Speakers

Prof. Alberto Papi

Full Professor of Respiratory Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy

Prof. Alberto Papi

Alberto Papi is a full professor of Respiratory Medicine and Head at the University of Ferrara - Department of Translational Medicine and for Romagna. Alberto Papi received a doctorate in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Ferrara in 1986, and a Board in Respiratory Medicine and Phthisiology at the University of Parma in 1991. He has been a Visiting Scientist at the Nebraska Medical Centre, School of Medicine Pulmonary and Critical Care Section (1990) and a Clinical Research Fellow at the University Medicine of Southampton (U.K.) from 1994 to 1997. Since 1998 he is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University Medicine of Southampton (U.K.).

Dr. Asma Alnuaimi

Consultant Pediatric Pulmonologist, Zayed Military Hospital, UAE

Dr. Asma Alnuaimi

Dr. Al Nuaimi graduated from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in Al Ain in 1999 and afterward joined Zayed military hospital, in the year 2001 she pursued further training in Canada, in which she joined the pediatric residency training program in Calgary in July 2001 and graduated in 2004 from the Royal College of Surgeons in Canada and as well American board of pediatrics as a general pediatrician. Following that she completed fellowship training in pediatric pulmonary/ Respirology at Alberta children’s hospital in Calgary with special focus on intensive care. She joined back Zayed military hospital in October 2006 and has been appointed the head of the pediatric department in 2011-2013. She completed an Executive Masters in Healthcare Administration in 2010 with honors, and then a master's degree in biomedical ethics and law from the Royal College of Ireland in 2014; she has special interest in military medical ethics. She has been active in multiple hospital administrative committees including chairing the ethical committee for Zayed military hospital, She is a part-time pulmonologist at Sheikh Khalifa hospital SKMC which is another major tertiary hospital in Abu Dhabi and have helped establish the UAE pediatric pulmonary group which has an active role in teaching and raising awareness in the city of Abu Dhabi in regards to common pediatric pulmonary problems for pediatricians and the general practitioner.

Prof. David Jackson

Consultant, Severe Asthma & Eosinophilic Lung Diseases, NHS Guy's and St Thomas, UK

Prof. David Jackson

David Jackson is a consultant in severe asthma and eosinophilic lung diseases and the clinical lead for Guy’s severe asthma centre.

He qualified from UCL Medical School and undertook his respiratory training at the Royal Brompton, St Mary’s and Hammersmith Hospitals in London. During this period of training he gained an MSc degree in Allergy as well as a PhD focusing on the role of respiratory viruses in asthma exacerbations.

David moved from a clinical academic position within the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College to take over leading and developing the severe asthma service at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in 2015.

Dr. Jeffrey Chapman, MD

Institute Chair, Pulmonology, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Jeffrey Chapman, MD

Dr. Jeffrey Chapman, MD, is the Institute Chair of the Respiratory Institute, one of the six Centers of Excellence at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and Chief of the Quality & Patient Safety Institute. In his dual role, Dr. Chapman oversees a team focused on implementing high quality, patients first philosophy which uses the latest technology to enhance quality, drive patient safety and address critical care needs in the fields of respiratory and critical care medicine.

Before moving to Abu Dhabi, he served as a Staff Physician at US-based Cleveland Clinic from 2000 to 2011. Dr. Chapman specializes in the treatment of interstitial lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, lymphangioleiomyomatosis and connective tissue disease, as well as lung transplantation.

Dr. Chapman received his undergraduate degree at Northwestern University in Biomedical Engineering and obtained his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, US. He received training in internal medicine at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City and in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Yale University. He is also a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Thoracic Society.

Dr. Mahmoud Elkaissi, MD

Staff Physician, Diagnostic Radiology, Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Mahmoud Elkaissi, MD

Dr. Mahmoud Elkaissi, MD, is a Staff Physician in the Imaging Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Elkaissi worked as an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center.

Dr. Elkaissi received his medical degree from a University in Kaunas, Lithuania. He completed his residency at King Hussein Medical Center Amman, Jordan.

Dr. Elkaissi resides in Abu Dhabi with his wife and three children.

