Introduction
Military conflicts, long-term international sanctions, isolation and rapid industrialization have turned Iraq's environment into an unprecedented, environmental disaster adversely affecting human health in Iraq and the surrounding countries. Consequently, the Iraqi healthcare system has been overwhelmed with a variety of environmentally related acute and chronic disorders, including respiratory and diarrheal diseases and adverse reproductive outcomes. Recent scientific reports have indicated significant increases in the incidence of cancer, physical and mental disabilities and congenital abnormalities. The situation has further deteriorated in recent years due to severely restricted access to modern scientific and medical knowledge and the almost complete isolation of Iraqi researchers, scientists and university faculty from their peers in the international community.
Severe environmental problems currently facing Iraq, including air, water and soil contaminants.
   
 
Goals
 

This conference will address environmental issues facing Iraq using the latest research and scientific studies and attempt to develop recommendations to address these problems. The conference will provide a venue for Iraqi and international scientists to present research work and advances related to environmental health in Iraq. It will allow Iraqi medical professionals to exchange information with their peers from the international community and it will help bridge the isolation of the Iraqi medical and environmental community by facilitating interactions and collaboration with international attendees. Additionally, the conference will stimulate long-term collaborative efforts among Iraqi scientists from different institutions or disciplines and with their foreign peers, thus encouraging research work and studies addressing various environmental and health problems affecting the region. Iraqi researchers and scientists will present the most recent research in the various disciplines related to health and the environment.

An important goal of the conference will be to familiarize the audience and officials attending the conference with the Environmental Health Education and Resource Centers (EHERCs) in Iraq and their availability to address any environmental health problems. Government officials will have the opportunity to appreciate environmental health issues and to confer with Iraqi experts on these matters.

   
   
 
Objectives
 
Discuss environmental problems and related health disorders in Iraq, encourage research and recommend intervention measures.
 
Bring advanced knowledge, skills, and updated technology in the field of environmental science to Iraqi government and educational institutions.
 
Enhance cooperation among different environmental agencies and encourage collaborative projects.
 
Expose the international community to major environmental issues affecting health in Iraq and the region as a whole.
 
Bring together Iraqi and international scientists to present relevant scientific advances in the field of environmental health.
   
  Topics
 
Conference presentations and discussions will relate to one or more of the following topics:
   
 
Environmental Health
 
Occupational Health
 
Industrial & Environmental Hygiene
 
Environmental Disasters: Planning & Management
 
Needs and Future Plans
   
 
Planning Committee
 
Stony Brook University:
   
Wajdy Hailoo, MD, MSc, DIH
Program Director
Stony Brook University, New York
Shawky Marqus, MD, MPH, DPH
Assistant Program Director
Stony Brook University, New York
     
   
Nancy Rifkind
Program Administrator
Stony Brook University, New York
Imtiaz Khan, MD, MHSc
Health Education Specialist
Stony Brook University, New York
     
   
Jane Yahil, PhD
Assistant Vice-President
Stony Brook University, New York
Mazin Enwiya, MSc
Iraq Program Manager
US EPA - Office of International Affairs
Region 5 - Chicago, Illinois
     
   
Badie Najem, MD
Pediatrics
Michigan
Thomas Fasy, PhD
Professor of Pathology
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York
     
   
Wali Abdurahman, MBChB, MPH
Professor
College of Medicine
Salahaddin University, Iraq
Hassan Alwan Baee, MBChB, MSc
Department Head
College of Medicine
Babylon University, Iraq
       
   
Susanne Torjussen
Administrative Assistant
Stony Brook University, New York
Charles Salvia
IT Specialist
Stony Brook University, New York
     
 
Iraqi Faculty:
 
Prominent Iraqi scientists, physicians and senior faculty from major academic institutions in Iraq are members of the Conference Planning Committee.
 
 
Scientific Committee
 
Stony Brook University:
   
Wajdy Hailoo, MD, MSc, DIH
Program Director
Stony Brook University, New York
Richard Reeder, PhD
Environmental Scientist
Stony Brook University, New York
     
 
Martin Schoonen, PhD
Professor of Geochemistry
Stony Brook University, New York
Holger Eisl, PhD
Environmental Scientist
Ctr. for the Biology of Natural Systems
Queens College, New York
   
   
Madi Jaghbir, MBChB, PhD
Chairman, Professor
Family and Community Medicine
Medical College, Jordan University
Steven Markowitz, MD
Professor, Director
Ctr. for the Biology of Natural Systems
Queens College, New York
   
   
Waleed Al-Tawil, MD, DRPH
Professor
Public Health
University of Baghdad
Al Alwan, PhD
Environmental Chemist
US EPA
Region 5 - Chicago, Illinois
       
   
Erin O'Leary, PhD
Assistant Professor
Environmental Epidemiology
Stony Brook University, New York
 
   
 
Iraqi Faculty:
 
Prominent Iraqi scientists, physicians and senior faculty from major academic institutions in Iraq are members of the Scientific Committee.
   
