Program – Day 1

Dr. Bhawna Sirohi started her oncology career at Tata Memorial centre (TMC), Mumbai in 1994 and completed training at Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, UK. She serves in Max Super specialty Hospital and is currently an honorary consultant with QMUL, London. At TMC in 2012-2014, she set up GI medical oncology &medical oncology information system (MOIS) for e-prescribing chemotherapy. She has been involved in initial setting up of cancer centres in Sangrur and Mohali, Punjab for TMC. She has piloted use of virtual consults using PROM & PREM in London.

Dr. Zakir has over 15 years of clinical experience and was a consultant colorectal and general surgeon in the UK, after achieving his Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic Fellowship from Hong Kong (University of Hong Kong under Prof WL Law) and CCT (in Colorectal Surgery) from the UK. Dr Zakir is a member of the Association of Coloproctologists of Great Britain and Ireland and holds a consultant license in General and Colorectal Surgery in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, India and the United Kingdom. He is also currently an Honorary Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.

Dr. Maroun El Khoury completed his basic medical training from Saint Joseph University School of Medicine Beirut, Lebanon in 1999. He is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology and American Academy of Pain Management. Dr. Maroun El Khoury’s specialty is Oncology and currently work as a Consultant Oncologist.

Dr.Nouri Bennini has served as Consultant Oncologist at the Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, since 1999. He received his general medicine diploma in 1988 from the University of Constantine in Algeria and undertook residency in medical oncology at the University of Bordeaux, France. At the University of Montpellier, France, Dr. Bennini specialised in breast diseases. He has published several scientific papers and contributed to a number of oncology conferences.

Prof. Suayib Yalcin is a medical oncologist with special interest in cancer treatment and research. He has authored/co-authored more than 140 articles cited more than 5000 citations in science citation index. His main areas of research interest are gastrointestinal cancers also including neuroendocrine tumors and gastrointestinal stromal tumors as well as supportive care (pain, nutrition, emesis). Graduating from Hacettepe University Ankara, Turkey in 1989, he finished internal medicine in 1994 and became a Medical Oncologist in 1997 and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Gastrointestinal Oncology Department at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA. He was appointed as a assistant professor 1997, associate professor in 1998 and a full professor in 2004. He served as the director of the Hacettepe University Oncology Hospital, Head of the Hacettepe University Medical Oncology Department, President of Turkish Society of Medical Oncology, General Secretary of Turkish Oncology Group and 2 terms as National Representative of ESMO in Turkey. Currently he is serving as a full professor at Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, and he is also currently the president of Turkish Association of Cancer Research and Control and Hacettepe Oncology Association and also president Cancer Research Society, past president of Turkish Society of Medical Oncology. He is an active member of ENETS, ASCO, ESMO, EORTC, MMOF, and is the former ESMO national representative of Turkey. He has participated in many clinical cancer research projects as a steering committee member, or principal investigator and serves as editorial board of several cancer journals. He has been the conference chair of international gastrointestinal cancers conference (www.igicc.org) for the last 9 years and also served as an invited speaker in many national and international scientific conferences. Dr.Yalcin has participated many international multicentric clinical trials resulting in practice changes in oncology. He is also the editor of the book “Neuroendocrine tumors: Diagnosis and management” published by Springer and also the editor of “Textbook of Gastrointestinal Oncology” published by Springer as well in 2019.

Dr. Leonard B. Saltz is an oncologist in New York, New York and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and NYC Health and Hospitals-Bellevue. He received his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Dr. Viraj Lavingia joined HCG Ahmedabad in 2018 following a successful association with Apollo CBCC. Originally from Ahmedabad, Dr. Viraj earned his internal medicine degree at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai in 2013 and subsequently in 2017, he completed DNB (Medical Oncology) from Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad. He won scholarship award (UICC fellowship from City of Hope, Duarte USA, June 2016) for the project “HAI (Hepatic Arterial Infusion) chemotherapy for liver-limited metastatic colorectal cancer”. He is a trained and certified member of European Society for Medical Oncology & American Society of Clinical Oncology. He has publications in national/international journals and has been honored with invited lectures/seminars at the national level. He holds a special interest in GI Oncology predominantly colorectal cancers and pancreaticobiliary cancers.

Dr. Priya Tiwari is a renowned Medical Oncologist from country premier Institute, All India Institute of Medical Sciences. She is trained in dealing with all aspects of Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine and believes in providing holistic care to the patient. A MBBS gold medalist, she has numerous papers in many reputed journals. Her goal is to develop an oncology care model addressing all important issues concerning cancer patients.

