Speaker and Moderator – Gulf & MENA Hepatopancreatobiliary

Speakers

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

Prof. Marcelo Ribeiro

Jr.,MD, MSc, PhD, FACS, FISS, MAMSE, ACC(Hon)

General Surgery - Acute Care & Trauma - HPB

Prof. Marcelo Ribeiro

Jr.,MD, MSc, PhD, FACS, FISS, MAMSE, ACC(Hon)

Consultant General and Trauma Surgeon
Chair of the Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City
Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Professor of Surgery - Khalifa University
Professor of Surgery - Gulf Medical University
Chairman of the Education Committee of The Panamerican Trauma Society
Associate Member of the Academy of Master Surgeons Educators

Dr. Shiva Kumar

Chair, Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Shiva Kumar

Dr. Kumar is the Chair of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. He completed his fellowship training in Gastroenterology & Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and a Clinical & Research fellowship in Hepatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He also completed a master’s degree in healthcare management from the University of Texas at Dallas Jindal school of management.

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.

Prof. Mohammed Sebayel

MD, FRCS, MPH.

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

Prof. 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.

Dr. Sameer Ibrahim Alsmadi

MD, FACS, MRCS

Consultant Hepatobiliary Surgery
King Hussien medical center.
Jordan

Dr. Sameer Ibrahim Alsmadi

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. Jamal Alkoteesh

MD MSc FRCR CCST EBIR EDSI FPAIRS

Professor of Interventional Radiology UAE University
Chairman of clinical imaging and chief of Interventional Radiology at Tawam and STMC hospitals

Dr. Jamal Alkoteesh

MD MSc FRCR CCST EBIR EDSI FPAIRS

Dr Alkoteesh is a pioneer interventional radiologist with expertise in providing unique IR services that made Tawam hospital /SEHA the hub and referral center in the UAE and GCC. He is one of the founders of the interventional Radiology services in UAE since 2007, and the first DOH licensed Interventional Radiologist in Abu Dhabi ;and for that they call him the God Father of Interventional Radiology in Abu Dhabi Emirates. His wealth of knowledge and unique skills in applying advanced IR techniques by performing over 65,000 procedures in the span of his 16 years of SEHA journey are exemplary of dedication and commitment.  To mention few of IR clinical sophisticated procedures are TIPS, acute stroke interventions; penile venous leak embolization; prostate artery embolization, Complex Arterial and venous interventions, Uterine arteries embolization procedures to treat Fibroids and post-Partum Bleeding; liver cancer Radioembolization SIRT and Chemoembolization TACE. He has recently introduced new state-of-the-art IR procedures to treat benign and malignant thyroid Tumours by thermal ablation in addition haemorrhoids new treatment by arterial embolization.

SEHA Career Journey over 16 years
Dr. Alkoteesh joined the SKMC Abu Dhabi as the Chief of Interventional Radiology in 2007 where he served the capital of UAE solo for nearly two years , then moved to Al Ain City in 2010 in order to establish the first Interventional Radiology service at Al Ain Hospital in support of the clinical needs of Al Ain Community. He also was able to build one of the busiest Interventional Radiology unit in the region in support of acute and elective medical care.

He establishing the first radiology residency-training program in Abu Dhabi in 2009 to train junior Emiratis doctors to become the future radiologists then when he moved to Alain he also became the Radiology residency program director at Tawam in 2012 during the intergartion. After the regional integration between Tawam and Al Ain Hospitals, he became the official Chairman of Radiology for both hospitals to manage the largest Radiology Department in the UAE with more than 30 Radiologists to cover both hospitals in the region at a difficult time during the COVIDE19 Pandemic.

His Academic Contributions
Dr Alkoteesh was promoted to the ranke of professor in Interventional Radiology at the UAE University college of medicine and health science, for his fruitful efforts in introducing the Interventional Radiology modules for the medical students in order to promote and attract undergraduates for future career as a rare subspecialty on demand. 

Dr Alkoteesh is the Professor of Interventional Radiology to reach this ranke in the UAE and this is no surprise giving his academic background and involvement heavily in teaching of undergradute and post graduate Medical and surgical residents in SEHA/Abu Dhabi since 2007.

