Honorary Degree awarded to Dr Samah Jabr

Dr Samah Jabr is a psychiatrist practicing in Palestine, serving communities in East Jerusalem and the West Bank; formally, she was the Head of the Mental Health Unit within the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

She is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University in Washington, DC and participates in the Scientific Committee of the Global Initiative Against Impunity for International Crimes and Serious Human Rights Violations—a program co-funded by the European Union—as a member of its Scientific Committee.

Dr Jabr is a trainer and supervisor in diverse aspects of mental health, with a special focus on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), and the UN’s Istanbul Protocol for investigation and documentation of torture. She frequently consults on program development for international organizations. Her key interests include the rights of prisoners, suicide prevention, and historical trauma.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr Jabr has dedicated over two decades to advocating on behalf of the mental healthcare and well-being of the Palestinian people, focusing on victims of torture and trauma. She is the author of several books, including 'Beyond the Frontlines', 'Sumud', 'Sumud in Times of Genocide', and 'The Time of Genocide: Bearing Witness to a Year in Palestine', many of which have been published in several languages. In the summer of 2025, her most recent book, 'Radiance in Pain and Resilience: The Global Reverberations of Palestinian Historical Trauma', became available. In September 2026, her latest book, 'Trauma infinito', co-authored with Maria Nadotti and published in Italian by Feltrinelli, was released.

Recently, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bergen in recognition of her exceptional contributions.

Dr Jabr integrates her medical expertise with her activism, often addressing the psychological impact of occupation, historical trauma, and war. She is a founding member of the Sumud Network for Mental Health and a prolific speaker on liberation psychology and the ethical responsibilities of mental health professionals in the context of political violence.

Reasons for the Award of an Honorary Degree

By conferring the Honorary Degree in School and Community Psychology, the University paid tribute to Dr Jabr’s publications, public engagement and clinical practice, through which she has trained generations of professionals working in the field of community mental health, while also creating spaces for critical reflection within the international academic community.

Her work is distinguished by a balance of theoretical depth, ethical rigour and a sustained commitment to working alongside marginalised and oppressed communities.

Programme

4:15 pm — Welcome and registration (by 4:45 pm)

5:00 pm — Ceremony begins

• Conferral of the Honorary Degree in in School and Community Psychology upon Dr Samah Jabr
• Lectio Magistralis: 'Rethinking Trauma and Healing Through Palestine'

 Musical performances by the Collegium Musicum Almae Matris will feature as part of the ceremony.

6:30 pm — End of ceremony

The ceremony will be held entirely in English. Translation is not provided.

How to attend

Registration is required to attend the ceremony. Details on how to book will be published on this website shortly.