Cross-Sector Partnerships to Address Childhood Cancer Care During Humanitarian Crisis
Date and Time
Location
Join the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative for a webinar which will explore the current state and challenges of addressing childhood cancer during humanitarian crisis and highlight the need for cross-sector partnerships. Panelists will discuss cases of successful collaborations and how emerging crises may impact global childhood cancer emergency response.
Speakers
HRH Princess Dina Mired
Patron of International Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOP)
Past President - Union For International Cancer Control (UICC)
HRH Princess Dina Mired is a well-known passionate global advocate for Cancer Control and Non-Communicable Diseases and mother of a cancer survivor. HRH Princess Dina currently serves as the Honorary President of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Patron of International Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOP), Head of Advisory Committee for Palestine Children Relief Fund (PCRF), Head of Advisory committee for Gaza Health Initiative (GHI). Princess Dina served as President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) from 2018-2020 and was the first Arab and non-medical person to have been elected in such a prestigious global post. Prior to that HRH Princess Dina led the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF) as Director General from 2002 – till June 2016. Princess Dina transformed the non-profit into the most successful advocacy and fundraiser organization for cancer control efforts in Jordan and an internationally known brand and leader not only in Jordan but also in the global movement for people affected by cancer.
Princess Dina is the recipient of many awards including:
- 2023- chosen as one of “100 Influential Women in Oncology” – by OncoDaily
- 2022- “Centenary medal” from His Majesty King Abdullah II for exceptional contribution to cancer control efforts in Jordan
- 2021 WHO “World No Tobacco Day” Award
- 2018 Dec: Awarded the prestigious "Arab Woman Award 2018 for her " Achievements in Global Leadership in Cancer Control."
- 2015 the prestigious “International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Medal of Honour
Roberta Ortiz
Medical Officer (Childhood Cancer), Management Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Unit, Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, Disability and Rehabilitation
Originally from Nicaragua, paediatric oncologist Dr. Roberta Ortiz joined WHO NCDs Department in 2020 as the focal point for the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. She has worked over the past fifteen years with collaborative regional networks of professionals, supported by international partners, such as St Jude Children ́s Research Hospital and Monza’s International School of Pediatric Hematology-oncology (MISPHO) to improve cancer care through education, implementing protocol-based care, and sharing best practices among centers. Before joining the WHO cancer team, she worked at the National Pediatric Oncology Centre in Managua, Manuel de Jesus Rivera Children’s Hospital, and contributed with the National Ministry of Health to develop a national palliative care program for children with life-threatening diseases.
As Childhood cancer medical officer she supports the implementation of the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) in 77 countries across the 6 WHO regions, providing technical assistance to Member States and partners to strengthen childhood cancer programmes attaining the initiative’s target of improving survival for children with cancer to at least 60% by the year 2030 while reducing suffering for all.
Rawad Rihani, MD, MSc.
Chairperson, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan
Director of St. Jude/KHCC Qualitative Research Center
President-Elect for Pediatric Oncology East Mediterranean Group
Dr. Rawad Rihani is a prominent pediatric oncologist and a passionate advocate for children with cancer. Currently, she serves as the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman, Jordan, and holds a joint appointment as an Associate Professor at the University of Jordan. Dr. Rihani's expertise focuses on pediatric leukemias and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
With nearly two decades of experience, she is dedicated to improving pediatric oncology care in Jordan and the broader East Mediterranean region. Dr. Rihani is also the Chairperson of the Jordan Society of Pediatric Oncology and actively collaborates with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to enhance treatment protocols and support for children with cancer, including refugees and displaced populations.
She earned her medical degree from the University of Jordan and completed her fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the Sydney Children’s Hospital. Dr. Rihani's commitment to advancing global child health is reflected in her recent Master of Science degree in Global Child Health from St. Jude, where she is involved in initiatives aimed at strengthening health systems and improving patient outcomes. Dr. Rihani's work exemplifies her belief that every child deserves a chance at a healthier life, and she continues to strive for a world where childhood cancer is prevented and treated effectively.
Ahmad Bawa’neh, MD, MA
Country Director (Jordan), International Medical Corps
Dr. Ahmad Bawaneh is a passionate mental health professional with over 15 years of experience in humanitarian work. He holds both a Bachelors degree in Psychology, a Masters of Arts in Psychology Counselling from the University of Jordan, and a doctoral degree in Psychological Counselling from Yarmouk University in Jordan. In his current role as Country Director for the International Medical Corps, Dr. Bawa’neh leads program strategies and transitions from emergency operations to post-conflict development interventions. He has spearheaded initiatives to enhance mental health services in Jordan, including the development of the “Relax” mobile app in partnership with the Center for Disease Control, aimed at improving resilience and accessibility to care for refugee communities.
Dr. Bawa’neh's research focuses on maternal mental health among Syrian refugees, assessing the effectiveness of interventions like Self Help + and Problem Management +. He has contributed significantly to the mental health field in the Middle East through program design and is a spearhead for expanding mental health efforts throughout the region.
Moderator
Executive Director, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
Dr. Irini Albanti is the Executive Director at Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI), a Lecturer in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, and a Lecturer of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She develops strategies to execute HHI’s mission and amplify its social impact. She leads the strategic, operational, financial, and administrative management of HHI and oversees programs in humanitarian research and education. She is a purpose-driven leader committed to social impact and reducing health and social inequities globally by bridging public health, science, and business strategies. Since 2001, she has held leadership positions in the nonprofit, academic, and healthcare fields with a focus on strategy, operations, philanthropy, partnership building, stakeholder engagement, and impact measurement. Her personal motto is “feel like an NGO, run like a business” which reflects her entrepreneurial acumen and evidence-based, systematic approach to running an organization while inspired by its mission. She regularly collaborates with WHO and UN agencies, foundations, NGOs, donors, governments, corporations, hospitals, and other entities on advocacy, policy, and implementation of global health efforts.
Co-Hosts
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Center for Global Health Equity
Science Health Education (SHE) Center at Dana-Farber
Boston Children's Hospital Margaret C. Ryan Global Health Program
Our speakers have been invited to share their personal perspectives based on their own scholarship and experience; they do not speak for Harvard.
This webinar is open to the public. Questions? Email hhi@harvard.edu
