Biography

Dr. Alla El-Awaisi is a globally recognized academic leader, pharmacy professional, and pioneer in interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice, with a career spanning over two decades marked by transformative contributions to health profession education and practice. Her academic foundation includes a Master of Pharmacy from Strathclyde University, an MSc in Prescribing Science, and a PhD in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice from Robert Gordon University in the UK. Dr. Alla has successfully bridged the gap between clinical practice and academia, beginning her career with over nine years of impactful clinical pharmacy practice in Scotland, where she developed deep expertise in patient care and healthcare delivery. Transitioning to academia, she served as the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the College of Pharmacy in Qatar University from 2014 to 2022, where she demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation. In 2014, she founded the Interprofessional Education Committee, a groundbreaking initiative that transformed the integration of IPE into health profession curricula. Under her guidance, the committee launched the IPE Passport Program in 2020, a pioneering framework for structured IPE integration and assessment across health programs, fostering a culture of collaborative practice and holistic patient care.

Dr. Alla’s influence reaches far beyond Qatar, as evidenced by her leadership roles in international organizations. She is the driving force behind the Arab Network for Interprofessional Collaboration (ANIC) and serves as Co-facilitator of Interprofessional Global Impact, initiatives that promote IPE and collaborative practice across regions. In November 2022, her expertise and leadership were further recognized with her appointment to the Board of Directors of Interprofessional.Global, the Global Confederation for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice, cementing her status as a global authority in the field. As a prolific researcher, Dr. Alla has made significant contributions to interprofessional education, patient safety, pharmacy practice, and health professions education. Her dedication to excellence has earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious “Professional Achievement Award” in the National Study UK Alumni Awards 2019-20 in Qatar, a testament to her outstanding contributions to the field.

Currently, Dr. Alla holds dual leadership roles as Advisor to the Vice President for Health and Medical Sciences and Head of the Interprofessional Education Program at Qatar University. In these roles, she continues to shape the future of health professions education, driving innovation, fostering interprofessional collaboration, and ensuring that graduates are equipped to deliver patient-centered care in an increasingly complex healthcare landscape. Through her visionary leadership, groundbreaking initiatives, and global influence, she has made a lasting impact on the field, inspiring future generations of health professionals to embrace collaboration, innovation, and excellence.