 
Conference Schedule
   
 
 
Sunday, September 18th
   
 
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Registration and Reception
   
 
Monday, September 19th
 
8:30 - 10:15
Session 1
 
10:15-10:45
Break
 
10:45-12:30
Session 2
 
12:30-1:30
Lunch
 
1:30-3:15
Session 3
 
3:15-3:45
Break
 
3:45-5:30
Session 4
   
 
Tuesday, September 20th
 
8:30 - 10:15
Session 1
 
10:15-10:45
Break
 
10:45-12:30
Session 2
 
12:30-1:30
Lunch
 
1:30-3:15
Session 3
 
3:15-3:45
Break
 
3:45-5:30
Session 4
 
7:00-9:00
Conference Dinner
 
 
Wednesday, September 21st
 
8:30 - 10:15
Session 1
 
10:15-10:45
Break
 
10:45-12:30
Session 2
 
12:30-1:30
Lunch
 
1:30-3:15
Session 3
 
3:15-3:45
Break
 
3:45-5:30
Session 4
   
 
Thursday, September 22nd
 
8:30 - 10:15
Session 1
 
10:15-10:45
Break
 
10:45-12:30
Session 2
 
12:30-1:30
CLOSING
 
4:00-9:00
Group Tour
 
 
Registration Instructions
  Online registration is now closed.
 
If you would like to attend or present at the conference, please e-mail chsalvia@gmail.com
 
Registration Fees:
 
$100 for registration entered by June 30th
 
$150 for attendants registering after June 30th
 
$200 for at the door registration
   
Please send a check or money order payable to Stony Brook University to the following address:
 
Scientific Committee
SBU-HEAD Environmental Health Project, Iraq
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
School of Medicine, HSC 3L099
Stony Brook, NY 11794-8036
 
 
Presentation Instructions
 
We currently have only a few remaining positions for presentations. If you are interested in presenting at the conference, please submit your abstract to imtkhan@notes.cc.sunysb.edu immediately.
   
 
Format:
 
Presentations can be oral or poster format. Individual presentations can range between 15 to 20 minutes each, with 5 minutes for discussion. Panel presentations can have 3 to 4 presenters, 15 minutes each, with 30-45 minutes for discussion. Size of poster billboards should not exceed 36x42 inches.
   
 
Presentation Topics:
 
Presentations must relate to one or more of the conference topics, namely:
       
Environmental Health
       
Occupational Health
       
Industrial and Environmental Hygiene
       
Environmental Disasters: Planning & Management
       
Needs and future plans
   
 
Abstract Submission:
 
1. Abstracts must be submitted by the June 30th, 2005 deadline to be accepted at the conference. You will be notified of our decision by Friday, July 15th. When accepted, a full text of the submitted subject must be submitted by Friday, August 12th.
 

2. Please fill out the abstract submission form (download below) and e-mail to whailoo@notes.cc.sunysb.edu or mail the completed form to:

Scientific Committee
SBU-HEAD Environmental Health Project, Iraq
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
School of Medicine, HSC 3L099
Stony Brook, NY 11794-8036
 
 

 

 
   
 
Travel Accommodations
 

There are several non or one-stop flights out of major US airports to Amman, Jordan. Early reservations are highly recommended because September is the tourist season. The conference will be held in one of the city's major hotels. Rooms will be available at reduced conference rates in the conference hotel. Exact information about the location and pricing will be available shortly. Hotel reservations should be made as soon as the information becomes available.

   
 
Liability
 
Stony Brook University and all entities involved in arranging this conference shall not be held liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity caused by any company, person from the conference team or provider of transportation for the participants, or due to a vehicle defect, nor accept responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay, sickness, weather, emergencies, or other unexpected circumstances.
   
 
Jordan
 

The conference will be held in the city of Amman, Jordan. Jordan's rich blend of ancient history and modern civilization makes it one of the most beautiful countries in the Middle East.

The geography of Jordan is a mix of majestic, mountainous countryside and vast, sweeping desert. The landscape is accented by the historical remains of Roman, Arabian, Byzantine and Islamic civilization, as well as many sites of Biblical significance such as the Dead Sea, Mount Nebo, and the city of Amman itself, home of the ancient Ammonites of the Bible.

The country of Jordan is home to a beautiful geography and a rich historical background, with attractions from Roman, Arabian and Islamic periods.
The ancient Arabian city of Petra, carved out of the red limestone mountainside (left), and the Dead Sea (right), are two of Jordan's most breathtaking attractions.

The city of Amman is a bustling urban center where ancient history blends with modern convenience. Also known as “the white city”, Amman's tranquil skyline is dotted with picturesque minarets and ancient ruins on the mountaintops. The city features numerous five star restaurants, hotels, shopping plazas and other attractions.

The city of Amman, capital of Jordan.

For more information on visting Jordan, go to the Jordanian tourism homepage.