Organizing Committee

Dr. Essa Al Essa

Chair of the Organization Committee

MD , MSc, FAHPBA, FASMBS
Consultant Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and Abdominal Transplant Surgeon Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates

Dr. Essa Al Essa

Chair of the Organization Committee

Dr El Eassa is an academic surgeon interested in Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) with a focus in Hepato-Pancreato- Biliary (HPB) diseases and Solid Organ Transplantation. Dr Al Eassa is a graduate of the United Arab Emirates University School of Medicine. He complete his residency in general surgery in University of Manitoba followed by his fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, OH, USA) in MIS, Metabolic and Bariatric, HPB, and Abdominal Transplant Surgery under the mentorship of world-renowned experts such as Drs. Philip R. Schauer, R. Matthew Walsh, Charles Miller, Bijan Eghtesad, and C.H. David Kwon. His research interest revolves around surgical outcomes and health services research. He strives to transfer the knowledge and skills he acquired from North America to the Middle East and North African region.

Dr. Basim AI-Khafaji

Member

Consultant laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgeon
Canadian Specialist Hospital
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dr. Basim AI-Khafaji

Member

Dr AI-Khafaji is a consultant laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgeon serving as the head of surgery department in the Canadian Specialist Hospital. He has more than 30 years’ experience in Surgical Practice. Has been chairing the organization committee of multiple Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgical conferences in UAE since 2010. He also an instructor and organizer for many laparoscopic Surgical and Bariatric Workshops in UAE since 2004. He is a Board member Of Emirate Society Of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons and the Vice President of Emirate Society Of laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons Vice president of Asia Pacific Hernia Society – GCC Chapter.

Dr. Hayder Makki

Member

MB,Ch.B, CABS, (F.I.C.M), FACS
Consultant Surgical Oncology & Bariatric Surgery

Dr. Hayder Makki

Member

With a focus on Bariatric Surgery, I’ve started my experience since 2015, particularly in Laparoscopic and Robotic procedures. working at Al-Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah, UAE, where performing a wide range of General and Bariatric surgeries.

In addition to the clinical practice, became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and serving as a Consultant in General and Bariatric Surgery. also holds the position of Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at Sharjah University. At time being, actively involved in advancing surgical knowledge as a member of the Scientific Committee of the Emirates Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (ESMBS).

My recent contributions include introducing innovative techniques such as color-coded surgery using Indocyanine Green (ICG) for biliary and bariatric procedures, Digitalization of the bariatric system, streamlining documentation, registry, and follow-up processes. Additionally, Conducting surgical workshops focused on Bariatric and hernia surgery, sharing the experience with fellow surgeons. In addition to my recent contributions, I have actively participated in scientific publications, sharing my research findings and surgical expertise with the medical community. I have also organized several surgical conferences, bringing together experts in the field to exchange knowledge and advancements in Bariatric and hernia surgery. These initiatives have further enriched my professional development and allowed me to contribute to the broader surgical community

Dr. Rehan Saif

Member

Director & Clinical Lead – HPB Surgery & Transplantation Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Rehan Saif

Member

Dr Rehan Saif is the Director and Clinical Lead of the HPB & Transplant Surgery Division (Liver/Pancreas/Kidney) at Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi. He is a UK and European board certified HPB & Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant Surgeon having completed his CCT (UK), FEBS (European Board of Surgery) & European Diploma in Transplantation. He has a special interest in MIS (both laparoscopic & robotic) HPB Surgery having completed further fellowships from UIC, Chicago (Robotic fellowship) and Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Transplantation fellowship) gaining further experience in Complex Liver Surgery & Transplantation.

In his previous appointment, Dr Rehan was an integral part of a large multi-centre HPB and Multi-Organ Transplant Program (live & deceased donor, adult & paediatric) that completed close to 400 liver transplants, 50 pancreas transplants and 300 kidney transplants including multi-organ transplants (liver+kidney, pancreas+kidney) in addition to numerous complex HPB resections (open, laparoscopic & robotic). His experience in HPB & Transplantation spans over 18 years. His areas of expertise include management of hepatocellular carcinoma, complex gallbladder & biliary cancers, benign and malignant pancreatic disease, surgery for portal hypertension and transplantation (liver, pancreas, kidney). He has undergone comprehensive training in all aspects of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary disease and Transplantation. A fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Dr Rehan also has an active research interest with a research degree from Newcastle University, UK and has published over 40 scientific articles in leading peer reviewed international journals.

