Tulane and Iraqi university to partner

The Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine has signed a memorandum of understanding with Wasit University in Iraq that will lead to the development of a public health school within the Iraqi institution. The memorandum was signed on March 7 by Dr. Pierre Buekens, dean of the Tulane School of Public Health, and Jawad M. Al-Mosawi, president of Wasit University.

“The delegation from Iraq, to be followed by a delegation from the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research at a later date, came to Tulane to develop collaborations between Tulane and Wasit,” says Nancy Mock, associate professor of Global Health Systems and Development, and the leader on the development of the agreement.

“Specifically, we will assist them to set up a school of public health and seek to develop joint education and research projects, but they also will be discussing potential collaborations with the schools of law, medicine and social work, and the Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy," Mock said.

This collaboration between Tulane and Wasit universities began in 2010 with discussions between Mock; Penny Jessop, clinical assistant professor of Global Health Systems and Development; and Dr. Husam Hameed, an associate professor at the University of Wasit's medical school who was attending Tulane on a Humphrey Fellowship.

Wasit University was established in 2003 in Al Kut City, the capital of Wasit Province. Since its founding, the university has dramatically expanded its academic programs. The projected school of public health at Wasit University will be the first such institution in Iraq.

Mock has assisted several universities to set up schools and programs in public health, including universities in Vietnam, Rwanda and Senegal, as well as a network of eight East African universities.