Interprofessional Education Department

Section Head of the Interprofessional Education Program, Health Sector

Dr Alla El-Awaisi, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, College of Pharmacy. Dr Alla received her Master of Pharmacy degree from Strathclyde University in Glasgow (UK), an MSc in Prescribing Science from the Robert Gordon University (UK), and a PhD in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice from the same university. She is an experienced academic administrator with a strong record of creativity, innovation, and dedication to her field.

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Before her academic career, she practiced pharmacy in Scotland for more than 9 years. She is the founding chair of the Interprofessional Education Committee since 2014 and has led successful IPE initiatives locally and internationally, including leading the First Middle Eastern Conference in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice in December 2015. Her research expertise lies in interprofessional education and collaborative practice, pharmacy education, and pharmacy practice, and she has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Interprofessional Education Pre-Clinical Specialist

Ms. Aya El Hage holds a BS in Environmental Health (2014) and a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Management and Policy (2016) from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Before joining QU, she worked as a public health officer with the World Health Organization (WHO) at the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon for one year.

She coordinated all activities related to Covid-19 in addition to managing the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) events, aiming to detect and prevent health threats. She previously worked as a research assistant at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the American University of Beirut Medical Center for 4 years, gaining extensive research experience and contributing to several publications.

Interprofessional Education Clinical Specialist

Dr. Zohra Hasnani-Samnani is an experienced and passionate nursing professional with a Doctorate in Education (Learning Sciences) and a Master’s degree in Nursing. She brings extensive expertise across administration, clinical practice, education, and research. Zohra’s leadership philosophy is rooted in authenticity, ethics, and meaningful engagement.

Her expertise and research interests focus on embedding interprofessional education in curricula, teaching and learning pedagogy, concept- and competency-based curriculum, assessment of learning, simulation-enhanced learning, integration and evaluation of Best Practice Guidelines, and the application of diverse leadership models in health and education settings.

College Representatives

QU College of Pharmacy Lead Representative

Ms. Myriam Jihad Jaam is an MSc (Pharm) graduate who completed her degree with distinction in June 2017. She earned her BSc in Pharmacy at the College of Pharmacy, Qatar University in 2015 and immediately enrolled in the MSc program. Myriam received a scholarship during her graduate studies and worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) while completing her MSc project.

She served as the student representative in the IPEC and was the founder and president of the IPE Student Association, organizing multiple events and representing the association at the ATBH conference in Oxford. She is currently a Teaching Assistant in the College of Pharmacy and is actively involved in facilitating IPE events.

QU College of Health Sciences Lead Representatives

Department of Nutrition Sciences:

Dr Tamara Al-Abdi, M.Sc., RD, PhD, is a Lecturer in the Department of Nutrition Sciences at Qatar University. She has worked in clinical nutrition across various institutions in Qatar and the UK. Her research interests include chrono-nutrition and the relationship between food intake and chronic diseases, with a strong commitment to evidence-based practice in teaching and research.

Department of Biomedical Science:

Dr. Sawsan Said, PhD, Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology Program. She has rich and extensive experience with regulatory B cells in mouse models, as well as expertise in molecular immunology techniques, bioinformatics, experimental animal use, and microbiology.

Dr. Salma Shickh is an assistant professor in the Genetic Counselling Program in the Biomedical Department. She was recently a postdoctoral fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children and BC Cancer in Canada, where she worked on multiple projects related to population genomic screening and evaluating the impact of novel genomic technologies.

She completed her PhD at the University of Toronto, where she studied the clinical utility of genomic technologies in cancer patients. Prior to her PhD, Salma practiced as a genetic counsellor for several years, specializing in cancer and pediatric genetics.

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences:

Ms. Jennifer Allen is a Lecturer in the Department of Rehabilitation Science (DRS) Physiotherapy program in the College of Health Sciences at Qatar University. Her research interests include global health, mental health, vulnerable populations, exercise, leadership, and coaching.

She has published articles on cultural humility, physical activity and aerobic capacity in patients with Parkinson’s disease, and rehabilitation in patients with dementia following hip fractures.

She has worked in Canada, Mexico, Nepal, Kuwait, and Iraq and is currently a Physiotherapist Delegate for the Canadian Red Cross Emergency Response Unit (ERU). She is a member of the IFRC ERU Rehabilitation Technical Working Group and represents the QU DRS Physiotherapy program within the Environmental Physiotherapy Association. She leads the QU Department of Rehabilitation Science Physiotherapy program Outreach Committee and is actively involved in the Interprofessional Education Committee and the Health Professions Education Research Group.

