Moderators

Dr. Abdallah Al Farai

HPB surgical oncologist. Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care & Research Center

Dr. Abdallah Al Farai

He got his MD certificate in 2009 from Sultan Qaboos University. He did his surgical residency followed by the clinical fellowship in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery at Aix-Marseille University, France between 2013 and 2020. Dr Al Farai is interested in minimally invasive HPB surgery and he is a member of the International Hepato-Pancreatic Biliary Association (IHPBA), the French Association of Hepato-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation (ACHBPT), International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists and Oncologists (IASGO) and the International Laparoscopic Liver Society (ILLS)

Dr. Ahmed Elaffandi

Senior Consultant Surgeon Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)

Dr. Ahmed Elaffandi

Dr. Ahmed Elaffandi is a Senior Consultant Surgeon working in the Liver Unit at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), where a variety of complex and major Hepato-Pancreatobiliary procedures (HPB) and liver transplantation are taking place.
He previously worked in a number of recognized HPB & Liver Transplant Units in the UK, such as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, the Kings College Hospital in London, the Royal London Hospital and the Royal Free hospital.
His primary area of interest is in minimal access surgery in the field of HPB surgery, which he has developed within the organization and managed to introduce robotic HPB procedures at HMC in 2021.

Dr. Åsmund Avdem Fretland

Consultant HPB surgeon, PhD
The Intervention Centre and Department of HPB Surgery
Oslo University Hospital
Oslo, Norway

Dr. Åsmund Avdem Fretland

Åsmund Avdem Fretland is a consultant hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgeon at Oslo University Hospital. His clinical and academic main interest is the treatment of liver malignancies. He did his PhD on laparoscopic liver surgery, and is currently PI for two major research efforts: A randomized controlled trial of ablation versus resection of liver tumors, and the establishment of a minimally invasive living donor program for liver transplantation in Norway. He is also engaged in a European consortium that is exploring the potential use of artificial intelligence in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer liver metastases. Dr. Fretland is board member in the Norwegian Oncologic Forum, member of the research committee in the International HPB Association, and the scientific committee in the European HPB Association.

Dr. Aydah Al Awadi

Consultant Oncologist Tawam Hospital Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Dr. Aydah Al Awadi

Aydah AlAwadhi, consultant medical Oncologist, from UAE. Scientific chairperson of Emirates Oncology Society. Completed Hematology and Oncology fellowship from the MD Anderson Cancer center with American Board of Internal medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology. Chairperson of Breast cancer working group EOS.

Dr. Balamurugan Rathinavelu

MBBS, MRCP, FRCR, CCT UK

Dr. Balamurugan Rathinavelu

MBBS, MRCP, FRCR, CCT UK

Dr Balamurugan Rathinavelu MBBS, MRCP, FRCR, CCT UK

Qualified with FRCR, CCTUK as a Radiologist from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS, UK in year 2006 and Worked as Consultant Radiologist at Chesterfield Royal NHS Hospital, UK between 2006 and 2014.

Currently working as a Consultant Radiologist a with a sub speciality interest in Body Imaging and Non-vascular Interventional Radiology at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi.

Previously worked at Mafraq Hospital, SEHA, between 2014 and 2019 Dec

Lead Radiologist for every day surgical and trauma clinical conference at SSMMC Hospital and once a week Tumour board conference.I also support and provide non vascular interventional services locally.

