Speakers & Moderators

MODERATORS

Prof. Mohamed S. Al-Hajjaj

MD, FRCP (C)

College of Medicine,
University of Sharjah, UAE

Prof. Mohamed S. Al-Hajjaj

MD, FRCP (C)

Prof. Al-Hajjaj graduated from King Saud University Medical College in 1981 and obtained The American board of Internal Medicine in 1986, Certificate of “Fellow of the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada” (FRCP (C) in 1987 and the “American Board of Respiratory Diseases” in 1988. He has been a Professor of Medicine and Pulmonology since 2002. He was the president of the Saudi Thoracic Society (2003-2018). His research interest is in the field of bronchial asthma and COPD. Professor Al-Hajjaj has published more than100 research papers in peer-reviewed medical journals with H-index of 29. Currently he is the chair of the Clinical Sciences Department at the College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, UAE.

Dr. Nasser Hamed Salim Al Busaidi

MBBS, FRCP

MD MRCP (UK), FRSM (Australia), FRCP (Edinburgh), FCCP (USA), FRCP!, senior consultant in pulmonology at Royal Hospital. Oman

Dr. Nasser Hamed Salim Al Busaidi

MBBS, FRCP

Dr. Nasser Flamed Salim Al Busaidi MBBS, FRCP, MD MRCP (UK), FRSM (Australia), FRCP (Edinburgh), FCCP (USA), FRCP!, senior consultant in pulmonology at Royal Hospital. Oman, former head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine, former chairman of Internal Medicine program: Oman Medical Specificalry Board (OMSB), local Advisor for Royal College of Edinburgh in Oman and former President of Oman Respiratory Society; Received his MBBS in King Faisal University, KS, and earned his Master's degree in Pulmonary Hypertension from University of Bologna, Italy. Fellow of Chest College of Physicians of America, and Fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. He has been very active in international conferences and has a number of published articles to his name.

Dr Nasser Salman

Senior Consultant of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine in Salmaniya Medical complex in Kingdom of Bahrain

Dr Nasser Salman

Senior Lecturer in Royal college of surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Bahrain. Dr. Naser completed his medical school in Cairo University and clinical Fellowship in Respiratory medicine in Singapore General Hospital. Dr Naser have many publications about many respiratory aspects including pneumonia, ILD, asthma

Dr Trilok Chand

HOD-Respiratory & Sleep Medicine,
Burjeel Hospital LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr Trilok Chand

Dr. Trilok Chand stands as a leading authority in pulmonology, currently serving as the Consultant and Head of the Pulmonology Department at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi.

In his illustrious career, he has contributed to various medical societies, including ERS, ETS, NCCP, ACCP, ICAAI, ISCCM, ISDA, and APSR.

Dr. Trilok has held significant positions such as Vice President of the Interventional Pulmonology Group in the Emirates Thoracic Society and a committee member of the Burjeel Academic Committee.

His accolades include a Third Prize in Chest Radiology Quiz at NAPCON-2007, and fellowships from prestigious organizations in the USA, Japan, and India. He has authored 29 national and international publications.

Dr. Norberto Santana

Norberto Santana Rodríguez, MD, PhD, FEBTS Thoracic Surgeon, AGEL group Czech Republic & Slovakia & Spain & Middle East

Dr. Norberto Santana

I am an experienced thoracic surgeon with a strong background in minimally invasive surgery, lung transplantation, hospital management, team leadership, education, and translational research.

I have occupied leadership position as Head of Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation at the most prestigious hospitals in the Middle East where I set up top-notch Thoracic Surgery Divisions.

I have substantially introduced multiple innovations in Thoracic Surgery such as the perimammary uniportal VATS program (PUVATS), etc.

I have executed and managed 16 research funded projects, set 2 international patents, published more than 60 research papers and multiple book chapters, and directed 8 doctoral theses.

I have participated as a speaker in multiples prestigious international conferences such as The American Association of Thoracic Surgery (AATS), and have been invited to operate in different countries.

Also, I have been recognized with the Science Award in Spain and have been appointed as member of the editorial board of the prestigious “Shanghai Chest Journal. Finally, I am one of the founder of the African Society of Thoracic Surgery.

Dr. Mahmoud El-Kaissi

Staff Physician in the Imaging Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Dr. Mahmoud El-Kaissi

Dr. Mahmoud El-Kaissi, MD, is a Staff Physician in the Imaging Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
Dr El-Kaissi is the Lead thoracic Consultant Radiologist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. El-Kaissi worked as an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center
. Dr. El-Kaissi received his medical degree from a University in Kaunas, Lithuania. He completed his Radiology residency at King Hussein Medical Center Amman, Jordan.
Dr. El-Kaissi is an American Board-certified Radiologist with four ACGME accredited fellowship in Neuroradiology, pediatric Radiology, Body cross sectional imaging and cardiothoracic Imaging.

