Itzhak Levav is currently professor of the Department of Community Mental Health, Haifa University, Haifa, Israel; Doctor Honoris Causa of the National University of Cordoba, Argentina; Honorary Professor of the University Cayetano Heredia, Peru; and member of the panel of experts on mental health, World Health Organization. He received honors from different organizations. Dr Levav was previously the Regional Advisor for Mental Health at PAHO/WHO.

He has a vast experience in the Americas in the re-organisation of services and mental health policy and plan development. Dr Levav has alsonumerous research publications in the field of psychiatric epidemiology and social psychiatry. He edited seven books on mental health issues.