We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Taskeen Khan as the new Director of Research and Content at WISH – Qatar Foundation.

Dr Khan is a seasoned global health expert with a medical background in community health and postgraduate qualifications in health economics and public health. Her early work in South Africa and with the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) shaped her commitment to delivering equitable, context-sensitive health solutions. She later joined WHO Headquarters in Geneva, where she served as Technical Officer for the Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Management portfolio.

At WHO HQ, Dr Khan led the development of key global normative guidance, including the first-ever WHO Global Hypertension Report, the WHO Guideline for the Pharmacological Treatment of Hypertension, and the first global framework for the management of acute coronary syndrome and stroke. Under her leadership, WHO’s hypertension control programs were implemented in over 30 countries, working in close partnership with national health authorities, professional associations, implementation partners, donors, and global health actors such as Resolve to Save Lives, the World Heart Federation and the World Stroke Organization.

Following her WHO tenure, she contributed to the Africa-Europe Foundation, facilitating high-level policy exchange on climate change, digital health, and multilateral affairs.

Her expertise spans health security, climate-resilient health systems, and cross-sectoral policy design. Known for her ability to bridge research and implementation, Dr Khan champions solutions that align scientific evidence, community priorities, and the strategic use of health diplomacy—a vision that supports WISH’s strategic mission of positioning health as a cornerstone of global diplomacy.

At WISH, Dr Khan will lead the organization’s research, content, and policy development agenda, focusing on translating evidence into actionable policies and advancing resilient, equitable health systems worldwide.