Personal Details/Academic Background

Born in 1943 in Sariyyeh in Jordan, Dr. Kamel Ajlouni attended the Rashidiah College in Jerusalem and Hussein College in Amman, Jordan.

Dr. Ajlouni received a medical degree from the University of Heidelberg in Germany in 1967 and an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Windsor in Canada. He began a rotating internship at the University of Heidelberg and Stuttgart City Hospital and an internal medicine residency at St. Ursula Hospital in Boppord, Rhein.

 

He became the professor of endocrinology at the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Jordan, in 1985.He completed his medical training in the United States with an internship and residency at the Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York, and a residency and fellowship of endocrinology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

 

Dr. Ajlouni is a fellow of the American College of Endocrinology, American College of Physicians, and the Royal College of Physicians.

 

 

Professional Milestones

 

Dr. Kamel Ajlouni is an internationally recognized pioneer physician in the field of endocrinology. He is the President of the National Centre for Diabetes Endocrinology & Genetics in Amman, Jordan since 1996.

The organization is playing a crucial role in the country where more than three million nationals are expected to be affected by diabetes in 2050. The diabetes prevalence in the Kingdom, which stood at 7.5 per cent in 2005, is expected to reach 30 per cent in 2050. The annual cost of this burden was estimated by the CDC at US$1.8 billion.

 

He has served in many public offices, including Minister of Health of Jordan, President of the Jordan Medical Council, President of the Jordan University of Science and Technology, President of the Association of Arab Universities, and Senator of the Upper House Jordan Parliament. Dr. Ajlouni has written more than 140 professional papers in the field of endocrinology. 

In recognition of his contributions, in 2008, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) presented him with the International Clinician Award for his contributions to clinical endocrinology.

He also contributed to the establishment of the University of Jordan and the Jordan University of Science and Technology medical faculties. He also contributed to preparing a comprehensive plan for the primary healthcare system in Qatar. The professor worked in numerous posts, mainly as minister of health from 1984 to 1985.

He is one of the founders of the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) and was its president from 1986 to 1995. Professor Ajlouni has also worked as a senator in the Jordanian congress from 1996 to 2001. 

He played a key role in the establishment of Faculties of Medicine at the Jordan University in Amman and the Jordan University for Science and Technology in Irbid. These two medical faculties are considered as being among the best faculties in the region. The graduates of these faculties are now in leading positions in the Arab countries, USA and UK and make up most of the subspecialist physicians in Jordan.

He chaired the health and environment committee, put a great effort in developing and improvement of the health system and the health care in Jordan. He also chaired the Jordanian Medical Council which is responsible for physician evaluation and licensing.

He chaired the medical team that was formed to study chronic diseases, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity nationwide, and promote a prevention program for these diseases to reduce the high economic burden on both citizens and the government.

 

He participated in developing the health care system in Qatar during the period 1981-1983 and chaired the Hamad Medical Corporation.

During this period, he laid out a comprehensive plan for the primary, secondary and tertiary health care system.

At Pan Arab level, he was one of the founders of the Pan Arab Medical Council (for the medical specialties) established in 1979 by a decree of the Arab Health Ministers in Kuwait.

He chaired the Medicine Council and chaired the Hospital Accreditation Committee for post graduate programs and chaired many committees and visited all Arab Countries for this purpose. He participated in the establishment of Pan Arab Endocrinology and Diabetes Association.

This association plays a great role in the education of physicians at the endocrinology specialty level and other related medical specialties.

The association holds a conference every two years in one of the Arab capitals.

 

 

 

Awards and Recognitions

 

Dr. Ajlouni has been honored for his service and many accomplishments.

 

• Order of Independence (First Class).

• The Order of Education (Excellent Class).

• Sieglar American Institute Prize for Diabetes Research.

• State Appreciation Award for Pure and Applied Sciences.

• University of Jordan Award for the Best Researcher in the Medical Field, and the State of Kuwait Prize for Combating Cancer.

• Heart and Diabetes Diseases in the Mediterranean Region in honor of his contribution in the field of diabetes research.

• He was also awarded the 2008 UAE Health Foundation Prize.

• Dr. Ajlouni is the recipient of The International Clinician Award 2008 from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) for his contributions to clinical endocrinology.

• The American College of Endocrinology honoured him at its 17th annual meeting and clinical congress in Orlando, Florida. The award is presented to one doctor annually in appreciation of the dedicated and compassionate care they provide to patients with endocrine diseases, exceptional knowledge and expertise in the field of clinical endocrinology and the ability to develop a system of care for an endocrine problem, as well as educating the public on endocrine problems and effecting social changes which lead to improved care for endocrine patients. The association, established in 1991, is a professional medical organization with 6,000 members in the US and 85 other countries, whose advanced, specialized training enables them to be experts in the care of endocrine diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, growth hormone deficiency, osteoporosis, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity.

 

 

Taking into account the invaluable work in developing healthcare services in the Arab world and his commendable contributions to the advancement of medical services and education in the Arab countries, Dr. Kamel Ajlouni deserves the Hamdan Award for Distinguished Personalities from the Arab world.