2011 Spring Convocation. Izzeldin Abuelaish.

Published: Dec. 19, 2011, 9:58 a.m.

Izzeldin Abuelaish, MD, MPH, often known and referred to as “the Gaza Doctor”, is a Palestinian medical doctor and infertility specialist who has spent his life working to create peace as a researcher, educator, and leader in the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Dr. Abuelaish received his early education in the refugee camp school system in Jabalia, Gaza. He studied medicine in Cairo, Egypt and later obtained a diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology with the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of London. He went on to earn his Master in Public Health degree in Health Policy and Management at Harvard University, and later worked as a senior researcher at the Gertner Institute in Sheba hospital in Israel. Currently, Dr. Abuelaish is an Associate Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, Canada. His excellence and accomplishments have been recognized through a number of awards, including the 2009 Stavros Niarchos Prize for Survivorship, the 2009 Search for Common Ground Award, the 2009 Middle East Institute Award, the 2010 Uncommon Courage Award from the Centre for Ethnic, Racial and Religious Understanding and the 2010 Mahatma Ghandi Peace Award of Canada.