Dear HIFA colleagues,
We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming webinar series, hosted by the Department of Science, Information and Dissemination at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. This series will feature key experts from leading institutions and cover essential topics for advancing evidence-informed policy-making for impact.
What to Expect:
• Eight insightful sessions and a closing session led by the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
• Discussions on innovations in evidence synthesis, guideline programmes, science ecosystem, and global collaboration initiatives
The series will begin on 12 February 2025 at 12:00-13:30 (EET), and it will conclude with our final session on 15 September 2025. The details of the programme are included in the table below.
This webinar series' primary audience is the Member Institutions of the Regional Network of Institutions for Evidence and Data to Policy (NEDtP). However, the sessions are open to all interested academic institutions, policymakers, and members of the public in and beyond the EM region. We warmly encourage you to share this invitation within your institution and networks.
We would be delighted to have you join us on this learning journey.
The full schedule, including dates and times for each webinar, is detailed in the attached poster [HIFA does not carry attachments, see text below, moderator NPW]. Please join us via the following Zoom link:
Zoom Link: https://who.zoom.us/j/92001034328
We look forward to your participation.
With regards,
Arash Rashidian
Director of Science, Information, and Dissemination
WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
HIFA profile: Arash Rashidian (MD, PhD) has an established career in health policy and systems development in different countries. He is Director of Science, Information, and Dissemination in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization. He has led WHO regional agenda in areas of health information systems, evidence-informed policy-making, knowledge sharing, research development and governance, e-health, and WHO publications since 2015. He leads the Research and Knowledge Management Pillar of the WHO Response Management team in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Region. He is the Executive Editor of the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, the flagship WHO publication in EMR. He has an established career in health policy and systems development and research. He joined the WHO from his position as Professor of Health Policy and Deputy Chancellor (Tehran University of Medical Sciences). His previous positions included: founding Director of National Institute of Health Research (Iran) and academic and policy advice positions in the UK (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), Iran and Pakistan (Aga Khan University). rashidiana AT who.int
Speakers
Dr Karla Soares-Weiser, Editor-In-Chief, Cochrane Library
Innovations in Evidence Synthesis: Leveraging Technology and Collaboration to Advance Sustainable Development Goals, 12 February, 12:00-13:30
Dr Lubna Al-Ansary, Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine; and
Dr Yasser Sami Amer, Researcher, Department of Pediatrics and Quality Management, King Saud University
Evidence Synthesis and Quality Assessment in Guideline Development, 19 March, 12:00-13:30
Dr Chris Champion, CEO, Magic Evidence Ecosystem Foundation
Adapting the Clinical Practice and Public Health Guidelines with MAGICapp, 22 April, 12:00-13:30
Dr John Lavis, Professor, Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University
Harnessing the Power of Collaboration: The Role of DR JOHN LAVIS the Evidence Synthesis Infrastructure Collaborative in Strengthening Evidence Use for Impact, 20 May, 14:30-16:00
Dr Jeremy Farrar, Chief Scientist, WHO
WHO’s Vision for Building a Resilient Science Ecosystem, 23 June, 12:00-13:30
Dr Holger Schunemann, Chair of the Executive Committee, Guidelines International Network
Capacity Building for Guideline Development in Low-Resource Settings, 15 July, 12:00-13:30
Dr Zoe Jordan, Executive Director, Joanna Briggs Institute
Enhancing Evidence-Based Healthcare with JBI Tools and Resources, 4 August,12:00-13:30
Dr Samira Asma, Assistant Director-General, Data, Analytics And Delivery For Impact, WHO
From Data to Impact: WHO’s Support in Action, 18 August, 2:00-13:30
Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
Transforming Evidence and Data into Policy for Impact: WHO Strategy, 15 September, 12:00-13:30