Speakers

Meet the Speakers

Dr. Sara El Ouali

Sta Physician, Gastroenterology Department Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Sara El Ouali is a consultant gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. She pursued her medical training at McGill University in Montreal, Canada
and completed an advanced IBD fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. She is currently the co-director of the IBD program
at CCAD, as well as the lead of the Global Cleveland Clinic IBD Program in Abu Dhabi.
She is involved in multiple regional and global clinical, educational and research initiatives in IBD. She is the co-founder and co-director of
the Global Cleveland Clinic IBD Visiting Professorship series. She is also a member of the ECCO Global Taskforce, representing the Middle
East and North Africa. She has presented and published multiple peer-reviewed articles in IBD, with a focus on stricturing disease as well
as the global impact of IBD

Dr. Khalid Osman Elamin Elsayed

Consultant Gastroenterology, Director of Endoscopy Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Khalid Osman Elamin Elsayed is a Consultant Gastroenterology and Director of Endoscopy at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi. He obtained
his MBBS from the University of Khartoum, Sudan, and a Certiﬁcation of Higher Training in Gastroenterology and General Medicine in the
United Kingdom. He then completed his Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopy, including ERCP and EUS, in 2009 and became a Fellow of
the Royal College of Physicians (London, UK) in 2013.
He also has membership in learned societies like the British Society of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterological
Association. Dr. Khalid Osman worked as a Consultant Gastroenterologist and led the upper GI cancer multidisciplinary team at Torbay
Hospital, United Kingdom, before moving to UAE, where he worked as a Consultant Gastroenterologist and Head of the Department in
reputed government and private institutions. With over 25 years of experience in Gastroenterology, Dr. Khalid’s areas of expertise include
the treatment of pancreaticobiliary diseases, biliary endoscopy, advanced interventional endoscopy, and GI oncology. He has published
several publications and presented several research papers internationally to his credit.

Dr. Yaser ElGazzar

MRCP(UK), MRCP(Gastro), FESBGH, MSc(Hepatology), PGDip Med Leadership, Senior Consultant and Adj Ass Prof Gastroenterology King’s College Hospital London, Dubai UAE

Dr Yaser El-Gazzar is a UK-trained Senior Consultant with more than 30 years of experience in gastroenterology, hepatology, and advanced
endoscopy, encompassing both tertiary-level clinical practice and academic research. He completed his MD research at the Liver Unit,
Birmingham University Hospitals, UK, and has held consultant appointments at several leading institutions, including Queen Elizabeth
University Hospital Birmingham, Queen’s University Hospital London, King’s College Hospital London, and Oxford University Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust.
Throughout his clinical career, Dr El-Gazzar has held a number of senior leadership roles, most notably serving as Chief of Endoscopy
Service and Deputy Director of the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme at BHRUT, Northeast London. He is currently the Director of the
Inﬂammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Service at King’s College Hospital London, where he leads complex IBD care, service development, and
tertiary referral pathways.
In parallel with his clinical responsibilities, Dr El-Gazzar maintains a strong academic proﬁle. He holds honorary and adjunct academic
appointments at Queen Mary University of London, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Gulf Medical
University, where he serves as a Clinical Ass Professor of Gastroenterology.

Dr. Enas Ahmed

Gastroenterology Specialist Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Abu Dhabi UAE

Dr. Enas Ahmed is a gastroenterology specialist at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) in Abu Dhabi.
With 25 years of experience, her expertise spans general gastroenterology, hepatology and endoscopy, with a special focus on
endobariatrics, obesity and inﬂammatory bowel disease. A member of the Emirates Gastroenterology and Hepatology Society in the UAE
and the Egyptian Association for the Study of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases (E.A.S.G.L.D.) in Egypt, she holds licenses from the
Department of Health (DOH) in Abu Dhabi, the Kuwait Medical Syndicate in Kuwait and the Egyptian Medical Syndicate in Egypt.
With an extensive professional journey, Dr. Ahmed has previously worked as a specialist in gastroenterology at Mafraq Hospital in the UAE,
as well as a registrar in gastroenterology and hepatology at Al-Adan Hospital in Kuwait. She brings rich experience, having worked in
various capacities, including as a specialist in hepatogastroenterology at Mubarak Police Authority Hospital in Egypt and as an emergency
staff physician in the Emergency Department. Dr. Ahmed earned her master’s degree in tropical medicine from Kasr El-Aini Faculty of
Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt, and holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (M.B.B.S.) from the same institution.

