Appointment and Current Role

Professor Nazar P. Shabila was appointed as the fourth President of the Catholic University in Erbil on October 19, 2022. He is a distinguished Professor of Community Medicine with a robust academic and professional background.

Educational Background

  • MBChB, Salahaddin University-Erbil (1993)
  • MSc in Public Health in Developing Countries, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2007)
  • PhD in Community Medicine, Hawler Medical University (2012)

Academic and Teaching Career

From 2008 to 2022, Professor Shabila served on the faculty of Hawler Medical University. He taught a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including:

  • Epidemiology of communicable diseases
  • Health economics
  • Health information systems
  • Biostatistics
  • Demography

He also led training programs in pedagogy and teaching methods for newly appointed academic staff.

Research and Editorial Contributions

A prolific researcher, Professor Shabila has authored over 90 peer-reviewed articles in international journals. His research interests include:

  • Health services
  • Conflict and health
  • Women’s health
  • Medical education

He has secured and managed multiple research and educational development grants. Editorially, he has served as:

  • Editor-in-Chief, Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (2017–2022)
  • Associate Editor, BMC International Health and Human Rights (2018–2021)

Academic Leadership and Institutional Development

Professor Shabila has extensive experience in higher education leadership and academic management. He served as:

  • Vice President for Scientific Affairs and Postgraduate Studies, Hawler Medical University (2017–2022)

Since 2015, he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University in Erbil. He has also participated in numerous professional training programs in project management, consultancy, and higher education development.

International Recognition and Engagement

Professor Shabila’s achievements have been recognized through his participation in several prestigious international programs:

  • Chevening Scholar, United Kingdom
  • International Visitor Leadership Program, United States
  • NUFFIC Program, Netherlands
  • John Smith Trust Fellow, Rule of Law Program (UK)
  • The Enhancing Life Project Fellow, US-Germany
  • Regional Moderator, Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED – MENA region)

Humanitarian Sector Experience

Before entering academia, Professor Shabila spent seven years working in the humanitarian sector with:

  • The International Committee of the Red Cross
  • The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS – IDPs Project)
  • Various international NGOs

His focus was on supporting internally displaced persons and strengthening medical services in conflict-affected areas.

Download Prof. Dr. Nazar’s CV