Prof Mohammed Al Ghobain

Professor at the College of Medicine, KSAU-HS and a Consultant Pulmonologist at King Abdulaziz Medical City, MNGHA. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Fadi Hamed

Medical director of the Lung transplant program, and served as section Head in the Critical care Institute at
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Fadi Hamed

Dr. Fadi Hamed, MD, is the medical director of the Lung transplant program, and served as section Head in the Critical Care Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.  Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Hamed worked as Associate Staff in the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Hamed is a Diplomate in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, and Internal Medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is also a member of several organizations including the Society of Critical Care Medicine, American College of Chest Physicians, and the American Thoracic Society. His specialty interests include advanced lung disease, lung transplant and medical intensive care. Dr. Hamed earned his medical degree from the University of Jordan in Amman. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, US, where he also served as a Chief Medical Resident for one year on completion of his residency training. He completed his fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, US.

Dr. Syed Arshad Husain

Professor Pulmonology Adjunct Gulf Medical University & Senior Consultant Pulmonologist, Kings College Hospital, Dubai

Dr. Syed Arshad Husain

Professor Adjunct, Pulmonology in Gulf Medical University and Senior Consultant Pulmonologist, Kings College Hospital, Dubai, UAE

30 year’s experience in the NHS, previous experience working at Royal Brompton Hospital, London and John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford, UK

Worked as Consultant Pulmonologist Maidstone and Turnbridge wells Trust, and Training program Director Pulmonology at the KSS Deanery, UK

Course director for Maidstone Thoracic Ultrasound course, Safety in Chest drainage courses and Interventional Bronchoscopy and Medical Thoracoscopy course in UK

Research and Education Lead in Medicine, Kings College Hospital, UAE

Dr. Ali Wahla

Consultant Pulmonologist
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Ali Wahla

Dr. Ali Saeed Wahla, is a Staff Physician in the Respiratory Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Wahla is the director of the bronchoscopy suite and one of the Interventional pulmonologists. He specializes in advanced pulmonary procedures focused on complex airway and pleural disorders.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Wahla worked in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as a Consultant.

He received his medical degree from the Aga Khan University in Pakistan and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, North Carolina, USA, where he also completed his fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Interventional Pulmonology.

Dr. Faisal AbdulKarim

Cardiothoracic radiology consultant, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center - Riyadh

Dr. Faisal AbdulKarim

Dr. Faisal Alabdulkarim is a dedicated cardiothoracic radiologist with a strong interest in the practical implementation of AI solutions in medical imaging. With hands-on experience in AI-related research and projects, Dr. Alabdulkarim is passionate about integrating advanced technologies to improve diagnostic precision and efficiency in radiology.

Dr. Usman Ahmed

MD, FACS

Department Chair, Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Dr. Muhammad Tufail

Consultant Pulmonologist
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi

Dr. Muhammad Tufail

Dr Muhammad Tufail is a consultant pulmonologist at SKMC Abu Dhabi with over 19 years of experience in the field. He gained his CCT in respiratory and internal medicine from London and completed interventional pulmonology fellowship at Glenfield Hospital Leicester where he worked as a consultant pulmonologist for six years before moving to Abu Dhabi in 2022. He was the lead for lung cancer and was nominated for three national awards for improving the quality of services. He also served as a member of the British Thoracic Society Council and its Education & Training Committee.

Dr Ramzi Khashkhusha

Consultant Pulmonologist
Tawam Hospita

Dr Ramzi Khashkhusha

Dr Ramzi Khashkhusha graduated from Tripoli University Libya and completed his post-graduate training in the UK. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and he has completed a CCT in pulmonary and general medicine. Dr Khashkhusha previously worked as a respiratory consultant at the Mid-Yorkshire NHS trust then joined Tawam hospital in 2013. He is a faculty member of the internal medicine residency-training programme at Tawam hospital. He has committed to presenting at Local and national conferences. Dr Ramzi has been involved in many audits and multiple research publications and presentations.

Prof. Bassam Mahboub

Consultant Internal Medicine
Consultant Pulmonary Disease
Consultant Pulmonologist and Allergy Diseases Specialist

Prof. Bassam Mahboub

Dr. Bassam Mahboub is consultant pulmonologist and the head of pulmonary medicine unit. Served as program director for care model innovation in DHA from 2016 to 2018. American Board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonology, and Allergy and Clinical Immunology, also has a Masters in Business Administration from Wolverhampton University.

Career goal is health innovation and respiratory care, leadership in academic and clinical sciences. Areas of interest are patient care, clinical teaching, translation research in airway diseases, and health innovation. Co-editor for Annals of Thoracic Medicine. He has authored several books in respiratory medicine and co-editor for several medical journals.

Dr. Bassam has received various recognitions for his role as physician, innovation leader, and researcher from Dubai Health Authority.

Dr. Manjush Karthika

Associate Professor- Respiratory Care
Head- Dept. of Health and Medical Sciences
Liwa College, Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Manjush Karthika

Dr. Manjush Karthika is an Associate Professor of Respiratory Care. He has dedicated his career to advancing respiratory care practices through academics, clinical and research work. With a passion for improving patient outcomes and quality of care, Dr. Karthika has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. His areas of interest include Respiratory Critical Care, Extracorporeal Life Support Technology, Thoracic Ultrasound, and Quality Management. His expertise in respiratory care has made him a sought-after speaker and consultant in the healthcare industry. Dr. Karthika currently works at Liwa College, as the Head of the Department of Health and Medical Sciences.

