Dr. Dalia Samhouri is a highly esteemed public health expert boasting over two decades of extensive experience across diverse domains of health emergency preparedness, readiness, and response. Recently appointed as the Lead Health Specialist for the Pandemic Fund, following her secondment from the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Samhouri brings forth her wealth of expertise to tackle global health challenges.
In her previous role, Dr. Samhouri held the position of Regional Manager of Health Emergency Preparedness and International Health Regulations at the WHO Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region. There, she led the development and execution of comprehensive health security preparedness strategies, focusing on all-hazard preparedness, disaster risk reduction, emergency care systems, and community engagement. Dr. Samhouri played a pivotal role in orchestrating responses to health emergencies, taking the lead role in the areas of international travel and cross border collaboration, deploying social listening for collecting behavioural insights to inform public health interventions, trauma care and deploying emergency medical teams and ensuring the utilization of emergency operation centres to coordinate the response operations.
Prior to this, Dr. Samhouri undertook various responsibilities at the WHO regional office, including the monitoring and evaluation of International Health Regulations and providing support for risk assessment, preparedness, and response to major public health events such as the Zika outbreak (PHEIC, 2015-16), Ebola outbreak (PHEIC, 2014-15), MERS-CoV (2012-2016), cholera outbreaks in various countries, influenza, dengue, Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, and chemical weapon attacks. She also contributed significantly to the establishment and strengthening of disease surveillance systems, with a focus on influenza, and the development of pandemic influenza vaccine deployment plans.
Before her tenure at the WHO Regional Office, Dr. Samhouri served in the WHO Country Office for the West Bank and Gaza, showcasing her versatility by coordinating humanitarian activities, ensuring continuity of health services, and enhancing preparedness and response capacities to emergencies. Prior to joining the WHO, Dr. Samhouri worked as a medical laboratory technician and was involved in various public health projects in Gaza Strip.
Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Samhouri has exhibited exceptional leadership, advocacy, and policy dialogue skills, particularly in advancing health-related Sustainable Development Goals and designing multisectoral public health programs. She possesses extensive experience in managing complex issues, leading capacity-building initiatives, and fostering strategic partnerships to mobilize resources and achieve tangible results in health security, One Health, risk communication, and management of health emergencies.
Dr. Samhouri is renowned for her adeptness as a team builder and player, navigating culturally diverse and sensitive environments with strong analytical and communication skills. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Science with a major in Global Health from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, and a Master's degree in Public Health with a focus on Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Tulane University, USA, with a track record of publications. Currently pursuing a post-doctorate diploma in travel medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Dr. Samhouri continues to make significant contributions to the advancement of global public health.
