Maha El Akoum
Acting Director of Research and Content
Maha El Akoum is the Acting Director of Research and Content at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) at Qatar Foundation. Her research interests include genomics and precision health, non-communicable diseases, global health and health policy, healthcare innovation, and health systems development.
Being a Research Fellow for the WISH Islamic Bioethics series, she co-authored a series of reports looking into the intersection between Western and Islamic bioethics.
Maha has led several initiatives on a national level, such as the Academy for Emerging Leaders in Patient Safety in collaboration with MedStar Health, as well as, spearheading several research projects looking into the role of nurses in creating a culture of safety.
She has been a main contributor to the largest online news blog in Qatar, writing about issues ranging from clinical trials to mental health. She is also the author of “Sometimes I worry”, a children’s book which explores the theme of anxiety, offering a narrative about navigating and overcoming anxiety with the help of caring guidance.
Maha graduated with a Bachelor of Sciences in Biological Sciences from the American University of Beirut, and a Master of Public Health Degree from Imperial College London.