Core Faculty member of Radiology Residency program, ACGME-I, Sheik Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi,UAE

Dr. Bilal O Al-Jiffry

MD, PhD

Consultant Hepatobiliary Surgery
Director of surgery at Taif University , Taif , Saudi Arabia
Consultant hepatobiliary surgery

Dr. Bilal O Al-Jiffry

MD, PhD

Dr. Bilal O Al-Jiffry completed his residency in general surgery at King Faisal specialist hospital, Riyadh in 1998. He then completed his PhD, Hepato-biliary fellowship and Live Tx at the University of Adelaide, Australia, under Prof. James Toouli in 2001. This was followed by another year working with Professor Joseph Lau for a further fellowship as a senior lecturer in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, in 2002.
In January 2003 he was appointed consultant HPB and Liver Tx surgeon at the National Guard Hospital, Riyadh where he remained until 2006, when he moved to the Military hospital in Taif as the Director of Surgery. Since 2010 he has been the director of surgery at Taif University while holding his post in the Military hospital as a senior HPB consultant. He is also involved with the Medical Education and the Academic Assessment units at the college. Dr Al-Jiffry is also involved in the education, training and examination of the surgical residents in the Saudi Surgical Program conducted by the Saudi Committee for Health Specialty to obtain the Saudi Boards in General Surgery. Since 2012 he has been a member of the executive Board of the Saudi Surgical Society and the editor and founder of the Saudi Surgical Journal. He is also on the editorial board of several international journals and acts as a reviewer for other journals in the surgical aspects and HPB surgery.

Dr. Deepthi Silymon

Consultant Medical Oncologist SSMC

Dr. Deepthi Silymon

Dr.Deepthi Vilasini/Silymon is currently Consultant Medical Oncologist with SSMC and has nearly 14 years of experience in Oncology post Residency. She has completed her residency in Oncology from a prestigious Comprehensive Cancer Institute in India following which she obtained MRCP Medical Oncology certification by Royal college of physicians, UK and received ESMO certification in Medical Oncology ranking within top 20 percent worldwide .
She is currently working in SSMC where she is also the Chair of Quality and Patient Safety in Oncology.
She has worked as a Consultant Medical Oncologist in number of hospitals in different countries including India, Bahrain and UAE before joining SSMC. She has extensive experience dealing with all solid tumors as well as teaching undergraduate and post graduate medical students in India and the middle east

Dr. Essa Al Essa

MD , MSc, FAHPBA, FASMBS

Consultant Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and Abdominal Transplant Surgeon
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates

Dr. Essa Al Essa

MD , MSc, FAHPBA, FASMBS

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. Faisal AbaAlkhail

Consultant Transplant Hepatologist and Gastroenterologist King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center in Riyadh
President, Saudi Society for the Study of Liver Disease and Transplantation (SASLT)
Governor, American College of Physician – Saudi Arabia Chapter

Dr. Faisal AbaAlkhail

Dr. AbaAlkhail is currently working as a consultant Transplant Hepatologist & Gastroenterologist at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center and Adjunct Professor in the College of Medicine at Al Faisal University in Riyadh.

He is the president of the Saudi Society for the Study of Liver Disease and Transplantation (SASLT) and the Governor of American College of Physician (ACP) Saudi Arabia chapter. He is also an active board member of the Pan Arab Society of Liver Transplantation.

He was also the former Liver Transplant Chairman at King Fahad Specialist Hospital - Dammam.

Dr. AbaAlkhail is the leading author of the SASLT guidelines for liver transplantation and update in the management of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).

Dr. Ghader Jamjom

HPB/Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Ghader Jamjom

Ghader Jamjoum , Advanced minimally invasive HPB / surgical oncologist , Oncology and quality researcher , King Abdulaziz University Hospital , Saudi Arabia

Dr. Hanan Alghamdi

Professor of HPB & Multiorgan Transplantation

Dr. Hanan Alghamdi

Professor (Associate) HBP & Multi-organ transplant Surgeon Head OF HPB services, King Fahd university Imam Abdulrhman Bin Faisal University HPB & liver transplant clinical Fellowship (2008) univ of British Columbia Multiorgan transplant fellowship 2007/Royal Prince Alfred Hospital ASAN live donor liver transplant CLINICAL FELOWSHIP 2014 44 publications

Dr. Hani Al Saati

MD,MRCSI, AFRCSI, CABS

Consultant General Surgeon, MIS, Surgical Oncology and HPB Surgeon at King Hamad University Hospital, Bahrain Oncology Centre Royal Medical Services.

