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OUR TEAM
From Cox's Bazar to Miami, Florida our dedicated staff works day
and night to ensure access to the highest attainable standard of care.
US Team
Johanna Hansing, Program Manager
Johanna has extensive experience activist in International Humanitarian Aid. She holds a double Licentiate in International Relations and Psychology and completed her Postgraduate studies in Neuroscience at the following Universities: Complutense University in Madrid, International University of Valencia, Spain, and the Kathoelishe Universitaet Eichstaett Ingolstadt, Germany. Prior to joining HOPE Foundation, Johanna worked in different countries including Germany, Argentina, Mozambique and Spain. Today, she splits her time between the United States and Bangladesh as the frontline Manager of HOPE Foundation working closely with the Founder and President, Dr. Iftikher Mahmood. Together Johanna and Dr. Mahmood develop HOPE Foundation programs. Johanna speaks German, Spanish, English and Portuguese fluently. She is most passionate about women's rights and universal access to mental healthcare for those who have suffered from gender-based violence and/or human rights violations.
Jessica Love, Philanthropy Consultant
Jessica Love is as an experienced writer and communications strategist who has managed media relations, community and stakeholder outreach for nonprofit, corporate and government organizations. Prior to joining HOPE Foundation, she spent several years leading communications efforts for Fistula Foundation, a nonprofit focused on treating women suffering from the devastating childbirth injury, obstetric fistula. She has held previous roles at public relations firms, including Spitfire Strategies, a Washington, D.C.-based communications firm that works exclusively for nonprofit and foundation clients. She has also held roles at Widmeyer Communications and Venture Communications, focusing primarily on PreK-12 education and on veterans’ issues, respectively. Jessica worked on a national presidential election campaign as field organizer and scheduler and began her communications career at the national agricultural land conservation nonprofit American Farmland Trust. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Matthew Malin, Advisor of Operations
Matthew Malin is a Senior Director of Product Strategy and Development for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing strategic partnerships and product strategy for various lines of business. Prior to assuming this position, Mr. Malin was Director of Strategic Initiatives for WellCare Health Plans. WellCare provides Government sponsored healthcare plans that focus on Medicare and Medicaid insurance throughout the U.S. Mr. Malin has also held management positions within the healthcare industry with various companies, including Accenture’s Consulting Practice, Kaiser Permanente, and Aetna. In 2005, Mr. Malin graduated from UC Berkeley’s Masters of Public Health Program. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Biological Science from Clemson University in S.C, as well as a minor in Business Administration. Mr. Malin has a passion for creating models of high-quality, sustainable healthcare services in developing countries. As a seasoned healthcare executive, he inspires excellence by training physicians and their staff on how to be leaders and managers, combining their clinical expertise with wise business practices. Since 2010, Mr. Malin has shared his passion for Hope Foundation’s delivery of Maternal and Child Healthcare Services with Hope’s founder Dr. Mahmood. Mr. Malin lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife and 4 children.
Ashley Pugh, Grant Consultant
David White, Graphic Designer
David White, originally from Rochester, New York, is a seasoned graphic designer with 15 years of experience. David graduated from Nazareth College of Rochester with a BS in Studio Art and continued with some post-graduate studies in graphic design at Savannah College of Art & Design(SCAD). After leaving SCAD, David decided Savannah was "home" now and found a position with an advertising agency in town. Eventually, David began to run his own freelance business allowing him to be able to work with many diverse clients, including HOPE Foundation and other non-profit organizations.
international Team
international Team
Dr. Mark Claydon, Volunteer Coordinator Australia
In 2020 Dr. Mark Claydon joined HOPE Foundation initially as a volunteer at the Hope Foundation Field Hospital and now in his current role as "Australian Volunteer Coordinator". In 2012 he graduated from the University of Birmingham Medical School UK. In 2013 he moved to Australia and has worked in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a number of hospitals throughout Australia. Currently, he is based in Tasmania Australia as an Obstetrics and Gynecology Registrar.
Stephanie Richard, Mental Health Coordinator
Stephanie holds a Master’s Degree in International Development and Humanitarian Aid Management from the University of Laval in Quebec, Canada. A strong advocate for social justice and human rights, her career has been dedicated to promoting access to mental health services within marginalized populations. Stephanie has been involved in multiple projects on both national and international forums. Fighting for equality for individuals who have severe and persistent mental health disorders is the foundation of her practice and she continues to show her commitment to the enhancement of mental health services globally. In 2015, Stephanie served as a social work consultant in a psychiatric NGO located in West Africa. This work experience abroad fostered her interest for international development. More recently, Stephanie led the development HOPE Foundation’s mental health and psychosocial program. She spent six months in Cox’s Bazar working alongside the national team to support the launch of the program. This work was grounded in the belief that all human beings have the right to dignity and access to quality mental health services. She is currently residing in the Canadian Arctic and working as a Territorial Mental Health Specialist with the Government of Nunavut’s Department of health. Stephanie’s role is focused on the expansion of an Inuit workforce to better address mental health needs across the Territory. Her current work is aligned with her ongoing dedication to building capacity within rural and isolated remote communities.