In 2023 he was granted the Pan Arab Interventional Radiology society PAIRS the PAIRS fellowship FPAIRS for his contribution in establishing and promotion Interventional Radiology supspeciality in the UAE and Arab World.

Dr Alkoteesh has more than 75 scintific publications under his belt and he has speaker at more than 150 National and international conferences over the last 10 years.

Fierce fight against COVID19 
– Dr Alkoteesh and the Radiology Team Since the start of COVID 19 pandemic in January 2020, Dr Alkoteesh has led an army of radiologists and radiographers in Abu Dhabi Eastern region to compact this hidden enemy. The Radiology team has performed and reported more than 20000 HR-CT Chest and 300 000 CXR on COVID 19 patients in addition to many Interventional Radiology procedures on those patients.

Home country Journey and International work experience
Dr. Alkoteesh was born in Damascus/Syria, the eldest son of a family of 10 children, he took the challenge to study medicine in Arabic where he also attained his Master degree in Radiology and completed his basic radiology training in Damascus University hospitals.

In 1997 He pursued his higher education to undertake his subspeciality training in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, UK at All Wales higher training scheme, at which hospitals he then became working as consultant radiologist in West Wales, UK.

His employment journey went through many well-recognized international hospitals: Prince Philip hospital in Wales; West Wales General Hospital, Cork University Hospital in Ireland and King Fahad National Guard Hospital (KAMC) in Riyadh; KSA, Sheikh Khalifa Medical city SKMC-Cleveland , Al Ain Hospital and Tawam Hospital in the UAE.

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. 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. Maha Mustafa Aleid

Director, Knowledge Translation Department
Acting Director, Strategic Partnerships
Saudi National Institute of Health (Saudi NIH)

Dr. Maha Mustafa Aleid

Dr. Maha Aleid, the Director of Knowledge Translation and Director of Strategic Partnership at the Saudi National Institute for Health (Saudi NIH), boasts two decades of research expertise. She holds a PhD in Translational Medicine from Cranfield University, United Kingdom, and a Post-Diploma in Pharmaceuticals Regulatory Affairs from Toronto Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Canada. Dr Aleid earned a bachelor’s in pharmacy from King Saud University, with over seven years as the Head of Registries Core Facility at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh. Maha has significantly contributed to healthcare. Dr Aleid has been a Councilor-at-Large and a member of the board for the Pan Arab Liver Transplantation Society and has led numerous hospital-based, national, and international registries.

Dr. Hammad Alqahtani

MD, FRCS

Professor of Surgery
Consultant Hepatopancreatbiliary Surgeon
College of Medicine
King Saud University
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Dr. Hammad Alqahtani

MD, FRCS

Hamad Hadi AlQahtani, Professor of surgery, consultant general and hepatopancreatbiliary surgeon, college of medicine, king saud university, Riyadh , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Head of the examination committee for saudi board ofgeneral surgery, saudi commission for health specialties.

Professor Dr. Basil Ammori

Consultant Laparoscopic Bariatric, Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Gastrointestinal Surgeon at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi,

Professor Dr. Basil Ammori

Professor Dr. Basil Ammori is a graduate of Baghdad University, completed his surgical training in the UK and obtained the CCST in 2000, was granted a Hunterian Professorship by the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2000 and appointed an Honorary Professor at the University of Manchester in 2011. He practiced as a Consultant Laparoscopic Bariatric & HPB Surgeon in Manchester, U.K. between 2000 and 2017, and was the first to introduce laparoscopic Whippleâ€™s procedure in the U.K. He is currently a Consultant Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgeon at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi. He has over 240 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.

Dr. Yasir Akmal

Consultant Surgical Oncologist
Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery
General Surgery Residency Program Director
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabia

Dr. Yasir Akmal

Dr. Yasir Akmal is a consultant surgical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi since 2014. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery and is currently the General Surgery Residency Program Director at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He was involved in the first robotic pelvic, surgical oncology and hepatobiliary surgeries at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and in the United Arab Emirates.

His areas of expertise include MIS and robotic surgery, complex upper and lower gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, colorectal cancer, soft tissue tumors, breast, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, and surgery for peritoneal malignancies HIPEC.