Dr. Manjush Karthika

Program Lead and Assistant Professor - Respiratory Care, Khawarizmi International College, UAE

Dr. Manjush Karthika

Dr. Manjush is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Respiratory Care, who has completed his Doctoral studies in Respiratory Care from India. He is also a Post Graduate Diplomate in Emergency Medical Care, with Instructor credentials of various life support courses such as ACLS, PALS, ITLS and FCCS. He has many publications to his credit and his areas of interest include Adult and Pediatric Respiratory Care, Extracorporeal Life Support, and ICU Sonography. He has several years of excellent experience in the field of Acute Care. Dr. Manjush is currently serving as the Program Lead and Assistant Professor of Respiratory Care, in the Department of Health and Medical Sciences, at Khawarizmi International College, Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Mohammed Al Houqani

Associate Professor, UAE University Consultant of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Sleep Disorders Specialized Clinic, UAE

Dr. Mohammed Al Houqani

Dr. Mohammed Al-Houqani, MBBS, FRCPC, MPH Dr. Al Houqani is Associate Professor at the College of Medicine & Health Sciences, UAEU & consultant of Respiratory &Sleep Medicine at Sleep Disorders Specialized Clinic. He did his postgraduate training at University Of Toronto, Canada. His research interest is focused around theEpidemiology of Respiratory and Sleep Disorders.

Prof. Mona Bafadhel

Chair of Respiratory Medicine, King’s College London, UK

Prof. Mona Bafadhel

Mona Bafadhel is the Director of the new King’s Centre for Lung Health, and the Chair of Respiratory Medicine at King’s College London. She is also a consultant respiratory physician with a clinical and research interest in chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and asthma. Mona is an international academic leader in respiratory medicine, with a passion for translating science to clinical practice to improve outcomes for patients. Her work in COPD and COVID-19 has translated to changing clinical practice affecting millions across the world. In 2018, Mona was awarded the Goulstonian Lectureship from the Royal College of Physicians for excellence in the Clinical Sciences. She is only the 4th woman and the 1st from an ethnic minority in the Royal College of Physician near 400 year history to have achieved this accolade. Mona was appointed as co-lead of the King’s Health Partners Respiratory & Allergy Clinical Academic Group in March 2022.

Mr. Mohammed Shash

Respiratory Therapist, Zayed Military Hospital, UAE

Mr. Mohammed Shash

Mohammed Shash was born and raised in Ethiopia. He moved to the United States of America in 2004. He graduated with an Applied Science Degree in a major of Respiratory Therapy at Northen Virginia in 2011. He worked in Sentara Norfolk General Hospital (USA) and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (Saudi Arabia). In 2019, he relocated to Abu Dhabi the capital city of United Arab Emirates and presently work at Zayed Military Hospital as a charge for respiratory therapist.

Dr. Nawal Al Kaabi

Chief Medical Officer, Chair of the SEHA Infection Control Committee, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, UAE

Dr. Nawal Al Kaabi

Nawal Al Kaabi, a wife and mother of 4 boys, a pediatrician and infectious diseases consultant. Is the Chair of the SEHA infectious diseases and infection Control council since September 2012. Was the Chief Medical Officer in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City March 2017 to Jan 2022, and the Chair of the Clinical National Covid-19 Committee since February 2020. Graduated with an MBBS from the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain, UAE. She is certified as a Fellow in Pediatrics at the Royal College of Physicians in Canada in 2002 and Pediatric Infectious Disease in 2004. She has completed an Infection Control Fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Canada. She is American Board Certified in Pediatrics (2001), Trained in global research by Harvard University (2015), and certified by the American Board in Quality (2017). She also has a Certified Physician certificate from the American Association for Physician Leadership, USA (July 2019). Dr. Al Kaabi has published numerous papers and has made presentations at several international conferences. Dr. Al Kaabi is the Principal Investigator of multiple clinical trials Dr. Al Kaabi’s main interests are childhood issues, Vaccination, Infection Control, leadership, Clinical trials, Research and Medical Education.

Dr. Usman Ahmed

Department Chair, Thoracic Surgery, Heart, Vascular ＆ Thoracic Institute Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Usman Ahmed

Usman Ahmad, MD, is Department Chair of Thoracic Surgery in the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Ahmad

Was a staff surgeon in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, US. He was the director of Thoracic Robotic surgery and assistant director of Lung Transplant programs at Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Ahmad holds a joint appointment with the Tausig Cancer Institute and is Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.