Dr. Robert Douglas Church

Consultant in General and Colorectal Surgery Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE

An expert in the ﬁeld of General and Colorectal Surgery, Dr. Church has 30 years of experience in treating colorectal cancer, inﬂammatory
bowel disease and perianal problems. He has special expertise in performing minimally invasive surgery, endoscopy, and colonoscopy. He
is actively involved in various research projects and has published numerous medical studies focusing on several ﬁeld-related topics
including cancer therapies and treatments, inﬂammatory diseases and minimally invasive surgeries. He has an active role in teaching at
undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He is the director of courses at the Royal College of Surgeons, England.

Dr. Ahmed Almradi

FRCPC, FCP (SA), IBD, Consultant Gastroenterologist and IDBiologist Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical City, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Ahmed Almradi, FRCPC, FCP (SA), IBD is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and IDBiologist at Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical
City in Al Ain, UAE. He has over a decade of clinical experience spanning North America, Africa, and the Middle East, specializing in
therapeutic endoscopy and advanced inﬂammatory bowel disease (IBD) management. A former Adjunct Professor at Western University,
Canada, Dr. Almradi balances complex patient care with clinical education and peer-reviewed research. He is widely published in major
journals and remains an active contributor to global gastroenterology congresses.

Dr. Talha Malik

Consultant Gastroenterologist Mayo Clinic, Arizona USA

Talha Aziz Malik, M.D., is a Consultant Gastroenterologist on sta at Mayo Clinic Arizona and Team lead for Inﬂammatory Bowel Disease
(IBD) Education. He is American Board Certiﬁed in Gastroenterology with specialty interest and fellowship training in Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis, the two main inﬂammatory bowel diseases.
Dr. Malik is originally from Pakistan and grew up in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He went to medical school at Aga Khan University in Karachi,
Pakistan and then completed internal medicine residency training at SUNY at Stony Brook in East Meadow, New York. Subsequently, he
completed IBD fellowship, MSPH in clinical research and formal GI fellowship training at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). After
fellowship, he stayed back on faculty at UAB for 4 years.
In 2018, Dr. Malik joined Mayo Clinic Arizona as the IBD Team Lead and in 2021, he traveled to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on
expat assignment as the IBD lead at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City there. Dr. Malik returned to Mayo Clinic Arizona in February 2024 to
resume IBD practice here and took on the role of IBD team lead for Education

Dr. Lisa Sharkey

MA MB BChir MRCP(UK) MRCP(Gastro) CCT(UK) FRCP Consultant Gastroenterologist Kings College Hospital Dubai, UAE

Dr. Lisa Sharkey is a gastroenterologist specialising in luminal gastroenterology, particularly inﬂammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease,
clinical nutrition and intestinal failure. She served as a consultant at Cambridge University Hospitals in the UK for eight years before
relocating to King’s College Hospital in Dubai in October 2023. She has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles and several book
chapters, and regularly reviews for journals including Frontline Gastroenterology, Intestinal Failure and Clinical Transplantation. In 2024, she
was appointed Lead Associate Editor of Frontline Gastroenterology. She has spoken at international conferences and appeared on
podcasts. Since 2025, she has served as Director of Education at King’s, overseeing undergraduate and postgraduate training.