Asma Ali Sultan Al Nuaimi

MBBS, FAAP, ABP, FRCP©, EMHCA, MSc (Healthcare Ethics and Law)

Senior pediatric pulmonologist
DCMO

Asma Ali Sultan Al Nuaimi

MBBS, FAAP, ABP, FRCP©, EMHCA, MSc (Healthcare Ethics and Law)

Dr. Al Nuaimi is the first UAE national pediatric pulmonologist; worked to establish this medical field in UAE , currently based at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City SKMC, she is American, Canadian and European board certified in the field of pediatric pulmonary with special interest in cystic fibrosis and chronic non CF bronchiectasis.

She held multiple administrative posts including the chair of the department of pediatrics at Zayed military hospital (ZMH) and Deputy CMO at ZMH, and currently deputy CMO at Sheikh Khalifa medical city, she completed an Executive Masters in Healthcare Administration in 2010 with honors, and then a master degree in biomedical ethics and law from the Royal college of Ireland in 2014; she has special interest in military medical ethics and currently she chairs SEHA oversight IRB in Abu Dhabi.

Dr.al Nuaimi has received Abu Dhabi medical distinction award for best clinical performance in 2012, she participated in teaching at many levels of undergraduate and post graduate, and she is involved in putting the guidelines for the health authority of Abu Dhabi for common respiratory diseases.

Dr. Luai Idris

Consultant Pulmonologist
Zayed Military Hospital
AbuDhabi, UAE

Dr. Luai Idris

Currently working as a Consultant Pulmonologist at Zayed Military Hospital.
Pulmonology Coordinator for internal medicine residency program.
Associate professor at St George's university and Fellow of the Royal college of Physicians. London.

Was a consultant pulmonologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, UK
With Sub-specialty in Intervention and pleural disease.
Honorary senior lecturer at Norwich Medical School and Head of Respiratory medicine secondary care.

Dr. Hassan Nuaimat

Consultant Staff Physician,Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Dr. Hassan Nuaimat

Dr. Hassan Alnuaimat is a Consultant Staff Physician who is specialized in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. He is the Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Alnuaimat was a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Dr. Alnuaimat has advanced specialization in Pulmonary Hypertension, Lung Transplantation and ECMO support. He was the founder and Director of the PH comprehensive care center at the University of Florida. He was a leader in the 5th highest volume lung transplant program in the United States.

Dr. Alnuaimat was the Director of the Respiratory ECMO Program.

Dr. Alnuaimat is a well accomplished researcher. He has authored numerous research articles in leading peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Alnuaimat has lectured at, and his research work was presented in, numerous scientific meetings. He is an excellent clinical educator and has received numerous teaching awards

Prof. Ashraf Al Zaabi

MB, FRCPC, EMHCA

Congress Chairman President, Emirates Thoracic Society. Professor of medicine, College of medicine and health sciences, UAE university

Prof. Ashraf Al Zaabi

MB, FRCPC, EMHCA

Professor Ashraf Alzaabi is a Respiratory physician working at Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

He was elected as a president for the Emirates Thoracic Society February, 2019. He served as the chief of medicine at Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi during 2021. He was then appointed as the Chief Medical Officer at Zayed Military Hospital Feb, 2022. In 2024, he was appointed as the director of Defence Health Organization (DHO) at the Ministry of Defence in UAE.

He graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland 1997 and did his training in Internal medicine and Respirology for six years at the University of Toronto, Canada 2000-2006 where he was board certified in both specialties from Canada and USA.

In 2018, he was appointed as a full professor of Medicine at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) at UAE University where he joined as an assistant professor in the year 2007.

Ashraf Alzaabi won many distinction awards such as the prestigious Murray Muirhead Award (2001) from the University of Toronto during his residency program. In 2013, He won the Abu Dhabi Medical Distinction Award in Clinical Performance launched by the Health Authority in Abu Dhabi (HAAD).

He was appointed as the Director of Medical Education 2007-2010 at Zayed Military Hospital. During this period, He succeeded to get the recognition of the Arab Board to start the first residency training program at Zayed Hospital in Internal Medicine.

He engineered a memorandum agreement between the faculty of Medicine at UAE University and Zayed Hospital. The signing of this agreement recognized Zayed Hospital as a training hospital for the medical students and residents during their undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

In 2010, He finished a two year program at Zayed University doing an Executive Master in Health Care Administration. This helped during his posts at many important administrative positions both at Zayed Military Hospital and at other national organizations.

He served as the Chair of the Internal Medicine Examination Committee at the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi for the term 2010-2014.

Medical research and academic work has always been of great interest to him. He published more than 40 studies in the field of Asthma, COPD and sleep disordered breathing at peer reviewed journals.

SPEAKERS

Dr. Yasser Madani

Consultant Pulmonologist
Healthpoint Hospital,
Mubadala Health, Abu Dhabi

Dr. Yasser Madani

Dr. Yasser Madani is a UK-Board Certified physician in Pulmonology and Internal Medicine. He is a Consultant Pulmonologist at Healthpoint Hospital, Mubadala Health, Abu Dhabi. He trained in London working across various university teaching and tertiary hospitals such as Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals. He is a member of the Royal College of Physicians (UK). He held the position of Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Brunel Medical School in London. 

