Rola Hallam, MD pioneers a new vision for humanitarian aid delivery in war zones. She is an award-winning consultant anesthetist, humanitarian, human rights advocate, and social entrepreneur. Hallam is the founder and CEO of CanDo, a not-for-profit social enterprise pioneering a fresh locally led approach to humanitarian action, enabling local medics and aid workers to provide lifesaving health services to their war-devastated communities. Working with various Syrian-led NGOs, she played an integral part in building seven hospitals in Syria, including the first-ever crowd-funded hospital.
Hallam is regarded as a global thought leader advocating for the cessation of targeting of civilians in war zones, the protection of medical neutrality, and the localization of aid. She is the first Syrian TED Fellow.