Dr. Ibrahim Al Hosani

Consultant, Gastroenterology & Hepatology Burjeel Day Surgery Center, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Ibrahim Al Hosani is a Consultant Gastroenterologist with over 22 years of extensive experience in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
He earned his Medical Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Damascus, Syria, in 2003. Dr. Ibrahim also received his
German Board (Facharzt) in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology in 2014, as well as a Diploma in Evolving Hepatitis C Management from
the University of Pennsylvania, USA. He previously held positions at one of the well-known hospitals in the UAE and further developed his
expertise through post-graduate studies in Germany, where he received specialized training in spiral enteroscopy.
Dr. Ibrahim specializes in Inﬂammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Celiac Disease, Liver Disease, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Gastroparesis, Motility
Disorders, Exocrine Pancreatic Insuciency, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Lactose Intolerance, Bile Acid Malabsorption,
Gastroesophageal Reﬂux Disease (GERD), and H. pylori treatment. He has also actively participated in various medical conferences to stay
abreast of the latest advancements in the ﬁeld of Gastroenterology. Dr. Ibrahim has not only enhanced his knowledge but also fostered
professional relationships that contribute to his ongoing commitment to excellence in his ﬁeld.

Prof. Abed AlLehibi

Consultant Gastroenterologist & Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopist King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh Saudi Arabia

Prof. Abed Al-Lehibi is a gastroenterologist, advanced therapeutic endoscopist and Professor of Medicine at Dar Al Uloom University. He
completed his training in gastroenterology, hepatology and advanced endoscopy at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2010.
He currently serves as Chairman of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Director of Endoscopy at King Fahad
Medical City (KFMC) in Riyadh. As President of the Arab Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, he promotes collaboration and education
among specialists across the region.
At KFMC, he helped establish advanced therapeutic endoscopy services and launched an Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Program in
2016, which received full accreditation from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. He also founded the Saudi Live Endoscopy
Symposium in 2014. An active researcher and speaker, he has authored numerous publications and regularly contributes to national and
international scientiﬁc meetings.

Dr. Michael B. Wallace

Congress Co-Director Fred C. Andersen Professor of Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic Florida, USA

Dr. Wallace completed medical school at Duke University and subsequently internal medicine and gastroenterology fellowship at Harvard
Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He completed advanced endoscopic training at the Medical University of South Carolina
under the mentor ship of Dr. Peter Cotton and Dr. Robert Hawes. He has worked at the Mayo Clinic since 2003 advancing to the rank of
Professor of Medicine in 2007. His main clinical and research interest focus on how we can detect gastrointestinal cancers at their earliest
most curable form.
This includes seminal research on early detection of pancreatic cancer using advanced imaging and biomarker technologies. It also
includes early detection of esophageal and colorectal cancer using similar advanced imaging capabilities. These were translated clinically
into the use of technologies such as optically enhanced endoscopy, artiﬁcial intelligence enhanced colonoscopy and CT and MRI imaging.
These are also leading to therapeutic advances such as the endoscopic resection of Barrett’s esophagus associated cancer and large
colorectal polyps.

Dr. Mohammed Abdel-Rahim Karajeh

Chair of Gastroenterology Consultant, Gastroenterology & Hepatology Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Mohammed Abdel-Rahim Karajeh, MBChB, FRCP, CCST Gastroenterology and GIM is the Chair of of gastroenterology and hepatology
at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) in Abu Dhabi. Completed undergraduate training at Dundee University in Scotland, followed by
postgraduate training in general internal medicine, gastroenterology and hepatology in England and worked for over a decade as a
consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Sheeld Teaching Hospitals NHS foundation trust in the UK. He also served as a senior
lecturer at Sheeld University.
He has over two decades of experience in the ﬁelds of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and has special expertise in performing complex
endoscopic procedures, including ERCP, cholangioscopy, stenting and endoscopic bariatric procedures including intragastric balloons and
endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.

Dr. Hatim Taha

Consultant Gastroenterologist Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Hatim Taha is a distinguished consultant gastroenterologist with over 11 years of experience, having served in various hospitals across
the UK. Dr. Taha’s professional journey is marked by a fellowship in ERCP and EUS at the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM),
where he gained advanced skills in endoscopic procedures. He is JAG certiﬁed in both diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower
gastrointestinal endoscopy, and has a special interest in hepatobiliary medicine and advanced endoscopy.

