Scientific Committee

Prof. Dr. Suhail Abdulla Alrukn

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

President of MENA Stroke Organization Consultant Neurology, Head of Stroke Program, Rashid Hospital, UAE
Adj. Professor of Neurology
Dubai Medical College, Dubai, UAE

Prof. Dr. Suhail Abdulla Alrukn

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

Prof. Dr. AlRukn received his degree in medicine from UAE university. He underwent his Neurology Residency at the University of McGill, and subsequently obtain the Neurology Certification from the Royal Collage of Physicians & Surgeon (Canada). He then completed a fellowship in Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke at Montreal General Hospital, Canada. He currently serves as a Head of Stroke Center at Rashid Hospital, Dubai.

Dr. AlRukn’ s field of interest are principally directed towards the Acute Stroke Management, stroke unit establishing and post stroke rehabilitation. He established the 1st certified Stroke unit in UAE. Dr. Al Rukn is a local and international speakers in stroke field, and had many publications in this area. Currently he is the President of MENA Stroke Organization.

In 2019, Dr. AlRukn became the President of World Congress of Neurology, and is the currently the President of Emirates Neurology Society.

Dr. AlRukn is the Founder and the Chairman of the Neurology Residency Program in Dubai, since 2013. Also, he is the Chairman of the Dubai Scientific & Research Ethical Committee.

Dr. AlRukn has an interest in Headache management & Movement Disorders, and he is running the Movement Disorder Clinic at Rashid Hospital. He currently sits on the executive boards of various scientific associations, steering committee and advisory boards, mainly in stroke & headache.

Prof. Adel Alhazzani

Scientific Committee

Vice President of MENA Stroke Organization Professor Of Neurology
College of Medicine, King Saud University. KSA

Prof. Adel Alhazzani

Scientific Committee

Dr. Adel Al-Hazzani has been working as an associate professor at King Saud University’s College of Medicine in Riyadh since January 2019.

Al-Hazzani has a long academic career teaching at different medical colleges across Saudi Arabia. He graduated from King Khaled University (KKU) in Abha in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in medicine. Al-Hazzani proceeded to Canada to complete a neurology residency program at McGill University in Montreal.

He spent the years between 2008 and 2010 at Harvard University in Massachusetts, US, doing a medicine fellowship in vascular neurology and interventional neuroradiology.

Dr. Syed Irteza Hussain

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

8th MENA Stroke Congress President Department Chair, Neurology,
Neurological Institute
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Syed Irteza Hussain

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

Dr. Syed Irteza Hussain, MD, is the Department Chair of Neurology in the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Hussain is a Consultant Neurologist with seventeen years of experience. After completing his medical degree from the prestigious Aga Khan University, he underwent extensive postgraduate training in the US. He is American Board certified in Neurology, Vascular neurology, Neurocritical Care and Neuroendovascular surgery.

Upon completion of his postgraduate training, he joined Michigan State University as an Assistant Professor in 2009, where he helped establish a 24/7 Neurointerventional Surgery Service and Fellowship Training Program. In addition to his procedures, Dr. Hussain had an integral role in the Management of Acute Stroke and critically ill neurological patients in the Hospital.

Subsequently, in 2011 he assumed the Medical Directorship of the Stroke Program at Michigan State University and its affiliate Sparrow Health system. In this administrative role, he supervised multiple successful joint commission recertifications of the Primary Stroke Center and subsequently became the first in Michigan to become a JC certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. Recognizing his services, he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2014 and awarded the Physician Leader of the Year award in 2015 by his institutions.

Dr. Hussain lives in Abu Dhabi with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys traveling with his family, listening to music and football.

Prof. Dr. Hany Mohamed Aref

Scientific Committee

Executive Board Member, MENASO
Professor and Head of Neurology Department Ain Shams University, Egypt

Prof. Dr. Hany Mohamed Aref

Scientific Committee

Dr. Hany Aref is specialist Neurologist. Dr. Hany Aref is the Board Member of Pan Arab Union on Neurological Societies, Treasurer of Pan Arab Union on Neurological Societies, Fellow of American Academy of Neurology (FAAN), Fellow of the European Stroke Organization (FESO), Member of European Academy of Neurology, Member of editorial board of the European Journal of Neurology, Member of the scientific committee of MENACTRMS, General secretary of MENASO ( Middle East and North Africa Stroke Society), Board member of the constitution and bylaw committee of the World Federation of Neurology.

