Faculty and Staff Profiles

Wasim Maziak
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Additional Information

The School of Public Health

Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics 

  

Education
  • Baccalaureate   - Aleppo American High School, Aleppo Syria - 1975-1978
  • M.D. Medicine - Aleppo School of Medicine, Syria - 1978-1984
  • Ph.D. Allergy and Immunology - Kiev Medical Institute, Ukraine - 1986-1990
  • Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Public Health - Emory University, Atlanta, US - 1995-1996
  • Karim Rida Said Fellowship Respiratory Research - National Heart and Lung Institute, London, UK - 1996-1997
  • Alexander von Humbolt Fellowship Epidemiology - Institute of Epidemiology & Social Medicine, Germany - 2000-2002

Work Experience
  • Faculty, Department of Medicine - Aleppo School of Medicine, Syria - 1991-2000
  • Fellow, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship in Public Health - Emory University, United States - 1995-1996
  • Fellow, Karim Rida Said Fellowship - National Heart and Lung Institute (United Kingdom) - 1996-1997
  • Research Support,   - Osseimi Foundation, Switzerland - 1997-1999
  • Fellow, Alexander von Humboldt - Institute of Epidemiology & Social Medicine (Germany) - 2000-2002
  • Head of Tobacco Research Program,   - The Syrian Society Against Cancer - 2000-present
  • Director and Founder,   - Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies - 2002-present
  • Adjunct Faculty, Institute of Health and Society - University of Newcastle, UK - 2005-present
  • Senior Epidemiologist,   - Institute of Epidemiology & Social Medicine, Germany - 2002-2006
  • Associate Professor, Department of Health and Sport Sciences - The University of Memphis - 2006-2009
  • Associate Professor, School of Public Health - University of Memphis - 2009- Present
Honors/Awards
  • Awarded Permanent Residency for The Highly Skilled - Germany - 2005
  • The Hamdan Award for (SCTS) Best Medical College/Institute in the Arab World - The Ruler of Dubai - 2008
  • Outstanding Alumni Achievement Prize - The Said Foundation - 2009

Teaching Experience
  • Public Health Course - Aleppo School of Dentistry
  • Applied Epidemiology Course - Aleppo School of Medicine and Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies
  • Respiratory Health Practicum - Aleppo School of Medicine
  • PUBH (7170) Epidemiology in Public Health I, MPH - University of Memphis
  • PUBH (7172) Epidemiology in Public Health II, MPH - University of Memphis
  • Tobacco Studies - University of Memphis sponsored work with the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies
  • Supervised MPH students thesis work- Thesis - 88964 - PUBH 7996 - 001 - University of Memphis
  • Advised students - University of Memphis

Support
  • The study of Cardiovascular Disease and Hyperglycaemia: Analytical Modeling of Population Socioeconomic transitions. - (MedCHAMPS) EU and Mediterranean Countries-Collaboration - Total Costs $2,703, 359 (Euro) - March 2009-
  • Tobacco use and exposure among pregnant women in the Eastern Mediterranean - National Institutes of Health - $2,500,000 direct costs $2,797,396 total costs (pending) - 2008-2012 (PI)
  • The changing tobacco epidemic in the Eastern Mediterranean Region - National Institutes of Health (R01 TW007919-01) - $1.7 million direct costs - 2007-2012 (PI)
  • Spread and multi-level determinants of obesity in Memphis middle school students - National Institutes of Health - $275,00 direct costs $385,000 total costs (pending) - 2007-2008 (PI)
  • Collaborative project for the study of cardiovascular health - European Union - $1,526,615 (Pending) - 2007 (Partner)
  • Determinants and consequences of waterpipe smoking in the Middle East - American University of Beirut and The Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies - $300,000 direct costs - 2007 (Co-PI)