Dr. Khaled Al Nuaimi

Consultant Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Khaled Al Nuaimi is a Consultant Gastroenterologist who graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the United Arab Emirates University
in 2010. He completed his internal medicine and gastroenterology training in France, followed by advanced endoscopy training in Montréal,
Canada. He currently practices at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), where he serves as Director of Advanced Endoscopy, leading
advanced therapeutic endoscopic services and contributing to clinical excellence and innovation in gastroenterology.

Dr. Hussam Ahmed

Consultant Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist & Advanced Endoscopist Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical City (STMC), Al Ain, UAE

Dr. Hussam Ahmed is an experienced Consultant Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist, and Advanced HPB Endoscopist with extensive
expertise in the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal and liver disorders, as well as advanced hepatobiliary endoscopy.
He obtained his MBBS from the University of Khartoum in 2008 and subsequently completed his UK specialty training in Internal Medicine
and Gastroenterology, achieving a Certiﬁcate of Completion of Training (CCT) with subspecialty expertise in Hepatology. During his
specialist training, Dr. Ahmed completed two dedicated fellowships in Transplant Hepatology and Advanced HPB Endoscopy, further
developing his expertise in complex liver and pancreatobiliary conditions and advanced endoscopic procedures.
Dr. Ahmed worked as a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Barnsley District General Hospital in the UK, where he served as the Viral Hepatitis
Lead and Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Lead. He subsequently moved to the United Arab Emirates, where he worked as a Consultant
Gastroenterologist and HPB Endoscopy Lead at Healthpoint Hospital in Abu Dhabi before joining Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohamed Medical
City. His areas of expertise include the assessment and management of general gastrointestinal and digestive disorders, liver and
pancreatic diseases, and advanced hepatobiliary endoscopy, including Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS).

Dr. Saif Alnuaimi

Consultant Gastroenterologist Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical City (STMC), Al Ain, UAE

Dr. Saif Khamis Al Nuaimi, MD, MSc is a Consultant Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist and Advanced Endoscopist at Sheikh Tahnoon Bin
Mohammed Medical City (STMC) in Al Ain. He specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and
ERCP, for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal, pancreatic and biliary conditions.
Dr. Al Nuaimi earned his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He completed his internal medicine residency at
Tawam Hospital, a gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Toronto, and advanced therapeutic endoscopy training at Western
University in Canada. He also holds a master’s degree in Healthcare Systems Leadership and Innovation from the University of Toronto.

Dr. Mohammed Attieh Alzahrani

Professor, College of Medicine King Khalid University, KSA

Dr. Mohammed Attieh Alzahrani completed a fellowship in adult gastroenterology at McMaster University in 2017, followed by a clinical
motility fellowship in 2018. He obtained Saudi Board certiﬁcation in internal medicine in November 2012 and Arab Board certiﬁcation in
internal medicine in March 2013.

Dr. Ehab Abufarhaneh

Consultant, Adult Transplant Gastroenterology & Hepatology King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, KSA

Dr. Ehab Abufarhaneh obtained his Saudi Board–certiﬁed in Internal Medicine. He completed the Saudi Fellowship in Adult
Gastroenterology in 2019, followed by a Clinical Fellowship in Motility and Neuro-Gastroenterology in 2020 and a Clinical Fellowship in
Advanced Hepatology in 2021 at the University of Toronto. He currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director of the Organ Transplant
Centre, Section Head of Small Bowel Rehabilitation, Section Head of the Transplant Endoscopy Unit, and Director of the Esophageal
Program at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC). Dr. Abufarhaneh has served as an international speaker at
numerous conferences in the ﬁelds of gastrointestinal motility, transplantation, and bowel rehabilitation.