Dr. Eihab Bedawi

Consultant in Respiratory Medicine & Pleural Disease, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, University of Sheffield

Dr. Eihab Bedawi

Dr. Bedawi trained in General Internal and Respiratory Medicine in the South Yorkshire region of England, before completing his PhD thesis and subspecialist training in Pleural Disease in Oxford and taking up a Consultant and Senior Lecturer post in Sheffield. His research interests include pleural infection and advanced ultrasound. He has published 60 peer reviewed papers and contributed 5 textbook chapters. He co-chaired the 2022 ERS Pleural Infection Taskforce Statement, sat on the British Thoracic Society Pleural Specialist Advisory Group and currently sits on the BTS Pleural Procedures Training Standards Group and BTS Quality Standards in Pleural Disease Committee. He has delivered over 30 international lectures and is regular invited faculty on ERS and BTS postgraduate courses on pleural disease and thoracic ultrasound.

Dr. Fadi Hamed

Medical director of the Lung transplant program, and served as section Head in the Critical care Institute at
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Fadi Hamed

Dr. Goran Nadir Salih

HEAD OF SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Consultant Pulmonologist and Internal Medicine
Program Director for Adult Pulmonary Fellowship
Rashid Hospital Dubai Health

Dr. Goran Nadir Salih

HEAD OF SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Dr. Goran Nadir Salih is Consultant Pulmonologist and Internal Medicine, with 17 years’ experience. He is Danish Board Certified in Internal and Pulmonary Medicine, he did his fellowship at many tertiary centers at Copenhagen University Hospitals, Denmark. After Moving to UAE in May 2021, he worked as Consultant Pulmonologist at American Hospital Dubai. In February 2022 he joined the Department of Pulmonary, Sleep and Allergic diseases at Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health as Consultant Pulmonologist, where he is currently director of interventional pulmonology, interstitial lung diseases clinic, and Adult Respiratory Fellowship under The Saudi Commission of Health Specialties (SCFHS) . Currently he is also member of the Adult pulmonary Scientific Committee under National Institute for Health Specialties (NIHS), Emirati Board.

Dr. Mahmoud El-Kaissi

Staff Physician in the Imaging Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Dr. Mahmoud El-Kaissi

Dr Marc Miravitlles

MD, FERS

Pneumology Department Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron / Vall d’Hebron Research Institute
Barcelona, Spain

Dr Marc Miravitlles

MD, FERS

Dr. Marc Miravitlles is senior researcher and consultant at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona. He was Chair of the Respiratory Infections Group of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and Guidelines Director of the ERS. He has acted as a consultant for the development of international guidelines of COPD, including the American Thoracic Society (ATS)/ERS guidelines on exacerbations of COPD and the ERS statement on management of respiratory disease in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. He is also a consultant of the Spanish Ministry of Health for the development of the National Strategy Against COPD. He is the coordinator of the Spanish National Guidelines for COPD since 2011. He has more than 600 peer-reviewed publications in the field of COPD and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency indexed in PubMed.

Dr. Muhammad Tufail

Consultant Pulmonologist
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi

Dr. Muhammad Tufail

Dr. Sarah Al Qassimi

Medical Resident, Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Dr. Sarah Al Qassimi

Sarah Al Qassimi, MD, is a senior internal medicine resident at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Dr. Al Qassimi obtained her medical degree from the United Arab Emirates University and completed her transitional year at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi prior to starting her residency.

Ms. Seddiqa Al Mansoori

Respiratory Therapist Manager,Sheik Khalifa Medical city (SKMC)

Ms. Seddiqa Al Mansoori

Seddiqa AlMansoori is Respiratory Therapist with 9 years of experience working at Sheik Khalifa Medical city (SKMC). She is certified from Canadian board for respiratory care and started her career working at SKMC as a bedside clinician, clinical educator, and department administrator. Additionally, she has master’s degree in healthcare management. On 2021, she has been selected to manage and lead Respiratory Therapy Department in SKMC. Seddiqa aims to bring a unique blend of clinical expertise and administrate acumen to the department. She is blessed to work as RT as it has given her the knowledge, expertise, and integrity that allows her to make a difference in the life of patients with cardio-respiratory diseases.

Prof.Celeste Porsbjerg

professor of severe asthma the Department of Respiratory Medicine at
Bispebjerg Hospital

Prof.Celeste Porsbjerg

Prof, Ph.D. Celeste Porsbjerg is a professor of severe asthma the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, where she heads the severe asthma clinic, and chairs the Respiratory Research Unit. Her research revolves around solving key clinical issues in difficult asthma, understanding disease mechanisms, and personalising asthma management. Celeste Porsbjerg chairs the Danish Severe Asthma Registry (DSAR), and is the national representative for Denmark in SHARP and ISAR.

