Speaker - Brain Conference 2023

Speakers

Dr. Abdulghani Moussa Pacha

Consultant Intervenional Neuroradiology
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Abdulghani Moussa Pacha

Dr. Abdulghani Moussa Pacha, MBBS, CIRSE, is a Consultant in Interventional Neuroradiology at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) in Abu Dhabi.

With 10 years of experience, Dr. Moussa Pacha specializes in Interventional Neuroradiology, neuroradiology, and radiology. He is a member of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe (CIRSE).

In addition to his clinical roles, Dr. Moussa Pacha has contributed to numerous publications and is a reviewer in the Ochsner Medical Journal. He received his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan.

Dr. Abdulla Al Kuwaiti

Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist
Tawam Hospital
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Abdulla Al Kuwaiti

Dr. Abdulla Al Kuwaiti graduated from UAE university medical college and health science in 2009, and was thrilled about neuroscience. In 2010 he joined McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and had extensive work experience with pioneers in neurology and epilepsy. Dr. Abdulla has successfully completed his neurology residency, and followed by an Epilepsy fellowship, with a special interest in Magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology in Montreal Neurological institute and hospital, and other affiliated hospitals. Currently, he is a consultant Neurologist at Tawam hospital and in his first year after returning from Canada, he has upgraded the EEG service to a fully digital network. First in Tawam Hospital to use Ictal and interictal SPECT for frontal lobe seizure patients. Dr. Abdulla’s clinical interest equals his interest in educating and training the new generation of physicians, being involved in final year medical education teaching when he was in Canada and currently in UAE. Dr. Abdulla has presented multiple talks at conferences and annual meetings, on topics including; headache and epilepsy, super refractory status epilepticus, and neurological complications of bariatric surgery. In addition, he has run an EEG (electroencephalogram) workshop at the first Abu Dhabi brain conference Sept 2021. Dr. Abdulla was involved in multiple research projects in Canada and UAE, and published several papers and presented posters at neurological conferences.

Dr. Abubaker Al Madani

Vice President of EMINS
Consultant & Head of Neurology Department Rashid Hospital
Dubai, UAE

Dr. Abubaker Al Madani

Dr. Abu Baker Al Madani completed his undergraduate certificate in 1997 from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. In Gothernburg University, he was involved in teaching and contributed in research study with Dr. Anders Hamberger in neuroprotective agents in acute stroke. Then, he completed his Canadian Royal College in Neurology (FRCPC) in 2009.

Dr. Madani had his residency at the University of Toronto which is ranked number 1 in Canada by Royal College of Canada, and ranked number 4 in the whole North America by American Academy of Neurology. He was personally involved in regional stroke program and he was involved in at least 500 stroke cases and 80 TPA cases. In his residency he also did one whole elective year which involves EEG, research, pathology and nerve conduction studies. By finishing the residency, he was able to manage neurological cases as general neurological cases as general neurologist in 2007. He has his fellowship in neuromuscular subspecialty from 2007 to 2009.

Dr. Ahmed Shatila

Consultant Neurologist
Sheikh Shakbout Medical City
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Ahmed Shatila

Dr. Ahmed Osman Shatila obtained his BSc in Science Biology from the Wayne State University in the United States. He continued his medical education from the medical college of Wayne State University.

Dr. Shatila’s conducted a residency in neurology at Wayne State University and continued his fellowship in neurophysiology.

His interests include inpatient Neurology, but not limited to Stroke, IV TPA program development, Status Epilepticus, Multiple Sclerosis, Public Awareness of different Neurological Diseases with 10 years of experience and He is also interested in helping facilities develop a Neuro Hospitalist model where the inpatient care can develop independently from the outpatient services.

Dr. Aiman Quateen

Consultant & Chair
Division of Interventional Neuroradiology & Interventional Radiology
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Aiman Quateen

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

Consultant Neurologist and Neurosonologist
Head of Neurology Department
Mediclinic City Hospital
Dubai, UAE

Dr. Alessandro Terruzzi

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 MilanoBicocca 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.

