Prof. Rafia Obaid Ghubash is the President of Arabian Gulf University, a GCC sponsored Regional institution based in the Kingdom of Bahrain. She assumed the current office in 2001 when she was the Dean of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the UAE University. She is a Full Professor of Psychiatry and Consultant Psychiatrist. She obtained her PhD in Community and Epidemiological Psychiatry from University of London in 1992, and holds both the UK and Arab Board Certificates in Psychiatry (BCO Psych. 1990, and ABCO Psych. 1997). Her earlier Certificate of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics (CEMS, 1990), and Diploma in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (DCA Psych. 1988), were granted by the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Institute of Psychiatry in University of London. The quality of her teaching and research activities was recognized through advancement from Lecturer and Research Assistant in 1992 to associate and full professor in 2006. She has headed major research projects and published extensively in her field. Apart from reviewing for specialized scientific international periodicals, she is also an author or co-author of several books.

Prof. Raffia’s many and varied educational, social and intellectual contributions to national, regional and international organizations is reflected in her membership of professional associations and civic organizations, such as WHO’s Scientific Committees, constituent membership of the World Future Council in Germany, membership of the Advisory Council for UNDP, and of the Board of Trustees for the Sheikh Khalifa Educational Awards in UAE. Her many honors and awards include the Rashid Awards for Distinguished Scientist (1988 and 1992), Al-Owais Research Award (1992, 1994 and 1995), Award of Distinction for Citizens from Umalmomenien Women Association (2002), and the Sheikh Hamden bin Rashid Award for Medical Sciences (2003/ 2004).

The hallmark of her presidency of AGU has been the reform of governance and the strategically bold initiatives that would make the University financially more autonomous. Greater transparency has meant greater accountability and hence efficiency. Enterprises such as the establishment of the HH Princess Al-Jawhara Centre for Genetics and Inherited Disorders will not only raise the research and educational profiles of the School of Medicine but also generate revenue that would contribute to increased self-sufficiency. Her stewardship of the University also saw the CMMS win the 2006 Sheikh Hamdan Ibn Rashid Award for the Best Medical School in the Arab World and the designation of the WHO Collaborative Centre for Medical Education for the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.