Dr. Puja Khaitan

Consultant, Thoracic Surgery Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Abu Dhabi UAE

Dr. Khaitan is an American board-certiﬁed general and thoracic surgeon. She specialises in non-cardiac chest surgeries, focusing on lung
cancer, mesothelioma, oesophageal cancer, chest wall tumours, and mediastinal masses, as well as treating patients with benign
pathologies. Dr. Khaitan earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, US.
She then pursued a General Surgery Residency at Emory University Hospital, US, with a simultaneous two-year NIH-T32 research fellowship
at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre in the Department of Cancer Biology. Subsequently, she completed her
cardiothoracic training at Harvard Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, US. She previously served as an Assistant Professor at Houston
Methodist Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, and as an Associate Professor and later a full Professor at Georgetown University,
MedStar Washington Hospital Centre. As a highly trained and experienced minimally invasive thoracic surgeon, Dr. Khaitan performs
thoracoscopic, laparoscopic, and robotic surgeries, as well as open complex surgical procedures.
Additionally, Dr. Khaitan is passionate about educating and training surgical residents and fellows. She has published widely in
peer-reviewed journals, given lectures nationally and internationally, and is a reviewer for selected thoracic journals such as the Journal of
Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, and Journal of Thoracic Disease.
Numerous honours and awards have been bestowed upon Dr. Khaitan, and she serves on several committees in national and international
professional societies.

Dr. Ahmed Al Rifai

Consultant, Hepatology & Gastroenterology Chair, Department of Medicine Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr Al-Rifai is an experienced consultant Hepatologist and Gastroenterologist at SSMC-Mayo, UAE’s largest hospital. Since his arrival in 2014,
he has established a unique Hepatology service in Abu Dhabi and currently Chairs the Department of Medicine at SSMC/Mayo. In addition,
he is the Chair of the Hospital Practice Committee and the Director of the Liver Disease Program.
Dr Al-Rifai obtained his medical degree in 1998 followed by training in the UK where he became a member of the Royal College of
Physicians in 2003. He continued his training in Gastroenterology in some of the top university hospitals in Greater Manchester. During this
time, Dr Al-Rifai obtained a diploma in Gastroenterology at Salford University which included writing on healthcare management and
theory of medical education. He later became a faculty for that course.
While under training, Dr Al-Rifai worked on multiple research projects and published in several areas of gastroenterology including IBD,
endoscopy, and nutrition. He regularly presented at national and international conferences and was an active member of several GI
organizations such as young ECCO, EASL, BSG among others. He worked with European colleagues on multinational multicenter studies
and publications on IBD.
Following his general Gastroenterology training, Dr Al-Rifai was accepted into a Transplant Hepatology Fellowship at the renowned
Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. That led to a third certiﬁcate of training in Hepatology from the Royal College of Physicians. During his
Hepatology training he had the opportunity to collaborate and publish with some of the leaders in the ﬁeld on PBC, viral hepatitis and
NAFLD. He was granted a position of Honorary Lecturer at Newcastle University Medical School.
In 2009 Dr Al-Rifai became a consultant in Hepatology and Gastroenterology in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Newcastle and established a
Hepatology Division, bringing in new services to the community including hepatitis C treatment for the high risk population.
In 2011 Dr Al-Rifai returned to Manchester to become a consultant and lead of Hepatology at one of the top University Hospitals in the UK,
Salford Royal. There, he established a unique non-transplant liver service, a novel Hepatology service in the community for early detection
of liver disease, chaired the Greater Manchester Hepatology Network and the HCC MDT. Furthermore, he was involved in training a team
of GI trainees and specialist nurses, proudly presenting and publishing some of that work. He was assigned as a Senior Honorary Lecturer
at Salford University and led the Hepatology training program.
During his time in Mafraq Hospital and later SSMC-Mayo, Dr Al-Rifai has continued to be active in the ﬁeld of research, publications, medical
education and service development.
He led the liver service and established the ﬁrst GI Fellowship Program in the UAE. He worked with colleagues nationally and from the
region on multiple projects and published on NAFLD, viral hepatitis and IBD. He continues his clinical practice in a very busy GI service
whilst holding the rank of adjunct clinical professor at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi. Most recently, Dr Al Rifai obtained his Masters Degree
in Healthcare Ethics and Medical law from the University of Manchester in 2020.

