Dr. Martin Lee
Chair
Consultant Rheumatology
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Scientific Board Chairs
Close
View Bio
Dr. Lee is a Consultant Rheumatologist and Adjunct Associate Professor in Clinical Rheumatology currently working at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital and MBRU, Dubai.
Dr. Lee has previously worked as a Consultant Rheumatologist at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath, UK, and a Consultant Rheumatologist, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, and Associate Sub-Dean at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, UK.
Dr. Ahmed Zayat
Deputy Chair
Senior Consultant of Rheumatology
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Close
View Bio
Dr. Ahmed Zayat is a highly experienced Consultant Rheumatologist, skilled in the evaluation and management of arthritis and all other rheumatic disorders. Prior to joining the University hospital Sharjah, he was a full-time NHS consultant Rheumatologist at St Luke’s Hospital and the lead of the rheumatology department in Bradford Teaching Hospitals, the UK where he won different prizes for providing excellent care and innovating new services and improving patients care. He has also worked in different hospitals across the Yorkshire and Humber region, has been trained in the regional and national center of excellence in Leeds, and worked with many international leaders in Rheumatology. He was an honorary senior lecturer in Rheumatology at the University of Leeds leading research that investigate rheumatological disease stratification using imaging and more recent work including validation of joints ultrasound in inflammatory arthritis and lupus. He is also a national and international tutor of musculoskeletal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided joint biopsy. He has several publications to his credit and most of his research was presented in multiple national and international
conferences such as the British Society of Rheumatologists (BSR) and The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and have been published in the highest impact rheumatology journals.
conferences such as the British Society of Rheumatologists (BSR) and The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and have been published in the highest impact rheumatology journals.
Dr. Mahmood Hachim
Chair, Basic Science
Associate Professor
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Close
View Bio
Dr. Mahmood has a multidisciplinary background that shaped his medical and research careers. With two doctoral degrees in molecular medicine and translational research, a Master of research in cancer biology, and a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology and Immunology, he developed research skills and experience in systems and computational biology focused on understanding mechanisms of complex diseases including breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, and asthma. Dr. Mahmood aims to understand the molecular basis of such diseases by applying novel bioinformatics and state-of-the-art omics approaches. Identification of novel diagnostic and predictive clinically proven biomarkers is his goal. Specifically, understanding the exact role of host immune response and microbiome interaction in susceptibility and development of clinical heterogeneity of such chronic diseases is his current research. As an investigator on several UAE-funded grants and in collaboration with colleagues in the UAE and abroad, his research has resulted in more than 80 peer-reviewed publications to date, in addition to conference presentations. He also serves as editor and reviewer in reputable journals.
Dr. Maryam Ali Al Nesf
Co-Chair, Basic Science
Associate Professor
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Close
View Bio
Maryam Ali Al-Nesf Al-Mansouri received her MD degree from Sultan Qaboos University, Oman in 1999, and from the Arab Board of Internal Medicine in 2005. She pursues her higher education by doing the fellowships in Pulmonary Medicine, followed by Allergy, and Clinical Immunology in Qatar-HMC & Cambridge, UK March 2006- Feb. 2010. She passed EAACI/UEMS Exam in Allergology and Clinical Immunology in 2014. She was granted her Master of research (MSc R) from the University of Bristol/ UK (School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine) in 2019 and currently doing a Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine with the University College of London/ UK. She received multiple grants under MRC-IRGC cycles and QNRF (worth more than 3 M QAR) and has multiple publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and books. Also, participated in writing multiple local protocols and guidelines for the hospitals. She is leading the establishment of the pollen & fungal calendar and atlas of Qatar since 2016. She is granted the following academic positions: Clinical Assistant Professor, Qatar University College of Medicine since August 2016. She is the Program Director for the combined Allergy and Immunology Fellowship training in Qatar since 2014 to date and the past PD for pulmonary fellowship (A&I fellowship program received ACGME-I accreditation in 2018. She is appointed head of the Adult A&I service in Qatar in 2016 to date.
Scientific Board Members
Dr. Hanan Al Rayes
Member
Consultant Rheumatology
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Close
View Bio
Hanan Mohammad Al Rayes is a Senior Rheumatology & Lupus Consultant. She is the President Saudi Society for Rheumatology. Dr. Hanan is the Deputy Director of the Medicine Department and the Chairperson of Evidence-Based Health Guidelines at Prince Sultan Military Medical City. She has participated as a speaker at multiple national and international conferences. Dr. Al Rayes has published around 40 publications on Lupus, RA, and SpA.
