Dr Ibrahim Bou-Orm

Senior Lecturer in Global Health and Social Sciences

Dr Ibrahim R. Bou-Orm is a medical doctor with extensive experience in global public health research and practice. He joined Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) as Senior Lecturer in Global Health and Social Sciences in October 2024.

Before joining LSTM, he served as Lecturer and Teaching Lead at the Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD), Queen Margaret University Edinburgh, where he taught modules on health systems and led research studies on health systems and migration in fragile and conflict-affected settings, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), including Lebanon, Syria, and Mauritania. He previously contributed to the work of the NIHR Research Unit on Health in Situations of Fragility as NIHR doctoral fellow exploring the political economy of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) prevention and control and the response of Lebanon's systems for health to NCDs. He also assisted the wider work of the unit in global settings such as Northern Ghana.

Ibrahim has extensive experience in designing and implementing complex health systems and policy studies in fragile and conflict-affected settings. His work includes the use of tools like applied political economy analysis, systems dynamics methods, surveys, and mixed methods to analyse health systems delivering care for vulnerable and displaced populations in crises and emergencies. He has also been actively involved in the UK-FCDO-funded ReBUILD for Resilience research consortium, focusing on health system resilience in fragile settings.

Ibrahim has actively contributed to international conferences and participated in key expert consultation meetings, such the WHO EMRO consultation meeting on health systems recovery from emergencies (2023). His previous professional roles included serving as Lebanon's national coordinator for NCD prevention and control at the Ministry of Public Health in 2017, and working with international NGOs and UN agencies working in Lebanon and the Middle East. Most recently, he supported WHO EMRO in assessing the implementation of the regional framework for action on diabetes prevention and control in the EMR (2023) and contributed to developing the principles and priorities for health system recovery in the occupied Palestinian territory (2024).

Dr Bou-Orm holds a medical degree (MD) from St. Joseph University of Beirut, an MPH from the American University of Beirut, and a PhD from Queen Margaret University – Edinburgh.

Selected publications

  • Olabi A, Almohammed M, Loffreda G, Hellowell M, Witter S, Bou-Orm IR. Health Service Utilization across Public, Private, and Humanitarian Sectors in the Conflict-Affected Region of Northern Syria: A Cross-sectional Study. Under review (BMC Health Services Research)

    El Masri R, Zreik T, Chaar S, Ali R, Elias J, Meksassi B, Brown FL, Bou-Orm I, McKee M, Asmar M, Roberts B. Barriers and enablers to a coordinated MHPSS response in Lebanon: A case study of the MHPSS Taskforce. SSM-Mental Health. 2024 Oct 9:100354.

    Afiouni R, Helou J, Bou-Orm I. Knowledge of the risks of ultraviolet radiation, sun exposure attitudes and practices among Lebanese university students. Preventive Medicine Reports. 2024 Oct 10:102900.

    [Report] Bou-Orm IR, et al. Principles and Interim Priorities to Guide Health System Recovery in the occupied Palestinian Territory (oPT). Report for WHO. 2024.

    Hazimeh B, Bou-Orm I, Mroueh M, Ammar W. Health Care Providers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Medicinal Cannabis: The Case of Lebanon. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. 2024.

    [Abstract] Loffreda G, El-Berri H, Byström M, Fouad H, Hag E, Hammerich A, Bou-Orm I. IDF23-0335 Diabetes Prevention and Control in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: Inequitable Progress amidst Complex Emergencies. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2024;209.

    [Report] World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Progress report on addressing diabetes as a public health challenge in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Cairo: WHO EMRO; 2023. https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/Progress-report-RFA-Diabetes-eng.pdf?ua=1

    Loffreda G, Arakelyan S, Bou-Orm I, Holmer H, Allen LN, Witter S, Ager A, Diaconu K. Barriers and Opportunities for WHO ‘Best Buys’ Non-Communicable Disease Policy Adoption and Implementation From a Political Economy Perspective: A Complexity Systematic Review. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 2023;12:7989.

    Bou-Orm IR, Loffreda G, Diaconu K, Witter S, deVos P. Political Economy of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) prevention and control in Lebanon: identifying challenges and opportunities for policy change and care provision reforms. BMC Public Health. 2023 Dec 18;23(1):2526.

    Bou-Orm I, DeVos P, Diaconu K. Experiences of communities with Lebanon’s model of care for non-communicable diseases: a cross-sectional household survey from Greater Beirut. BMJ open. 2023 Sep 1;13(9):e070580.

    Bou-Orm IR, Moussallem M, Karam J, deLara M, Varma V, Diaconu K, Apaydin MC, Van den Bergh R, Ager A, Witter S. Provision of mental health and psychosocial support services to health workers and community members in conflict-affected Northwest Syria: a mixed-methods study. Conflict and Health. 2023 Oct 4;17(1):46.

    Witter S, Diaconu K, Bou-Orm I, Jamal Z, Shroff ZC, Mahmoud A, Daher M, Varma V. Evolution and lessons from an integrated service delivery network in North West Syria. Conflict and Health. 2023 Mar 24;17(1):12.

    Moussallem M, Zein-El-Din A, Hamra R, Rady A, Asmar MK, Bou-Orm IR. Evaluating the governance and preparedness of the Lebanese health system for the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study. BMJ open. 2022 Jun 1;12(6):e058622.

