Joint Commission International Names New Middle East Managing Director

(OAKBROOK, Ill., USA – March 26, 2009) Joint Commission International (JCI) has named Ashraf Ismail, M.D., M.P.H., as managing director of its Middle East Office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

As a founder of the Egyptian Society for Quality in Healthcare, Dr. Ismail brings extensive experience in hospital accreditation, health care quality management, performance improvement and development of human resources. He has been president and CEO of Quality Associates Inc., the largest health care quality training and consultation provider in the Middle East. Dr. Ismail also served as a World Health Organization (WHO) consultant in accreditation and health care quality, working with national health sectors to establish national accreditation systems, develop standards and train surveyors. He was appointed in 2006 as strategic planning advisor to the Minister of Health in UAE to develop the new strategy of the health sector. While he was employed with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Cairo, Egypt, Dr. Ismail implemented the first National Quality Improvement Program in the Family Planning Clinics in Egypt.

“Dr. Ismail’s experience and relationships with key health care leaders in the Middle East will strengthen our existing alliances, offer opportunities for new partnerships and help bring a foundation for improvements in quality and patient safety,” says Karen H. Timmons, president and CEO, JCI. “JCI is pleased to have him as the leader of our Middle East operations.”

Dr. Ismail previously served as a consultant on JCI accreditation preparation, and has worked throughout the Middle East to help JCI clients improve their quality of care and enhance patient safety.  In his new post, he will represent JCI in the Middle East and India, forging collaborative relationships with ministries of health, professional societies and other key stakeholder groups.  As managing director of the JCI Middle East Office, he will also provide expert counsel on performance improvement, patient safety and JCI accreditation for a variety of health care organizations.

Dr. Ismail is trained in pediatric intensive care. He received his bachelor’s degree and doctor of medicine degree from Cairo University and a master’s in public health from Tulane University. He replaces Derick P. Pasternak, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.E., who has served as managing director since JCI opened a Middle East office in 2006. The Middle East office also serves North Africa and the South Asian subcontinent.