Dr. Shiva Kumar

Division Chair, Gastroenterology Department Digestive Disease Institute Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr Shiva Kumar completed fellowship training in Gastroenterology & Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and a clinical
& research fellowship in Hepatology & Liver Transplant medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
He also holds a Master of Science degree in Healthcare Management from the University of Texas at Dallas Jindal School of Business

Dr. Mohammad Fahd Baqai

FRCP (London) FEBGH CCT (UK) Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Liver Transpalnt Consultant Advanced Endoscopist - ERCP/EUS Sheikh Khalifa Medical City - SEHA, UAE

Dr. Fahd Baqai is a Consultant in Hepatology, Liver Transplant, and Gastroenterology at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, a tertiary hospital and
liver transplant center in Abu Dhabi. He has more than 13 years of experience as a medical professional within the NHS. Dr. Baqai completed
his Certiﬁcate of Completion of Training (CCT) with dual accreditation in Gastroenterology and General Internal Medicine, followed by a
post-CCT fellowship in Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine and Liver Transplantation at the Royal Free Hospital/University College London
Hospital. He subsequently worked for three years as a Consultant in Hepatology and Pancreatobiliary Medicine at University Hospitals
Plymouth NHS Trust, a tertiary liver and HPB center.
His clinical expertise includes the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary conditions, with proﬁciency in
diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal and pancreatobiliary endoscopy, including ERCP and EUS. He currently serves as the Clinical
Lead for Hepatology. Dr. Baqai is committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care to both inpatients and outpatients, with a
strong emphasis on patient safety and clinical excellence. He is dedicated to continuously developing and applying his knowledge to
improve patient outcomes. He is recognized by his colleagues as a reliable, enthusiastic, and hardworking physician, with a particular
interest in the stimulating and rewarding ﬁelds of Hepatology and Gastroenterology.

Dr. Heba Abualkas

Gastroenterology Specialist Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Abualkas has over 12 years of experience in the ﬁeld, having completed an internal medicine residency programme and a 3-year
fellowship training programme in gastroenterology. She received her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Ain
Shams University, Egypt. In addition to her medical roles, Dr. Abualkas facilitated clinical services within several internal medicine
sub-specialties and covered inpatient, outpatient, emergency care, ICU and CCU.

Dr. Mohammed Abdulla Mohammed Banama

Consultant Gastroenterology Dubai Health, UAE

Dr. Mohammed Banama is a Consultant Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist, and Liver Transplant Specialist at Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health.
He is recognized for his expertise in managing complex liver and digestive disorders, with a strong focus on advanced hepatology and
transplant-related care. He serves as the Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Dubai Health, playing a key role
in medical education and training future specialists.
n addition, he holds the position of General Secretary of the Emirates Gastroenterology and Hepatology Society, contributing actively to
the advancement of gastroenterology practice in the UAE. Dr. Banama is widely respected for his clinical leadership, academic involvement,
and commitment to improving standards of care in hepatology and gastroenterology across the region.

Dr. Saeed Al Marzooqi

Chair, Congress Director Consultant, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Programme Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Almarzooqi graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and completed fellowships in hepatology research, clinical
gastroenterology, clinical hepatology and transplant hepatology from the University of Toronto. He has multiple publications in the ﬁeld of
hepatology and has delivered presentations at regional and international meetings. Dr. Almarzooqi’s main ﬁelds of interest include liver
disease and pre and post-liver transplant care. He is currently the director of the hepatology service and the programme director of the
gastroenterology fellowship at SSMC.

