Dr. Anna was born and brought up in Ukraine. She studied medicine at Kiev Medical Institute, University of Ukraine and graduated with an MD in 1972.
She is married to H.E. Abdulhafidh Salim Rajab, an Omani national. She’s a mother of 5 children; she speaks English, Arabic, Russian and French fluently.
Dr. Anna did her diploma in Child Health from Dublin University, Ireland in 1980, and then she became a member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) - UK in 1993 and obtained her PhD from University of London “St George Hospital Medical School” in 1997.
Dr. Anna Rajab, as a Clinical Personality, Dr. Anna Rajab’s contributions to the field of Genetics in Oman were tremendous and she was worthy to be considered as the quantity of her work was huge. Hence the committee unanimously approved her selection for the award.
Dr. Rajab is an MD, DCH, MRCP, PhD, and Consultant Clinical Geneticist. She is Head of the Genetic Unit, DGHA at the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Health. She is also clinical director of cytogenetic and molecular genetic laboratories and vice president of the national committee for the control of genetic blood disorders in Oman.
Dr. Rajab is Member of the Gulf Cooperation Cooperation Genetic Experts Committee. She is also member of several societies, such as: The American Society of Human Genetics, the European Society of Human Genetics, the British Genetic Society, and the Human Genome Organization. Her current activities include clinical genetics, development of national cytogenetic and molecular genetic laboratory services, and education in genetic health. Dr. Rajab has active research in the fields of clinical genetics and population genetics.
Professional Milestones:
Dr. Anna dedicated 40 years of her life to the health service in the Sultanate of Oman and the last 20 of these were mainly in genetic services which resulted in an extraordinary achievement of a centralized genetic service. She is the founder of genetic service in Oman which started in 1992 with the aim to provide better care to those suffering with genetic disease and their families.
Her clinical services were supported by extensive educational programs and training. She has trained more than 20 Omani scientists to perform genetic technologies and basic research in the field of genetics. These research activities, in collaboration with many centers in Europe and USA, gave her recognition and appreciation by many international organizations. Dr. Anna has more than 60 publications to her credit. Subsequent to her clinical, research and educational activities, she became more involved in raising public awareness about genetic diseases and prevention of such disorders.
She’s the founder of National Genetic Service, with clinical genetic facilities, genetic diagnostic laboratories and the national program for prevention of genetic blood disorders. She has many national and international awards. The best of these is the World Health Organization (WHO) award for research on Down’s syndrome. She’s the adviser for the WHO in genetic disorders and biotechnology. She’s a member of many prestigious international societies such as the American Society for Human genetics, Human Genome Organization, European Society for Human Genetics and the British Genetics Society.
Her Contribution to the country of Oman for the past forty years to research on genetic diseases was highly appreciated. Through her initiative she founded and established many centers like Genetic services, community services, national program for the prevention of genetic blood disorders, premarital counseling, health education and data collection of genetic diseases in Oman. She has over 65 peer-reviewed international high quality publications.
Awards and recognitions
She has won many international awards on her research and consultancy specially from the World health organization and IPTC of European commission.
Considering her commendable work over the decades in the field of medical education and development of healthcare services in the Arab world, Dr. Anna Rajab deserves the Hamdan Award for Distinguished Personalities from the Arab World.
