I graduated from Baghdad Medical School in 1974 and came to the UK for postgraduate studies in May 1978.  In recent years I worked in Public Health Wales as a consultant in Public Health Genomics until my NHS retirement in July 2016.  In a career spanning 37 years in the NHS Wales, I have worked in various hospitals, health authorities and in Welsh academia but my career direction was influenced by my work in medical genetics.  I worked as a clinical research fellow in cystic fibrosis at the Institute of Medical Genetics in Cardiff (1987-1992).  I relished that experience publishing my research widely, by now 41 publications, 50 oral and poster presentations at UK, European and USA conferences.  My work in genetics culminated in an MD thesis on ‘A Genetic Study of CF in Wales’.  I started training in Public Health Medicine after that while keeping my strong links with genetics.  I became a Member of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom in 1996, becoming a Fellow in December 2006.  I was appointed a Consultant and Clinical Senior Lecturer in Public Health Genetics UWCM, the first such post in the country in 1999.  This 3 year joint Academic and NHS funded post became the spring board for a unique progressive career based on translating genetic research findings into Public health programmes and policies.  

I led a team that won the Golden Helix Awards (National, Pan European Quality Awards and the best of the Golden Helix Awards) in 1999 and 2000.  I was also the runner up for Doctor and Hospital Doctor of the Year Award in the Innovation Category in 2001. Influenced by quality standards I learned while working in genetic services, as I went on to produce with my team a pioneering strategy for antenatal screening programme that set the standards and influenced programmes in England and in Wales. 

I also established the first worldwide genetic epidemiological database-The Frequency of Inherited Disorders Database (FIDD) http://medic.cardiff.ac.uk/fidd/.  It was created in 2000, a time when we didn’t have Google but unfortunately grant funding in recent years was not secured to continue mining it.   

Over decades I set up and organised several national courses in genetics and genomics for various health professional groups. I also chaired the Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Professional Advisory Group in Wales 2004-2009. 

In recent years realising their implications for Public Health I researched widely into Epigenetics scientific findings.  I quickly grasped the importance of the trans-generational influence of the wider environmental factors as they interact with the genome effecting foetuses and children, influencing their own health and that of their children and grandchildren.  So I started to inform and educate my colleagues in public health and most importantly campaigning to influence policy makers and advisers in Welsh Government about the findings from this research that highlight te importance of giving top priority to children’s health and the consequences of not following such aim.  I presented at national conferences, organised symposia in Cardiff and invited the most influential people to effect change.  I published my vision in the BMJ and used the paper to meet and present to advisers of both our Welsh Health and Education ministers, to the children’s Commissioner, to the Wellbeing of Future Generation Commissioner and to the Bevan Commission. 

I have been truly a champion for Genetics in Public Health in England and in Wales as I was one of the first few founding members of the Society of Genomics Policy and Population Health and became its president 2008-2012 before it was taken over by the Public Health Genomics Foundation in Cambridge from British Society of Human Genetics.

I have pioneered public health genomics in Wales in the last 10 years and taught professionals and policy makers about it.  I continue to campaign to alert policy makers to ensure children are prioritised by law and for policy makers to demonstrate that they are really serious about the wellbeing of future generations being translated from words into action.  

 

 

In the past through my work with the BMA I published a BMJ paper in June 2006 arguing that the NHS should be at arms length from direct government control and should be run by an elected multi-disciplinary body including elected NHS professional members, elected MPs/AMs from the main political parties and patients representative.  This body will be answerable to an all party scrutiny committee of UK  Parliament/Welsh Assembly and advised by an advisory body that is accountable.  I received large support from professional organisations and royal colleges and was interviewed on BBC radio and by Welsh press.  I used the paper to meet and influence many politicians in Wales including senior members of the cabinet at the time one of them told me that the model is ideal and that I was an idealist but thought that unfortunately other political parties won’t cooperate and deliver!  

In May 2017 I received a Life Time Achievement Award by the Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association for outstanding work in Public Health Genomics in Wales in a glittering ceremony in Cardiff City Hall attended by ministers and prominent politicians, universities and NHS leaders.