Dr. Almurtadha Raad Abdulkadhim Mula

Oncology Consultant, Division of Oncology Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Almurtadha is a UK-certiﬁed (CCT) Medical Oncology Consultant with extensive experience in the United Kingdom and the United Arab
Emirates and is ﬂuent in both English and Arabic. Prior to joining American Hospital Dubai, he worked as a consultant medical oncologist
at University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust and Salisbury District Hospital in the United Kingdom, and thereafter at Sheikh Shakhbout
Medical City, Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.
He has broad expertise in systemic anti-cancer treatments, including immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and chemotherapy, with clinical
focus on a wide range of solid tumors such as gastrointestinal, breast, and genitourinary cancers, as well as rare malignancies including
sarcomas and gliomas.
Dr. Almurtadha earned his M.B.Ch.B. from the University of Babylon’s College of Medicine and completed his specialty training in medical
oncology through the Royal College of Physicians and the Association of Cancer Physicians of the United Kingdom. He further advanced
his qualiﬁcations with a Postgraduate Diploma in Oncology from the prestigious Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Cancer Hospital, and
a Clinical M.D. in General Internal Medicine from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom.
He has demonstrated a strong commitment to innovation in cancer care, with active involvement in clinical trials and research, serving as
a principal investigator and co-investigator in studies involving multiple solid tumors, including pancreatic, liver, bowel, lung, and head and
neck cancers, across both the United Kingdom

Dr. Zahir Babiker

Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Tropical & Infectious Diseases Division Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Babiker is a highly accomplished consultant physician in infectious diseases and tropical medicine, with dual certiﬁcations in infectious
diseases, medical microbiology and virology. Over the past 29 years, he has demonstrated exceptional expertise in clinical practice,
education, research, and leadership. A fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of London and Edinburgh and the Royal College of
Pathologists, UK, Dr. Babiker also holds a master’s degree in public health and a diploma in tropical medicine from the prestigious London
School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
At SSMC, Dr. Babiker serves as the chair of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme and director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship
Programme. As a passionate medical educator and a seasoned researcher, his contributions include numerous peer-reviewed publications
in high-impact journals. His research interests span antimicrobial stewardship, digital health, tropical medicine, migrants’ health, emerging
and re-emerging infections, HIV, viral hepatitis, and infections in immunocompromised individuals.

Dr. Eyad Al Alakrad

Consultant - Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Director of the GI Motility Disorders Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Eyad Alakrad is currently serving as a Consultant Gastroenterologist and the director of the GI motility disorders and endoscopy at
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Alakrad has extensive expertise in the ﬁelds of Gastroenterology and
Hepatology with a signiﬁcant training background in renowned hospitals and universities in the UK and the USA. Prior to joining SSMC, he
worked as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. He was a key
member of a robust gastroenterology motility disorder group.
During his work over there, he introduced a cutting-edge gastroparesis program which was unique to the state of Florida and neighboring
states. He instituted a program for endoscopic placement of temporary gastric electric stimulators in the treatment of refractory
gastroparesis. Dr. Alakrad has successfully established a comprehensive state-of-the-art GI Motility Lab at SSMC which has made an
impact to the management of the GI Motility Services in UAE and competing with other international centers of excellent in that ﬁled . In
addition to the knowledge he brought to the region,
Dr. Alakrad prides himself on introducing the latest technology like Enoﬂip, which its applications have revolutionized the management of
certain motility disorders. His research work has been focusing on foregut motility disorders and Eosinophilic Esophagitis, for which has
been a key speaker on multiple platforms.

Dr. Osama Yousef

Staff Physician, Gastroenterology Department Digestive Disease Institute Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Osama Yousef, MD, is a Sta Physician within the Gastroenterology Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Digestive Disease
Institute. He is also Program Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Yousef was an
Assistant Professor of Medicine and the Associate Program Director for the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program at the University of
Missouri, Kansas City. He was also the Site Program Director at the Truman Medical Center.

Dr. Mostafa Shehata

Consultant Gastroenterologist Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC). Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Mostafa Shehata is a consultant gastroenterologist in SSMC Abu Dhabi with over 15 years of clinical and academic experience, with
particular expertise in gastrointestinal motility disorders ,tube feeding and small bowel. He is a faculty member of the Gastroenterology
Fellowship Program at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Abu Dhabi, as well as faculty member at a Gulf medical school, where he is
actively involved in postgraduate training and medical education.
Dr. Shehata has authored and co-authored multiple publications in peer-reviewed international journals in the ﬁelds of gastrointestinal
motility, nutrition, and endoscopic practice, and is a. His academic qualiﬁcations include MBBCh, Master’s degree, and MD in
Gastroenterology from Tanta Faculty of Medicine, Egypt, in addition to MRCP (UK) and a Specialist Certiﬁcate in Gastroenterology from
the Royal College of Physicians (UK).