Dr. Khalid Balaraj was initially trained in the United Kingdom. He has radiation oncology qualifications from – UK (FRCR (I), Ireland (FFR RCSI) and Canada (FRCPC). He has done 2 Clinical Fellowships from Canada, in Gynecology Brachytherapy and CNS Stereotactic Radiotherapy. Currently, Dr.Khalid Balaraj is a consultant radiation oncologist at Tawam Hospital, UAE.

Dr. Sanjay Sharma is a surgical oncologist and Director of Oncology and Professor at the Asian Institute of Oncology. He has worked at the Tata cancer hospital for over 27 years as professor ,trained extensively at Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer centre New York , also trained at Japan ‘s kuru me university , n Fukuoka university on surgery for cancer Esophagus.

Dr. Milind M. Javle is an oncologist in Houston, Texas and is affiliated with University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He received his medical degree from Grant Medical College and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Professor in Medical Oncology, HOD of Medical Oncology at University of Cagliari.Editorial board member of Editorial Board Annals of Oncology.

Dr. Deborah Mukherji is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine (Oncology) and joined the faculty of the AUBMC in June 2012. Dr Mukherji completed her advanced specialty training in Medical Oncology at Guys and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust, London UK and was awarded a Post-Graduate Diploma in Oncology from the Institute of Cancer Research, University of London in 2011.

Dr. Bhawna Sirohi started her oncology career at Tata Memorial centre (TMC), Mumbai in 1994 and completed training at Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, UK. She serves in Max Super specialty Hospital and is currently an honorary consultant with QMUL, London. At TMC in 2012-2014, she set up GI medical oncology &medical oncology information system (MOIS) for e-prescribing chemotherapy. She has been involved in initial setting up of cancer centres in Sangrur and Mohali, Punjab for TMC. She has piloted use of virtual consults using PROM & PREM in London.

Dr. Shona Nag is currently Director of Oncology at Sahayadri Group of Hospitals in Pune. She is known for her work in women’s health – especially breast cancer, cervical cancer & developmental theraputics. With over 27 years of practice, Dr. Shona Nag, who studied medicine in Pune’s BJ Medical College, followed by an oncology fellowship at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai has been Principal Investigator for over 40 Phase I, II, III global clinical Trials in Breast cancer, Ovarian cancer, lung cancer, Renal cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer.

Dr. Tarek Dufan is a Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist and has worked as Cancer Liaison Physician at the Sanford Bismarck Health Center, North Dakota, USA. He has also worked as a Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist at the Bismarck Cancer Center, Sanford Bismarck Health Center and CHI St. Alexius Health Center, North Dakota, USA. Dr. Dufan received his certification from the American Board and the Canada Board in Radiation Oncology.

Dr. Ashwathy is a Radiation Oncologist in Chennai. She did her MBBS from Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; her MD in Radiotherapy from Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai and her DNB in Radiation Oncology from the National Board of Examinations, New Delhi. She has also done a Clinical Fellowship in Gastrointestinal and Lung Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy at the University of Toronto (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre). Furthermore, she has done Proton therapy Observerships at the University of Pennsylvania and MD Anderson Cancer Centre, USA. She has also won the “Parvati Devi Gold Medal” for Best Paper at the 34th Annual Conference of Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROICON).

Dr. Ramanujam Singarachari ( Dr Ram) came to SKMC in 2009 from Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand after 3 years of higher training in Medical Oncology. He has completed his Medical Oncology Super-Specialty Degree (DM) in 2001 from Cancer Institute, Chennai, India and subsequently worked as faculty at regional cancer centers in India, before joining as senior staff specialist at Dubai Hospital, UAE. He is certified and recertified (2019) from European Society of Medical Oncology. He is also certified in Medical Oncology by the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom and the Association of Cancer Physicians. His areas of interest are GI cancers, Breast cancers, CNS cancers and Palliative Care.

Dr. Anita Ramesh covers all the areas of cancer management and treatment and she has been practicing in the field of Adult Medical Oncology, Pediatric Oncology and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant (PBSCT) from the last 12 years.Dr Anita Ramesh was awarded a scholarship by the British Council and has received a Fellowship in Pediatric Oncology from the International Outreach Programme and St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Memphis, US. She has more than 50 international presentations and 44 publications in peer review journals to her credit, with 5 clinical trials as Principal Investigator.

Dr. Sabita Jiwnani is a Thoracic surgeon in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Dr. Sabita Jiwnani is affiliated with Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

Dr. Sanjay Sharma is a surgical oncologist and Director of Oncology and Professor at the Asian Institute of Oncology. He has worked at the Tata cancer hospital for over 27 years as professor ,trained extensively at Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer centre New York , also trained at Japan ‘s kuru me university , n Fukuoka university on surgery for cancer Esophagus.