Prof. Bassem Yamout

Professor of Neurology, American University
of Beirut Beirut, Lebanon Director,
Neurology Institute & Head, MS Center,
Harley Street Medical Center Abu Dhabi, UAE

Prof. Bassem Yamout

Prof. Bassem Yamout is currently Professor of Clinical Neurology at the American University of Beirut Medical Center and the Director of the Neurology Institute and head of the MS Center at Harley Street Medical Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He graduated from the medical school at the American University of Beirut in 1984, received his training in neurology at the University of Cincinnati-Ohio followed by a fellowship at the Montreal Neurological Institute-McGill University. In 1988 he joined the faculty of the American University of Beirut. His main focus of research is in the field of multiple sclerosis. He is currently president of the MENACTRIMS, head of clinical research at the Multiple Sclerosis Center, fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and member of multiple regional and international MS advisory boards. Dr. Yamout is one of the leading experts on multiple sclerosis in the Middle East and Arab region with recent research on epidemiology of the disease in the region, quality of life of patients in the Middle East, novel therapies such as stem cell transplantation and venous stenosis, and the impact of wars on the course of multiple sclerosis. In addition he is currently the principal investigator on several ongoing international multiple sclerosis research trials. Dr Yamout has authored many research and review papers and is currently Chief Editor of the MS newsletter “MS today”, and on the editorial board of “Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders”.

Dr. Beatrice Benedetti

Staff Physician, MS Specialist
Neurological Institute
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
UAE

Dr. Beatrice Benedetti

Dr. Beatrice Benedetti is a Staff Physician in the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Benedetti completed her Neurology residency in Milan (Italy) at one of the most renewed MS centers in Europe. Since 2003, she has been dedicated to providing comprehensive care to patients with MS. Before joining Cleveland clinic Abu Dhabi in 2017, Dr Benedetti worked in Italy and in India.

During the early stages of her career, she made significant contributions to the field of neuroimaging in MS, conducting research studies at prestigious centers in Milan, Oxford, and New York.

In 2021, Dr. Benedetti was appointed as an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Khalifa University Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Carl Johan Ramberg

Consultant Neurologist
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City
Ajman, UAE

Dr. Carl Johan Ramberg

Dr. Carl-Johan Ramberg is a Consultant Neurologist at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Ajman and associate professor at Ajman University. After completing his training at the University Hospitals of Linköping, Umeå and Örebro in Sweden, he became a Consultant Neurologist in 2005. He has also worked in Norway and Dubai and featured in Dubai Eye radio, Gulf News and Khaleej Times. Dr Carl spent the autumn of 2010 in The National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK, following many Movement Disorder clinics. He is experienced in advanced Parkinson’s Disease treatment with Duodopa, Apomorphine and DBS.

Dr. Deeb Kayed

Consultant Neurologist
Assistant Professor
MBRU, Private Practice
Dubai, UAE

Dr. Deeb Kayed

Dr. Deeb Kayed is an American Board Certified Neurologist (1997) and Clinical Neurophysiologist (1999) with a particular interest in headaches. Dr. Kayed graduated magna cum laude from the University of Evansville with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1986. He then graduated from St George's University School of Medicine in 1990. He completed his residency training in Adult Neurology at Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA in 1996 where he also served as Chief Resident. He next completed a Fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia in 1997 followed by a Fellowship in Advanced Clinical Neurology - Child Neurology at Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia in 1998. Dr Kayed relocated to The UAE in 2000 and served as a Consultant Neurologist at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain where he was also Head of the Division of Neurology. At the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, UAE University, Dr. Kayed served as Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr.Kayed relocated to Dubai in 2005 where he has been working in private practice. He is an Assistant Professor at the MBRU School of Medicine. His practice is currently located at The Integrated Rheumatology & Arthritis Centre in Dubai Health Care City. He is an Independent Doctor, Consultant Neurologist, at The Mediclinic City Hospital Dubai in Dubai Health Care City. Dr Kayed's primary interest is in the management of patients with headaches, in particular migraine.

