I'm a physician trained in psychiatry. Currently, I work with the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) as a research fellow in mental health. The UK-PHRST is a multi-disciplinary team that supports low- and middle-income countries in investigating and responding to disease outbreaks and conducts research to improve our response to future epidemics. My work focuses on integrating Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) into public health emergency preparedness and response and improving the mental health and well-being of the affected population and responders.

Before joining LSHTM, I worked with the Egyptian Ministry of Health on different mental health-related projects, including integrating mental health services into primary healthcare services through the implementation of the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked with the national Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) Technical working group in Egypt to develop the national mental health response plan for the COVID-19 pandemic. I have also participated in other research and capacity-strengthening projects to improve mental health services during the pandemic.