Prof. Lorenzo Corbetta

Associate Professor of Respiratory Diseases - University of Florence
Director of the Educational Program and Master in Interventional Pulmonology
Unit of Interventional Pulmonology
University Hospital of Careggi

Prof. Lorenzo Corbetta

Associate Professor in Respiratory Diseases - University of Florence (Italy) • Past President of the Working Group of Interventional Pulmonology of the Italian Society of Respiratory Medicine and Board of the Italian Society of Thoracic Endoscopy • Director of the Unit of “Interventional Bronchology of the University Hospital Careggi of Florence (Italy): July 2008 to 2015 • Director of the Educational Program and University Master Degree on Interventional Pulmonology • Scientific and Website Director of the European Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP) since 2018 to 2022 • Board of the Interventional Pulmonology Institute (IPI) of the World Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP) • Visiting Professor in Pulmonology of the University of Guangzhou and Chongqing (China) • Main research fields： • Interventional Pulmonology • Training and Competence Programs in Pulmonology • Diagnosis and endoscopic treatment of lung cancer • Medical Papers： • Published > 80 medical papers

Prof. Luca Richeldi

Chair of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine and CEMAR (Respiratory Disease Center) at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS in Rome

Prof. Luca Richeldi

Prof. Omendra Narayan

Consultant Pediatric Pulmonologist and Director of Pediatrics,
American Hospital, Dubai

Prof. Omendra Narayan

Prof. (Dr.) Omendra Narayan is a British board-certified Consultant pediatric pulmonologist & Director of Pediatrics and Steep lab at American hospital in Dubai. He has set up the Pediatric Pulmonology service at American hospital. He is also an adjunct associate professor at the University of Sharjah & Gulf university.
Before moving to Dubai, he was leading the sleep, long-term ventilation, and Pulmonology services at Children's Hospital in Manchester in United Kingdom. He has been highly involved in research and training in United Kingdom and has participated in many research as a principal investigator. He has several publications of peer reviewed articles in high impact journals along with book chapters in pediatric textbooks. He was an executive council member of British sleep Society and British pediatric respiratory Society. He was also an Associate Dean of Manchester medical school before moving to UAE.

Dr. Sofia Konstantinopolulou

Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine Consultant at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, SEHA, Pure Health
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Sofia Konstantinopolulou

Dr. Sofia Konstantinopoulou obtained her medical degree at the University of Athens, Medical school in Athens, Greece. She completed a residency in General Pediatrics at the Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center, in Long Branch, NJ, USA. She then completed two fellowships in Pediatric Pulmonology and in Pediatric Sleep Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Philadelphia, PA, USA.  She is board certified in General Pediatrics, in Pediatric Pulmonology and in Sleep medicine. Dr. Konstantinopoulou worked as an attending physician at the Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at CHOP, and she was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine, at the University of Pennsylvania. 

For the past 6 years, she has been working as a consultant in pediatric pulmonology at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, where she serves as a core faculty of the ACGME accredited Pediatric residency program and as the lead clinical point of the Aerodigestive Clinic. Dr. Konstantinopoulou was recently appointed as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Khalifa University.

Her main clinical focus is taking care of children with sleep disordered breathing, and specifically those, who require home mechanical ventilation. She is a member of many professional societies including the Emirates Thoracic Society, the American Thoracic Society, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American College of Chest Physicians. 

Dr. Khaldoon Abu Dakka

Specialist Thoracic Surgeon
Prime Hospital Dubai

Dr. Khaldoon Abu Dakka

Dr. Khaldoon is a specialist in Thoracic Surgery with 20 years of experience. He holds a Doctorate Degree in thoracic surgery from Damascus University's Faculty of Medicine and has practiced in Syria, then in UAE since 2015. Dr. Khaldoon specializes in minimally invasive surgery (VATS), Thoracic oncosurgery, and operates on both adults and pediatric patients. His expertise includes lung cancer surgery, thymus surgery, airways surgery, esophageal surgery, pleural diseases, and management of thoracic trauma. Dr. Khaldoon is passionate about multidisciplinary teamwork and views each case as a unique challenge. He emphasizes the nobility of thoracic surgery and the importance of continuous learning to improve patient care.

Prof Mohammed Al Ghobain

Professor at the College of Medicine, KSAU-HS and a Consultant Pulmonologist at King Abdulaziz Medical City, MNGHA. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Dr.Marah Altorkmani

Internal medicine resident -SKMC Abu Dhabi

Dr.Marah Altorkmani

My name is Marah Altorkmani. I’m a third year internal medicine resident at SKMC Abu Dhabi. I'm a dedicated, highly motivated doctor who is passionate about Internal Medicine and all its sub-specialties. I like to stay updated in all medical fields. I'm also interested in research, and I'm currently working on multiple research projects.

Dr. Andres Obeso

Consultant Thoracic Surgeon. Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Dr. Andres Obeso

Dr. Andres Obeso, MD, is a Staff Physician in the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2018, he was appointed Clinical Associated Professor at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University.

During his time in different international hospitals, Dr. Obeso has completed more than three thousand surgeries, most of them using minimally invasive techniques.

Dr. Obeso frequently contributes as a reviewer on more than 15 international peer-reviewed journals and has authored important articles and books.

