Dedicated And
Experienced Committee

Dr. Hakim is a specialist gastroenterologist with international training and experience across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and the UAE. He completed advanced medical training in the UK, focusing on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and biologic therapies. Dr. Hakim has performed over 3,000 colonoscopies and 5,000 gastroscopies, reflecting his expertise in endoscopy. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and actively contributes to research in his field. He is a member of the Royal College of Physicians (UK), the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO), and the Emirates Society of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

Dr. Ahmed Sultan is a Consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology with extensive experience in diagnosing and managing liver and digestive disorders. He is highly skilled in performing general and advanced endoscopic procedures, including ERCP, EUS, enteroscopy, capsule endoscopy, and third-space endoscopic resections for early GI tumors. Dr. Sultan holds an M.D. and PhD in Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Egypt and has multiple international publications. He serves as adjunct faculty at Khalifa University and is an active member of the American and European Societies of Endoscopy, as well as the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation.

Prof. Ahmed Abogamal is a Consultant Rheumatologist and Head of the Rheumatology Department at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai. With extensive international experience, he specializes in the diagnosis and management of arthritis, joint pain, and autoimmune conditions. Dr. Abogamal is a pioneer in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound for accurate diagnosis and ultrasound-guided joint interventions. He is a member of several international rheumatology associations and has published over 50 research papers in peer-reviewed journals. Committed to education, he actively mentors' future rheumatologists and is recognized for advancing evidence-based, patient-centered care in the field of rheumatology.

Dr. Atheer Al-Ansari is a UK-trained Consultant Rheumatologist with over 17 years of experience. He completed his FRCP (London) and CCST in Rheumatology and General Medicine at East Midlands Deanery. Since moving to the UAE in 2013, he has become Head of the Scientific Committee for the Emirates Society for Rheumatology and lead organizer of the APLAR Conference in Dubai. He specializes in inflammatory arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and complex rheumatologic conditions. Dr. Al-Ansari also manages non-inflammatory disorders such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and is highly experienced in joint and tendon injections for localized musculoskeletal pain.

Dr. Bhavna Khan is a UK-trained Consultant Rheumatologist with over 20 years of experience. She completed her specialist training at the University of Manchester Rheumatic Diseases Centre, Salford Royal Hospitals, and Mersey Deanery, Liverpool, and earned a PhD funded by the Wellcome Trust for research on arthritic pain. Dr. Khan has held consultant roles in the NHS and, since 2009, has worked at leading hospitals in Dubai. She specializes in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and psoriatic arthritis, with advanced expertise in MRI and ultrasound use. She is also a respected educator, speaker, and conference chair.

Dr. Huda is a board-certified ophthalmologist with over 30 years of experience, including clinical practice in the UK. A Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, she also completed specialized training at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Since 1999, she has focused on corneal refractive surgery and has performed thousands of PRK, LASIK, and corneal crosslinking procedures. She is experienced with a wide range of laser platforms, microkeratomes, and Intralase technology. Dr. Huda pioneered corneal crosslinking for keratoconus in the UAE in 2008 and has presented her research internationally, particularly on keratoconus and pediatric corneal treatments.

Dr. Humeira Badsha is a U.S.-board-certified Consultant Rheumatologist with 29 years of global experience across the USA, Singapore, and the UAE. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Connecticut and a Rheumatology Fellowship at UCLA. A leader in her field, she is certified in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and has received multiple awards, including the Gulf News Being She Award for Healthcare Excellence (2024) and Doctify’s Excellence in Patient Care Award (2021). Dr. Badsha founded the Middle East Arthritis Foundation and authored The Wellness Guide to Arthritis, promoting a holistic approach to rheumatic care.

Dr. Ghita Harifi is a European-certified rheumatologist and musculoskeletal ultrasonographer with nearly a decade of experience in managing rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout, and spondylarthritis. A fellow of Université de Strasbourg, she also holds advanced qualifications in interventional rheumatology and musculoskeletal ultrasound from Sorbonne Universités. Dr. Harifi serves as an adjunct assistant professor at MBRU and has led numerous ultrasound training programs across the UAE and APLAR region. An active researcher and chairperson of the APLAR Young Rheumatologists Committee, she was honored with the Emirates Women Award in 2022 for her leadership and contribution to medicine in the UAE.

Dr. Khaled Sabeh is an American Board-Certified Consultant Cardiologist and Cardiac Electrophysiologist with extensive US training and over a decade of Experience. He earned his MD from the American University of Beirut and Completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School. He later Trained at Case Western University and completed his Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University. Before Relocating to Dubai, he was Assistant Professor at Drexel University and a leading Operator at Allegheny Health Network. Dr. Sabeh now leads the Electrophysiology Clinic at Emirates Hospital Jumeirah and is recognized as one of Dubai's top Electrophysiologists

Dr. Laith Al-Rubaiy is a UK-trained and board-certified Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist with over 13 years of clinical experience. He previously served at St Mark’s Hospital, London, and completed advanced hepatology training at the Royal Free Hospital Liver Transplant Unit. An honorary Professor at Swansea University, UK, he has received multiple national awards, including the British Society of Gastroenterology’s “Young Gastroenterologist of the Year” (2017). Dr. Al-Rubaiy has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and three book chapters. At Healthpoint Hospital, he manages a wide range of digestive and liver conditions and performs diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy.

