Jamla Rizek

Lieutenant Commander Jamla Rizek is a distinguished Senior Clinical Nurse with over 19 years of experience in emergency nursing, disaster response, and public health preparedness. She is an active-duty nurse officer in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, where she supports high-level strategic planning to enhance national health security and disaster readiness.

Jamla holds advanced certifications, including Certified Emergency Nurse, Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse, and National Healthcare Disaster Professional, underscoring her dedication to clinical excellence and emergency resilience. She earned both an MSN and an MBA and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), reinforcing her leadership in complex healthcare systems.

Her service and impact have been widely recognized. She was inducted as a fellow in the academy of emergency nursing (FAEN) in 2025. She was named the 2024 Nurse Responder of the Year and Junior Officer of the Year and is a recipient of the Humanitarian Service Award and Global Health Officer of the Year for her efforts in underserved and disaster-affected regions.

A champion of health equity and cultural resilience, Jamla is committed to advancing culturally responsive care and strengthening community preparedness. She serves as faculty in the Disaster Medicine Fellowship at a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital and at the University of Lynchburg where she helps train the next generation of leaders in disaster medicine and public health.

In addition to her clinical and academic roles, Jamla is a published author and holds editorial leadership positions as Deputy Editor for Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Section Editor for the Journal of Emergency Nursing. Her expertise spans the intersection of frontline care, policy, and education, making her a nationally recognized voice in disaster nursing and healthcare leadership.

Jamla is serving in her own capacity.