  • Development of a dependence scale for waterpipe users - National Institutes of Health and Fogarty International Center - $126,000 direct costs - 2006-2009 (Co-PI)
  • Development of smoking cessation intervention for waterpipe smokers - Start Up Grant SG - International Cardiovascular Initiative in Developing Countries - $60,000 direct costs - 2005-2007 (PI)
  • Proposal Development Grant - Smoking cessation intervention for waterpipe smokers - International Cardiovascular Initiative in Developing Countries - $10,000 direct costs - 2004-2005 (PI)
  • Health and environmental risks in informal urban settlements, in Aleppo, Syria - National Institutes of Health (R21-TW006545) - $121,868 direct costs $239,100 total costs - 2003-2005 (Joint -PI)
  • Establishment of the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies - Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health (R01-TW05962) - $1,187,767 direct costs $1,671,885 total costs - 2002-2007 (CO-PI)
Service
  • Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco - Chair, Special Committee on Developing Countries Researchers Needs - 2005-2006
  • JAMA, LANCET, BMJ, AJPH, BioMed Central - Reviewer - Invited editorials in major journals - 2005-present
  • Global Tobacco Control Network - Co-Founder - 2007-present
  • Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco - Global Network Committee - 2005-present
  • JAMA, LANCET, BMJ, American Journal of Public Health, BioMed Central - Reviewer - 2004-present
  • Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco - Special Committee on developing coutries researchers [Chair] - 2005-2006
Journal Articles
  • Maziak W, Ward. From Health as a Rational Chioce to Health as and Affordable Chioce. Am J of Public Health 2009;99(12):2134-9.    
  • Kim S et al. (2009). On behalf of the FAMRI Homes Study Investigators. Determinants of Hair Nicotine Concentrations in Non-smoking Women and Children: A Multi- Country Study of Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Homes. Cancer Epidemiology: Biomarkers & Prevention In press   
  • Maziak, W, Ward, K.D. (2009). From Health as a Rational Choice to Health as an Affordable Choice. Am J of Public Health (12): In press.    
  • Maziak, W. The crisis of health in a crisis-ridden region (Forum). Intern J Public Health 2009; 54(5):349-55. 
  • Cobb C, Ward KD, Maziak W, Shihadeh AL, Eissenber T. Waterpipe tobacco smoking: an emerging health crisis in th United States. American Journal of Health Behavior 2010; 34(3):275-85.
  • Salim El, Moore MA, Al- Lawati JA, Al- Sayyad J, Bazawir A, Corbex M, El- Saghir N, Habib OS, Maziak W, Mokhtar HC, Self- Eldrin IA, Sobue T. Cancer epidemiology and control in  the Arab world- past, present and future. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2009;10(1):3-16.    
  • Kilzieh N, Rastam S, Maziak W. Ward KD. (2009). Gender, depression, and physical impairment: an epidemiologic perspective from Aleppo, Syria. Soc Psychiatry Pschiatr Eqidemiol: In press.  
  • Maziak, W, Rastam S., Ward, K.D., Shihadeh, A.L., Eissenberg, T. (2009). CO Exposure, Puff Topography, and Subjective Effect in Waterpipe Tobacco Smokers. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2009; 11(7):806-11.      
  • Maziak, W. Epidemiology between Astronomy and Astrology. Intern J Epidemiol 2009: 38(2):393-402.     
  • Maziak, W. The Triumph of the null hypothesis: epidemiology in an age of change (for debate). Intern J Epidemiol 2009: 38(2):393-402.      
  • Maziak, W.(2008). The waterpipe: time for action. Addiction; 103:1763-67.     
  • Maziak, W. (2008). Are premature public health statements warranted? Aust N Z J Public Health; 32(5):490.      
  • Almarie M.Q. Matar, H.E., Salam, M., Morad, A., Abdelal, M., Maziak, W. Cigarettes & waterpipe smoking among medical students in Syria: a cross-sectional study. Int J Turbec Lung Dis 2008;12(9):1085-91.       