He lso serves in various leadership roles in several international societies

Dr. Norberto Santana

Norberto Santana Rodríguez, MD, PhD, FEBTS
Thoracic Surgeon, AGEL group
Czech Republic & Slovakia & Spain & Middle East

Dr. Norberto Santana

Dr Hussam Ismael

MD FACS

Thoracic and General Surgeon
American Hospital Dubai
Associate Professor of Surgery University of Shar

Dr Hussam Ismael

MD FACS

Dr. Hussam Ismael is an American board-certified surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He completed his internship at Henry Ford Hospital, followed by a general surgery residency at the University of South Florida. He then completed his fellowship in surgical thoracic oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center. Dr. Ismael has performed over 500 Robotic cases in the fields of Thoracic Oncology and General Surgery. He is an Associate Professor of Surgery who is passionate about educating the next generation of surgeons and contributing to research and innovation.

Dr Hamzeh Alsubbah

Pulmonology specialist registrar , Dubai health , Rashid hospital

Dr Hamzeh Alsubbah

Dr. Hamzeh Abdallah Alsubbah is a specialist in internal medicine and respiratory medicine at Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health, UAE. His areas of interest are interstitial lung diseases, interventional pulmonology, and lung cancer. He served as an academic chief officer during his pulmonology fellowship program. He is an avid educator in various aspects of respiratory medicine.

Dr. Nauman Chaowdhry

Consultant Pulmonologist & Sleep Physician at Healthpoint Hospital Abu Dhabi

Dr. Nauman Chaowdhry

Dr Nauman Chaudhry is a currently working as a Consultant Pulmonologist & Sleep Physician at Healthpoint Hospital Abu Dhabi.

He is a Fellow of Royal College of Physicians London & has CCT in Internal & Respiratory Medicine. He is a certified European Expert Somnologist having attained the European Sleep Research Society certification.

He worked for 12 years as a substantive Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, Sleep & Long -term Ventilation at Manchester University Hospital Foundation Trust UK.

Mr. Niyas Moideenkoya

Sr Respiratory Therapist RPFT, CRFS , RPSGT
Pulmonary Function Lab Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Mr. Niyas Moideenkoya

Senior Respiratory Therapist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, leading the Pulmonary Function Laboratory for the past nine years. Previously held positions at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Zayed Military Hospital, where I developed a strong interest in pulmonary function.

Holds advanced credentials including RPFT from NBRC-USA, RPSGT from BRPT-USA, and CRFS from ANZSRS-Australia. Academically, I completed PGDRT at Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad, India, BPT from the University of Calicut, India and a Doctor of physical therapy from University of Montana, USA. Pursued specialized training in exercise testing and interpretation at UCLA, USA.

An active member of the ERS and ANZSRS. Made contributions to the field with respiratory publications featured by both the ERS and Hindawi

Terrence J. Lee-St. John

PhD

Principal Biostatistician, Cleveland Clinic
Abu Dhabi

Terrence J. Lee-St. John

PhD

Dr. Lee-St. John earned his PhD in statistics from Boston College and bachelors from Stanford University. He has been the principal biostatistician for the Research department at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi for the past 6 years where he has overseen research protocol development, study design, and all related statistical analyses for investigator-initiated research studies.  His personal research interests include utilizing real-world digital health records systems to develop AI-based risk stratification tools for clinical support purposes.

Andrei Fernandes Joaquim

MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Head of the Neurosurgery Division, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas-SP, Brazil

Andrei Fernandes Joaquim

MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Head of the Neurosurgery Division- University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas-SP, Brazil
Invited Professor of Neurosurgery - University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo-SP, Brazil
AO Spine KF Trauma and Infection - Steering Committe Member
Ex-Director - Spine Department - Brazilian Society of Neurosurgery

Dr. Atul Goel

Professor and Head, Department of Neurosurgery, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre
Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, K.J.Somaiya Hospital and Medical College
Professor, Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences

Luciano Mastronardi

Luciano Mastronardi

Since July 2010: Chief of Neurosurgery Department of San Filippo Neri Hospital in Rome. In addition to my clinical and surgical activity, I act as tutor for Italian and international neurosurgeons in training, in my hospital and during microneurosurgical dissection courses I direct in Italy, Europe and USA. My surgical experience consists of >4500 operations:

A. microsurgery of brain and skullbase tumors. In skullbase surgery I am been co-director of dissection courses in USA and Europe for >20 years. Acoustic neuromas and intracranial meningiomas are the most common pathologies I operate.
B. cerebrovascular
C. MVD
D. spine-spinal cord

Prof. Dr. Mohammed AL-Asha

(FRCS(SN), MSc, CCST)

Chief of Neurosurgery

Prof. Dr. Mohammed AL-Asha

(FRCS(SN), MSc, CCST)

British trained consultant Neurosurgeon with highly specialised fellowships in open and endoscopic skull base surgery in the U.K. , France and Canada as well as Neuroncology (Canada). Dr Asha is currently the Chief of the Neurosurgery Department at Tawam Hospital (National Oncology Tertiary Centre in Abu Dhabi).