Prof. Frank Tarazi

Associate Professor of Psychiatry
and Neurology Harvard Medical School Massachusetts, USA

Prof. Frank Tarazi

Prof. Frank Tarazi, MD, PhD, MBA, is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Director of Psychiatric Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacoeconomics Programs at McLean/Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, USA. Dr. Tarazi has preclinical and clinical experience in neurological and psychiatric diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD. Dr. Tarazi has published over 130 original articles, serves on the editorial board of several medical and scientific journals and has received several awards from leading institutes and societies. He is a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and a member of the APA and AAN. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum Global Council on Neurotechnologies and Brain Research.

Dr. Haythum Tayeb

Vice Dean for Graduate Studies & Scientific Research Faculty of Medicine
King Abdul Aziz University
Jeddah, KSA

Dr. Haythum Tayeb

Dr. Haythum Tayeb is the Vice dean for graduate studies and scientific research, Rabigh Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh/Jeddah - Saudi Arabia • Chief, Department of Medicine , Rabigh Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh/ Jeddah - Saudi Arabia • Assistant Professor in Neurology and Psychiatry, Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah - Saudi Arabia • Clinical Fellow in Clinical Neurophysiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Division of clinical neurophysiology and sleep, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA - USA • Clinical Fellow in Psychiatry (neuropsychiatry and behavioral neurology) McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA - USA • Clinical Fellow (Resident) in Neurology Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal - Canada • Demonstrator in Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah - Saudi Arabia

Dr. Hina Abbasi

Epileptologist & Neurologist
Neurology Department
Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, UAE

Dr. Hina Abbasi

Dr. Hina Naz Abbasi is a Consultant Neurologist/Epileptologist, trained in the United Kingdom.

She completed fellowship and research in Epilepsy from Glasgow University and attained an MSC Neurology degree in 2022.

She completed CCT in Neurology in 2017 after 9 years of training at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow UK.

She also holds MRCP general medicine degree from the UK

Speciality certificate examination UK 2013 from Royal of Physicians UK

She has 3 years of research experience in status epilepticus

Dr. Abbasi is the author of many international papers and publications in peer reviewed journals.

She has been part of teaching faculty at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow and educational supervisor for neurology trainees for many years.

Currently working at Tawam Hospital Al Ain

Dr. Jana Zschüntzsch

Consultant Neurologist and Scientific Leader
Department of Neurology
University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG)
Göttingen, Germany

Dr. Jana Zschüntzsch

Dr. Jana Zschüntzsch is a supervising/ consultant neurologist at the Department of Neurology University Medical Center Goettingen , Germany.

After studying in Goettingen and Zürich, PD Dr. Jana Zschüntzsch received her medical degree in 2004 from the University of Goettingen, Germany and her M.D. in 2007 from the University of Goettingen for basic neurophysiological research at the Department of Neuro- and Sensory Physiology (Prof. W. Zhang) at the Georg-August-University Goettingen. She then completed a residency in Neurology with Prof. Mathias Bähr in Goettingen and underwent postgraduate training focusing on neuron-glia-interaction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and on pathomechanisms of inflammatory and inherited myopathies. She received the “venia legendi for Neurology” in 2021. As a team Leader of the “Neuromuscular research group” at the Heart and Brain Center Goettingen, her research focusses on a deeper understanding of pathogenesis of Neuromuscular Disorders and translational development of treatment approaches with a particular interest in muscular dystrophy, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and myasthenia gravis.