QU College of Medicine Lead Representative

Dr. Tanya Kane is an Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science in the College of Medicine at Qatar University. She holds a PhD and MSc in Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, an MA from McMaster University, a BEd from the University of Toronto, and a BA from Queen’s University (Canada).

She delivers the social and behavioural content of the medical curriculum and is responsible for developing students’ professional and ethical competencies.

She is involved in community, workplace, and education-based programs that adopt a holistic approach to the psychosocial dimensions of health and wellbeing. Her research interests include globalization of health education, gender, dementia care, and infertility, especially in relation to countries of the Arabian Peninsula. As CMED’s Chair of the Interprofessional Education Committee, she advocates for behavioural health care models that enhance access, improve patient outcomes, reduce stigma, and promote health care equity.

QU College of Dental Medicine Lead Representative

Dr. Aala is an Assistant Professor at the College of Dental Medicine and serves as the College Lead for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and faculty educational mentor. She plays a key role in building the dental curriculum, developing the simulation laboratory program, and formulating the assessment strategy for the College of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Aala completed her Dental Masters at the University of Bristol, UK, where she was the Director of the pre-clinical dental laboratories/program, leading on assessments and program development and implementation, and she also served as the Final Year Clinical Program Lead. As the International Collaboration Advisor, she worked to strengthen relations with stakeholders worldwide. She is an assessment lead for the Royal College of Surgeons of England and a Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Trainers of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK. She has received multiple teaching awards, and her research interests lie in dental material science and dental education.

QU College of Nursing Lead Representative

Dr. Mahmoud A. Alkhateeb is a lecturer in pre-clinical sciences at the College of Nursing, Qatar University, where he teaches human anatomy-physiology, biochemistry, pathophysiology. With over twenty years of academic and clinical teaching experience across Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Jordan, he has developed strong expertise in human physiology, structure–function relationships, biomedical sciences, and active-learning instructional methods.

Throughout his career, Mahmoud has contributed extensively to curriculum development, research supervision, exam design, and laboratory management. He has served on multiple academic committees, led biosafety and laboratory quality initiatives, and earned recognition for excellence in teaching and research. His research portfolio includes numerous publications in reputable journals covering cardiovascular physiology, metabolic disorders, molecular pathways, and oxidative stress. He is a member of the Interprofessional Education (IPE) Committee (Fall 2025) and a member of the Honors Program at Qatar University (Fall 2025), reflecting his commitment to academic leadership and excellence in student development.

Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar Lead Representative

Dr. Stella Major, MBBS FRCGP CHSE, is Associate Professor of Family Medicine in Clinical Medicine, Patient Care, and Physicianship Unit Lead, and Director of the Clinical Skills & Simulation Lab (CSSL), Division of Medical Education. She obtained her MBBS in 1990 and specialized in General Practice, becoming a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP).

She practices in London and Doha and has held roles as educator, researcher, and leader at the American University of Beirut, United Arab Emirates University, and Imperial College School of Medicine. In 2011, she became a Fellow (FRCGP) in recognition of her excellence in teaching, research, and leadership. Her scholarly interests include enhancing clinical and communication skills in clinical settings, communication across cultures and languages, clinical skills acquisition through simulation-based learning, and leading interprofessional education and collaborative practice initiatives at WCM-Q. She is also deeply engaged in education, patient safety, and women’s health.

University of Doha for Science and Technology Lead Representative

Mr. Norman Wong, Pharmacy Technician Lead Instructor, School of Health Sciences. Mr. Norman is a Canadian licensed pharmacist with the Alberta College of Pharmacists. He holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of Calgary and a BSc in Pharmacy from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB. He has 10 years of Canadian hospital pharmacy experience, 6 years in UAE hospitals, and 4 months in China before joining CNA-Q.

He is currently the lead instructor in his eighth year with the program and is a member of the Canadian Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the Canadian Pharmacy Technician Association.

Interprofessional Education Student Association President

Mr. Abdulla Al-Emadi is a fifth-year medical student at the College of Medicine, Qatar University. Passionate about advancing collaborative healthcare, he currently serves as the President of the Interprofessional Education Student Association, where he leads initiatives that promote teamwork, communication, and shared learning among future health professionals.

Abdulla is committed to fostering a culture of interprofessional excellence and contributing to the development of a healthcare workforce equipped to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.

IPE Comittee Members