  • Eissenberg T, Ward KD, Smith-Simone S, Maziak W. Waterpipe tobacco smoking on a U.S. college campus: prevalence and correlates. J Adolescent Health: 2008;42(5):526-9.    
  • Maziak W. (2008). Carcinoembryonic atigen (CEA) levels in hookah smokers, cigarette smokers and non- smokers--a comment. J Pak Med Assoc. r;58(3):155.  
  • Kilzieh N, Rastam S, Maziak W. (2008). Ward KD. Commorbidity of depression with chronic diseases; a population- based study in Aleppo, Syria. Int J Psychitry Med;38(2):169-84.   
  • Maziak W, Rastam S, Ibrahim I, Ward KD, Eissenberg T. (2008). Waterpipe Associated Particulate Matter Emissions. Nicotine & Tobacco Research; 10(3): 1-5.     
  • Wipfli H et al. (2008). On behalf of Famri Homes Study Investigators. Secondhand smoke exposure among women and children: evidence from 31 countries. Am J Public Health; 98(4):672-9. 
  • Maziak W, Ward KD, Stockton MB. (2008). Childhood Obesity: Are We Missing the Big Picture? Obesity Reviews; 9:35-42.    
  • Maziak W, Al Ali R, Fouad MF, Rastam S, Wipfli H, Travers MJ, Ward KD, Eissenberg T. (2008). Exposure to secondhand smoke at home and in public places in Syria: a developing country's perspective. Inhalation Toxicology: 20: 17-24.   
  • Smith-Simone SY, Maziak W, Ward KD, Eissenberg T. (2008). Waterpipe tobacco smoking: knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behavior in two U. S. samples. Nicotine & Tobacco Research;10: 393-398.     
  • Hammal F, Mock J, Ward KD, Essenberg T, Maziak W. (2008). A pleasure among friends: how narghile (waterpipe) smoking differs from cigarette smoking in Syria. Tobacco Control;17(2):e3.   
  • Maziak W. (2007). Shattuck Lecture: Improving American Health. New England Journal of Medicine; 357(23):2405-6.    
  • Maziak W. Ward KD, Eissenberg T. (2007). Interventions for waterpipe smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; (4):CD005549.     
  • Ward KD, Eissenberg T, Gray JN, Srinivas V, Maziak W. (2007). Characteristics of U.S. waterpipe users: A preliminary report. Nicotine & Tobacco Research: 9(12):1339-46.     
  • Asfar T, Vander Weg M, Maziak W, Hammal F, Eissenberg T, Ward KD. (2008). Outcomes and adherence in Syria's first smoking cessation trial. Am J Health Behav; 32(2):146-156.  
  • Maziak W, Rastam S, Mzayek F, Ward KD, Eissenberg T, Kei, U. (2007). Cardiovascular health among adults in Syria: a model from developing countries. Annals of Epidemiology; 17(9):713-20. 
  • Asfar T, Ahmad B, Rastam S, Mulloli TP, Ward KD, Maziak W. (2007). Self-rated health and its determinants among adults in Syria: a model from the Middle East. BMC Public Health. Jul 25;7:177.    
  • Maziak W. (2006). Health in the Middle East [Editorial]. British Medical Journal; 333: 815-816.     
  • Ward KD, Eissenberg T, Rastam S, Asfar T, Mzayek F, Fouad MF, Hammal F, Mock J, Maziak W. (2006). The tobacco epidemic in Syria. Tobacco Control; 15 (supp): 24-29.                                                                                         
  • Fouad M, Rastam S, Ward KD, Maziak W. (2006). Prevalence of obesity and its associated factors in Aleppo, Syria. Prev Control; 2(2):85-94.  
  • Maziak W, et al. (2006). On the gains of seeding tobacco research in developing countries [Editorial]. Tobacco Control; 15 (supp): 3-4.   
