Dr. Alahmad will summarize scientific studies that describe the effects of heat on health, primarily on the heart, kidneys, and brain. He will discuss what these findings mean for workers, their productivity, and their safety. Then he will review the regulatory options available and show examples of successful emerging solutions.

"Barrak Alahmad, MD, MPH, PhD, is an Instructor at the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He holds a medical degree from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, a master's in public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a doctorate in population health sciences from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Alahmad studies climate change and health in the Middle East, specifically the adverse impacts of dust storms and extreme temperatures on vulnerable populations. He extensively studied the effects of environmental exposures on migrant workers in Kuwait. His work has been highlighted by professional health organizations, including the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association, and numerous media outlets, including the BBC, CNN, New York Times, The Guardian, and among others.

In 2022, he was named to the inaugural 40 Under 40 Public Health Catalyst list by the Boston Congress of Public Health, recognizing rising leaders and innovators in the field. In 2023, he received the Rebecca James Baker Award from the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) for his collaborative and international research in environmental cardiology and health equity for migrant workers. In 2025, the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS) Board-Council honored Alahmad with the AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science, recognizing his outstanding contributions to engaging with the general public and the migrant workforce on heat and health in Kuwait."