Dr Asha is a pioneer in complex brain tumors surgery in UAE for adults and pediatrics. He has keen interest in open vascular surgery and functional Neurosurgery as well.

Dr Asha is very motivated educator. He holds masters degree in evidence based medicine, Cardiff University and A degree in Global Health Education, University of Toronto. In addition to his clinical roles, he holds a position as adjunct professor at the University of UAE.

Prof. Dr. Nicandro Figueiredo

MD, MSc, PhD

Chief of Neurosurgery

Prof. Dr. Nicandro Figueiredo

MD, MSc, PhD

Spinal Neurosurgeon, MD, MSc, PhD
King’s College Hospital in Dubai, UAE
Adjunct Professor in the Mohammed Bin Rashed
University, Dubai, UAE

Robert Spetzler

Dr. Andrew Ives

Consultant in paediatric pulmonology

Dr. Andrew Ives

Dr. Andrew Ives studied medicine at the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London, in the UK. He completed paediatric respiratory specialist training at the Royal London Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospitals in London. He also did 2 years of research at the Royal Brompton Hospital, working with children with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. He is a registered and accredited specialist in children’s respiratory medicine.

He is currently a pediatric pulmonology consultant at Danat Al Emarat Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Before this he was a consultant at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he also ran the paediatric undergraduate medical course for the University of Oxford. As a paediatric pulmonologist, he has expertise and experience in treating children with all respiratory problems.

Dr. Ali Wahla

Consultant Pulmonologist
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Ali Wahla

Dr. Gulam Mujtaba

Consultant Paediatric Pulmonologist, Burjeel Medical City Abu Dhabi

Dr. Gulam Mujtaba

Dr. Mujtaba is a Consultant Pediatric Pulmonologist with 20 years of experience with various prestigious institutions in the UK and, Ireland including a fellowship from GOSH in London in Paediatric Pulmonology. Before joining Burjeel Medical City, Dr. Mujtaba served as a Consultant Paediatric Pulmonologist at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where he was clinical lead. He was also clinical and educational supervisor for RCPCH and clinical lecturer and academic advisor for medical students at the University of Manchester. He was lead for Paediatric ILD in Manchester. He has set up sleep and Bronchoscopy service at Burjeel medical city.

Mr. Almir Smajlovic

Specialist Respiratory Care

Mr. Almir Smajlovic

My name is Almir Smajlovic. I work in Rashid Hospital as one of Senior Respiratory Therapists since April 2013. I am a clinical educator on behalf of Respiratory Care Services. Prior to working in Rashid Hospital, I was employed in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center Jeddah from 2008-2013. I have graduated from Siena Heights University with a Bachelor in Respiratory Therapy and I am a holder of National Board of Respiratory Care with a RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist).

Mr.Mohamed Mashrah

Supervisor Respiratory Therapy Department Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City

Mr.Mohamed Mashrah

Mohamed Ahmed Mashrah is from Kingdom of Bahrain and he is a Respiratory therapist, finished his associate degree from Prince Sultan Military College of health science, KSA and then got his Bachelor degree from University of Toledo, OH, USA.
His work experience as Respiratory therapist involve working in KSA, Bahrain and UAE for more than 20 yrs. currently working in SSMC as respiratory therapy supervisor.

At the moment, he is involved with continuing education programs in all over SSMC, Neonatal/Paediatric and adult ICU’s, ER and Medical wards with both nurses and physicians.

Dr. Laila Jaber Salama

Dr . Aishah Alyammahi

Infectious disease consultant
Sheikh Khalifa hospital Fujairah

Dr . Aishah Alyammahi

Dr. Aishah Alyammahi is infectious diseases and internal medicine consultant. She got her MBBS from Faculty of medicine and health sciences, UAEU in 2012. I have Arab board certification in internal medicine in 2019. I got Royal college of physician of Ireland infectious diseases fellowship in 2022. I got 1 year of training in mycobacterial infection mainly MDR TB from imperial college NHS trust in London in 2023. I got Diploma in tropical medicine and health hygiene in 2023 from Royal college of Physicians, UK.

Dr. Said Isse

Staff Physcian- Lung transplant Pulmonologist, Respiratory institute, CCAD

Dr. Said Isse

Dr. Said Isse, MBBS, is a Staff Physician in the Respiratory Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

  Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Isse served as a Consultant Pulmonologist in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he specialized in lung transplantation and cystic fibrosis. 

Dr. Isse received his medical degree from the UCL Medical School, London, UK. He completed his residency and fellowship research at the Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK. He then completed his MRCP at the Royal College of Physicians, London, and holds a certificate of completion of specialist training (CCT) from the UK.

Dr. Usman Ahmed

MD, FACS

Department Chair, Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Dr. Ayman A1 Sibaie

Head & Consultant Interventional Radiology Rashid Hospital
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dr. Ayman A1 Sibaie

Dr. Ayman Al-Sibaie is the Head of Radiology in Rashid Hospital and Head of Radiology at Sharjah Medical Center, UAE.

