Rasha Abdulrahman Alfawaz, PhD

Dr. Rasha Abdulrahman Alfawaz holds a PhD from the University of Leeds, United
Kingdom, and MSc and BSc degrees from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.

She currently serves as Executive Director of Public Health Programs and Policies at the
Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Gulf CDC), where she leads the
development of evidence-based regional public health programs, strategies, guidelines,
and policies aimed at preventing communicable and non-communicable diseases and
promoting healthier communities across the Gulf region.

Prior to joining Gulf CDC, Dr. Alfawaz served as Chief Officer for Health Improvement
and Promotion at the Saudi Public Health Authority (Weqaya). She also held several
leadership positions at the Saudi Ministry of Health, including Head of the Support and
Development Unit at the General Directorate of Health Programs and Chronic Diseases,
and Director of the National Diet and Physical Activity Program.

Dr. Alfawaz has chaired and served on multiple national committees related to public
health and non-communicable diseases. She is the author of several scientific
publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Her areas of interest include prevention and health promotion, burden of disease,
obesity, lifestyle and sleep health, metabolic syndrome, and non-communicable
diseases