Former holder of several ministerial posts, former Senator, former UJ President, and Professor of Neurosurgery at the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Walid Maani received his MD in 1969 from Alexandria University in Egypt, and a diploma in general surgery in 1970; also from Alexandria University. In 1975 he became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
After working for two years in the UK as Registrar, Senior Registrar and First Assistant (Neurosurgery), Dr. Maani joined the University of Jordan where he established and headed the Department of Neurosurgery at the Faculty of Medicine and the University of Jordan Hospital in 1977. Dr. Maani advanced through the ranks and held several key academic and administrative positions at UJ including Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, 1989-1991, Dean of Graduate Studies, 1991-1994, Dean of Academic Research, 1994, Vice-President for Administrative Affairs, 1994-1998, and President of the University of Jordan,1998-2002.
Dr. Maani held numerous high ranking government posts including Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2002 and 2009 – 2011, Minister of Health, 2002 – 2003, Senator of the Upper House of Jordanian Parliament, 14th House, 2008 – 2009, and Minister Education, 2009.
He also served on several boards, councils and committees in various capacities including member of the Examination Board in Neurosurgery of the Jordan Medical Council, Fulbright Commission, Board of Trustees of the Higher Council for Science and Technology, Board of Trustees of the National Music Conservatory, Board of Trustees of the National Center for the Performing Arts, Governing Council of the International Brain Research Organization, and the Jordanian Board of Eisenhower Exchange Program. He was also General Secretary of the Euro-Asian Commission of International Brain Research Organization, Chairman of the Jordanian Canadian Scholarship Program, Chairman of the national Committee of the UNESCO, Chairman of the Scientific Research Fund, and Chairman of the Council for Higher Education. He also served on the National Task Force on Narcotics and the National Council for Population.
Dr. Maani has published numerous research articles in international medical research journals, and has received several awards and honors including the Medal of Distinction, Alexandria University, 1965 and 1967, Second Honor Degree, Alexandria University, 1969, Abel Wahid Wakeel Award for Distinction in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Alexandria University, 1969, and The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Star Decoration of the First Order, 2003.