Currently she is granted for the EU research project Screen4Care as a work package leader. She was awarded with the Felix-Jerusalem-Junior prize for muscle research in Germany in 2013 and holds memberships for several societies e.g. the German Myasthena Gravis Society, German Neurological Society; she was a charter member of the International Myosits Society e.V. (iMyoS) and is a honory member of the Mongolian Neurological Society. For the German Muscle Society she is co-editor of the yearbook. She published over 40 scientific papers, has given over 100 scientific talks and participated in over 25 clinical trials, mainly in Myasthenia gravis, CIDP and myositis. In 2021, she became the spokesperson of the neuromuscular center and the head of the certified neuromuscular outpatient clinic at the University Medical Center Goettingen.

Prof. Michael Strupp

Professor of Neurology
Department of Neurology
University Hospital Munich
Munich, Germany

Prof. Michael Strupp

Prof. Michael Strupp, MD, FRCP, FAAN, FANA, FEAN Professor of Neurology Department of Neurology and German Centre for Vertigo and Balance Disorders University Hospital Munich, Germany Michael Strupp studied medicine at the Technical University of Aachen and in Rochester, N.Y. Then he worked for three years in basic neurophysiological research, mainly doing patch-clamp recordings (at Baylor College, Houston, in Montpellier and in Munich), before he moved to the Department of Neurology at the University and the German Centre for Vertigo and Balance Disorders at the University of Munich, Germany. His particular area of interest is the therapy of vestibular, ocular motor and cerebellar disorders. Some of his major achievements are: First, demonstration of the effectiveness of vestibular exercises in acute vestibular neuritis in a controlled clinical trial. Second, the benefit of steroids in acute vestibular neuritis, a placebo-controlled, four-arm trial published in the NEJM. Third, introduction of three new therapeutic principles: aminopyridines, as potassium channel blockers, for the treatment of downbeat, upbeat and central positioning nystagmus as well as episodic ataxia type 2; chlorzoxazone for the therapy of downbeat nystagmus; and, more recently, acetyl-DL-leucine for the treatment of certain ataxiasm namely Niemann-Pick Type C. Fourth, the development of new light and practical examination glasses for nystagmus: the “M glasses” and the “positional vertigo App”. He has been the principal investigator of eleven clinical trials. He is also very much engaged in the “International Classification of Vestibular Disorders”. He has authored 437 PubMed listed papers (h-index 83, i10-index 300) and five books on vertigo, dizziness and ocular motor disorders. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of Frontiers in Neuro-otology, Joint Chief Editor of the Journal of Neurology and a Member of the Editorial Board of Neurology. He has received many clinical and scientific awards, including the Hallpike-Nylen Award 2106, the Investigator Award of the European Academy of Neurology 2019 and the Galenus von Pergamon Award 2020. He is a very passionate teacher and was awarded ‘Best Teacher’ by the German Neurological Society. Finally, he is a proud father of four children.

Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti

Assistant Professor
United Arab Emirates University
College of Medicine and Health Science
Department of Internal Medicine
Consultant Neurologist
Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, UAE

Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti

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. Mohammad Asif Dogar

Consultant Neuroradiologist
Imaging Institute
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Mohammad Asif Dogar

Dr. Dogar is a staff physician and section head of neuroradiology at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He graduated from King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his radiology residency training and neuroradiology fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr Dogar held role as neuroradiologist at St. Cloud Hospital Minnesota, King Faisal Hospital and Research Center Riyadh and Visiting Consultant neuroradiologist at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He has expertise in head and neck imaging, spine imaging and neuroradiology

Dr. Mona Thakre

Consultant Neurologist
Al Zahra Hospital
Dubai, UAE

Dr. Mona Thakre

Dr. Mona Thakre is a well experienced Neurologist with more than 20 years of experience to her credit in UAE and India. She had her basic MBBS and MD in medicine from Nagpur University, India and DM and DNB in Neurology from Bombay Hospital, Mumbai University, India. She has completed her Speciality Certificate in Neurology from Royal college of Physicians (UK) and is a Fellow of American Academy of Neurology(FAAN).