Dr. Mahdi Abusalameh is a Consultant Rheumatologist at the Arab Hospitals Group and Assistant Professor at the Arab American University of Palestine. He previously served as Clinical Lead for Rheumatology at the Royal Devon Hospital, UK, and has clinical experience in the UAE. His expertise includes musculoskeletal and large-vessel vasculitis ultrasound, with research interests in inflammatory arthritis and vasculitis. Dr. Abusalameh established the Exeter GCA Fast Track Service, was awarded the Local Clinical Excellence Award in 2019, and serves as an MRCP Clinical Examiner for the Royal Colleges of Physicians of London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

Chief Rheumatologist at Mediclinic Welcare Hospital and Mediclinic Dubai Mall, Dubai, UAE, since October 2011. MBChB, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, 1974.
MRCP (UK), 1982; FRCP (Edinburgh), 2000.

Dr. Andron is a highly experienced interventional cardiologist who trained at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital—the UK’s largest heart center —where he later served as a consultant. He has performed over 5,000 coronary interventions, treating heart attacks and stable angina. He is also skilled in non-invasive diagnostics, including echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography. Dr. Andron has extensive experience implanting pacemakers, defibrillators, and biventricular devices for advanced heart failure. His expertise includes managing hypertension, chest pain, valvular disease, cardiomyopathy, palpitations, syncope, and inherited cardiac conditions, using advanced cardiac monitoring and loop recorders for accurate diagnosis and management

Dr. Rafik Abulmagd is a highly respected Specialist Rheumatologist with over 25 years of experience in diagnosing and managing a wide range of rheumatic diseases. Holding a master’s degree in Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, he is skilled in treating inflammatory joint diseases, autoimmune connective tissue disorders, and crystal-induced arthritis. Dr. Abulmagd follows the latest ACR and EULAR guidelines and is proficient in biologic therapies and precision joint injections. Known for his compassionate, patient centered care, he is dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals of all ages, earning recognition as a trusted and empathetic leader in the field of rheumatology.

Dr. Rajaie Namas, MBBCh, is Section Head of the Rheumatology Department at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He previously served as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan, supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases. Dr. Namas earned his medical degree from the University of Tripoli, Libya, and completed extensive training in the U.S, including a Rheumatology fellowship at Wayne State University/Henry Ford Hospital. He is actively involved in clinical and translational research, with numerous publications and awards. Dr. Namas is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Abou Mrad completed her medical training at the American University of Beirut and went on to earn a medical research degree from Harvard Medical School. Recognized for her academic excellence, she has received multiple awards and held several academic positions throughout her career. Since 2015, Dr. Abou Mrad has been practicing in Abu Dhabi, where she is known for her professionalism, clinical expertise, and strong commitment to patient care. She consistently receives high patient satisfaction ratings and is regarded as a trusted and knowledgeable physician within the medical community.

Dr. Yasser Madani is a UK-Board Certified Consultant Pulmonologist working at Healthpoint Hospital, Mubadala Health, Abu Dhabi. He trained in London across various university teaching and tertiary hospitals including the Royal Brompton Hospital and Imperial College. He has co-authored several papers and presented research studies at international meetings. He holds the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor at United Arab Emirates University

Dr. Hormaz Dastoor is an Internal Medicine and Nephrology Consultant at Seha Kidney Care and SSMC hospital in AbuDhabi. He has trained at the prestigious Columbia Cornell Nephrology Center in New York City and has subsequently practiced  in the US, UK and UAE. His main interests are Glomerular Diseases and Electrolyte Disorders. He was also selected as Top 20 Seha Physicians in 2013, 2018, and is voted best Seha Physician for 2024.

Dr. Zaki Abou Zahr is an American Board-certified Consultant Rheumatologist with over 10 years of experience in the U.S. and UAE. He trained at Johns Hopkins-affiliated hospitals and completed a Rheumatology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine–MD Anderson. Formerly an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota, he directed rheumatology and musculoskeletal ultrasound training programs. In the UAE, he served at Healthpoint Hospital and currently practices at Harley Street Medical Centre. Dr. Abou Zahr is a regional expert in osteoporosis and musculoskeletal ultrasound, frequently invited to lead educational programs and CME courses across the GCC and internationally.

Dr. Mohamed Abuzakouk, MD, is a Staff Physician at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Medical Specialty Institute and Section Head of the Allergy and Immunology Department. He previously served as a Lecturer in Clinical Immunology and Allergy at Trinity College Dublin and as a Consultant Immunologist and Allergist in the UK. Dr. Abuzakouk has participated in international research, served as a principal investigator in European multicenter studies, and has published extensively in the fields of immunology and allergic diseases.

Dr. Nathalie E. Chalhoub is an American Board Certified Consultant Rheumatologist. She earned her MD from the American University of Beirut and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and her fellowship in Rheumatology in the USA