Dr. Hani Al Saati

MD,MRCSI, AFRCSI, CABS

Is currently the Head of Surgical Oncology Unit at The King Hamad University Hospital, and Royal Medical Services and he is a Clinical Lead and Head of HPB and Surgical oncology at Bahrain Oncology Centre (Kingdim of Bahrain).

He is a senior lecturer at The Royal College of Surgeons- Medical University Of Bahrain (RCSI-MUB).

Dr. Alsaati underwent fellowships of MIS, General Surgical Oncology training at University of Toronto (Canada) and Laparoscopic HPB surgery at Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust (UK) where he obtained a vast experience in Medical and Surgical managment of Oncology patients and Minimal invasive Upper GIT and Hepatobiliary Surgery.

He was working at Salmanyia Medical Complex, MOH, kingdom of Bahrain where he was the former Director of the Theater, Day case surgical unit and endoscopy unit till November 2022 before being appointed as a member of Parliament in The Shura council (Kingdom Of Bahrain 🇧🇭).

He is also a well trained and expert in Upper GIT and Bariatric surgery Where Run Bariatric and General Surgery services at Bahrain Specialist hospitals and Alsalam Specialist hispital in the private sector in Bahrain.

Since 2016 he was Cross appointed to King Hamad Univesoty Hospital - Bahrain Oncology Center (KHUH - BOC) to run the Surgical oncology program as a part of collaborations between MOH and KHUH.

Dr. Alsaati has several publications and special interests in MIS HPB Surgery. He is one of the expert panel member at EGUMIPS 2022 and The coming IEGUMILS in Apiril 2024.

Dr. Hamad Al Bahili

MD, PhD

Consultant Hepatobiliary & Transplant Surgery Director of Multi-Organ Transplant Center at Prince Sultan Military Medical City Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Hamad Al Bahili

MD, PhD

Dr. Hamad Albahili is the Director of Multi-Organ Transplant Center at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh Saudi Arabia with over 25 years of Surgical experience. He attended King Saud University (1997) and finished his residency training in General Surgery at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh (2004, this was followed by a fellowship training at Multi Organ Transplantation &Hepatobiliary Surgery at the Toronto General Hospital in Toronto, Canada (2010). Albahili clinical interests include adult and pediatric liver transplants, innovative approaches in donor surgery (liver & kidney) in addition to Liver, kidney and pancreases recipient transplants, and hepatobiliary oncology surgeries. Over the years, Dr Albahili has become known for his impressive ability to resurrect and establish transplant centers. His skillful performance in the operating room was recognized, and he has trained and shouldered many young transplant fellows to become outstanding independent surgeons. His research and academic work focus on organ preservation and clinical outcomes. He is an active member of many associations nationally and internationally as well as the American Society of Transplantation, a founding member of the MENA chapter of the IHPBA. In September 2018, Dr Al Bahili received the award of King Fahad Leopold in medical achievement.

Prof. John Primrose

Professor of Surgery at the University of Southampton

Prof. John Primrose

John Primrose is Professor of Surgery at the University of Southampton. He trained in the West of Scotland after which he held academic posts at the University of Leeds. His main research interest is in the biology and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. Clinically his service has been at the forefront of extending the scope of cancer surgery, especially for cancer affecting the liver. He is a NIHR Senior Investigator and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in the UK, one of very few surgeons to achieve this. His main research interests are in clinical trials and translational science. He is the Chief Investigator of numerous clinical trials, mainly funded from CRUK and NIHR. This includes the practice changing BILCAP trial in biliary tract cancer. He holds several national roles including an appointment with the National Institute of Health Care Excellence (NICE). He is Past President of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland.