His area of expertise include Cognitive Issues , Dementia , EEG , EMG / NCS , Chronic Headache , Migraine , Movement Issues , Multiple Sclerosis , Neurology Consultation , Neurology Follow Up , Parkinson's Disease , Seizures / Epilepsy , Stroke Check-up / Prevention , Tingling / Numbness / Weakness , TMS , Weakness in extremities , Alzheimer's Disease , Facial palsy , Cerebral Palsy , Brachial Plexus , Head injury / concussion , Paraplegia , Quadraplegia and Hemiplegia etc.

Dr. Maria Khan Junaidi

Scientific Committee

Board Member MENASO, WSO
Senior Specialist Neurology
Rashid Hospital, DHA, UAE

Dr. Maria Khan Junaidi

Scientific Committee

FCPS Neurology, MSc Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Dr. Maria Junaidi is a neurologist practicing in Rashid Hospital, Dubai for the past eight years. She is a graduate of the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan and completed her post graduate training from the same institute. She holds a fellowship in vascular neurology and is one of the founding members for MENA stroke organization. She is also an avid researcher and has a number of publications in international peer reviewed journals.

Dr. Taleb M Almansoori

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

Executive Board Member, MENASO
Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs
Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Radiology
College of Medicine and Health Sciences
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Taleb M Almansoori

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

Dr. Taleb Almansoori is a graduate of the College of Medicine and Health Science at the United Arab Emirates University. After graduation, he completed five years of postgraduate medical training at McGill University, Montreal – Canada culminating in board certification in Diagnostic Radiology, followed by completion of a subspecialty training in Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology at Ottawa University, Ottawa – Canada. Given his academic post as an Assistant Professor at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences of the United Arab Emirates University, Dr. Almansoori is heavily involved in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and participated in many regional and international meetings. Dr. Almansoori served in multiple roles within the scope of imaging services and provided radiological subject matter expertise for different organizations across the United Arab Emirates. He has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and a book entitled Advanced Neuroradiology Cases: Challenge Your Knowledge. He has given multiple invited lectures at regional and international meetings on neuroradiology and stroke management. Currently, Dr. Almansoori is the Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology at the College of Medicine and Health Science. Additionally, he is the Vice President of the Emirates Radiology Society and a Board member of the MENA Stroke Organization.

Dr. Tareq Almagrabi

Scientific Committee

Executive Board Member, MENASO
Vascular Neurologist and Neurointensivist Neurology Assistant Professor
University of Tabuk, KSA

Dr. Tareq Almagrabi

Scientific Committee

Neurocritical Care and Vascular Neurology Consultant at Tabuk Hospital and Assistant Professor Department of Internal Medicine, College of medicine at University of Tabuk.
Assistant professor, Tabuk, SA
Head of Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, University of Tabuk.
Head of Membership Committee, Saudi Stroke Society
Board Member, Middle East & North Africa Stroke Organization
Board Member, Neurocritical Care Society Podcast Subcommittee

Dr. Amal Al-Hashmi

Scientific Committee

Senior Consultant of Neurosurgery
Head of Central Stroke Unit Khoula Hospital, Oman

Dr. Amal Al-Hashmi

Scientific Committee

Amal Al Hashmi BSc, MD, FRCPC is a senior consultant neurologist and Chief of the central stroke unit in Oman. She is the founder and president of Oman Stroke Society. Dr Al Hashmi completed her post-graduation training in neurology at McGill University; Montreal Canada; and she holds the Canadian board in neurology. She is the first adult female neurologist in Oman. Dr Al Hashmi was the founder of stroke programs in Oman. She established 4 stroke programs and was engaged in numerous stroke nurses and doctors training modules and programs. She is also a committee board member of MENA SINO and chief of accreditations of stroke unit/ centers initiatives at MENA SINO. She also a trainer and examiner for both MD and residency program at Sultan Qaboos University and Oman Medical Speciality Board. She was the neurology rotation supervisor 2014-2017 and currently is a research supervisor at Oman Medical Speciality Board. She served as deputy of Oman Medical association and was the first female to hold this position 2013-2016. She was an organizer, speaker and moderator of numerous regional and international conferences. Dr. Al Hashmi is interested in research and has numerous publications in stroke and other fields of Neurology. She is also an associated editor at both journal of vascular and intervention Neurology (JVIN), and Ecronicon Neurology (EC neurology) journals. In April 2016 she was appointed by His majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said the Sultan of Oman (Royal Decree number “24/2016”) as Human Rights Commissioner at the Oman Human Rights Commission she served as commissioner for 3 years form April 2016 –April 2019.