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. Lina Alfantoukh

Director of Data Management and Advanced Analytics

Dr. Lina Alfantoukh

Dr. Lina Alfantoukh is a seasoned professional in the realm of artificial intelligence, currently serving as the Director of the Data Department. With a rich background as an Associate Scientist at the prestigious King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Alfantoukh has dedicated her career to advancing healthcare through designing AI-based applications and conducting impactful research in the field. During her tenure at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Dr. Alfantoukh significantly contributed to the field by publishing numerous papers and actively participating as a speaker at various events. Her expertise extends to teaching data analytics classes and displaying a comprehensive skill set in the intersection of data science and healthcare.

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. Mohammad Rela

Chairman & Managing Director - Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre, India

Dr. Mohammad Rela

Chairman & Managing Director - Dr.Rela Institute & Medical Centre, India.
Past President International Liver Transplantation Society (ILTS)
International Living Donor Liver Transplantation Group (iLDLT Group) – Executive Council Member
Founder & Trustee – National Foundation for Liver Research (NFLR)
He has authored over 830 peer-reviewed publications which includes over 16,500 citations and has an H Index of 69
Authored over 35 book chapters including a chapter in the latest edition of Gray’s Anatomy and Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery
Dr.Rela has performed over 6000 liver transplantations runs one of the busiest liver transplantation program India, performing over 300 liver transplants each year.
Dr. Rela has received over 20 International Awards & Honors and holds the Guinness Book of record for performing liver transplant on a 5 days old Child in 1997

Dr. Shahabazali Patil

Interventional Radiologist at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City Abu Dhabi

Dr. Shahabazali Patil

Dr Patil is working as an Interventional Radiologist at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City Abu Dhabi since 2020. Prior to this he was working at Mafraq Hospital Abu Dhabi since 2018. He worked at University Hospital Birmingham after completion of CCT. He completed his Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology training from West Midlands training scheme in United Kingdom. He achieved his FRCR from the Royal college of Radiology UK.

Before moving into Radiology and IR, he completed his basic surgical training from Swansea, Wales, UK and obtained his MRCS degree.

Dr. Suleiman AlMaamari

Suleiman ALMaamari senior consultant HPB&liver transplant Surgeon Royal Hospital

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. 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. Abdel Hadi AL Breizat

Consultant General & HPB Surgeon.(Double Jordanian Board).Ph.D(Academy of medical sciences former Soviet Union)

Dr. Abdel Hadi AL Breizat

Abdel Hadi AL Breizat Consultant General & HPB Surgeon.(Double Jordanian Board).Ph.D(Academy of medical sciences former Soviet Union).

Acting counselor of Jordan Society of Surgeons,Immediate Past President.

Former:

Head of Surgical Specialty at MOH/Jordan.
Clinical Supervisor for medical college students at three Universities.
Director of AL Bashir Hospital (1200 beds) & Prince Hamza hospital (500 beds).
Chair of Spicealized Scientific Committee of Surgery at Jordan Medical Council.
Director of Jordan Center of Organic Transplantation Directorate.
Chair of Supreme Committee of Medical and Health Care Liability Law.
Member of many national,Regional and international societies.
Reviewer for national and international medical journals.
Practicing at Private Sector.

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.

Prof. FELICE GIULIANTE

Full Professor of Surgery
Chief of Hepato-Biliary Surgery Unit
Foundation “Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS

Prof. FELICE GIULIANTE

Dr. Felice Giulianti, a distinguished Full Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Hepato-Biliary Surgery Unit in Rome's Foundation "Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS." Born on January 29, 1962, in Chieti, Italy, he graduated summa cum laude in 1986 from the Catholic University School of Medicine. With expertise in hepatic, biliary, and pancreatic surgery, he emphasizes laparoscopic and minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Giulianti has conducted 1300+ liver resections, authored 312 papers, 23 book chapters, and 51 educational videos, holding an impressive H Index of 57 (Scopus, Jan 25, 2024). An award-winning professional, he's a member of renowned scientific societies and a sought-after speaker at international and national congresses, showcasing his dedication to advancing surgical practices.

Prof. Basil Ammori

Consultant Laparoscopic Bariatric, Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Gastrointestinal Surgeon at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi,

Prof. Basil Ammori

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.