Dr. Kaiser Raja

Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist King's College Hospital London, Dubai

Dr. Kaiser Raja

Dr. Kaiser Raja is a Consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology He currently leads the Liver Care and Transplantation Program at King’s College Hospital London in Dubai, UAE. He has extensive experience as a transplant hepatologist having worked in India with large transplant programs for over 10 years. Apart from management of complex liver diseases and cirrhosis, he has a special interest in management of autoimmune liver diseases. His expertise also includes advanced pancreato-biliary endoscopy, management of hepatocellular carcinoma, interventional and endoscopic management pancreatobiliary malignancies and chronic pancreatitis. He is also experienced in management of post-transplant biliary strictures in living donor transplant recipients.

Dr. Manish Madnani

MBBS, MS, FMAS, DNB (GI Surgery)

Consultant GI-HPB Surgeon
GI Cancer & Bariatric Surgeon

Dr. Manish Madnani

MBBS, MS, FMAS, DNB (GI Surgery)

Professor of Surgery at Qatar University and Senior Consultant Surgeon, specialized in liver transplantation and Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic surgery (HPB). Director of liver transplant and HPB surgery service at Hamad Medical Corporation and has led the surgical team that performed the first liver transplant in Qatar in 2011. Co-founder and former president of the Pan Arab Liver Transplant Society (PALTS), as well as the director of the HPB fellowship program at Hamad Medical corporation. Contributed to the success of many liver transplant and HPB surgery programs in different countries, including the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt. Has over 60 published articles in peer reviewed international journals and over 200 published abstracts and presentations in international conferences. Peer reviewer of many international and regional journals and is an active member of many societies mainly related to the field of liver transplantation and HPB surgery.

Dr. Mohammad Zaman

MBBS, FRCSI, MCh, MSc, FEBS-Transplantation

Division Chief Transplant & HPB Surgery Director Transplantation Service Department of Surgery Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC)

Dr. Mohammad Zaman

MBBS, FRCSI, MCh, MSc, FEBS-Transplantation

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.

Prof. Mohammad Abu Hilal

MD PhD DocEur FRCS FACS ESBQ (HPB)

Chair of the Department of Surgery and the Head of Hepatobilary - Pancreatic and Minimally invasive Surgery
Poliambulanza Hospital
Brescia, Italy

Prof. Mohammad Abu Hilal

MD PhD DocEur FRCS FACS ESBQ (HPB)

Professor Mohammad Abu Hilal is the Director of the Surgical Department at the Fondazione Poliambulanza Hospital Institute in Brescia. He is also a Professor of Hepato-biliary-pancreatic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the University of Southampton. He has a particular interest in minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgery and is considered one of the world’s experts in Minimally Invasive Surgery.

Prof Abu Hilal has conducted numerous studies in this field and in the last 17 years has accumulated a vast experience at the international level. He has played an active role in the publication of many scientific articles and in the elaboration and description of many innovative surgical techniques. In addition, Prof has participated in the specialized training of more than 450 surgeons worldwide.

Dr. Mohammed Sebayel

MD, FRCS, MPH.

Professor of Surgery & Consultant transplant and hepatobiliary Surgery Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Mohammed Sebayel

MD, FRCS, MPH.

Mohammed Al Sebayel is Professor of Surgery and senior consultant Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery from Saudi Arabia.

◙ Established the Liver Transplant Program at the King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh in 1993 (first program in Middle East and developing countries), following his fellowship at University of Pittsburgh USA.
◙ Established the Hepatobiliary Unit at King Saud University.
◙ established the Liver Transplant Program at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, 2001.
◙ Founder of National Donor Promotion Program in Saudi Arabia
◙ 109 publications
◙ Founded and c- president of The Pan Arab Liver Transplant Society.