Dr. Al Hashmi received multiple awards:

Recognition of Stroke Unit work by HE Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi Minister of Health June /2015.
Dedication award by Sural Council member HE Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim in October 2016.
Women leader in Health Care Award May/3rd /2019.
Acknowledge award MENA-SINO of Stroke expert leaders in the Region Cairo / Egypt August 29th /2019.
Best staff award for the year 2019 at Khoula hospital /Ministry of Health of Oman.

Dr. Athari Salmeen

Scientific Committee

Specialist Neurologist
Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital, Kuwait

Dr. Athari Salmeen

Scientific Committee

Dr. Athari Salmeen obtained adult neurology residency and clinical stroke fellowship from Vancouver, UBC, Canada. Dr. Athari is a Stroke Neurology Specialist and Head of Stroke Committee at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital. She is also a member of thrombectomy team in Kuwait. She is clinical tutor and assistant program director of adult neurology residency in Kuwait.

Dr. Fatmah Alzahmi

Scientific Committee

Neurology Consultant & Head of Department
Adj. Clinical Assistant Prof. of Neurology, MBRU Mediclinic Parkview Hospital, Dubai, UAE

Dr. Fatmah Alzahmi

Scientific Committee

Dr. Fatmah Al Zahmi is consultant neurologist and the head of department of neurology at Mediclinic Parkview hospital, Dubai. After completing her medical degree at UAE University, Dr. Fatmah underwent extensive postgraduate training in Canada and United States. Dr. Fatmah is Triple American board certified. Dr. Fatmah is the first Emirati female stroke neurologist, she is also the only Emirati neurologist with dual training (Neurology and Internal Medicine) and dual subspecialties (Vascular Neurology and Neuromuscular medicine).
Dr. Fatmah is particularly interested in stroke in young patients, including children, stroke in women, neurological complications of medical conditions, and autoimmune disorders of the peripheral nervous system. Her leadership skills and attention to details led her to engage in administrative roles as she now serves as member of the Clinical Quality and Patient Safety committee and Research Advisory Group of Mediclinic Middle East.

Dr. Aiman Quateen

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

Consultant and the Chair of the Division Interventional Neuroradiology
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Aiman Quateen

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

Dr. Aiman Quateen is a Consultant and the Chair of the Division of Interventional Neuroradiology in the Department of Clinical Imaging at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Quateen developed his expertise in interventional Neuroradiology throughout his career, which spans more than 10 years. He has taken a special interest in diagnostic and interventional neuroradiology. Dr. Quateen is well-trained in the subspecialties of interventional neuroradiology and interventional vascular radiology. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions and the use of clinical imaging to conduct vascular procedures. Dr. Quateen is also a keen educator and has published several research papers.

Dr. Quateen received his MBBCh degree from Tripoli University. He became a Canadian Board Certified Diagnostic radiologist. In addition, Dr. Quateen is also a fellow of the prestigious Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He also holds three fellowships in interventional vascular radiology, interventional neuroradiology, and neuroradiology. Dr. Quateen served as an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University and the University of Ottawa in Canada before joining our ranks at SSMC, Abu Dhabi in UAE.

Dr. Alessandro Terruzzi

Scientific Committee

Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at MBRU Head of Neurology Department
Mediclinic City Hospital. Dubai, UAE

Dr. Alessandro Terruzzi

Scientific Committee

Dr. Terruzzi is currently the Head of Neurology Department at Mediclinic City Hospital, and Clinical Lead and Head of Mediclinic Comprehensive Stroke Center at City Hospital, in Dubai (UAE).

Dr. Terruzzi graduated from, and underwent Specialist training in Neurology, at the University of Medicine and Surgery of Milano- Bicocca in Italy, where he also obtained a 2nd level Master Degree in Cerebrovascular Diseases.

He was working at the Neuroscience Department of Manzoni Hospital as a Stroke Neurologist, where he was the former Director of the Headache Center, before moving to Dubai in 2017 as Consultant Neurologist.

He is also a well trained Neuro-sonologist, expert in ultrasound doppler investigation of the carotid and vertebral arteries and transcranial eco-colour doppler.