    Lokot M, Bou-Orm I, Zreik T, Kik N, Fuhr DC, El Masri R, Meagher K, Smith J, Asmar MK, McKee M, Roberts B. Health system governance in settings with conflict-affected populations: a systematic review. Health Policy and Planning. 2022 May;37(5):655-74.

    Moussallem M, Jreij M, Yeretzian JS, Asmar MK, Bou-Orm IR. Colorectal cancer screening knowledge and uptake in Lebanon: a national survey. Revue d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique. 2022;70(2):67-73.

    [Report] Bou-Orm, I., Loffreda, G., Bertone, M. P., Hellowell, M., Witter, S. (2022). Exploring approaches for complementary private sector engagement in the health sector in Northern Syria. QMU Report for UOSSM France/European Commission.

    Arakelyan S, Jailobaeva K, Dakessian A, Diaconu K, Caperon L, Strang A, Bou-Orm IR, Witter S, Ager A. The role of trust in health-seeking for non-communicable disease services in fragile contexts: A cross-country comparative study. Social Science & Medicine. 2021;291:114473.

    Lobkowicz L, Lahoud J, Bou-Orm I. Addressing the COVID-19 emergency during the ongoing political and economic crisis in Fragile Lebanon: a call to action. Conflict and Health. 2021;15(1):1-3.

    Zablith N, Diaconu K, Naja F, El Koussa M, Loffreda G, Bou-Orm I, Saleh S. Dynamics of non-communicable disease prevention, diagnosis and control in Lebanon, a fragile setting. Conflict and Health. 2021 Dec;15(1):1-3.

    Rass E, Lokot M, Brown FL, Fuhr DC, Asmar MK, Smith J, McKee M, Bou Orm I, Yeretzian JS, Roberts B. Participation by conflict-affected and forcibly displaced communities in humanitarian healthcare responses: a systematic review. Journal of Migration and Health. 2020 Dec 9:100026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmh.2020.100026

    Diaconu K, Falconer J, Vidal N, O’May F, Azasi E, Elimian K, Bou-Orm I, Sarb C, Witter S, Ager A. Understanding fragility: implications for global health research and practice. Health policy and planning. 2020;35(2):235-43.

    Bou-Orm IR, Adib SM. Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Diabetes Mellitus in Lebanon: A National East Mediterr Health J. 2020;26(2):182-8.

    Bou-Orm IR, Yang J, Merritt RK, Omigbodun A, Whitty C. Contrasting Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) in Different Low- and Middle-Income Country Contexts and Discussion on Priorities For Future Global HPSR. In Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2019;113: S29-S30. ENGLAND: OXFORD UNIV PRESS.

    Abdou L, Daou K, Bou-Orm IR, Adib SM. Is menarche occurring earlier among Lebanese girls? / Un âge plus précoce de ménarche chez les filles libanaises: une réalité épidémiologique? Revue d'épidémiologie et de santé publique. 2019;67(6):393-6.

    Saad RK, Harb H, Bou‐Orm IR, Ammar W, El‐Hajj Fuleihan G. Secular Trends of Hip Fractures in Lebanon, 2006 to 2017: Implications for Clinical Practice and Public Health Policy in the Middle East Region. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2020;35(1):71-80.

    GBD 2017 Risk Factors Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet. 2018;392(10159):1923-94.

    GBD 2017 DALYs and HALE Collaborators Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 359 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet. 2018;392(10159):1859-922.

    GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet. 2018;392(10159):1789-858.

    Bou Khalil R, Bou-Orm IR, Tabet Y, Souaiby L, Azouri H. Disgust and fear: common emotions between eating and phobic disorders.  Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity. 2018:1-8.

    Elias F, Bou-Orm IR, Adib SM, Gebran S, Gebran A, Ammar W. Cost of oncology drugs in the middle-eastern country of Lebanon: an update 2014-2016.  Journal of Global Oncology. 2018;4:1-7

    GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators. Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study The Lancet. 2017;390(10100):1345-422.

    GBD 2016 DALYs and HALE Collaborators. Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 333 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study The Lancet. 2017;390(10100):1260-344.

    GBD 2016 SDG Collaborators. Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study The Lancet. 2017 Sep 16;390(10100):1423-59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32336-X

    Bou-Orm IR, Khamis AM, Chaaya M. Determinants of poor cognitive function using A-IQCODE among Lebanese older adults: a cross-sectional study. Aging & Mental Health. 2017:1-5. doi:10.1080/13607863.2017.1301879

    Elias N, Bou-Orm IR, Adib, SM, Patterns and determinants of mammography screening in Lebanese women. Preventive Medicine Reports. 2017;5:187-193. doi:1016/j.pmedr.2016.12.015

    El Karak F, Bou-Orm IR, Ghosn M, Kattan J, Farhat F, Ibrahim T, Jreige M, El Cheikh J, Haidar M. PET/CT scanner and bone marrow biopsy in detection of bone marrow involvement in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). PloS One. 2017; 12(1):1-8. Doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170299

    Bou Khalil R, Chaar A, Bou Orm I, Aoun Z, Richa S. The Relationship between emotional intelligence and nicotine dependence in Lebanese adults. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 2017:1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2017.1292435

    Bou-Orm IR, Sakr R, Adib SM. Cervical cancer screening among Lebanese women. Revue d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique. Doi:10.1016/j.respe.2017.10.004

    Daou K, Bou-Orm IR, Adib SM. Determinants of Waterpipe Smoking among Lebanese Women. Women & Health. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2017.1414102