Prof. Mahmoud EL Meteini

Professor of HPB Surgery, Director of Organ Transplant unit Ain-Shams University Cairo, Egypt

Prof. Mahmoud EL Meteini

Prof. El-Meteini graduated from Faculty of Medicine, AinShams University in 1985 where he completed his surgical residency program from1987 to 1990. He obtained his MS degree in general surgery in 1989. Prof. El-Meteini received his training as a transplant fellow in Cochin University hospital in Paris, France between 1990 and 1992 where he finished his MD thesis in experimental and clinical aspects of liver transplantation. In 1992, he spent one year as a registrar in the general surgery department in Saint-Louis University hospital in Paris, France. Upon his return to Egypt, Prof. El-Meteini obtained his MD degree by the end of 1993. In 1996, he received an advanced training program in HPB including living donor liver transplantation in Tokyo and Kyoto University hospitals in Japan. In 2001, Prof. El-Meteini initiated & directed the first living liver transplant program, both in adults & pediatrics, in Wady El-Neel hospital in Cairo, Egypt. In 2008, he founded the Ain-Shams Center for Organ Transplant (ASCOT) in Ain-Shams University. In Egypt, he performed the first LDLT in adults, the first dual “liver & kidney’ LDLT, the first domino LDLT in Egypt and the first laparoscopic left lobe hepatectomy in living donor. Prof. El-Meteini has published as an author and coauthor in peer reviewed journals and has chaired and presented in many national, regional and international meetings. Over a decade, he has been struggling, with his colleagues, for the legislation of an “Organ Transplant Law” regulating the practice in Egypt. Prof. El-Meteini was a permanent member in the committee for drafting the law and its executive regulations till it’s approval by the Egyptian parliament in March 2010. Likewise, he was the head of the committee that issued the required parameters, prerequisites and infrastructure for licensing hospitals & healthcare institutions as organ transplant centers. He is currently a member of the “Supreme Committee for Organ Transplant” and chairing the “Ethical Committee” within the Supreme Committee. He is a member in numerous national and international professional organizations including the Egyptian surgical society, head of the scientific committee of the Egyptian society of liver cancer (ESLC) and a founder member and current secretary general of the Pan-Arab Liver Transplant Society (PALTS). Likewise, he is active member of the international liver transplant society (ILTS) being within the membership committee and the IHPBA and EAHPBA. He was on board for a several healthcare and local pharmaceutical institutions as Egyptair Company for health care services (2007- 2013), Sedico pharmaceuticals (2009- 2012). Currently, he is a board member of Ain-Shams University specialized hospital and Wady El-Neel Benta pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Omar Bekdache

MD, MSc, FRCS, FACS, EBSQ

Consultant General Surgeon at Tawam Hospital

Dr. Omar Bekdache

MD, MSc, FRCS, FACS, EBSQ

Consultant General Surgeon at Tawam Hospital – former Johns Hopkins affiliate, currently in charge of Trauma & Acute Care Services and Chairman of the Trauma Committee with over 20 years experience in Surgery.
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 pursued a clinical fellowship in Minimal Invasive Surgery and a University Diploma in Hepatobiliary Surgery from the Universities of Lille & Paris–France and obtained the European Board of Surgical Oncology.
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. University / Admin A

Dr. Rehan Saif

Director and Clinical Lead of the HPB & Transplant Surgery Division (Liver/Pancreas/Kidney) at Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi

Dr. Rehan Saif

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. Salem Al Harthi

FCS (SA), FACS, FICRS

Consultant Hepatobiliary & Surgical Oncology
Sheikh Shakbout Medical City, May Clinic
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Salem Al Harthi

FCS (SA), FACS, FICRS

Dr Salem Alharthi is a consultant general, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgeon at Al mafraq hospital in Abu Dhabi since November 2013, and currently Chairs the department of surgery and SEHA surgical Council. Dr Alharthi Obtained his undergraduate medical degree (MB. BCh. BAO and LRCSPI) from the royal college of surgeon in Ireland in 1999, completed his internship at Beaumont hospital in Dublin then obtained MRCS degree from the royal college of surgeons in Glasgow and from the royal college of surgeons in Ireland, then completed surgical residency training at Groote Schuur hospital in Cape Town, South Africa and obtained fellowship of the college of surgeon of South Africa in 2010. Appointed as a junior consultant in the surgical oncology unit for 6 months then started the acute care surgery unit at Groote Schuur hospital then did a two year fellowship in HPB/GI surgery and was awarded subspecialty Certificate in Surgical Gastroenterology from the College of Surgeons of South Africa in May 2013 and a clinical fellowship in HPB surgery.

