Yasmeen Abu Fraiha

Exploration question

How can we understand and create policies that close gaps caused system-created disparities in early childhood between different communities? Can solutions that reduce inequalities between babies and toddlers be scaled to the entire population?

Yasmeen Abu Fraiha is a medical doctor specialising in internal medicine and currently completing a clinical fellowship in critical care medicine at BIDMC in Boston, alongside a research fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School’s Middle East Initiative. Her research focuses on healthcare policies that perpetuate inequalities in health services for underserved communities.

Previously, Yasmeen served as Health Policy Director at the Israeli Ministry of Health’s Task Force for Health Promotion and Equity in the Arab Society. In 2016, she co-founded Rodaina, an NGO that prevents genetic diseases in the Middle East. In 2019, she co-founded Yanabia, an NGO promoting socio-economic development in Bedouin communities. She serves on the boards of several NGOs dedicated to improving Bedouin lives. She has received numerous accolades, including the 2024 Health Innovators to Watch Award and recognition on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list. In 2023, Globes Magazine named her one of Israel’s 50 most influential women.