Kuwait Cultural Office - Washington DC

Dr. S. Yousef Alrefaei is the Cultural Counselor and Director of the Kuwait Cultural Office in Washington, DC and Ottawa. As a scholar and academic leader, he has built a career spanning public health, parasitology, biomedical sciences, and higher education administration.

Dr. Alrefaei began his academic journey at the College of Health Sciences under the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) in Kuwait, where he joined the Medical Laboratory Department in 1998. Throughout his tenure, he served in several leadership roles, including Head of the Medical Laboratory Department and Chair of multiple academic and administrative committees.

He earned his Master of Science in Public Health and Tropical Medicine (MPH & TM) from Tulane University in 2002, followed by a PhD in Biomedical Sciences with a specialization in Microbiology and Tropical Medicine from The George Washington University in 2011. His doctoral research focused on the molecular biology and genetic manipulation of Schistosoma mansoni, contributing to advancements in neglected tropical disease research.

Since 2012, Dr. Alrefaei has served as an Assistant Professor and staff member at the Medical Laboratory Department at PAAET, teaching courses in parasitology, microbiology, and medical laboratory science. His research interests include schistosome genetics, transgenesis, diagnostic tool development, infectious diseases, public health awareness, and health education. He has presented his work at major international conferences and published in several peer-reviewed scientific journals.

From 2022 to 2025, Dr. Alrefaei served as the Cultural Attaché at the Kuwait Cultural Office in Washington, DC. In 2025, he was appointed Cultural Counselor and Director of the Washington, DC and Ottawa offices, where he continues to lead Kuwait's educational mission, fostering academic excellence, student support, and international collaboration.