Dr. Mira Mirashli
Member
Assistant Professor
Beirut, Lebanon
Close
View Bio
Dr. Mira is the Assistant Professor, of Clinical Medicine Rheumatology at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Dr. Saadeya Naji
Member
Consultant Rheumatology
Manama, Bahrain
Close
View Bio
Dr. Saadeya Naji Abdulkarim, is the first Bahraini female consultant in Rheumatology in Bahrain. . Currently she is a Consultant in Internal medicine and Rheumatology, Head of the Rheumatology Unit in MOH.
She is a senior lecturer in RCSI and part of the Arab board training program in Bahrain. Previously held positions as a member in the mortality &morbidity committee, deputy of the head of accreditation of the medical department, a supervisor in the TNA ( Training Need Assessment ) committee for the internal medicine department, and FPRP coordinator. Currently a member of the autonomy team selected by the supreme council of health and a reviewer in the Saudi journal.
She is the founder and the president of ABRC (annual Bahrain rheumatology conference), started in 2017. Also actively involved in many conferences in the gulf region as in SSR ( Saudi society of rheumatology conference ), and GCC conference. She has an interest in SLE and vasculitis. Has many publications on that regard , last one was published in BSR journal 2019, (Takayasu Arteritis ,presenting as bilateral popliteal artery aneurysm ) She has on -going research work related to rheumatic diseases in Bahrain, (APS among migraine patients, prevalence of sacroilitis among psoriatic patients in Bahrain .etc.)
Dr. Samar Al-Emadi
Member
Senior Consultant Rheumatologist
Doha, Qatar
Close
View Bio
Dr. Samar Al-Emadi is a Senior Consultant Rheumatologist, Fellowship Program Director in Rheumatology, and is the Head of the Rheumatology Division at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar. She is also an Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar and is a faculty member for Clinical Teaching Program in Hamad Medical Corporation and Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, and Stanford Faculty Development Center for Clinical Teachers.
Dr. Al-Emadi received her medical degree from King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, KSA. She had her internship and part of her residency at Hamad General Hospital followed by a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Western in London Ontario, Canada. She then completed her Rheumatology fellowship at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada afterward completed her fellowship training in pregnancy and rheumatic disease for 6 months with Professor Carl Laskin. She has been certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the American board of internal medicine and Rheumatology. In 2005, she was able to establish a pregnancy and rheumatic disease clinic at Hamad General Hospital. She has also completed her Master of Business Administration degree at London Business School.
Currently, Dr. Samar Al-Emadi is a member of multiple corporate committees, a member of the Governance and Strategy of Hamad Medical Corporation Research Committee, Hamad Medical Corporation IRB, and the Steering Committee for OPD Development. She is also a member of multiple committees locally and regionally, and multiple advisory boards.
Dr. Al-Emadi has received multiple research grants one of which is the QNRF Grant to study the Genetics of RA in Arab countries, a multinational study. She already has several publications in peer-reviewed journals and is also involved in multiple RCTs as a PI and Co-PI.
Dr. Al Emadi is a speaker in multiple local and regional conferences
Paediatric Rheumatology Committee
Dr. Elsadeg Sharif
Co-Chair
Consultant Pediatric Rheumatologist
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Close
View Bio
Dr. Sharif is currently working as a consultant pediatric rheumatologist at Al Jalila Children’s Specialty hospital AJCH Dubai. Dr. Sharif has around thirty years of vast experience in General Pediatrics and Pediatric rheumatology, Neonatology, and Community Pediatrics. Prior to joining AJCH, Dr. Sharif has worked in many reputable Hospitals in the UK, UAE, and Libya such as Southmead Hospital, Bristol, Hull, and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust Hospitals, Al Ain Hospital, Children’s Hospital Tripoli – Libya. In addition to his clinical role, Dr. Sharif held many key positions such as Chair of the Child Health Institute (CHI) at Al Ain Hospital, President of the Pediatric Rheumatology Arab group (PRAG), co-chair and head of the organizing committee at the SEHA International Pediatric Conference in January 2020 in Abu Dhabi, and the divisional clinical director, at the pediatric department Hull Royal Infirmary.
Dr. Sharif has played a key role in clinical governance through planning, conducting, and participating in audits to improve the quality of patients and healthcare in the Hospitals where he used to work.
