President

Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU)

Professor Matalka is currently the President of Ras Al Khaimah Medical & Health Sciences University since February 2023. Just before that he was the Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at School of Medicine at Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, Jordan, and a Consultant Pathologist at King Abdullah University Hospital for about 22 years. He is the Vice President of the International Academy of Pathology for Asia and the Clinical Director of the International Activities at the Royal College of Pathologists (UK). He served as CEO of King Abdullah University Hospital (2016-2018), which is the main tertiary hospital in North Jordan, and as the Dean of School Medicine between September 2014 and September 2016, as well as Vice Dean and Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine for many years. He is the Past President of the Arab Division of International Academy of Pathology (IAP) and the Jordanian Society of Pathologists and served as Chairman of the Arab School of Pathology. Between May 2015 and November 2020, he served as the International Advisor of the Royal College of Pathologists in UK for MENA region. He is a member of the supreme council of the Arab Council of Health specializations, Chairman of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Committee, and has been the Secretary of Arab Board of Pathology for the last 12 years. Between June 2018 and June 2022 he served as a Member of Board of Trustees, Al-Balqa` Applied University by a Royal Decree.

Dr. Matalka finished his undergraduate and postgraduate training in Jordan and pursued further training in Glasgow where he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in 2000 and obtained the CCST in the UK in 2001 and developed a special interest in Gastrointestinal and Liver pathology. Dr Matalka has published 72 publications with a focus on epidemiologic, and molecular characteristics of tumors. He has also a special interest in medical education, curriculum development, and assessment and worked as an assessor for most of the Jordanian medical school’s accreditation by the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions (AQACHEI) and has led the team prepared for the recognition by WFME and currently is one of WFME Recognition Program assessors. He served at many boards of directors of academic and health institutions and joined several national and regional committees on health issues and pathology and laboratory medicine, licensing, and accreditation, and drafting relevant instructions and regulations. He served as a member of committees for the recognition of non-Jordanian universities, equivalence of certificates, and the Medical and Pharmaceutical Sector Committee (Scientific Research Fund) in the Ministry of Higher Education and scientific research. He received the Achievement Award in Education (2020) by the Royal College of Pathologists, and the achievement recognition plaque by the Jordanian Medical Association (2021).