Dr. Farzadfar is a Scientist in the Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Department at WHO Headquarters in Geneva. He also serves as a Professor at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
At WHO, he leads global efforts to strengthen facility-based NCD monitoring, with a focus on developing digital health platforms such as the WHO NCD DHIS2 Tracker, WHO NCD e-Registry, and the Global Diabetes and Cancer Monitoring Frameworks. He has extensive experience supporting countries in designing and implementing integrated data systems to improve routine health information and promote data use for decision-making. His work spans countries including Ghana, Djibouti, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, among others.
Dr. Farzadfar has been Principal Investigator for two national WHO STEPS surveys on NCD risk factors, conducted in 2016 and 2021 in Iran, providing critical evidence for national and global NCD strategies.
He has published over 470 scientific papers, contributing to advancements in NCD prevention, digital health, and health systems strengthening. Prior to joining WHO, he served as Director of the Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences and as a senior advisor to national health reforms, leading the Family Physician Program and developing national NCD monitoring frameworks.
Dr. Farzadfar holds a Doctor of Science (DSc) in Global Health and Population from Harvard University and is committed to advancing innovative, data-driven approaches to improve global health outcomes.
