaches courses in health promotion theory, forced migration and health, and global public health. In her research and practice, she invests in building on the emerging field of critical refugee studies through centering the experiences of refugees and highlighting how historical and contemporary colonialisms, structural racism, and other forms of violence shape forced displacement.

Dr. Danya Qato

Professor of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader

Danya M. Qato is a practicing pharmacist, epidemiologist, and health services researcher. She holds a PhD in health and pharmaceutical services research from the Brown University School of Public Health with a focus in pharmacoepidemiology, a Doctor of Ph*rm*cy (PharmD) from the University of Illinois, a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in international health and humanitarian studies from Harvard University, and a certificate in Clinical and Translational Research from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. In 2020, she was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader. She was awarded the University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Epidemiology Faculty Teaching Award at the 2023 Commencement for her foundational course on “Principles of Epidemiology”. For her efforts in improving equity and inclusion on campus and beyond, Dr. Qato was awarded the 2024 UMB Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Recognition Outstanding Faculty Award.

Dr. Samer Abuzerr

Professor, Environmental and Public Health, University College of Science and Technology-Khan Younis

Samer Abuzerr received his doctorate in Environmental Health Engineering from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in October 2019 and recently completed his research visiting fellowship with the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Canada. He was selected as a member of Palestinian Young Academy and Global Young Academy. He has more than 14 years of experience in the field of Environmental and Public Health with local and international organizations. He is also, a freelance research consultant and training specialist with different national and international organizations in the field of social, environmental, and public health and conducting awareness programs about different environmental and health issues and climate changes among the whole community.

Facilitated by:

Dr. Abeer Omar, RN, MSN, PhD

Professor & Collegial Chair, Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, Trent University

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Host or Publisher Department of Sociology, Trent University