While tensions flare in the Middle East, a proponent for global public health was in Omaha to build bridges for stronger partnerships between the University of Nebraska and institutions in Arab countries.
Adnan Hammad, Ph.D., president and CEO at Global Health Research, Management & Solutions, LLC near Detroit, met with leadership at UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) to strengthen ties and make plans for future programs.
He presented UNMC/UNO Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., with a Global Public Health Award on behalf of the Global Migration and Refugee Congress that was held in October in Gaziantep, Turkey.
Dr. Hammad has been instrumental in organizing many global public health conferences around the world with the goal of creating networking opportunities, developing relationships and establishing research collaborations. He has developed holistic programs to promote, improve, and manage the health care of the Arab American community, integrating public health and environment, mental health and primary and specialty care.
“My philosophy is that when you build global bridges, you can find global solutions,” Dr. Hammad said. “This requires us to develop disease prevention and health promotion strategies. The U.S. is no longer safe. An outbreak anywhere in the world can spread to the U.S. in 13 hours. It’s much cheaper to prevent the epidemic there than wait till it gets here.”
The University of Nebraska is seen as an effective partner in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, he said.
“There is a serious need for global health solutions in the MENA region. The displacement of people, natural disasters, disease outbreak — all require global partnerships.”