Iraq: From Trauma Stabilization to System Strengthening

Iraq was GRM’s founding project and first homebase for operations. Since 2017, our teams have worked alongside local partners to save lives in crisis and strengthen the foundation of Iraq’s health system for the future.

Emergency Response (2017–2018)

During the liberation of Mosul, GRM established field stabilization points and worked in coordination with other NGOs to build a trauma referral network covering nearly 100 square miles and multiple hospitals across several cities.

• More than 10,000 patients treated
• 94% survival rate from GRM stabilization points to hospital care
• Trauma stabilization became a reliable lifeline for displaced civilians and those wounded in conflict

Building Capacity (2019–2024)

With immediate trauma needs reduced, GRM shifted focus to strengthening Iraq’s health system.

• Emergency Medicine Training: Designed and delivered a 12-month hybrid training program for emergency medicine interns in northern Iraq.
• Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS): Introduced and scaled handheld ultrasound training across hospitals, giving clinicians faster diagnostic tools in austere settings.
• Professionalization: Began the long-term work of building emergency medicine as a recognized specialty in Duhok and throughout Kurdistan.

Today: Expanding Specialized Care

GRM continues to serve as a trusted partner in Iraq’s evolving health system.

• Mosul Oncology Center: Working with UNDP and Levine Cancer Center, GRM is helping to establish and support a new regional center of excellence for cancer treatment.
• Emergency Medicine Expansion: Supporting EM professionalization from Duhok → Kurdistan → Mosul.
• Support for IDPs and Refugees: Assisting local non-profits to ensure displaced and refugee populations have access to healthcare and basic equipment.

Looking Forward

GRM’s work in Iraq demonstrates the model we now bring to other countries: begin with emergency response, transition into professional exchange and system building, and invest in specialized care for long-term resilience.