  • Maziak W, Ward KD, Eissenberg T. (2006). Measuring exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS): A developing country's perspective. Preventive Medicine; 42(6): 409-414.    
  • Maziak W. (2006). On the Verge of Avalanche [Editorial]. Leonardo; 39(2): 39.  
  • Maziak W, Nakkash R, Soweid RA. (2006). Lebanon: young stars turned to smoke. Tobacco Control; 15(2): 80-81.      
  • Maziak W, Ward KD, Rastam S. (2006). Injuries in Aleppo, Syria; first population-based estimates and characterization of predominant types. BMC Public Health; 6(1): 63.    
  • Maziak W & Keil U. (2006). Asthma and allergies in Germany. Thorax; 61(3): 274.    
  • Maziak W, Ward K, Mzayek F, et al. (2005). Mapping the health and environmental situation in informal zones in Aleppo, Syria: report from the Aleppo household survey. Int Arch Occup Environ Health; 78: 547-558.     
  • Maziak W. (2005). Science in the Arab world: vision of glories beyond. SCIENCE; 308(5727): 1416-1418.     
  • Maziak W. (2005). The asthma epidemic and our artificial habitats. BMC Pulm Med; 5(1): 5.     

  • Maziak W & Wipfli H. (2005). Research Assistance Matching (RAM) Project. Tobacco Control; 14(3): 151.

  • Ward KD, Hammal F, VanderWeg MW, Eissenberg T, Asfar T, Rastam S, Maziak W. (2005). Are waterpipe users interested in quitting? Nicotine Tob Res; 7(1): 149-156.   
  • Maziak W, Eissenberg T, Ward KD. (2005). Patterns of waterpipe use and dependence: implications for intervention development. Pharmacol Biochem Behav; 80(1): 173-179.     
  • Hammal F, Mock J, Ward KD, Fouad MF, Beech BM, Maziak W. (2005). Settling with danger: conditions and health problems in peri-urban neighbourhoods in Aleppo, Syria. Environment & Urbanization; 17: 113-126.      
  • Maziak W & Tabbah K. (2005). Smoking among adults in Syria: proxy reporting by 13-14 year olds. Public Health; 119(7): 578-581.   
  • Behrens T, Maziak W, Weiland SK, et al. (2005). The use of synthetic bedding in children. Do strategies of change influence associations with asthma? J Asthma; 42(3): 203-206.      
  • Maziak W, Ward KD, Afifi Soweid RA, Eissenberg T. (2005). Standardizing questionnaire items for the assessment of waterpipe tobacco use in epidemiological studies. Public Health; 119(5): 400-404.     
  • Behrens T, Maziak W, Weiland SK, et al. (2005). Symptoms of asthma and the home environment. The ISAAC I and III cross-sectional surveys in Munster, Germany. Int Arch Allergy Immunol; 137(1): 53-61.    
  • Maziak W, Ward KD, Rastam S, Mzayek F, Eissenberg T. (2005). Extent of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and its dose-response relation to respiratory health among adults. Respir Res; 6(1): 13.    
  • Asfar T, Ward KD, Eissenberg T, Maziak W. (2005). Comparison of patterns of use, beliefs, and attitudes related to waterpipe between beginning and established smokers. BMC Public Health; 5(1): 19.     
  • Maziak W, Ward KD, Eissenberg T. (2004). Factors related to frequency of narghile (waterpipe) use: the first insights on tobacco dependence in narghile users. Drug Alcohol Dependence; 76(1): 101-106.    
  • Maziak W, Ward KD, Afifi Soweid RA, Eissenberg T. (2004). Tobacco smoking using a waterpipe: a re-emerging strain in a global epidemic. Tobacco Control; 13(4): 327-333.     
  • Maziak W, Ward KD, Eissenberg T, et al. (2004). The Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies: a model of international partnership for the creation of sustainable research capacity in developing countries. Promot Educ; 11: 93-97.   