Dr. Ahmad earned his medical degree from the Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. He completed an immunology and vascular biology research fellowship at the Yale School of Medicine’s Vascular Biology and Transplantation program, in New Haven, Connecticut. His internship and residency in general surgery were also completed at Yale, where he also served as the Educational Chief. Dr. Ahmad completed his training in cardiothoracic surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and New York Presbyterian - Weil Cornell Medical Center, both in New York, NY.

Dr. Ahmad and his research team focus on studying clinical outcomes in thoracic surgery, thoracic oncology and end stage lung disease. The group is uniquely positioned to study benign and malignant thoracic surgical disorders in lung transplant.

Dr. Ahmad serves in various leadership roles in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American Association of Thoracic Surgery, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

Ms. Zarina Akramyar

Senior Pulmonary Function Technologist, Respiratory Therapy Department, Zayed Military Hospital, UAE

Ms. Zarina Akramyar

Ms. Zarina is a respiratory therapist from Zayed Military Hospital since 2006. She is skilled in performing different diagnostic procedure using advance diagnostic tools to accurately diagnose and determine the severity of respiratory dysfunction as well as in providing specialized and selective therapeutic respiratory care in collaboration with pulmonary physicians.

Dr. Mohamed Rafique

Medical Director & Pulmonologist Head of Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine Prime Hospital, UAE

Dr. Mohamed Rafique

MBBS, DTCD, DNB (Pulmonary Board). EDRM (Austria), FCCP (USA), HERMES European Diplomate, MBA (Healthcare Management) London, UK. He Is the Medical Director of Prime hospital, head of pulmonology & sleep medicine at PRIME hospital & Chair of infection control from 2014. International Assessor for The ACHS (Australian council of health standards) Dr Rafique was awarded the prestigious ANNUAL HEALTH awards 2019 by DHA Dubai Health Authority for the MOST DISTINGUISHED EXECUTIVE in HEALTH care award in the region as a recognition of his Leadership abilities and his Contribution to health Care. Work experience of more than 22YRS, Govt sector hospitals, RASHID hospital (DHA) AL AIN hospital at (SEHA), Head of Pulmonology DEPT NMC Specialty, DUBAI,2004-2007, Consultant Pulmonologist in India for 4yrs, before.

Dr. Wedad Nabih, MD

MRCP, HERMES, SCE in Respiratory NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah, UAE

Dr. Wedad Nabih, MD

Dr. Wedad graduated from faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University in Cairo. She received her Master’s Degree in Chest Disease and Pulmonary Tuberculosis from Ain Shams in 1994, and completed the MRCP in 2004. She also completed the HERMES in Respiratory Diseases in 2012 at Ain Shams University and the MRCP in Respiratory in 2016

Dr. Hani Sabbour

Staff Physician Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Hani Sabbour

Dr. Hani Sabbour, MD, is a Staff Physician in the Heart and Vascular Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Sabbour graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Basic Medical Sciences and another in Medicine and Surgery from Kuwait University Faculty of Medicine in 1994 with first class honors. He was also twice-awarded His Highness the Emirs Gold Medal for academic excellence in both degrees. He subsequently went on to train in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease at SUNY Stony Brook in New York and was elected both Resident and Fellow of the Year several times. He then completed his training in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and was appointed Clinical Instructor in Cardiology at Harvard Medical School in 2001, as well as at SUNY Stony Brook. Dr. Sabbour has six American Board Certifications and is currently certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiac Electrophysiology, Advanced Heart failure and Transplant Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine, Echocardiography and Nuclear Cardiology. He has always been heavily involved in teaching and has been a part of the teaching faculty at Brown University since 2006. He was promoted to Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at Brown University Warren Alpert School of Medicine in 2013.

Dr. Ravi Gutta

Consultant Allergy & Immunology Mediclinic Middle East, UAE

Dr. Ravi Gutta

Dr. Ravi Gutta, has got his training: Internal Medicine Residency followed by Allergy and Immunology Fellowship, chief fellow, Cleveland Clinic USA. His Past Academic Role: Former Head of department of Allergy, Former Program Director Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Former Director of Clinical Trials in Allergy and Immunology, Former Director of basic and clinical research in Allergy and Immunology, All at University of California at Irvine, Former Co-Director of Jeffrey Modell Immunodeficiency Clinic In Orange County California & Past president Orange County Society of Allergy and Immunology, CA USA he is an American board certified Consultant, Allergy and Immunology, Chief of Allergy, Mediclinic City Hospital, DHCC , Dubai & Clinical Associate Professor Adjunct, MBRU, Dubai