Dr. Muhammad Badar uz Zaman

Member

MBBS, FRCSI, MCh, MSC-HCM, FEBS-Transplantation
Consultant Hepatobiliary & Transplant Surgery
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate

Dr. Muhammad Badar uz Zaman

Member

Dr Zaman is the Division Chief Transplant & HPB Surgery & the Director of Transplantation Service in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC). He is also a member of SEHA Nephrology & Transplantation Council. He also serves as a core faculty in the General Surgery Residency program and as a Quality Champion for the NSQIP & TransQIP at SKMC. Dr Zaman graduated from Sindh Medical College in Pakistan in 1992 and completed his FRCSI in 1998. Subsequently obtained a diploma in laparoscopic surgery from Universite Louis Pasteur Strasbourg and a Master of Surgery in Transplantation from the University College Dublin. He is a Fellow of the European Board of Surgery in Transplantation since 2010.

Dr. Khalid Al Zarooni

Member

MD, Specialist Surgical Oncology
Sheikh Shakbout Medical City, May Clinic
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Dr. Khalid Al Zarooni

Member

Dr. Khalid is a double board certified general surgeon currently serving as a specialist in hepatobiliary & surgical oncology in Sheikh Shakbout Medical City (SSMC). He received his Medical Bachelor Degree of Medicine and Surgery from UAE university, subsequently underwent his surgical residency in Tawam hospital surgical training program . Dr.Khalid's field of interest are principally directed towards Hepato-biliary surgery and Abdominal Transplantation. He worked in Sheikh Khalifa Medical city since 2019 in HPB surgery and Renal transplantation Department prior to accepting his new position in SSMC .

Dr Fatima Saeed Jouhar

Member

Specialist Colorectal & Surgical Oncology Sheikh Shakbout Medical City, May Clinic Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Dr Fatima Saeed Jouhar

Member

Fatima Jouhar is a specialist general surgery in General surgery department of Shaikh Shakhboot Medical City. She is a graduate from the collage of medicine and health sciences of United Arab Emirates university. She completed her general surgery residency at Tawam hospital and she is currently Arab Board certified in general surgery. Her main area of interest is Surgical oncology and minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Omar Bekdache

Member

MD, MSc, FRCS, FACS, EBSQ is a Consultant

Dr. Omar Bekdache

Member

General Surgeon at Tawam Hospital – former Johns Hopkins affiliate, currently holding the position of Chief of Trauma & Acute Care Services and Chairman of Trauma Committee.

Dr Bekdache obtained his medical degree from the Lebanese University School of Medicine and residency training in General Surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center and Makassed General Hospital. Dr Bekdache obtained a clinical fellowship in Minimal Invasive Surgery from the Universities of Lille & Paris – France and holds the European Board of Surgery.

Dr Bekdache completed a Clinical fellowship in Trauma & Acute Care Surgery from the University of McGill – Canada. He holds the Fellowship of the American College of Surgeons 'FACS', the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow 'FRCS’ in addition to a Masters Degree of Science & Experimental Surgery from McGill University - Canada.

Dr. Yalda Ziaei

Member

MBBCh, Certified General Surgeon (Arab Board), MRCS (England), Certificate Surgical Gastroenterology (SA)

Dr. Yalda Ziaei

Member

Dr. Yalda Ziaei is a consultant general, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgeon at NMC Royal Sharjah hospital. Dr. Ziaei obtained her undergraduate medical degree from Dubai medical college in 2011, then underwent her surgical residency in Tawam hospital surgical training program. She worked in Mafraq hospital as specialist general surgeon for two years before obtaining fellowship of the college of surgeon of South Africa. Dr. Ziaei was appointed as consultant in acute care unit in Groote Schuur Hospital and did a three year fellowship in HPB/GI surgery and was awarded a subspeciality certificate in Surgical Gastroenterology of South Africa in October 2022.