  • Maziak W, Eissenberg T, Rastam S, et al. (2004). Beliefs and attitudes related to narghile (waterpipe) smoking among university students in Syria. Ann Epidemiol; 14(9): 646-654.  
  • Maziak W, Fouad FM, Asfar T, et al. (2004). Prevalence and characteristics of narghile smoking among university students in Syria. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis; 8(7): 882-889.   
  • Rastam S, Ward KD, Eissenberg T, Maziak W. (2004). Estimating the beginning of the waterpipe epidemic in Syria. BMC Public Health; 4: 32.    
  • Maziak W, Hammal F, Rastam S, Asfar T, Eissenberg T, Bachir ME, Fouad MF, Ward KD. (2004).  Characteristics of cigarette smoking and quitting among university students in Syria. Preventive Medicine; 39(2): 330-336.   
  • Maziak W, Rastam S, Eissenberg T, Asfar T, Hammal F, Bachir ME, Fouad MF, Ward KD. (2004).  Gender and smoking status-based analysis of views regarding waterpipe and cigarette smoking in Aleppo, Syria. Preventive Medicine; 38(4): 479-484.   
  • Behrens T, Taeger D, Maziak W, et al. (2004). Self-reported traffic density and atopic disease in children. Results of the ISAAC Phase III survey in Muenster, Germany. Pediatr Allergy Immunol; 15(4): 331-339.     
  • Maziak W, von Mutius E, Keil U, et al. (2004). Predictors of health care utilization of children with asthma in the community. Pediatr Allergy Immunol; 15(2): 166-171.   
  • Maziak W, Eissenberg T, Klesges RC, Keil U, Ward KD. (2004). Adapting Smoking Cessation Interventions for Developing Countries: A Model for the Middle East. Int J Tub Lung Dis; 8: 403-413.   
  • Bolte G, Schmidt M, Maziak W, et al. (2004). The relation of markers of fetal growth with asthma, allergies and serum immunoglobulin E levels in children at age 5-7 years. Clin Exp Allergy; 34: 381-388.   
  • Maziak W. (2004). Geography of biomedical publications. Lancet; 363: 489-490.   
  • Maziak W. (2003). Endotoxin and asthma. New England Journal of Medicine; 348 (2): 171-172.   
  • Maziak W, Rzehak P, Keil U, Weiland SK. (2003) Smoking among adolescents in Muenster-Germany (1995-2000): increase in prevalence and relation to tobacco advertising. Preventive Medicine; 36: 172-176.  
  • Maziak W, Behrens T, Brasky TM, et al. (2003).  Are asthma and allergies in children and adolescents increasing? Results from ISAAC phase I and phase III surveys in Munster, Germany. Allergy; 58(7): 572-579.  
  • Maziak W & Asfar T. (2003). Physical abuse in low-income women in Aleppo, Syria. Health Care Women Int; 24(4): 313-326.   
  • Maziak W. (2003). The Th1-Th2 paradigm and asthma: how far should we go? J Asthma; 40: 201-205. 
  •  Maziak W. (2002). Smoking in Syria: Profile of an Arab Developing Country. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis; 6(3): 183-191.   
  • Maziak W, Hense HW, Döring A, Keil U. (2002). Ten-year trends in smoking behaviour among adults in southern Germany. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis; 6(9): 824-830.    
  • Maziak W, Asfar T, Mock J. (2003).  Why most women in Syria don’t smoke; Can the passive barrier of traditions be replaced with information-based one? Public Health; 117: 237-241. 
  • Maziak W, Keil U, Doring A, Hense HW. (2003). Determinants of poor hypertension management in the community. J Hum Hypertens; 17(3): 215-217.   
  • Maziak W, E von Mutius, T Hirsch, W Leupold, C Beimfohr, U Keil, SK Weiland. (2002). The Management of Childhood Asthma in the Community. European Respiratory Journal; 20(6): 1476-1482.   
