About Me

I am a Public Health professional with a Ph.D. in Community Medicine and Public Health, specializing in the epidemiology of infectious diseases and infectious disease modelling. Currently, I am a Lecturer at the Higher Health Institute of Wasit, Iraq.

Interested in collaborating? Drop me a line.

📄 Download my CV (PDF)

Profile

I am a dedicated public health researcher and educator with over 15 years of experience in community health and academic research. My work focuses on the epidemiology of infectious diseases, where I apply advanced quantitative methods such as structural equation modelling and Item Response Theory to improve disease surveillance. Whether I am training health workers in Iraq or conducting epidemiological studies in Malaysia, my goal is to bridge the gap between complex data and practical public health solutions.

Research Interests

My research focuses on the design, measurement, and evaluation of community-based infectious disease surveillance. My principal interests include:

  • Infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, and disease modelling.
  • Community engagement and participation in public health surveillance.
  • Development, cultural adaptation, and validation of public health instruments.
  • Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Item Response Theory, structural equation modelling, and path analysis.
  • Applied epidemiological methods for evidence-informed public health policy.

Academic Experience

Lecturer — Higher Health Institute of Wasit, Iraq

2025–present

  • Teach undergraduate courses in emergency health, public health, epidemiology, infectious disease surveillance, and research methods.
  • Supervise student research and support the development of applied public health skills.
  • Contribute to health-worker education and evidence-informed teaching initiatives.

Community Health Specialist and Public Health Officer — Iraq

Before my doctoral studies, I worked on the front lines of public health, leading training programmes for doctors and health workers in areas including Antenatal Care and Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care. These experiences shaped my understanding of healthcare delivery and the importance of robust surveillance systems.

Technical Skills

  • Research: Epidemiological study design, infectious disease surveillance, instrument development, adaptation, and validation.
  • Statistics: Structural Equation Modelling, path analysis, CFA/EFA, Item Response Theory, and applied statistical analysis.
  • Software: R, Mplus, JAMOVI, JASP, and SPSS.
  • Training: WHO-certified e-instructor and certified Training of Trainers facilitator.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Community Medicine and Public Health, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2021–2025. Specialisation: Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases.
  • Master's Degree in Community Health, Middle Technical University, Baghdad, Iraq, 2015–2018.
  • Bachelor's Degree in Community Health, Middle Technical University, Baghdad, Iraq, 2006–2010.

Selected Publications

My doctoral research resulted in peer-reviewed articles and international conference presentations on community-based infectious disease surveillance, community participation, and public health instrument validation.

  • Modelling the determinants of community engagement in community-based surveillance of infectious diseases: Applying the Health Belief Model. Journal of Public Health Research, 2025.
  • A confirmatory analysis of the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions questionnaire for community-based surveillance of infectious diseases: A cross-sectional study in Malaysia. Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives, 2025.
  • Community participation in community-based surveillance of infectious diseases: A structural equation modelling approach based on the Theory of Reasoned Action. International Journal of One Health, 2025.
  • Assessing community leaders' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions on community-based surveillance of infectious diseases: Development and validation of a questionnaire. Medical Journal of Babylon, 2025.
  • Role of self-efficacy in mediating the effect between perceived barriers and benefits and intention to be involved in community-based surveillance of infectious diseases. Book chapter, 2026.

For the complete publication list, please view my CV.

Collaborations

I welcome collaborations in infectious disease epidemiology, public health surveillance, biostatistics, psychometric validation, community health, research training, and evidence-informed health policy.

To discuss a research project, teaching opportunity, conference invitation, or public health initiative, please contact me by email or connect with me on LinkedIn.

I am committed to continuous learning, professional growth, and building partnerships that translate research evidence into practical public health improvements.