Sameh El-Saharty

Dr. Sameh El-Saharty, MD MPH, works as Lead Health Policy Specialist at the World Bank in Washington, DC. Before joining the Bank, he held several positions with international organizations, academic institutions, and consulting firms such as USAID, WHO, UNFPA, Harvard University, the American University in Cairo, Georgetown University, and Pathfinder International.

He has extensive experience for over 40 years working as researcher, technical advisor, and international consultant on public health, health policy and management, health insurance, and health sector reform programs in more than 30 countries in the MENA region, Africa, South Asia, and in the United States. His recent work has focused on health systems with particular interest in innovative service delivery models, noncommunicable diseases, sustainable health financing and population policy.

He has more than 80 publications including books, book chapters, papers, technical reports and policy briefs. He is the Chair of the Advisory Committee of the MENA Health Policy Forum, a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council at Harvard School of Public Health, and a Non-resident Senior Fellow of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.

He is a Medical Doctor, graduated from Cairo University, and earned a Master’ s degree in Public Health from the Military Medical Academy, Egypt, a Master’ s degree in Health Policy and Management from Harvard School of Public Health, and a post-doctorate Fellowship in Social and Economic Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.