Prof. Alaei, MD, MPH, MS, DrPH, MSt
Dr. Alaei is a global health policy expert who has been working in conservative social settings for two decades in several countries in the Middle East and Central Asia. He studied medicine, epidemiology, international health, health policy, and international human rights law at prestigious universities such as Harvard and Oxford.
He and his brother Arash co-founded the first ‘Triangular Clinic’ for three target groups in Iran (drug users, HIV patients, and STD cases), documented by the World Health Organization as a ‘Best Practice Model’.
Dr. Alaei has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles in prestigious publications including the Lancet Global Health, the British Medical Journal and AIDS. He has been featured and interviewed by major academic journals such as Nature, Science, and The Lancet.
2013-2015: University of Oxford, New College, Faculty of Law/Dept. for Cont. Education
- Master of Studies (MSt) in International Human Rights Law (LLM equivalent)
- Thesis: To What Extent Are Health Indicators and Human Rights to Health Indicators Compatible with Respect to HIV Services for Injecting Drug Users (Advisors: Margaret Bedggood (Oxford and Waikato), Sofia Gruskin (Harvard and USC)
2007-2013: State University of New York, University at Albany, School of Public Health, Dept. of Health Policy, Management and Behavior
- Doctoral Degree (DrPH) in Health Policy and Management
- Thesis: Risk Factors for Injection versus Non-Injection Drug Use in Iran (Advisors: Ben Shaw, Barry Sherman, Kaveh Khoshnood (Yale), Carl Latkin (Johns Hopkins University)
2005-2007: Harvard University, School of Public Health (HSPH), Dept. of Global Health and Population
- Master of Science (MS), in International Health
- Thesis: The Association between Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB), HIV/AIDS and Refugee Populations in Iran (Advisors: Saidi H. Kapiga, Joshua Salomon)
2004-2005: Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Iran’s top-ranked University), School of Public Health
- Master of Public Health (MPH), Department of Epidemiology
- Thesis: HIV/AIDS Cases Attributable to Patterns of Drug Use in IDUs in Iran (Advisors: Kazem Mohamad, Reza Majdzadeh, Akbar Fotouhi)
1998-2000: Shahid Beheshti Medical University, (Iran’s top 2-ranked University), School of Medicine
- Clinical Medical Intern, Medicine
- Thesis: The First study in Iran on Immunological and clinical findings of HIV in a group of hospitalized Iranian patients (Advisor: Davood Mansouri)
1992-1998 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, (Iran’s top 3-ranked medical school), School of Medicine, Isfahan, Iran
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
2007: Harvard Medical School, Medical Observership, Division of HIV/AIDS, Department of Infectious Disease, Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
- Mentor: Sonya Shin, MD
2003: AIDS Institute, NYS Department of Health, NYC, Post Doctorate, Ford Foundation AIDS Fellowship
- Mentor: Bruce Agins, MD, MPH
2000-2002: Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Post Doctorate Clinical Experience on HIV/AIDS at Triangular Clinic, a United Nations/World Health Organizations’ Best Practice Model
- Mentor: Dr. Mansouri, MD
Selected Interviews with Major Newspapers:
- L’Iran face au coronavirus: défis et enjeux. L'Orient-Le Jour. April 16, 2020.
- México repite errores de otros países ante el coronavirus. The El Universal, the Mexican leading newspaper. April 4, 2020.
- How Iran Completely and Utterly Botched Its Response to the Coronavirus. The New York Times. March 7, 2020.
- Kamiar Alaei and Arash Alae. Coronavirus pummels Iran leadership as data show spread is far worse than reported. The Washington Post. March 4, 2020.
- As the number of confirmed coronavirus infections continues to grow ... with Dr. Kamiar Alaei. KGVM Community Radio. March 8, 2020.
- Die Führung gibt nicht zu, wie ernst die Lage ist. ZEIT Online. 5. März 2020.
- Kamiar Alaei on the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran. CGTN. March 5, 2020.
- Virus Infections Among Iran's Elite Trigger Skepticism, Complaints Over Testing Access. Vice of America (VOA) News on Iran. March 05, 2020.
- Iranian Infectious Disease Specialist on How the U.S. Should Address the Coronavirus Pandemic. Democracy Now. March 2, 2020.
- How Iran Became a New Epicenter of the Coronavirus Outbreak. The New Yorker. February 28, 2020.
- Doctors in Iran pleading for action to contain COVID-19 virus. ABC. 27 February 2020.
- Coronavirus in Iran: Health Experts Question Officially Reported Infection Numbers. International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. February 26, 2020.
- Tehran Cancels Friday Prayers as Coronavirus Cases Spike. Radio Free Europe. February 27, 2020.
- Iran Coronavirus Outbreak Strands Pakistani Visitors, Fuels Fear of Prison Contagions. Vice of America (VOA) News on Iran. February 26, 2020.
- Grave Concerns for Prisoners in Iran Amid Coronavirus Outbreak.International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. February 28, 2020.
- ‘There is nothing to worry about’: Opaque regime in Iran insists coronavirus under control as vice-president latest high-profile patient. The Independent. February 27, 2020.
- Protecting women’s rights is linked to a healthier population, research finds. The Telegraph. July 18, 2019.
- Nations with strong women's rights likely to have better population health and faster growth. Science Daily. July 19, 2019.
- Without Borders. The Alaei Brothers: Cover Story. A&U America’s AIDS Magazine. March 8, 2019.
- Redacción, Aislados, a escondidas y entre escombros: así estudian medicina los jóvenes de Siria acorralados por la Guerra. BBC Mundo. 6 Oct 2017.
- Malaka Gharib. They Dreamed of Being Doctors. Now They Help Syrians with The Same Dream. NPR. July 5, 2017.
- Willie James Inman. American doctors train Syrian medical students online. FOX News, 23 March 2017.
- Saeed Kamali Dehghan. Trump travel ban will hit Iranian critics of regime hardest, analysts warn. The Guardian,9 March 2017.
In recognition of his work, Dr. Alaei was awarded the following:
- Jonathan Mann for Global Health and Human Rights by the Global Health Council
- World Health Organization/PAHO Award Health and Human Rights
- Inaugural Elizabeth Taylor Award sponsored by the International AIDS Society and amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research in recognition of efforts to advocate for human rights in the field of HIV
- Heinz R. Pagels Award for human rights by the New York Academy of Sciences
- The Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which had previously been awarded to seven US Presidents and various Nobel laureates