Welcome!
Dana H. Alsaialy is a Social Scientist with expertise in public health, NPOs, and research. Currently, she is a Trainee at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in the Disease Programmes Unit, focusing on AMR and Healthcare-Associated Infections. In addition, Dana serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at SHIFA Arts, a pioneering social venture.
She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University, where she specialized in medical sociology and research methods. In her Bachelor’s thesis, Dana explored how patients understand and treat dermatological conditions based on two diagnostic pathways (doctor-diagnosed vs self-diagnosed). As part of her research, she developed two models to capture the complexity and improve the applicability of her findings. Upon graduating, her thesis was nominated for the prestigious 31st Bolzano Award, and she was honored with the Rector’s Award.
For over three years, Dana has held leadership roles at Saudi Youth Society, an NPO that empowers youth in Saudi Arabia—she served as Vice Chairman before transitioning into a managerial role as Executive Director of Strategy and Innovation. In addition, Dana spent a year abroad in South Korea at Seoul National University, where she conducted epidemiological research, completed a language and culture program, and won competitions in the social venture space. In recognition for her dedication to public service, Dana was selected to be featured in Those Who Inspire, a Forbes-recognized publication that celebrates influential individuals from around the globe, as part of its Kingdom of Saudi Arabia edition.
In the future, Dana aspires to become a leading figure in the population health ecosystem in Europe and Saudi Arabia. In addition to her primary role at ECDC, she is a freelance Lead Data Analyst at Thomayer University Hospital and Researcher at the National Institute for Research on Diseases and Systemic Risks, focusing on oncology projects.
Key projects
A compilation of selected projects in Dana’s key research areas: cancer epidemiology, medical sociology, and public policy.
The association between cancer and maternal age at first birth among women aged 20-59
Final Project, Harvard Extension School, 2024
Postponing childbirth is a trend with biomedical implications. In OECD countries, average age at first birth (AFB) increased from early 20s to late 30s; late AFB is linked with perinatal and maternal outcomes, including increased cancer risk. In this cross-sectional study, I explored the correlation between cancer prevalence and early, ideal, and late AFB among 1,749 NHANES subjects, uncovering unexpected findings.
“Beyond pure health”: Exploring diagnostic pathways, quasi-medicalization, and patient expertise in dermatology
Bachelor’s Thesis, Charles University, 2024
A diagnosis is considered the cornerstone of clinical practice, shaping patients’ understanding of health. However, this significance is declining due to increased patient autonomy, particularly evident in the field of dermatology. In this thesis, I re-consider the position of diagnosis in the dermatological context, noting that while the pursuit of “optimal” well-being is justified in the name of health, some skin and hair diseases are minimized, beautified, or embraced in the form of body positivity.
Policy brief: Saudi Arabia’s untapped cultural potential in the post-petroleum era
Final Project, Charles University, 2022
Soft power is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) greatest untapped resource. To diversity from an oil-dependent economy, KSA established Vision 2030—a strategic plan for the future. In this policy brief, I demonstrate why moving the cultural industry from the sidelines to the core of its strategy can not only improve the nation’s private sector, FDIs, and youth employment, but raise KSA on the global stage.
Key experience
A cornerstone of Dana’s professional and academic journey includes her transformative experiences in Czechia, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea.
Advancing the application of social and behavioral sciences in health and research.
To stay in touch with my childhood home and contribute to Vision 2030, I played an active role in the nonprofit space.
Within three years, I supervised over 30 initiatives in the fields of creativity, sustainability, and multilateralism at Saudi Youth Society (SYS), impacting over 5,000 youth in the Kingdom. I started as Vice Chairman before transitioning into an executive position—now, I lead the development of the strategy and innovative transformation. Through my role, I was a delegate at COP16, where we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme.
Recently, I was invited by SHIFA Arts Foundation to join their team, a social venture that integrates art into healthcare settings to empower artists while advancing research on the healing properties of art for both providers and patients.
Building cultural diversity initiatives and social ventures to solve regional problems.
I am interested in integrating the social and behavioral sciences in healthcare and research contexts.
On campus, I was a Research Assistant at Requal, a CAQDAS developed by my faculty to improve reproducibility in qualitative research. I co-designed the software’s inter-coder feature which enables multiple users to compare their coding processes, increasing both reflexivity and analytical consistency—a central issue in qualitative research. In addition, I promoted user adoption through student training and writing a Wikipedia article.
Outside campus, I served as Research Assistant at the Czech Academy of Sciences. In this role, I supported in data collection and mapped spatiotemporal disparities in health literacy among over 24,000 ethnic minorities in Prague to shape public health policy. I was also invited to several conferences, including ESA’s Research Network of Sociology of Health and Medicine and the WHO Global Evidence Summit.
Improving student spheres and representation through ambassadorship.
I am a firm believer in harnessing the power of inclusivity and diversity, from perspectives to cultural backgrounds.
During my year abroad, I interned at the Seoul National University Diversity Council in collaboration with ARKO. As a member of Team Lunar, we increased Arab and Islamic cultural diversity in Seoul. Our team created Card News on Instagram, held a Diversity Dialogue Webinar, and wrote a Case Study on our project. In the end, our team was the first to ever win both the Best Internship and Best Case Study awards. Details of the internship are accessible here: Project (KR), Award Ceremony.
Enriched by my internship experience, I competed in the SWP Hackathon in Siheung, South Korea, where my team addressed language barriers faced by foreign patients in South Korea’s healthcare system. I also gained insights into cultivating impact-driven business models through 10 lectures and 3 coaching sessions led by experts and founders (e.g., Simple Steps, KBS).
With a passion for mentorship and academia, I dedicated myself to improving the student community.
For two years, I was a Student Ambassador for STUDY IN Czechia under the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research. During this time, I engaged with diverse student groups in nationwide workshops, created promotional content, and published bi-weekly blog posts on academics, student life, Prague’s best study cafes, and more.
At my Faculty, I founded and implemented the Teaching Assistant program and served as a TA for major coursework. In addition, I mentored incoming freshmen from East Asia, Latin America, and MENA regions as a Student Buddy. My contributions led to an invitation to join the Charles University Ambassadors program and a nomination for the Professor Miroslav Vlček Extraordinary Award. I was also honored to be featured in an article by Study International.
Empowering the next generation in the Kingdom through public service.
List of publications
Alsaialy, D. (2024). “Beyond pure health”: Exploring diagnostic pathways, quasi-medicalization, and patient expertise in dermatology. Bachelor’s thesis [64 pages]. Available at Charles University Digital Repository: https://dspace.cuni.cz/handle/20.500.11956/191501
Alsaialy, D., & Numerato, D. (in press). Medicalizing aesthetics or beautifying illness? Exploring the absence of diagnosis and the centrality of patient autonomy in dermatology. SSM – Qualitative Research in Health. Funding: NPO Systemic Risk Institute.
List of posters
Makajevova, V., Sojka, L., Alsaialy, D., & Simsa, J. (2025). Complications of surgical treatment of colorectal cancer and their impact on other treatment modalities and overall outcomes. Poster presentation at PragueONCO 2025 – The 16th Annual Interdisciplinary Oncology Conference, Prague, Czechia.