She has worked in Government hospital Rashid hospital as Senior Specialist for 10years and since last 7 years as Consultant and Head of Neuroscience department at Al Zahra Hospital which is a tertiary care hospital in Dubai. She is the elected Board member of Emirates Neurology Society. Her areas of interest: Multiple Sclerosis ,Headache Stroke, Epilepsy and Movement disorders. She is an active researcher and has numerous presentations in local and international conferences. She has published numerous papers in peer reviewed journals.

Dr. Moussa Antoine Chalah

Psychiatrist, GHU PARIS Psychiatrie & Neurosciences
Adjunct Associate Professor
Lebanese American University
School of Medicine
Beirut, Lebanon

Dr. Moussa Antoine Chalah

• Adjunct Associate Professor of Neurosciences - Lebanese American University School of Medicine, Lebanon

• Psychiatrist and Neuroscientist – GHU Paris Psychiatry & Neurosciences, France

• 10 years’ experience in Noninvasive Stimulation techniques

• Research focus on using noninvasive brain stimulation techniques to understand and modulate neuropsychiatric symptoms (fatigue, affective symptoms and cognitive deficits)

• 65 papers published in PubMed indexed peer reviewed journals, 81 publications in Web of Science, H index 21 (google scholar)

• Academic editor/reviewer in numerous international peer-reviewed journals

• Member of several scientific societies including the International Neuromodulation Society and the French Society of Neuromodulation

Prof. Naji Riachi

Consultant Neurologist
Sheikh Shakbout Medical City
Professor, Khalifa University
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Prof. Naji Riachi

Prof. Naji Riachi recently joined Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City as Consultant Neurologist and Khalifa University College of Medicine as Clerkship Director of Neurology and Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs. Dr. Riachi was previously Tenured Full Professor and Chair of Department of Neurology at the Lebanese American University and Assistant Dean for Clinical Research at LAU School of Medicine in Beirut, Lebanon.

After a 4 years Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, he completed his Residency in Neurology at the University Hospitals of Cleveland, then a two-year Fellowship in Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology at the Cleveland Clinics Foundation. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry and the American Board of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology. He is founding member and past President of the Lebanese League Against Epilepsy and a member of several scientific societies.

He participated in several clinical studies, gave more than 300 lectures regionally and internationally, and authored 70 peer reviewed publications and book chapters.

Head of Scientific Committee Consultant Neurologist Sheikh Shakbout Medical City Professor, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Prof. Peter McAllister

Board Certified Neurologist
Medical Director
New England Institute for Neurology & Headache
Chief Medical Officer
New England Institute for Clinical Research
Associate Professor of Neurology
Yale University School of Medicine
Clinical Professor of Neurology & Anatomy
Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University
Stamford, CT, USA

Prof. Peter McAllister

Prof. Peter McAllister M.D. is board-certified in Neurology and Headache Medicine. He is the Medical Director of the New England Institute for Neurology and Headache and Chief Medical Officer of the New England Institute for Clinical Research and Ki Clinical Research, in Stamford, CT, USA. Dr. McAllister is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Yale University School of Medicine and Clinical Professor of neurology and anatomy at the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University. Recognized as a “Top Neurologist” by US News and World Report, he is also listed as a “Top Doc” in Connecticut, Metro New York City and Fairfield County. Dr. McAllister lectures internationally, has been a principle investigator on over 350 clinical trials, and has authored numerous articles and book chapters in the lay and scientific press.