Dr. Sharif is currently an Adjunct Associated Professor at the College of Medicine and Health Science (CMHS) at UAE University. Throughout his career, he has received many awards such as the clinical excellence award in March 2010 at Hull Royal Infirmary UK, the best trainer award from the Tawam pediatric residency program for the year 2014-2015, and the teaching excellence award for the academic year 2013 – 2014 from the Medical School at the UAE University.
In his career, Dr. Sharif has participated and conducted medical research and issued 6 publications: The Experience with Uveitis in Pediatric Age Group in Emirate of Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Child Abuse experience in Al Ain District, United Arab Emirates, and Detection of Bacterial DNA in Synovial Fluid and Peripheral Blood from children with Juvenile idiopathic Arthritis.
Dr. Sharif is a member of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), British Society of pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology (BSPAR), Emirate society of Rheumatology (ESR), and President of the Paediatric Rheumatology Arab Group (PRAG).
Dr. Reem Abdwani
Co-Chair
Senior Consultant Pediatric Rheumatologist
Muscat, Oman
Close
View Bio
Dr. Reem Abdwani; a senior Consultant of Pediatric Rheumatology at the Sultan Qaboos University-Sultanate of Oman. Dr. Abdwani hold many highly prestigious medical academic qualifications; Bachelor of Science –from SQU-Oman, MD from SQU-Oman, FAAP – (American Board of Pediatrics), FRCPC (Pediatric) – McGill University, FRCPC (Pediatric Rheumatology) – University of British Columbia, and FRCPCH (UK).
Dr. Abdwani is a Fellow of American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP), Fellow of Royal College of Physicians in Canada (FRCPC) and a Fellow of Royal College of Pediatric and Child health (FRCPCH (UK). As well, Dr. Abdwani served as Member of Curriculum committee in OMSB (2007-2010), Vice-Chairperson of Faculty Development Committee in OMSB (2009-2014), the Pediatric Rheumatology Curriculum OMSB (2016), and the General Foundation Program Curriculum (Dec 2018).
Dr. Andwani participated in many projects development at the national level of Oman such as the National: National Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Guidelines. Where she served as Chairperson of OMSB CPD Committee (2007- 2015) and as Vice chairperson of OMSB CPD committee (2007-2010). AS well, Dr. Abdwani is College of Medicine, SQU Medical Research Committee (2015-2020). Dr. Abdwani has an extensive experience in research and she presented her research work at many national and international conferences.
Dr. Sima Abu Al Saoud
Member
Consultant Pediatric Rheumatologist
East Jerusalem, Palestine
Close
View Bio
Dr. Sharif is currently working as a consultant pediatric rheumatologist at Al Jalila Children’s Specialty hospital AJCH Dubai. Dr. Sharif has around thirty years of vast experience in General Pediatrics and Pediatric rheumatology, Neonatology, and Community Pediatrics. Prior to joining AJCH, Dr. Sharif has worked in many reputable Hospitals in the UK, UAE, and Libya such as Southmead Hospital, Bristol, Hull, and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust Hospitals, Al Ain Hospital, Children’s Hospital Tripoli – Libya. In addition to his clinical role, Dr. Sharif held many key positions such as Chair of the Child Health Institute (CHI) at Al Ain Hospital, President of the Pediatric Rheumatology Arab group (PRAG), co-chair and head of the organizing committee at the SEHA International Pediatric Conference in January 2020 in Abu Dhabi, and the divisional clinical director, at the pediatric department Hull Royal Infirmary.
Dr. Sharif has played a key role in clinical governance through planning, conducting, and participating in audits to improve the quality of patients and healthcare in the Hospitals where he used to work.
Dr. Sharif is currently an Adjunct Associated Professor at the College of Medicine and Health Science (CMHS) at UAE University. Throughout his career, he has received many awards such as the clinical excellence award in March 2010 at Hull Royal Infirmary UK, the best trainer award from the Tawam pediatric residency program for the year 2014-2015, and the teaching excellence award for the academic year 2013 – 2014 from the Medical School at the UAE University.
In his career, Dr. Sharif has participated and conducted medical research and issued 6 publications: The Experience with Uveitis in Pediatric Age Group in Emirate of Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Child Abuse experience in Al Ain District, United Arab Emirates, and Detection of Bacterial DNA in Synovial Fluid and Peripheral Blood from children with Juvenile idiopathic Arthritis.
Dr. Sharif is a member of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), British Society of pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology (BSPAR), Emirate society of Rheumatology (ESR), and President of the Paediatric Rheumatology Arab Group (PRAG).