Scientific Committee

Dr Salem Al Harthi

Head of Scientific Committee

FCS (SA), FACS, FICRS
Consultant Hepatobiliary & Surgical Oncology
Sheikh Shakbout Medical City, May Clinic Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates

Dr Salem Al Harthi

Head of Scientific Committee

Dr. Salem Alharthi is a consultant general, a 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 a surgeon in Ireland in 1999, completed his internship at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin then obtained his 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 a subspecialty Certificate in Surgical Gastroenterology from the College of Surgeons of South Africa in May 2013 and a clinical fellowship in HPB surgery

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.

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 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. Hani Al Saati

MD,MRCSI, AFRCSI, CABS

Consultant Surgical Oncology, MIS HPB & Bariatric Surgery
Salmanyia Medical Complex
Kingdom of Bahrain

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.

Prof. Humaid O. Al-Shamsi

Consultant Medical Oncologist & Director of Oncology Services Burjeel Medical Centre
United Arab Emirates

Prof. Humaid O. Al-Shamsi

Prof. Al-Shamsi is the director of oncology services at Burjeel Holding UAE and Burjeel Oncology in GCC, president of the Emirates Oncology Society, Lead of the Gulf Cancer Society , professor of oncology at the college of medicine at the University of Sharjah. He is the first Emirati to be promoted to full professor in oncology in the UAE. He is also the chairman for colorectal cancer in the MENA region, appointed by the prestigious NCCN. He is the chairman of the oncology and hematology fellowship training program for the National Institute for Health Specialties in the United Arab Emirates. He is board certified from the UK, USA, and Canada in both internal medicine and oncology. He was an assistant professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between 2014 and 2017.

He published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles in Jama Oncology, Lancet Oncology, The Oncologists, BMC Cancer, and many others. In 2022, he published the first book about cancer research in the UAE and also the first book about cancer in the Arab World, both of which were launched at Expo 2020, which has been downloaded more than 3000,000 times in its first year of publication. He has been awarded in 2022 the prestigious Feigenbaum Leadership Excellence Awards from Sheikh Hamdan Smart University for his exceptional leadership and research, and the Sharjah Award for volunteering.

Prof. Mahmoud EL Meteini

Member

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

Prof. Mahmoud EL Meteini

Member

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. Sameer Smadi

MD, FACS, MRCS

Consultant Hepatobiliary Surgery
King Hussien medical center.
Jordan

Dr. Sameer Smadi

MD, FACS, MRCS

Dr. Sameer Smadi is a highly accomplished and board-certified surgeon with extensive expertise in Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic (HPB) surgery, as well as liver transplantation. With a distinguished career spanning several leadership roles, Dr. Smadi has served as Chief of General Surgery at King Hussein Medical Center and Chief of the HPB and Liver Transplantation Unit. He is a valued member of numerous prestigious medical associations, including the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and the International Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Association (IHBPA). Dr. Smadi's dedication to advancing surgical practices is reflected in his role as a board examiner in surgical oncology and his involvement in founding various medical associations. With a clinical fellowship from Florence Nightingale Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, Dr. Sameer Smadi continues to make significant contributions to the field of surgery, particularly in HPB and transplantation.

Dr Ali M. Ghellai

Jr.,M.D., F.A.C.S., F.I.C.S. (H.P.B.)

Consultant Hepatobiliary Surgery Tripoli, Libya

Dr Ali M. Ghellai

Jr.,M.D., F.A.C.S., F.I.C.S. (H.P.B.)

Ali Ghellai, Jr., MD, FACS, FICS (HPB) is a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and HPB-Fellow of the International College of Surgeon. Currently, he is a Senior Consultant in HPB/GI Surgery at Tripoli University Hospital and Visiting Professor at University of Mohammed VI School of Health Sciences; Casablanca, Morocco. Until recently he has served as Senior Consultant MIS and HPB Surgeon at Sheik Shakhbout Medical City in Partnership with Mayo Clinic; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Additionally, he served as Chairman of Surgery, Chief of Surgical Oncology and Chief of General Surgery at Tawam Hospital, in affiliation with John Hopkins School of Medicine; Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Prior to that he was Chairman of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi, with additional responsibilities as Site Director for the General Surgery Residency, Surgical Internship and the Gulf Medical Students Clerkship in Surgery.

In his early career, Dr Ghellai was a prodigious student at many leading international institutions. He undertook his fellowship training in advanced hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery and solid organ transplantation at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York. He was a research fellow in gastrointestinal surgery at Boston University School of Medicine and completed his general surgery residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he also had his training in advanced minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Ghellai completed more than forty postgraduate clinical courses in advanced laparoscopic surgery and hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, in addition to that he attended several leadership and management training courses. As a leader and an administrator, he served in more than twenty hospital and administrative committees. Involved in policy making and restructuring of the department of surgery in Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, UAE. Member of the Surgery Advisory Committee on Scope of practice and competence framework. Health Professional License Department, Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD). For his great efforts as chair of surgery in Tawam hospital, he was awarded the Exemplary Contribution Award 2011.

Dr Abdallah Al Farai

Consultant Surgical Oncology
Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Center (SQCCCRC)
Muscat, Oman

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. Currently, he is working as a surgical oncologist in Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Center (SQCCCRC) in Muscat, Oman.

Dr Al Farai is interested in minimally invasive HPB surgery, and he is a member of the International Hepato-Pancreato Biliary Association (IHPBA) and the French Association of Hepato-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation (ACHBPT).

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.

Prof. Hatem Khalaf

MD, MSc, PhD, FRCS, FEBS, FACS

Professor of Surgery at Qatar University and Senior Consultant Surgeon, specialized in liver transplantation and Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic surgery (HPB)

Prof. Hatem Khalaf

MD, MSc, PhD, FRCS, FEBS, FACS

Professor Hatem Khalaf is a distinguished MD, MSc, PhD, FRCS, FEBS, and FACS holder, specializing in liver transplantation and Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic (HPB) surgery. He's a Professor of Surgery at Qatar University, Senior Consultant Surgeon, and Director of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery Service at Hamad Medical Corporation. He led Qatar's first successful liver transplant in 2011 and has facilitated liver transplant and HPB surgery programs in the UK, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar. He co-founded and led the Pan Arab Liver Transplant Society, directs the HPB Fellowship Program, and has authored 60+ articles and 200+ abstracts. He's also an active member of various liver transplantation and HPB surgery societies.