Dr. Omar Dewachi is an anthropologist and healthcare practitioner at Rutgers University, whose work focuses on the intersection of war, health, and society in Iraq and the broader Middle East. With a unique perspective that combines practical medical experience with anthropological research, Dewachi explores how prolonged conflict has reshaped public health systems and social structures across the region. He is the author of Ungovernable Life: Mandatory Medicine and Statecraft in Iraq, a critical examination of the 20th-century history of Iraqi medicine, detailing how political turmoil and state interventions have profoundly influenced healthcare practices and policies. Dewachi’s upcoming book, Chronicles of War Biology, continues this exploration, analyzing the transformations in healthcare and the biological impacts of warfare in the Middle East since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. His research delves into how war has driven the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in conflict settings, where disrupted healthcare systems, the overuse of antibiotics, and the breakdown of infection control measures create the perfect storm for resistant pathogens to thrive. Dewachi’s work provides essential insights into the enduring effects of conflict on health, offering a deeper understanding of how violence and instability have restructured both healthcare infrastructure and the social fabric of the region. His contributions are invaluable for those seeking to comprehend the long-term impacts of war on societies, particularly in the fields of medical anthropology, global health studies, and AMR in conflict zones.

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