Board of Directors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Sarah Keller, Ph.D.

Director

Professor at Montana State University Billings specializing in health communication, Dr. Keller collaborates with GHEF on community-based media and adolescent suicide prevention initiatives.

Dr. Sarah Keller, Ph.D.

Director

Sarah N. Keller, Communications Professor at Montana State University Billings, played a pivotal role in developing the Let’sTalk program funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) Idea Network for Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE).

Dr. Tayeb Al-Hafez, MD FACP

Director

Founder and President of GHEF, Dr. Al-Hafez advances global health equity through multidisciplinary storytelling, public health strategy, and community-centered program development.

Dr. Tayeb Al-Hafez, MD FACP

Director

Tayeb Al-Hafez was born in 1968 in Damascus, Syria. In 1992 he immigrated to the United States after completing medical school in his home country. He promotes the use of media and technology in healthcare delivery and in enhancing public health education and preventive measures. Al-Hafez currently serves as the president of the Global Health Equity Foundation (GHEF), which he founded in 2007. He directs several GHEF programs and projects, including Health Diplomacy for Arabic Speaking Refugees in Germany. A part of this program is the Drei Zusammen project, which is a foundational pillar for intercultural exchange and for integration of Arabic-speaking refugees in Germany. Al-Hafez is also the founder of Al’Myra, a multi-media organization dedicated to communicating the richness of cultural diversity by nurturing art, design and science. Tayeb Al-Hafez Tayeb Al-Hafez, MD, is a practicing physician and healthcare strategist. He has served as Regional Medical Director while working with a healthcare delivery organization. He fostered communication and knowledge-sharing among medical directors in several hospitals, and provided mentoring and coaching that helped them excel in their leadership positions. His work helped them improve their relationships with their hospitals and affiliated physicians. Dr. Al-Hafez has experience leading successful inpatient hospital programs in non-profit, for-profit, and academic healthcare settings. He takes on a wide range of responsibilities for improving care and controlling costs. He has practiced in North Carolina, Alaska, Hawaii, South Carolina, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and California. Dr. Al-Hafez is continuously working to share his knowledge and expertise in the areas of strategic planning and policy development through active participation in global forums and initiatives in health care.

Prof. Todorka (Dora) Kostadinova

Director

A specialist in social inclusion and education, Prof. Kostadinova supports GHEF’s efforts to embed cultural empathy and equity within community-driven health initiatives.

Prof. Todorka (Dora) Kostadinova

Director

TODORKA IGNATOVA KOSTADINOVA, PHD Ms. Kostadinova is a professor at the University of Medicine in Bulgaria. She holds a PhD in Economy and Management of Social and Cultural Activities from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia, Bulgaria. Professor Kostadinova is Dean of Faculty for Public Health at the Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria. She is an expert at the National Civil Council to the EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection. Ms. Kostadinova has worked with many national and international agencies around the world, including WHO, UNICEF, HOPE, UN, and the Association of Bulgarian Hospitals. She has served as a professor of global health at The George Washington University.

Gergana Haralampieva, MS, MPA

Director

A global health policy specialist, Gergana supports GHEF’s strategic partnerships and advocacy efforts, drawing on her expertise in health systems, equity, and cross-sector collaboration.

Gergana Haralampieva, MS, MPA

Director

Gergana Haralampieva, MS, MPA is a global health specialist with extensive experience in policy, strategy, and program management. She has worked with international organizations on health systems strengthening, noncommunicable diseases, and digital health initiatives, leveraging dual master’s degrees in Science and Public Administration. Gergana is committed to advancing equitable, sustainable health outcomes through cross-sector collaboration.