Prof. Pierre Krystkowiak

Consultant Neurologist
Yas Clinic Khalifa City & Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre
Professor of Neurology
University of Picardie, Amiens, France
Adjunct Professor of Neurology
Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Prof. Pierre Krystkowiak

Prof. Pierre C. Krystkowiak is a Consultant Neurologist at Yas Clinic Khalifa City & Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre in Abu Dhabi. Has completed his neurology qualification in 1997 (University of Lille, France) then his PhD in 2003 (University of Paris-Saclay, France). He has been appointed Professor of neurology in 2007 at the University of Picardie, Amiens, France. He held some academic positions such as Vice-President to the University Scientific Board and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. He also served as Medical Director of Amiens University Hospital. He joined UAE in 2019 then YCKC in 2022. Huntington's Disease has been one of his most important fields of interest for decades. He is a former member of the European HD Network Executive Committee and a former member of the Steering Committee of the French Speaking HD Network. He is a member of the EHDN and HSG, founder of a HD expert centre in Lille University then in Amiens University, France (both EHDN and CHDI certified). He has been coordinator or PI of a number of HD clinical trials or clinical studies, including interventional therapies (DBS, fetal neural transplants, gene therapies). He has published over 125 articles in international peer-reviewed journals, mostly in the field of Huntington’s disease, Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.

Dr. Rosanne Murray

Consultant Neurologist
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
Glasgow, Scotland

Dr. Rosanne Murray

Dr. Rosanne Murray is an Aberdeen University Medical School graduate, Dr Murray did Stroke research in Glasgow, followed by Neurology specialty training in Newcastle upon Tyne.

On returning to Glasgow as a Consultant she ran a Functional Neurology Clinic for 4 years. She has been a Consultant Neurologist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for 10 years now and specializes in Epilepsy and first seizure clinics, but retains a keen interest in the treatment of patients suffering from Functional Neurological Disorder.

Prof. Samar S. Ayache

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurophysiology
Faculty of Medicine, Paris-Est University
Adjunct Professor of Neurology
School of Medicine, Lebanese American University
Neurologist and Neurophysiologist
Henri Mondor Hospital
Creteil, France

Prof. Samar S. Ayache

▪ Adjunct Professor of Neurology - Lebanese American Univeristy, Lebanon
▪ Associate Professor of Clinical Neurophysiology - Paris-Est University, France
▪ Associate Professor of Neurology - Collège de Médecine des Hôpitaux de Paris, France
▪ Head of EEG unit - Neurophysiology Department, Henri Mondor Hospital, France
▪ Vice Chairman - ICVNS (Institut de la Colonne Vértébrale et des Neurosciences), France
▪ More than 15 years experience in Noninvasive Stimulation techniques
▪ More than 100 papers published in peer reviewed journals
▪ H index 34 (google scholar), 27 (web of science)

Dr. Shivam Om Mittal

Head of Parkinson’s Disease &
Movement Disorders Division
Consultant Neurologist
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Shivam Om Mittal

Dr. Shivam Om Mittal received his medical degree from Datta Meghe University of Medical Sciences University in Wardha, India. He completed his neurology residency at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He did postdoctoral fellowship in botulinum toxin treatment at the prestigious Yale University, where he initiated several clinical studies and streamlined unique treatment options for movement disorders. To pursue his interest further in the field of clinical movement disorders he completed a fellowship in parkinson’s disease and movement disorders at the Renowned Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, USA.
Dr. Mittal lives in Abu Dhabi with his wife and two sons. He enjoys cycling, listening to music and spending time with his family.

Prof. Souhel Najjar

Professor & Chair, Neurology
The Donald & Barbara Zucker School of
Medicine Lenox Hill Hospital
Hofstra Northwell Health
New York, USA

Prof. Souhel Najjar

Prof. Souhel Najjar is Professor and Chair of Neurology at the Donald & Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell located in New York at Northwell Health, Dr. Najjar also serves as SVP & Executive Director of the Neurology Service Line, Co-Director of the Neuroscience Institute, Medical Director for the Center for Executive & Global Health Services, and Chair at North Shore University Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and Staten Island University Hospital. Prof. Dr. Najjar is internationally recognized for his clinical and academic expertise in epilepsy, neuroinflammation-related neuropsychiatric disorders, and autoimmune disorders of central nervous system.

