Roles

With over 10 years of academic experience, Dr. Hend Farhat initially served as an adjunct faculty member as part of an agreement between the University of Tripoli and her previous institution, the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC). She is currently working as an assistant lecturer after officially transitioning to a full-time faculty position at the Faculty of Medical Technology, Public Health Department. Her responsibilities include teaching a variety of public health courses, supervising undergraduate research projects, and publishing scientific papers and statistical reports in internationally indexed journals. She also collaborates with multidisciplinary research teams and academic colleagues from various fields.

Academic and Scientific Contributions

Her contributions extend beyond teaching and research to include administrative and scientific roles such as:

• Participating in academic review committees to evaluate research output according to quality standards.
• Overseeing the implementation of research ethics in scientific projects.
• Contributing to the development of research policies and promoting a culture of academic excellence within the institution.

Courses Taught

• Health Policies and Measures—Faculty of Medical Technology / Public Health Department (Fall 2023).
• Psychosocial Support—Faculty of Medical Technology / Public Health Department (Fall 2023).
• School Health—Faculty of Medical Technology / Public Health Department (Spring/Fall 2024).
• Communicable Diseases (Tuberculosis): Faculty of Medicine / Department of Community Medicine (2014-2022).
• Epidemiology, National Center for Disease Control (2014-2022).
• Surveillance and Investigation, National Center for Disease Control (2021-2023).

Research Supervision

Supervised student research projects, including:

1. Surveillance of the Most Reported Communicable Diseases in Healthcare Facilities in Ghadames Municipality (2021).
2. Quality Issues in Disease Surveillance in Sabratha (2023).
3. Expanded Surveillance of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis at Bir Asta Milad Specialized Hospital (2018-2019).

Administrative Roles

• Developed the National Strategy for Tuberculosis Control in Libya (2023-2027) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Authored the Comprehensive Medical Guide on Tuberculosis.
• Compiled the Detailed Statistical Report on Tuberculosis in Libya (2019-2023).
• Created the Radiological Diagnostic Guide for Tuberculosis Patients using the Delft Imaging System.
• Served as a member of the Health Education Unit at the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program.

Committees

• Member of the Scientific Publications Review Committee at the National Center for Disease Control (2022-2023).
• Chair of the Preparatory Committee for World Tuberculosis Day (2022).
• Member of the Workforce Planning Committee at the National Center for Disease Control.

Academic Programs Participation

• Healthcare Facility Statistics Development Program in Tripoli Municipality (2023-2024).
• Public Health Empowerment Program (Applied Epidemiology) (2022-2023).
• Development of a Digital Database for Tuberculosis Patients in Libya (2021-2022).

Supervisory Field Visits for the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) (2021).

Careers

• 2014 - 2023: Adjunct Faculty Member, University of Tripoli (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine)
• Delivered lectures on communicable diseases, epidemiology, surveillance, and investigation.
• Assisted in supervising undergraduate research projects.
• 2023 - Present: Assistant Lecturer, University of Tripoli (Faculty of Medical Technology, Public Health Department)
• Teaching courses in public health, health policies and measures, psychosocial support, and school health.
• Supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.
• Publishing scientific research and statistical reports in peer-reviewed journals.
• Participating in academic review committees and research quality assessments.

Research Interests

Dr. Hand’s research is primarily centered on public health and epidemiology, with a strong emphasis on applied research and statistical analysis. The key research interests include:

1. Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology
• Tuberculosis (TB) epidemiology and its impact on public health.
• The study of communicable diseases and their transmission patterns.
• Disease surveillance and outbreak investigation in Libya.
2. Public Health and Health Policies
• Developing disease control strategies at the national level.
• Evaluating healthcare systems and facility statistics.
• School health programs and their role in disease prevention.
3. Health Data Management and Statistical Analysis
• Preparing epidemiological statistical reports on communicable diseases.
• Implementing digital health data management systems like DHIS2 and Power BI.
• Applying biostatistics to assess public health programs.
4. Psychosocial Aspects of Public Health
• Psychosocial support for patients with chronic diseases.
• Investigating social determinants of health and their impact on disease prevalence.
5. Research Ethics and Academic Development
• Supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.
• Participating in academic review committees and ensuring research quality standards.
• Promoting a culture of research and development in academic institutions.

External Activities

In addition to academic responsibilities, Dr. Hend Farhat engaged in various professional, research, and advisory activities at both national and international levels. These include:

1. Consultancy and Specialized Roles

• Health Data Management Expert, Health Services Administration, Medical Services Office, Tripoli.
• Tuberculosis Consultant, National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), TB Control Program.
• Head of Documentation and Information—NCDC, TB, and Leprosy Control Department.
• TB Specialist: Providing medical consultations and treatment for TB patients.

2. Research and Health Reporting

• Preparing annual statistical reports on tuberculosis in Libya.
• Contributing to the Libyan National Strategic Plan to End TB (2023-2027) in collaboration with WHO.
• Developing a radiological diagnostic guide for TB patients using advanced imaging techniques.

3. Participation in Scientific Committees and Health Development

• Member of the Publications Review Committee—NCDC.
• Chair of the Preparatory Committee for World Tuberculosis Day—Organizing awareness campaigns and events.
• Member of the Workforce Planning Committee—Contributing to HR policy development in the health sector.

4. Training and Professional Development

• Conducting workshops on applied epidemiology and disease surveillance programs.
• Participating in advanced training courses in public health project management.
• Delivering lectures and seminars on research ethics and health data management.

5. Community Engagement and Health Awareness

• Volunteering in public health education on infectious and communicable diseases.
• Providing free medical consultations through social media and health organizations.
• Participating in field visits for medical campaigns to assist vulnerable populations.