rasha is a multilingual egyptian-american researcher, technical advisor and advocate. she has over 25 years’ experience in effectively using evidence to drive global srhr and maternal health policy and practice change. most recently, rasha was the director of technical excellence at ipas, leading a department of international experts in research, programmatic and policy innovations for abortion access and intersectional areas such as climate justice.

prior to joining ipas, rasha was a senior director at gynuity health projects, where for over 17 years she designed, led, and helped translate research into evidence-based policy and practices. she worked closely with a wide range of collaborators across 18 countries towards expanding technological innovations in abortion and maternal health.

before joining gynuity, she was a senior research and evaluation associate at engenderhealth with a focus on family planning, hiv/aids, obstetric fistula and postabortion care programs in west and southern africa. she also served as a staff program associate under the population council’s expanding contraceptive choice program.

rasha has published numerous peer-reviewed scientific papers as well as articles, commentaries, and contributed to books on clinical and programmatic issues in srhr. she has served on several advisory boards and committees, including safe motherhood and abortion committees of figo, rcog, and who. she received her master of public health from tulane university’s school of public health and tropical medicine and her undergraduate degree from the university of california, los angeles (ucla). she is fluent in arabic, english and french with professional working knowledge of spanish.