Dr. Saeed Almarzooqi

Consultant Physician Medicine

Dr. Saeed Almarzooqi

Dr. Saeed Almarzooqi graduated from the royal college of Surgeons in Ireland and completed fellowships in hepatology research, clinical gastroenterology, clinical hepatology, and transplant hepatology from the University of Toronto. He had multiple publications in the field of hepatology and abstract presentations at international meetings. He has been an invited speaker at hepatology meetings. His main field of interest is liver disease, pre and post-liver transplant care. He is currently the director of the hepatology service and the program director of gastroenterology fellowship at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Walid Faraj

MD, FRCS, FACS

Professor of Surgery
Liver Transplant & Hepatobiliary Surgery
Clemenceau Medical Center,Dubai

Dr. Walid Faraj

MD, FRCS, FACS

Professor Walid Faraj is currently a Professor in General Surgery, Liver Transplant, Liver and Pancreatic Surgery at Clemenceau Medical Center-Dubai . He was previously the Chief of General Surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.

He has an extensive experience in general surgery with a sub-specialization in Liver Transplant and Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery. He represent Lebanon in the Arab Board of Surgery. He has completed his advanced fellowship training at Kings College Hospital, UK. He has an extensive research portfolio with more than 110 publications.

He is a member of the International Relations Committee of the American College of Surgeons and other local and international committees.

Dr. Yalda Ziaei

Consultant general, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgeon at NMC Royal Sharjah

Dr. Yalda Ziaei

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

Dr Ritu Khare

Medical Director, Women Surgical Clinic, IRAC
GI, Laparoscopic Surgeon, Kings College Hospital, Dubai

Dr Ritu Khare

Dr Khare has been working in UAE since 20 years. She is currently affiliated with Kings College Hospital, at Dubai Hills. She has been a trained GI surgeon from India. She has been involved in the GI practice in the region, focusing on advanced laparoscopic work both upper and lower GI and pancreatic surgery for benign disorders. She is been actively associated with Women Health initiatives and makes a daunting effort to bring them forward to seek surgical solutions for their problems, be it weight loss, colorectal issues or abdominal hernias. She collaborates with the medical GI team to bring forth a comprehensive care program for GI, biliary and pancreatic diseases. She has a clinic in Healthcare city which primarily works on women centric healthcare.

Dr.Mahmoud Tabbal

MD FACS

Consultant Surgeon
Chief of General Surgery
Al Zahra Hospital Dubai

Dr.Mahmoud Tabbal

MD FACS

Dr. Mahmoud Tabbal is a Board-Certified Consultant General, Hepatobiliary and Transplant Surgeon with more than twenty years’ experience in the USA, Canada, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Currently, he’s working as the Chief of General Surgery at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai. Most recently, he worked as the Head of Hepatobiliary Surgery at King Fahad Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Tabbal is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and has received his advanced surgical training in the USA and Canada, through the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), and the American Hepatopancreatobiliary Association (AHPBA). He performs all kind of procedures in general, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, Hepatobiliary and transplant surgery and advanced surgical oncology and cancer surgeries. He is an active member of many local and international societies and a regular speaker in different renowned meetings worldwide