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Whitney Abbott, International Midwifery Advisor
Whitney Abbott is am a women's health advocate. After graduating as a Registered Nurse in 2007 she made women’s health care her primary focus. She was working as a nurse in Taiwan and something sparked in her a passion for global health. She returned to the States to become a midwife with the goal of gaining the skills to decrease neonatal and maternal mortality. After graduating from the University of Kansas Medical Center as a CNM, APRN in 2012, she founded a free-standing birth center in one of the poorest counties in Kansas. She partnered with a local non-profit to offer healthcare at cost (or free) to women she’d seen struggle with maternity due to lack of access to care. She also qualified as an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) and has a passion for seeing breastfeeding rates increase. She is also honored to serve as a Board member to MILCC (Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification), Commissioner to CABC (Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Center), and Foundation Board member to AABC (American Association of Birth Centers). She most recently headed up the midwifery program in the HOPE Field Hospital for Women in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh where she developed a program to improve care for mothers across 20 different measures. Due to Covid 19, Whitney is currently working stateside in a local Emergency Room, but she is already planning her next trip. She graduates with her Master's in Global Public Health from Johns Hopkins in May. She is starting a position as Midwifery Faculty for JHPIEGO shortly after that. She will be living in Wardha, India for the next 18 months, implementing a National training program. She has a love for travel and adventure, and she is always planning her next trip in the back of her head.
Bangladesh Team
K M Zahiduzzaman, Country Director
Mr. Zahid, Country Director, has completed his masters in Sociology at Dhaka University. Before joining HOPE, he worked for James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, from 2008 to 2018. He has been working over 18 years in the public health field with different national and international organizations like the James P Grant School of Public Health-BRAC University, the Population Council-South & East Region office, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), RTM International, National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT). He has developed several training manuals/modules and BCC materials. Mr. Zahid is a member of the Global Health Council-USA and Public Health Association of Bangladesh. He has also been awarded an honorary membership by the Bangladesh Midwifery Society (BMS).
Dr. Nrinmoy Biswas, Senior Consultant & Fistula Surgeon
Dr. Nrinmoy Biswas joined HOPE foundation in 2011 as our Consultant Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Medical Director. Dr. Biswas earned his Bachelors Degree in Medicine and Bachelors in Surgery at Rajshahi University, Bangladesh. He further gained his Diploma in Gyneacology and Obstetrics at New Age International University, Italy. He moved on to get his F.M.I.S. posting at Institute of Laparoscopic Surgery in India. His Post Graduate Degree in Gynecology and Obstetrics, as well as Surgery comes from Kumudini Medical College, Bangladesh. He received Higher Training in Assisted Reproductive Technique from The Institute of Reproductive Medicine, India. In regards to positions he has held, from 1997-1998 he served as Assistant Registrar of Kumudini Medical Hospital, which is a 750 bed hospital in Tangail, Bangladesh. From 1999 to 2009 he was the Assistant Director (Chief) and Consultant Surgeon at a 50 bed Community Hospital in Tangail, Bangladesh. In 2010 he served as a Medical Consultant, Gyn/Ob and Departmental Head of the 500 bed Monno Medical college in Manikgonj, Bangladesh. To this day, Dr. Biswas has perfomed over 3,000 C-sections and over 700 hysterectomies. He routinely provides ante-natal care and education to Mothers as well as screens for preventive health care. Dr. Biswas earned a prestigious scholarship from the Federation of International Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) in 2011 and traveled to Ethiopia to receive training on Obstetric Fistula Repair surgeries. Dr. Biswas received training from world renowned fistula surgeons, Dr. Steven Arrowsmith from the U.S. and Dr. Muleta Mulu from Ethiopia.
Dr. Ismail Idris, Chieff Medical Officer
Dr. Ismail Idris has been with HOPE Foundation since January 2018. Throughout his time with HOPE, He worked as Chief Medical Officer, in Hope Field Hospital for Women in the Rohingya Refugee Camps and was promoted to work in Hope Hospital, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar as CMO in October 2018. He is a MBBS and MPH degree holder. He has been serving in health sector more than 32 years in Clinical and Administrative fields in Home country as well as in Abroad in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Maldives under Ministry of Health. During this long period of experience, he applied his skill to attend, screen and to treat the both the patients in Rohingya as well as Host community. He closely supervises administrative works and the activities of other Medical Doctors, while also organizing and attending free Medical Camps in remote area to serve the needy people. He gives continuous management support towards the implemention, monitoring and evaluation of health and nutrition in the community.
Md Showkat Ali, Senior Manager HOPE Field Hospital for Women
Mr. Showkat is working with HOPE Foundation since March 2017. Before joining HOPE, he worked for a renowned national NGO in the Community Development Centre (CODEC) from over 17 years. He has been succesfully working in the humanitarian field for about 26 years now. Always in the technical and management side to implement health, education, food security, nutrition, human & child rights, social mobilization & community development. He is very skilled on Project Proposal Development, Monitoring & Evaluation, Financial Management and BCC Martial Development. He has worked with many national & international organizations such as BRAC, UNFPA, WFP, Save the Children, Care Bangladesh, Manusher Jonno Foundation. Mr. Showkat has vast experience working with the Rohingya Community in Cox’s Bazar. He holds a Master Degree in Accountings from University of Chittagong in Bangladesh and received extensive trainings on Human Rights, Problem Solving Management, Monitoring & Evaluation, Financial Management & Accounting Systems, Training of Trainers.
Dr. Fayzul Islam, Sr. Manager Maternal Health Programs
Dr. Fayzul joined HOPE Foundation in 2021.
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