Dr. Luis Campos

Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of Kidney Transplantation, Methodist Hospital University of Tennessee in Memphis USA; Staff Physician, Abdominal Transplant Department, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Digestive Disease Institute, UAE

Luis Campos de la Borbolla, MD is a Sta Physician within the Abdominal Transplant Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Digestive
Disease Institute. He was an Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of Kidney Transplantation at the Methodist Hospital University of
Tennessee in Memphis USA.
Luis Campos, MD received his Medical Degree at the La Salle University in Mexico City and completed a General Surgery and Transplant
Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Campos has specialized in Liver, Pancreas and
Kidney transplantation as well as hepatobiliary surgery (non-transplant liver, bile duct and pancreas surgery).
Dr. Campos research interest include the study of immune tolerance to prevent transplant rejection. Pancreatic islet transplantation in an
auto-immune model. Liver induced tolerance. Currently Dr. Campos resides in Abu Dhabi with his wife. When he is not working he enjoys
music, art, ﬁshing, sailing, swimming, reading, gardening, cooking and travelling.

Dr. Abdulaziz Alnuaimi

MD, MBBS, Consultant Gastroenterology, Division Chief, Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical City, Al Ain, UAE

Dr. Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and currently serves as Chief of Gastroenterology at Sheikh Tahnoon Bin
Mohammed Medical City (STMC) and Tawam Hospital. He completed his undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in the UAE,
followed by fellowship training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mafraq and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC).
He is board-certiﬁed in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and holds European certiﬁcation in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Dr. Al Nuaimi is an active speaker at local and regional conferences and a member of several international gastroenterology societies.

Dr. Mohammed Nabil Quraishi

Congress Co-Director Consultant Gastroenterologist and Director of the Inﬂammatory Bowel Disease Centre, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Quraishi holds F.R.C.P. (London), F.R.C.P.E. (Edinburgh), and F.E.B.G.H., and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Khalifa University,
Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, and Associate Gastroenterology Fellowship Programme Director at
SSMC. He leads one of the foremost IBD centres in the region, providing comprehensive care for patients with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative
colitis, and complex conditions including PSC-IBD. His clinical expertise spans advanced biologic and small-molecule therapies, drug
monitoring, faecal microbiota transplantation, and range of diagnostic and IBD speciﬁc endoscopy techniques.
He and his team are committed to ensuring that all patients can access the care they need, and work closely with individuals navigating
insurance barriers or other limitations to ﬁnd supported pathways to treatment.
The IBD Centre at SSMC is also a major academic and clinical research hub. Dr Quraishi leads investigator-initiated translational studies in
the UAE and runs the country’s largest portfolio of phase 3 IBD clinical trials, oering eligible patients access to next-generation therapies
before they become widely available.
His research, which spans IBD epidemiology in the UAE and MENA region, multi-omics, and precision medicine, has been supported by
competitive grants from the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO), the UK Medical Research Council (MRC), and the UAE
Department of Health, among others. He maintains active research collaborations with institutions across the UK, Europe, and the wider
Middle East.
Dr Quraishi has over 100 peer-reviewed publications in journals including Gut, Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and the Journal
of Crohn’s and Colitis, and co-edited a core gastroenterology textbook. He leads the Emirates Gastroenterology and Hepatology Society
(EGHS) IBD subcommittee, led the 2nd UAE IBD Consensus Guidelines, and co-authored the 2025 BSG IBD guidelines published in Gut.
He is the lead author of both editions of the national BSG/HIS faecal microbiota transplantation guidelines and served as the National BSG
IBD Quality Improvement Lead, establishing key performance indicators to improve IBD services across the UK. He also serves as Clinical
and Scientiﬁc Advisor to the University of Birmingham Microbiome Treatment Centre.