Dr. Basma Ghandourah

In the evolving landscape of global healthcare leadership, Dr. Basma Ghandourah stands out as a pioneer who blends clinical expertise with strategic acumen to foster innovation and cross-border tnerships. With a career spanning restorative dentistry, governmental roles in Saudi Arabia's Vision Realization Office, and the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), she exemplifies how thoughtful leadership can create lasting systemic change. In this exclusive interview, Dr. Basma shares insights on her journey, balancing personal and professional life, and empowering others through collaboration.

**Interviewer:** Dr. Basma, your career exemplifies true leadership through empowerment and collaboration. Could you share how your background has shaped your approach to making meaningful impacts in healthcare and beyond?

**Dr. Basma Ghandourah:** Leaders create impactful strategic relationships, drive transformative initiatives, and nurture innovation wherever they go. My journey is a testament to a relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to driving transformative change on a global scale. Starting with my academic path at Riyadh Elm University and advancing through degrees from the University of Michigan and Alfaisal University, I've gained a unique blend of clinical expertise and strategic acumen. As a restorative dentist, I've touched countless lives by restoring smiles and fostering a patient-centric ethos. In governmental roles, I've spearheaded visionary initiatives, cultivated strategic tnerships, and championed innovation, integrating these into broader global contexts. This versatility allows me to apply clinical insights to strategic initiatives, always with a mantra of continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation.

**Interviewer:** You've emphasized that identifying and cultivating impactful tnerships begins with integrity and understanding mutual goals. How do you approach building these cross-border strategic relationships?

**Dr. Basma Ghandourah:** Building strategic relationships across borders begins with profound respect for and understanding of diverse cultures and systems. I approach this by actively listening and learning about tners'unique contexts, tailoring strategies that are culturally sensitive and relevant. Understanding the people, their culture, and their strategic direction is crucial for finding mutual grounding and creating fruitful, win-win relationships. Effective collaboration anchors in trans ency and mutual respect, using multi-layered communication channels, setting shared goals, and fostering trust. Regular follow-ups and feedback loops ensure alignment and prompt issue resolution. My experience has taught me that flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to innovate and find common ground are essential.

**Interviewer:** Balancing professional demands with personal life can be challenging, especially with family responsibilities. How do you manage this while staying fully present in both areas?

**Dr. Basma Ghandourah:** Balancing professional and personal lives requires careful planning and prioritization, especially with small children involved. I set clear boundaries between work and personal time and make a conscious effort to adhere to them, ensuring I'm fully present in both. Support from family and close friends has been invaluableunderstanding and encouragement provide the emotional backing needed to navigate professional demands. I also prioritize self-care through activities that recharge me, like learning new skills in the arts, traveling, and spending time with loved ones. On a personal level, I consider this balanceresponsibilities as a mother alongside my careersignificant achievement, with family support being instrumental to my success.

**Interviewer:** Thought leadership, global impact, and innovation seem deeply interconnected in your vision. How do you drive systemic change that transcends borders and sectors?

**Dr. Basma Ghandourah:** Thought leadership, global impact, and innovation are deeply interconnected in driving systemic change that transcends borders and sectors. Thought leadership involves pioneering new ideas and approaches to inspire others and set industry standards. Global impact means understanding and addressing interconnected challenges by fostering international collaborationpool resources, share best practices, and implement broad, lasting solutions. Innovation and agility fuel this, enabling cutting-edge answers to complex problems. My approach includes creating strategic tnerships for knowledge exchange and capacity building, driving improvement initiatives, and promoting policies for sustainable, inclusive growth. This comprehensive strategy leverages these elements to create meaningful, lasting change.

**Interviewer:** Your passion for meaningful impact resonates through time. Can you elaborate on how you pioneer change through thought leadership and what motivates you?

**Dr. Basma Ghandourah:** My passion lies in making a meaningful impact on people's livesthat resonates through time. Seeing tangible benefits, whether in improved patient care or successful international tnerships, motivates me to keep pushing forward. I'm dedicated to leveraging my skills for positive, lasting impact not just in healthcare but across sectors. Identifying and cultivating meaningful tnerships starts with being proactive and clearly understanding mutual goals and values. I emphasize leading market research to find potential strategic relationships locally and internationally, seeking tners committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability. Building trust through trans ency, reliability, and responsiveness is essential. Continuous engagement via regular communication, joint planning, and shared initiatives builds strong, lasting relationships, creating win-win scenarios where all ties are motivated to contribute their best.

**Interviewer:** What strengths have empowered your career, and how have you addressed areas for growth?

**Dr. Basma Ghandourah:** My strengths in strategic planning, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills have empowered me to navigate complex projects, build effective teams, and foster meaningful tnerships. Dedication to continuous learning and improvement has been a key asset throughout my career. Acknowledging growth areas, I've recognized the importance of delegating tasks effectivelythe past, I tended to take on too much, risking burnout. Learning to trust and empower my team has been a valuable lesson, leading to improved overall efficiency and effectiveness.

**Interviewer:** You've received numerous prestigious awards. How do these reflect your contributions, and what role does collaboration play in your leadership philosophy?

**Dr. Basma Ghandourah:** Throughout my career, honors like the IADR Heraeus Kulzer Travel Award and IAAM Young Scientist Medal in 2016 recognize my healthcare contributions. My recent designation as an International Hospital Federation Young Executive Leader (IHFYEL 2023) underscores commitment to leadership and excellence. Additionally, the Outstanding Leadership Award at Health 2.0 and being named a"Catalyst of Change"among Global Icons 2025 by Passion Vista highlight this. True leadership is about empowering others and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. I emphasize creating environments where everyone thrives and contributes to the common good. In today's interconnected world, we lean on each other's strengths, working across borders and sectors to address complex challenges. My mantra for growth, development, and success is embracing continuous learning and adaptabilitycurious, open to new ideas, and never stopping the search for improvement and innovation. Collaboration and strong relationships are key to lasting success.

**Interviewer:** Can you share a memorable project that highlights the value of strategic thinking and global expertise?

**Dr. Basma Ghandourah:** One memorable project was leading strategic relationships and international collaboration within the Healthcare Leadership Academy at the SCFHS. This involved forming tnerships with renowned institutions locally, regionally, and globally. The initial leadership programs empowered current healthcare leaders, equipping them with skills to transform the Saudi healthcare system. Its success underscored strategic thinking, effective communication, and collaboration. It demonstrated leveraging global expertise, multi-sectoral lessons, and local content to create positive impact on the healthcare system.