Dr. Sonia Otsmane is an experienced Medical Oncology-Haematology Consultant since 2004. Graduated from the Central faculty of Medecine Algiers in 1994. MD degree. Oncology-hematology board : Pierre and Marie curie institute in 2004. ESMO member. Member of ASCO. Member of Emirates oncology and hematology society. Member of Oncology society and Algerian order of physicians. Main interest: breast cancer, sarcomas, GI and GU malignancies and lymphomas. Has an interest and implicated in several clinical research. Publications and research ongoing on Hematology malignancies (Multiple myeloma /Lymphoma), Solid tumors mainly Breast cancer Head and neck tumors and Immunotherapy. Currently working as Medical Oncology Hematology Physician at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City.

Dr.Nouri Bennini has served as Consultant Oncologist at the Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, since 1999. He received his general medicine diploma in 1988 from the University of Constantine in Algeria and undertook residency in medical oncology at the University of Bordeaux, France. At the University of Montpellier, France, Dr. Bennini specialised in breast diseases. He has published several scientific papers and contributed to a number of oncology conferences.

Dr.Emad Anwar Dawoud, MD, PhD is a Consultant Clinical Oncology at Tawam Hospital (Affiliated with Johns Hopkins) Al Ain, UAE

Dr. Diaeddine Trad is a Consultant of Medical Oncology, at Tawam Hospital, in Al Ain, UAE. He is a member of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). He is an investigator in several ongoing clinical trials. Dr. Trad is certified as a specialist in internal medicine, hematology and oncology by the Lebanese Ministry of Health. His research interests include; non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma and locally advanced breast cancer. Dr. Trad was a speaker in many international conferences and forums.

Dr. Sharlene Gill is a leading medical expert specializing in the treatment of cancers of the GI system including colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, cancers of the stomach and esophagus, and liver cancers. Trained at the University of British Columbia, The Mayo Clinic and Harvard University, she has over 12 years of experience as an Academic Medical Oncologist, Professor of Medicine, Researcher and Educator in this field with numerous publications and speaking engagements to her credit.

Michael Buckstein, M.D., Ph.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors including the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gall bladder, bile ducts, rectum, and anus as well coronary brachytherapy.

Dr. Manish S. Bhandare is Associate Professor in GI and HPB Surgery, in Department of Surgical Oncology, at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India. He completed his masters (MCh) in surgical oncology in the year 2014. He then decided to pursue GI cancer surgery and completed a 2-year dedicated university fellowship in GI and HPB Surgical Oncology at the Tata Memorial before being appointed as a faculty in 2016. He has published his clinical research on GI cancers in national and international journals (42 pubmed publications) and has contributed to many book chapters on GI Oncology. He is actively involved in surgical oncology and GI surgery fellowship training programs at TMH. He is a member of IHPBA (International Hepato- pancreato-biliary association) and IASO (Indian association of surgical oncology). His main areas of expertise are Pancreatic & Gastric cancer management. He is currently focused on surgery for locally advanced pancreatic cancers, standardizing cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC for gastric cancer and minimally invasive HPB surgery at TMH.

Dr. Bhawna Sirohi started her oncology career at Tata Memorial centre (TMC), Mumbai in 1994 and completed training at Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, UK. She serves in Max Super specialty Hospital and is currently an honorary consultant with QMUL, London. At TMC in 2012-2014, she set up GI medical oncology &medical oncology information system (MOIS) for e-prescribing chemotherapy. She has been involved in initial setting up of cancer centres in Sangrur and Mohali, Punjab for TMC. She has piloted use of virtual consults using PROM & PREM in London.

He is the founding Medical Director of Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK, and is currently serving as the Executive Medical Director for SCRI UK and Clinical Lead for the Hospital Corporation of America International Cancer Service Line. Dr. Arkenau has vast experience in Early Oncology Clinical Drug Development with a special interest in gastrointestinal cancer and melanoma.

He is the founding Medical Director of Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK, and is currently serving as the Executive Medical Director for SCRI UK and Clinical Lead for the Hospital Corporation of America International Cancer Service Line. Dr. Arkenau has vast experience in Early Oncology Clinical Drug Development with a special interest in gastrointestinal cancer and melanoma.

Dr Fathi Azribi is a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Chief of Medical Oncology Division at Tawam Hospital. He graduated from Tripoli University, Libya, then completed specialty training in Oncology in the UK and obtained a Certificate of Completion of Training in Medical Oncology in October 2009. His main interest is in thoracic, breast, gynaecological and gastrointestinal malignancies; with expertise in treatment with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal and targeted therapy. He published several papers and abstracts in peer reviewed journals. He is also the Program Director of the medical oncology fellowship program at Tawam Hospital.

