UOD, June 16, 2025, University Press Office (UNPO) | The University of Duhok (UOD) President, Dr. Dawood Sulaiman Atrushi, received a delegation of German and Austrian addiction specialists on 10 June 2025 at the University Presidency, in attendance of Dr. Bohar Suleiman Isa, the Vice Dean of Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology (IPP), and Dr. Nazar Ameen Mohammed, the Director of International Relations. The visit marked the conclusion of the first phase of a comprehensive Addiction Treatment Training Program, organized for the newly appointed staff for the Addiction Treatment Center which will be launched soon at UOD’s Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology (IPP). Supported by the German Government, this initiative represents a milestone for UOD in establishing a pioneering center for addiction care — the first of its kind in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The program also reinforces the University’s strategic focus on advancing research, academic excellence, and community engagement.

The Addiction Treatment Training Program was led by a distinguished team of international experts in psychiatry, psychotherapy, and clinical psychology, who worked closely with IPP staff to provide specialized training based on the latest global standards.

The delegation of trainers included:

• Jonathan Uricher – Expert in Addiction Therapy and Clinical Supervision
  
  
• Dr. Maurice Cabanis – Specialist in Psychotherapy and Social Psychiatry
  
  
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Wenzel – Medical University of Vienna; President of WPA Section on Conflict and Catastrophe Psychiatry
  
  

This international partnership reflects the University’s broader strategic plan to strengthen global engagement while contributing meaningfully to public health and sustainable development in the Kurdistan Region.

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University Press Office, June 16, 2025

Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali

The News Keywords:

• University of Duhok Addiction Center
• Addiction Treatment Training Kurdistan
• International Collaboration in Mental Health
• German Austrian Psychiatry Experts
• Academic Partnerships in Iraq