  • Maziak W. (2002). Asthma and the exposure-disease tenet. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology; 55(8): 737-740.     
  • Maziak W. (2002). Asthma and farming. Lancet; 359: 623-624.   
  • Maziak W. (2002). Violence against women; a Middle Eastern perspective. Lancet; 360: 343-344.     
  • Mzayek F, Asfar T, Rastam S, Maziak W. (2002). Neoplastic diseases in Aleppo, Syria. Eur J Cancer Prev; 11(5): 503-507.   
  • Maziak W, Asfar T, Kilzieh N, Mzayek F, Fouad M F. (2002). Socio-Demographic Correlates of Psychiatric Morbidity among Low-income Women in Aleppo-Syria. Social Science & Medicine; 54(9): 1419-1427.  
  • Hense HW, Maziak W, Heidrich J. (2002). Why is blood pressure control unsatisfactory--or is it?  Nephrol Dial Transplant; 17(9): 1547-1550.   
  • Maziak W. (2002). The Hygiene Hypothesis and the Evolutionary Perspective of Health. Preventive Medicine; 35: 415-418.    
  • Maziak W, Asfar T, Mzayek F. (2001).  Socio-Demographic Determinants of Smoking among Low-Income Women in Aleppo, Syria. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis; 5(4): 307-312.  
  • Beimfohr C, Maziak W, von Mutius E, et al. (2001). The use of anti-asthmatic drugs in children: results of a community-based survey in Germany. Pharmacoepidemiology Drug Safety; 10: 315-321.  
  • Maziak W & Mzayek F. (2000). Characterization of the smoking habits among high school students in Syria. European Journal of Epidemiology; 17: 1169-1176.   
  • Maziak W, Mzayek F, Al Moushareff M. (2000). Smoking behavior among schoolteachers in the north of the Syrian Arab Republic. East Mediterr Health J; 6(2,3): 352-358.   
  • Maziak W, Mzayek F, Devereaux AV. (2001). The dynamics of cigarette smoking during military service in Syria. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis; 5(3): 292-296.    
  • Maziak W. (2001). Global health research. Science aid programme could be set up to help researchers in developing countries. BMJ; 322(7279): 173.  
  • Maziak W & Mzayek F. (2000). The Dynamics of tobacco smoking among male educated youths in Aleppo-Syria. European Journal of Epidemiology; 16: 769-772.  
  •  Maziak W. (2000). Fatal physical child abuse in two children of a family. Ann Saudi Med; 20(2):178-9 
  • Maziak W, Mzayek F, al-Musharref M. (1999). Effects of environmental tobacco smoke on the health of children in the Syrian Arab Republic. East Mediterr Health J; 5(4): 690-697.   
  • Culpitt SV, Maziak W, Loukidis S,  et al. (1999).  Effect of high dose inhaled steroid on cells, cytokines, and proteases in induced sputum in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med; 160(5 Pt 1): 1635-1639.  
  •  Maziak W, Mzayek F, Asfar T, Hassig SE. (1999). Smoking Among Physicians in Syria: Do As I Say, Not As I Do! Ann Saudi Med :19(3):253-6. 
  •  Maziak W, Mzayek F. (1999). Evaluation of mail survey for the assessent of tobacco use among adults in Aleppo, Syria. Saud Med J: 224-227. 
  • Jatakanon A, Uasuf C, Maziak W, Lim S, Chung KF, Barnes PJ. (1999). Neutrophilic inflammation in severe persistent asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med; 160(5 Pt 1): 1532-1539.    
  • Maziak W, Loukides S, Culpitt S, Sullivan P, Kharitonov SA, Barnes PJ. (1998). Exhaled nitric oxide in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med; 157(3 Pt 1): 998-1002.    
  • Maziak W. (1997). Sputum differential cell counts. Thorax; 52(5): 494.    
Appendix E - Outreach