Dr.Shahin Mohseni

MD, PhD, FEBS (EmSurg), FACS

Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr.Shahin Mohseni

MD, PhD, FEBS (EmSurg), FACS

Shahin Mohseni, MD, PhD, FEBS (EmSurg), FACS is a Consultant Trauma & Emergency Surgeon at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi and Professor of Surgery at School of Medical Sciences at Orebro University, Sweden. He is the acting chair of Visceral Trauma Section and past chair of Emergency Surgery Section of the European Society of Trauma & Emergency Surgery (ESTES). Dr. Mohseni also served as the scientific secretary for the Swedish Society of Trauma & Emergency Surgery for over 6 years before moving to UAE. He is widely published in trauma, emergency surgery and other fields of surgery such as colorectal cancer and he sits on several editorial boards for surgical journals.Shahin Mohseni, MD, PhD, FEBS (EmSurg), FACS is a Consultant Trauma & Emergency Surgeon at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi and Professor of Surgery at School of Medical Sciences at Orebro University, Sweden. He is the acting chair of Visceral Trauma Section and past chair of Emergency Surgery Section of the European Society of Trauma & Emergency Surgery (ESTES). Dr. Mohseni also served as the scientific secretary for the Swedish Society of Trauma & Emergency Surgery for over 6 years before moving to UAE. He is widely published in trauma, emergency surgery and other fields of surgery such as colorectal cancer and he sits on several editorial boards for surgical journals.

Dr. Aref Chehal

MD, FACP, ECMO

Consultant Medical Oncology

Dr. Aref Chehal

MD, FACP, ECMO

Dr. Chehal is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman, UAE

Dr. Chehal is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Khalifa University (KU), Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Chehal graduated from the college of Medicine at Baghdad University/Iraq (MBChB) in 1996.

Dr. Chehal did his Internal Medicine residency at American University of Beirut, Lebanon, between 1997 and 2000 (Lebanese Board).

Dr. Chehal did his Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the American University of Beirut (AUBMC), Lebanon, between 2000 and 2003 (Lebanese Board).

Dr. Chehal obtained Fellowship of the American College of Physician (FACP) in 2013.

Dr. Chehal obtained the European Certification of Medical Oncology (ECMO) in 2009 and Re-certification in 2014, and 2021

Dr. Chehal is a member of many national and international societies including ASCO, ESMO, EHA,….. He had an important role in Tumor registry in Lebanon in 2002.

Dr. Chehal acted as chairperson, moderator, advisor, and member of scientific committee in many local and international congresses.

Dr. Chehal has 39 published articles in peer reviewed international journals; he is the first author on 17 of them, in addition to 31 abstracts.

Dr. Chehal joined Mafraq hospital From May 2006 until December 2019.

Dr. Chehal served as head of Hematology Oncology division at Mafraq Hospital from December 2018 until December 2019.

Dr. Chehal served as head of Hematology Oncology division at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City from December 2019 until August 2020.

Dr. Chehal main interests are Lung, Breast, Gyne, GI and GU malignancies.

Dr. Suleiman AlMaamari

Suleiman ALMaamari senior consultant HPB&liver transplant Surgeon Royal Hospital

Dr. Almurtadha Mula kh

Medical oncology consultant

Dr. Almurtadha Mula kh

Dr. Almurtadha Mula Kh is a UK certified (CCT) medical oncology consultant at SSMC. He has a special interest in the management of gastrointestinal malignancies.

Dr. Almurtadha completed his M.B.Ch.B from the University of Babylon's College of Medicine in 2008. From 2015, Dr. Almurtadha worked in the oncology field at many renowned hospitals and trusts across the United Kingdom . He finished his specialty training in medical oncology from The Royal College of Physicians and the Association of Cancer Physicians of the United Kingdom (CCT). And, to further enhance his expertise, he was awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Oncology at the prestigious Institute of Cancer Research: Royal Cancer Hospital in 2021.

From 2021 to early 2024, Dr. Almurtadha was a member of the reputable, regional oncology team at University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust in the United Kingdom. His fervent passion for innovation in cancer care led to active involvement in clinical trials and research activities. He led clinical trials as principal investigator and co-investigator in pancreatic, liver and bowel cancers.