Dr. Al-Sibaie graduated from medical school at the Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany, and obtained the Facharzt in Radiology in 1997. Prior to coming to Dubai in 2004, he was the Head of Interventional Radiology at Wald Klinikum in Gera, one of Germany’s largest hospitals.

His main interest is minimally invasive interventional techniques for treating vascular, other diseases and pain management.

Dr. Faisal AbdulKarim

Cardiothoracic radiology consultant, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center - Riyadh

Dr. Faisal AbdulKarim

Dr. Irfan Shafiq

Consultant Pulmonologist
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Dr. Irfan Shafiq

Dr. Irfan Shafiq is a Consultant Pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Clinical Assistant Professor at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. His clinical focus is on cystic fibrosis, non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, and lung diseases caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Dr. Shafiq is the director of the Pulmonary Function Lab and the CF Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Before joining in 2013, he was the Clinical Director at Lymington New Forest Hospital and an Honorary Consultant at Southampton University Hospital.

Dr. Edward Black

Consultant Thoracic Surgeon Tawam & STMC SEHA Hospitals Al Ain

Dr. Edward Black

Dr Edward Black graduated from Guy’s Medical School, London in 1992. He trained in Cardiothoracic Surgery in Oxford, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh. He was awarded Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training in Cardiothoracic Surgery in 2005. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery.

He was appointed Consultant Thoracic Surgeon in Nottingham University Hospitals in 2006, Oxford University Hospitals in 2009 and SEHA in 2014. He currently works in Tawam and STMC hospitals and is Associate Professor at Khalifa University Medical School Abu Dhabi.

He is Vice President of the Thoracic Surgery Group of the Emirates Respiratory Society.

Ms. Aisha Almahri

RN, MHA, MHE, FACHDM

Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Burjeel Medical City (Flagship Hospital of Burjeel Holdings)

Ms. Aisha Almahri

RN, MHA, MHE, FACHDM

Ms. Aysha A1 Mahri is a seasoned executive, and well-regarded Nursing leader.

She joined Burjeel Holdings as Group Chief Nursing Officer and was recently promoted as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Burjeel Medical City, the flagship hospital of Burjeel Holdings.

She brings with her over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. This includes but not limited to (Ministry Of Health. A1 Jalilah Children's specialty Hospital, ADNOC, DOH and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company — SEHA).

She has successfully led a number of key Nursing Strategic initiatives including the enhancement of financial effectiveness of hospitals clinical operations through the provision of innovative workforce business plans, the adoption of technology & digital health in Nursing profession, as well as her advocacy with proven results, and reputable SUCCess in Nursing professional development. education and research and never the less. the first time implementation of clinical costing concept in nursing services.

Ms. Aysha has obtained two master's degrees, one in Health Economics from Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi and the other in Healthcare Management from the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland.

She obtained her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Sharjah in addition to her Nursing Leadership Certificate from MC Master University — Canada. She is a board member Of the Mohamed Bin Rashid University Advisory Group Of Nursing College. and the former President of the Emirates Nursing Association (2013-2022), Board member of UAE Nursing and Midwifery Council and Member in the National Committee Of Nursing and Midwifery Affair.

Dr. Hussain Alawadhi

Consultant Infectious Diseases & Intensivist Sheikh Khalifa Medical City - Ajman

Dr. Hussain Alawadhi

Dr. Husain Alawadhi graduated with honors from Arabian Gulf Universityin Bahrain before venturing to the USA for his Internal Medicine Residency at Wayne State University. After obtaining American Board certification, he pursued fellowships in Critical Care and Pulmonary Disease at the same institution, further specializing in infectious diseases. Driven by a passion for quality care, he earned certification from the American Board of Medical Quality in 2015, actively participating in JCI initiatives and hospital recertifications. From 2000 to 2019, he served as the Head of Intensive Care at Mafraq Hospital-SEHA,run weekly pulmonary clinic contributing significantly to annual conferences and symposium on pulmonary medicine and infectious diseases. Dr. Alawadhi is currently a Consultant in Infectious Disease at Sheikh Khalifa Hospital Ajman, also sharing his expertise as a medical instructor at Ajman Medical University, recently involved as subject in Longevity trail research

Dr. Marwan Najib

MB BS, FRCP(Glas), MRCP(I)

CCT( Respiratory / GIM )
SCE (Respiratory )
consultant Pulmonologist and Division Head

Dr. Marwan Najib

MB BS, FRCP(Glas), MRCP(I)

Dr Marwan Najib is a consultant Pulmonologist and Division Head with over 25 years experience across Respiratory Medicine . He completed his Medical Training and Fellowship in the UK and currently is a Consultant Physician in Respiratory Medicine at Sheikh Kalifa Medical City Abu Dhabi UAE with a previous clinical experience in United Kingdom. Dr Marwan hold a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) . He has special interest in treating severe asthma and Interventional Pulmonary Medicine.

Speakers & Moderators

MODERATORS

Prof Mohammed Al Ghobain

Dr. Usman Ahmed

SPEAKERS

Prof Mohammed Al Ghobain

Dr. Atul Goel

Robert Spetzler

Dr. Laila Jaber Salama

Dr. Usman Ahmed

Dr Ali Wahla

Prof. Lorenzo Corbetta