Since 2019 he collaborates with the Mohamed Bin Rashid University as Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor.

Dr. Terruzzi’s primary interests are the diagnosis and treatment of headaches and cerebrovascular disorders.

Dr. Ammar Alomar

Scientific Committee

Neurology Specialist
Ministry of Health
UAE

Dr. Ammar Alomar

Scientific Committee

Dr Ammar Alomar graduated from Basra medical college at 1993 and continued his education by specializing in neurology from the Iraqi committee for medical specialization in Baghdad in 2002. He worked in Hillah teaching hospital in Iraq, Al Bashir hospital in Amman, Jordan and Currently working in Ibrahim Obaidullah Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. He is the hospital stroke program director and national coordinator for ResQ stroke registry in UAE.

Dr. Carl-Johan Ramberg

Scientific Committee

Consultant Neurologist
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City
Ajman, UAE

Dr. Carl-Johan Ramberg

Scientific Committee

Dr Carl-Johan Ramberg is a Consultant Neurologist at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Ajman, offering thrombolysis for stroke 24/7. After completing his training in the University Hospitals of Linköping, Örebro and Umeå in his native country Sweden, he became a Consultant Neurologist in 2005 and has previously also worked in Norway and Dubai. He spent the autumn of 2010 in The National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK, following a lot of clinics. In 2014, he helped to improve the door to needle time for thrombolysis from 75 to 23 minutes in one of the largest hospitals in Norway.

Dr. Isam Sayed Salih

Scientific Committee

Consultant
Neurovascular Chairman of Division
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Isam Sayed Salih

Scientific Committee

Dr. Isam Sayed Salih is a Consultant and Neurovascular Chairman of Division Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE. He is well experience in TIA, Anticoagulation For AF and Stroke, Stroke New and Follow Up, and Blood Pressure Management. Dr. Isam has 20 Years of Stroke and Neurovascular Experience, 15 years as a Consultant Neurovascular, and 16 years in Hypertension Specialized Clinic.

Dr. Josef Alawneh

Scientific Committee

Consultant - Adult Neurology
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City,
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Josef Alawneh

Scientific Committee

Dr. Joseph Alawneh is the Consultant - Adult Neurology at the Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE. He has several years of experience in General Neurology, Neral Neurology, Vascular Neurology, Headache Disorders, Stroke.

Dr. Mohammad Wasay

Scientific Committee

Professor of Neurology
Aga Khan University
Karachi, Pakistan

Dr. Mohammad Wasay

Scientific Committee

Dr Wasay is currently a Professor (Alicharan endowed professor) of Neurology at Aga Khan University, Past President - Pakistan Society of Neurology and Pakistan stroke Society, President, Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation, Chairman -advocacy and awareness task force of World federation of Neurology, Editor- Pakistan Journal of Neurological sciences, Chief Editor- Jahan e Aasab (Neurology public awareness magazine), Chair- seed grants research committee at Aga Khan University and Co-chair, NCD Think tank.

Dr Wasay received several national and international awards for educational, research and advocacy activities, including Teachers Recognition Award (American Academy of Neurology), Distinguished Teacher Award (Pakistan Society of Neurology), Outstanding Teacher Award (Aga Khan University), Gold medal for research(Pakistan Academy of Medical Sciences), Advocacy Leader of the Year Award (American Academy of Neurology), Victor Rivera Award (UT Southwestern Medical Center) and Lester R. Bryant Founders Award (Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA). He was awarded fellowship of Pakistan Academy of Medical science and Gold Medal in Health Sciences by Pakistan Academy of Sciences. Recently he was elected as fellow and Secretary, Karachi Chapter by Pakistan Academy of Sciences.

He has held a number of leadership positions at prestigious forums. At the international level, these include World Federation of Neurology Advocacy Task Force (Chair); International Subcommittee, American academy of Neurology (Member); Board of Directors, World Stroke Organization (Director); and Public Relations Committee, World Federation of Neurology (Chair) and Executive committee member Asia Pacific Stroke Organization. He is also serving as member, Technical advisory committee for Pakistan Health and Research Council (PMRC), member, global policy committee, World stroke organization and Prime ministers task force for science and technology.