Prof. Mohammed Al Qahtani

Senior Consultant HPB & Multi-Organ Transplant Surgeon
Executive Director of Multi Organ Transplant Center of Excellence at King Fahad Specialist Hospital-Dammam in Saudi Arabia

Prof. Mohammed Al Qahtani

Dr. Mohammed Saad Alqahtani is a distinguished Senior Consultant HPB & Multi-Organ Transplant Surgeon. He is the Executive Director of Multi Organ Transplant Center of Excellence at King Fahad Specialist Hospital-Dammam in Saudi Arabia. He is a certified Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and member of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS). He obtained his Transplantation / HPB Surgery Fellowship from the University of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and General Surgical Oncology Fellowship at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He also received his Masters of Science in Health Administration in the University of Alabama Birmingham, USA.

He is a prominent figure in the field of solid organ transplantation, having led and performed more than 1500 very complex HPB cases and rare transplant surgeries. This includes first cadaveric liver transplant for colorectal cancer liver metastasis, first domino liver transplant & first liver paired exchange in Saudi Arabia.

He was instrumental in establishing and leading various transplant programs in the Kingdom, such as the Renal Transplant Program at King Abdullah Medical City and KFSH-D liver paired exchange program, which is one of the largest in the world. His work has been pivotal in overcoming the shortage of organ donation and advancing the field of liver transplantation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

His contributions extends beyond Saudi Arabia, as he has collaborated with transplant institutions in the gulf region, including Royal Hospital in Oman as well as King Hamad University Hospital-Bahrain, having done their first ever liver transplant case.

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. Khaled ALNUAIMI

Consultant gastroenterologist
Graduated from UAEU faculty of medicine in 2010
Did my medicine and gastroenterology training in France
Did my advanced endoscopy training in Montréal canada
Currently Im working in SSMC hospital
director of advanced endoscopy

Dr. Khaled ALNUAIMI

Khaled ALnuaimi
Consultant gastroenterologist
Graduated from UAEU faculty of medicine in 2010
Did my medicine and gastroenterology training in France
Did my advanced endoscopy training in Montréal canada
Currently Im working in SSMC hospital
director of advanced endoscopy

Dr. Ayman Harakeh

consultant surgeon at Mediclinic City Hospital in Dubai.

Dr. Ayman Harakeh

Ayman Harakeh, MD, FACS, is a consultant surgeon at Mediclinic City Hospital in Dubai. He received his medical education and specialty training from multiple prestigious regional schools and international American hospitals and institutions.

He is a certified diplomate of the American board of surgery and a fellow of the American college of surgeons. He specializes in general and oncologic surgery. He specializes in Liver transplantation, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic surgery. He also specializes in laparoscopic and robotic bariatric, foregut, and colorectal surgery.

He completed specialty training in general, laparoscopic, and bariatric surgery at Gundersen health system, USA, and completed his specialty training in multiorgan abdominal transplantation and hepatobiliary oncologic surgery at Henry Ford Health System, USA.

Dr. Harakeh holds 13 medical diplomas from prestigious regional schools and international American hospitals and institutions.

He has been in practice for more than 15 years. Moreover, He has successfully performed more than 5,000 surgeries to date.

Dr. Ayman Harakeh

Consultant Gastrointestinal Surgery

Dr. Ayman Harakeh

Dr. Vikas has over two decades of experience in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic surgery. He was last associated with Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India as a Professor in the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology.

He had been an Executive Member of International Hepato Pancreatic Biliary Association, Indian Chapter, and also had been the vice president of North Chapter of Association of Surgeons of India. He has extensive experience in Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic surgery, GI Oncology, Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery and Liver transplantation.

Dr. Vikas is a MBBS Gold Medallist from Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. He further completed his MS (Surgery) and MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology) from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. He also holds multiple post-doctoral Fellowships in Liver transplantation and HPB Surgery from Kings College Hospital, London, United Kingdom, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, Universitat Klinikum, Hiedelberg, Germany and Medanta Institute of Liver transplantation and Regenrative Medicine, Gurugram, India. He is the recipient of numerous accolades in his clinical practice and has nearly 150 peer reviewed research publications and book chapters to his name.