After graduation from Basrah University / College of Medicine- Iraq in 1994, Dr. Rajaa A. Mahmoud had an interest in the Public Health field which was pursued by a post-graduate Diploma in Community Medicine, a Masters in Public Health (from the American University of Beirut with a major: Health Management and Policy) and then a Ph.D. in Community Medicine / Public Health from Basrah University, College of Medicine, Iraq. Currently, she is working as a Training and Development Manager in Basrah Directorate of Health - Iraqi Ministry of Health with a partial affiliation for the University of Basrah, AL-Zahraa College of Medicine teaching and heading the Module of Health & Diseases in Population. Her professional interests focus on communicative and integrative approaches in teaching Population Health in society, Research Methodologies and Human Development. She worked together with a multi-disciplinary team of Public Health experts in many International Humanitarian Agencies including UNICEF, Save the Children Organization, AMAR international charitable foundation, Medicine Sans Frontieres, and the Norwegian Church Aid Organization. During this time she built up her research and publication profile, both nationally and internationally. She also delivered substantial contributions in leadership, teaching, and management. Dr. Rajaa is known for mentoring junior students. She believes that by encouraging the next generation of physicians & medical students to take an interest in Population Health, improving patient safety and the quality of health care will be possible in the near future.

Dr. Rajaa A. Mahmoud's research interests are Epidemiology, Health Administration and Management, Public Health, Health Policy, Performance Improvement, Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases, Communication Skills, Human behavior, Maternal, and Child Health, Learning and Development, and Integrated Education