He has trained 48 neurologists (Fellows College of Physicians and Surgeons) under his supervision (as CPSP supervisor) and two neurologists from Afghanistan (funded by AAN and FMIC). He has received 30 grants from various national and international agencies as Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator. His publication bibliography includes 207 papers in peer-reviewed medical journals. The combined impact factor of his scientific publications is more than 568 and the collective citations exceed 5348. He has been an invited speaker and presenter at more than 100 international conferences, with more than 100 presentations and lectures. He is an active reviewer of research grants and scientific papers for more than 25 journals and granting agencies.

His book “Fasting and health” is translated into Sindhi and English. He has travelled to 73 countries in all six continents. He has more than 80 media interviews at TV channels, newspapers and web channels.

Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

Assistant Professor
United Arab Emirates University, UAE
Consultant Neurologist,
Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, UAE

Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

Dr. Mohammed Alkuwaiti is an Assistant Professor and Consultant Vascular Neurologist at the Department of Internal medicine in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at United Arab Emirates University. His clinical practice is based at the Tawam hospital, the regional stroke center of Alain city in UAE. Following completion of his medical school training at UAE University he travelled to Montreal, Canada where he completed Adult Neurology residency training at McGill University (2016). He later also completed Acute stroke clinical training (2017) and Stroke-Net Fellowships (2018) at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, United States. Dr. Alkuwaiti is an active member in local stroke committees, including the Department of Health stroke committee and at SEHA Stroke Task force committee. He Chairs the National Institute of Health Subspeciality (Emirates board) Neurology Committee. He is interested in secondary prevention and acute Stroke research. He is currently working on Stroke related projects in collaboration with UAE University and Sheikh Khalifa Stroke Institute.

Dr. Salman Qureshi

Scientific Committee

Consultant Head & Neck Neuroradiologist
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City,
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Salman Qureshi

Scientific Committee

Dr Salman Qureshi is a Consultant Head&Neck / Neuroradiologist working at Mayo Clinic / SSMC Abu Dhabi. He completed his Medical School, Radiology Training and Neuroradiology Fellowship in Manchester and then worked as a Consultant in Manchester University Hospital for 7 years. In 2018, he moved to Qatar working for Hamad Medical Corporation.

He was RCR Northwest Regional Specialty Advisor as well as Examiner (DDMFR) and National Recruitment Committee.

His roles in head and neck imaging include BSHNI Secretary, ESHNR Executive Committee, RSNA Neuroradiology / Head&Neck Scientific Subcommittee, ASHNR International Relations Committee and Head and Neck Team Leader for EBR Written Evaluation Committee.

With reference to Undergraduate Education, he was Associate Undergraduate Dean at University of Manchester. He was also elected as Manchester Medical Society Section of Imaging President in 2014.

He is most proud of being Neuroradiologist to Manchester United albeit now as a suffering fan of the club!

Dr. Seby John

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

Consultant
Vascular Neurology and
Neurointerventional Surgery
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Seby John

Organizing Committee & Scientific Committee

Dr Seby John is Consultant, Vascular Neurologist and Neurointerventional Surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He is currently Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, USA and Khalifa University College of Medicine, UAE. Dr John has extensive experience in the medical and interventional management of cerebrovascular diseases. He is an active researcher and has been an investigator in numerous international cerebrovascular clinical trials. He has to his credit, more than 75 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters in the field of stroke and neurointerventional surgery. He is board of directors of MENA-SINO (Middle East North Africa Stroke and interventional Neurotherapies Organization) and the UAE Vascular Neurology Chair for Mission Thrombectomy 2020+. He is an active reviewer for multiple journals, and is on the editorial board of Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery.

Dr. Tareq Alafifi

Scientific Committee

Neurologist & Vascular Neurologist Consultant
Assistant Professor
United Arab Emirates University, UAE
GHQ & Mediclinic, UAE

Dr. Tareq Alafifi

Scientific Committee

Dr Tariq Alafifi is a consultant neurologist sub-specialized in vascular neurology and an assistant professor at UAEU. Dr Tariq has more than 25 years of experience in various posts across the UAE and abroad, including medical military missions with NATO/GCC/UAE army before retiring as a Colonel. In addition to his practice at Mediclinic AlAin, he also worked in Zayed Military Hospital as head of neurology (2009-2018) and in affiliated hospital with several governmental hospitals across the UAE as a Neuro-strokologist. He was also a member of the teaching programme in Zayed Military Hospital for Arab board residents. Dr Tariq was part of the stroke program organizing team in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (2013).