Prof. Suhail Alrukn

Consultant Neurologist, Rashid Hospital
Professor, Dubai Medical College
President of Emirates Neurology Society
Dubai, UAE

Prof. Suhail Alrukn

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. Volker Limmroth

Chairman of the Department of Neurology
Cologne General Hospital
University of Cologne
Köln, Germany

Prof. Volker Limmroth

Prof. Limmroth is the Chairman of the Department of Neurology, Cologne City Hospitals, University of Cologne, Germany. After studying in Göttingen, Lausanne and Rio de Janeiro, Prof. Limmroth received his medical degree in 1989 from the University of Göttingen, Germany. He then completed a residency in Neurology with Prof. Hans-Christoph Diener in Essen, Germany. In 1993 he received grant of German National research Society (DFG) and completed from 1993-1996 a postdoc-fellowship with Prof. Michael A. Moskowitz at the Stroke and Neurovascular Research Laboratory, MGH-Neuroscience Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. After his return to Germany he established his own research laboratory in Essen and became head of the outpatient clinic at the University Hospital in Essen, Germany and in 2002 the Vice-chairman of the Department of Neurology. In 2006 he became Chairman of the Department of Neurology at the Cologne City Hospitals, University of Cologne, Germany. In Feburary 2008 he also became the acting deputy medical director of the Cologne City Hospitals and acted from 2010-2013 as Medical Director of the Hospital. Prof. Limmroth is the editor and co-editor of 27 books, he published over 250 scientific papers and book chapters, has given over 800 scientific talks and participated in over 50 clinical trials, mainly in MS, pain and stroke.

Dr. Waqar Gaba

Program Director
Stroke Lead
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor
UAE University & Khalifa University
Simulation Expertise(Harvard CMS)
Hon Senior Lecturer University of Leeds
MRCP UK and Ireland Examiner

Dr. Waqar Gaba

Dr. Waqar Gaba did his junior doctor training in London and completed his Acute Medicine Registrar training in Yorkshire, U.K. He did his Stroke Fellowship from King’s College and St Thomas’s hospital, London.

Dr. Waqar Gaba obtained CCT in Acute Medicine, Internal Medicine and Stroke Medicine. He is a Fellow of Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh, U.K and a Fellow of American College of Physicians. He is MRCP UK and Ireland Examiner. He is former clinical lecturer for King’s College, London and Honorary Senior Lecturer for University of Leeds. He is Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor for UAE University and Khalifa University. He has simulation expertise from Harvard Medical school.

Dr. Zulfiqar Hussain

Consultant Neurologist
Director of EMG
Lab/Neuromuscular Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Zulfiqar Hussain

Dr. Zulfiqar Hussain completed medical school from Pakistan. After completing his medical school, he did 2 years of post-doctoral research fellowship at SUNY Brooklyn, State University Medical Center, Brooklyn NY.

Then he joined the Case Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University Hospital Cleveland, Ohio and completed Internal Medicine internship, Neurology Residency and Neuromuscular Medicine fellowship.

Dr. Zulfiqar Hussain moved to Cornell-Weil Medical Center/Hospital for Special Surgery NY for second fellowship in Neuromuscular medicine and intraoperative Neurophysiology.

After Completing 2nd fellowship, he Joined Robert-Wood- Johnson Medical School/University Hospital as Assistant Professor of Neurology and spent 2 years there.

In 2010, moved back to Cleveland Ohio, and joined Cleveland Clinic main campus in Department of Regional Neurology and Neuromuscular Medicine Center and worked for 4 years before moved to CCAD in August 2014.

At CCAD Dr Zulfiqar Hussain is working as staff Neurologist, Director of EMG lab/Neuromuscular Medicine and Assistant Professor of Neurology, Lerner College of medicine, Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio

During post-doctoral fellowship, and resident/Fellowships training and as staff physician, he published number of articles as 1st and co-author.

Dr. Zulfiqar Hussain is Board certified in:

1: Neurology (ABPN)
2: Neuromuscular Medicine (ABPN)
3: Epilepsy (ABPN)
4: American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (ABEM)