Early Years and Education
Embracing Learning and Diversity
Dr. Mohannad Al Nsour grew up in Salt, a city in central Jordan known for its diversity and recognized on the UNESCO World Heritage list as “The Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality.” Raised in a household where learning was greatly valued, Dr. Al Nsour was inspired by late his father, a lawyer, and his late mother, a school principal, to foster a love for knowledge. His maternal grandfather’s legacy further fueled Dr. Al Nsour’s commitment to lifelong learning.
In his early adolescence in Salt, Dr. Al Nsour developed a passion for the humanities, particularly for poetry, sociology, and political science. While he initially considered pursuing graduate studies in those fields, he ultimately chose medicine to fulfill his father’s wish,becoming himself convinced that health lies at the center of the human experience and could further deepen his understanding of the humanities. At the age of eighteen, he moved from the mountainous lands of Salt to the flat steppes of Odesa in southern Ukraine to study medicine at the Odesa National Medical University. There, he immersed himself in both medical training and the culture of Eastern Europe. It was also there that his appreciation for human diversity was further solidified.
Upon returning to Jordan in the late 1990s, he completed a diploma in Field Epidemiology and subsequently earned certification in community medicine from the Jordan Medical Board. Afterwards, he was appointed as Head of the Surveillance Department at the Balqa Health Directorate, which serves his hometown of Salt. During this period, he won a scholarship to pursue a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the American University of Beirut.
Arriving in Beirut in his early thirties, at a time of major transition for the country, he becamedeeply influenced by the city’s vibrant cultural and intellectual scene. His time in Lebanonprofoundly shaped both his personal and professional outlook.
Shortly after completing his master’s degree, Dr. Al Nsour sought further education. He received a scholarship from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to pursue a joint PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, UK. He completed his PhD with a thesis focused on colorectal cancer survival in Jordan from 2003 to 2007.
Executive Career
Taking the Lead to Make a Difference
Dr. Al Nsour’s work in the realm of public health, particularly for underserved and vulnerable communities of the region, has actualized his long-held commitment to and appreciation of diversity. His contributions to health equity and his work in addressing health disparities are contributing to a world where inclusivity is a reality.
Dr. Al Nsour’s academic excellence reflects his conviction that knowledge, self-confidence, and hard work enables one to stand out rather than simply follow others. This conviction motivated him to seek leadership positions where he could have the opportunity to realize ambitious goals and to make unique achievements.
His first notable role was as Director of the Jordan Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). It was then that he and his FETP colleagues from the region and the globe recognized the need for additional FETPs within the borders of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. They thought of forming a network that would support the creation of more FETPs. This effort led to the founding of the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) in 2009, with Dr. Al Nsour appointed as its Executive Director.
Ever since, Dr. Al Nsour has led EMPHNET with a focus on advancing global health security and epidemiology within a volatile region. Under his leadership, EMPHNET expanded from 3 to 15 FETPs over 15 years. His work has also contributed to public health education, research, and partnership development, emphasizing contextualized approaches to tackling emerging health challenges. As the Executive Director of EMPHNET, Dr. Al Nsour is recognized for his strategic leadership and his ability to foster collaboration across countries and diverse sectors to achieve better health outcomes.
In addition to his role at EMPHNET, Dr. Al Nsour has supported various regional and global initiatives due to his extensive experience in challenging environments. He serves as the vice-chair of the Steering Committee for the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and is a member of several important committees, including the WHO’s Roadmap on Public Health and Emergency Workforce, the FETP Enterprise’s Strategic Leadership Group (SLG), the IHR Review Committee, the Middle East and North Africa Health Policy Forum (MENA HPF), and the Lancet Commission Advisory Group. He is also the founder of the International Academy of Public Health (IAPH).
Dr. Al Nsour’s lifelong commitment to learning and innovation in public health continues to drive him to seek new partnerships and solutions to enhance health outcomes for communitieslocally, regionally, and globally.