Deputy director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center, and in that capacity works with a multidisciplinary team of medical and surgical oncologists, dermatologists, and pathologists to treat patients with melanomas ranging from the most common to the most complex. Serve as codirector of the Melanoma Research Program, overseeing work in experimental therapeutics.

Dr.Javier Cortes is a head of breast cancer and gynecological cancers at Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal in Madrid, Spain, as well as Clinical Investigator in the breast cancer research program at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, Spain.He is one of the European leaders in the field of HER2+ breast cancer, and has led fundamental trials that resulted in the approval of pertuzumab, eribulin and everolimus for metastatic breast cancer. He continues to actively participate in national and international clinical investigations to develop molecularly targeted therapies, such as CDK 4/6 inhibitors, and immunotherapies.Dr. Cortés is on the Scientific Committee of ESMO and is an active member of ASCO and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology.

Dr. Shaheenah Dawood’s specialty is Oncology and currently works as a Consultant Oncologist in Mediclinic City Hospital. She currently serves as president of the Excellence in Oncology Care (EIOC) congress that is held annually in Dubai and is Co-Chair of the Asia Pacific Breast Cancer Summit (APBCS) & APGCS.

Dr. Deborah Mukherji is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine (Oncology) and joined the faculty of the AUBMC in June 2012. Dr Mukherji completed her advanced specialty training in Medical Oncology at Guys and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust, London UK and was awarded a Post-Graduate Diploma in Oncology from the Institute of Cancer Research, University of London in 2011.

“Solange Peters, MD, PhD, is a full professor and chair of medical oncology, as well as the thoracic malignancies program in the Department of Oncology at the University Hospital of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland. She received both her doctorate in medicine and PhD from the University Hospital of Lausanne. After completing her clinical education in medical oncology and molecular biology in Switzerland and Italy, Prof. Peters has specialized in thoracic tumors, lung cancer, and pleural tumors. Prof. Peters is currently in charge of teaching and patient care in thoracic malignancies at Lausanne University, where she is building a translational program in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the Ludwig Institute. Her main fields of interest are new biomarkers discovery and validation in preclinical and clinical settings, multimodality strategies for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as cancer immunotherapy. Her current research projects are mainly focused on innovative immunotherapy combinations and new immunomodulating treatments across thoracic malignancies. She acts as the local principal investigator (PI) for lung trials opened at Lausanne Cancer Centre and is a co-PI of several other trials. Additionally, she acts as the scientific coordinator and Foundation Council member of the European Thoracic Oncology Platform. Professor Peters has authored numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters, acts as associate editor of the Annals of Oncology, serves on the editorial board of several other oncology journals, and was the deputy editor of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology for 10 years. Prof. Peters is active in the educational programs of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) – where she created the Women for Oncology Committee and for which she is the youngest President ever for an extended time of 3 years 2020-2022, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) – were she was a previous Board of Directors member. “

Dr Fathi Azribi is a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Chief of Medical Oncology Division at Tawam Hospital. He graduated from Tripoli University, Libya, then completed specialty training in Oncology in the UK and obtained a Certificate of Completion of Training in Medical Oncology in October 2009. His main interest is in thoracic, breast, gynaecological and gastrointestinal malignancies; with expertise in treatment with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal and targeted therapy. He published several papers and abstracts in peer reviewed journals. He is also the Program Director of the medical oncology fellowship program at Tawam Hospital.

Giuseppe Curigliano, MD PhD, is Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Milano and the Head of the Division of Early Drug Development at the European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Italy. He is a clinician and researcher specialising in early drug development for patients with solid tumours with a special commitment to breast cancer. He has been a member of the Italian National Health Council since 2018 and, in 2019, he served as Chair of the Scientific Committee of The Lega Nazionale Lotta ai Tumori. 

He is the founding Medical Director of Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK, and is currently serving as the Executive Medical Director for SCRI UK and Clinical Lead for the Hospital Corporation of America International Cancer Service Line. Dr. Arkenau has vast experience in Early Oncology Clinical Drug Development with a special interest in gastrointestinal cancer and melanoma.

Dr.Bassim Al Bahrani is working as a Director at National Oncology Center, Royal Hospital Oman since 2010. He is an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of physicians and surgeons of Glasgow, and Ph.D. from University of Rome Tor Vergata.

Dr. Deborah Mukherji is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine (Oncology) and joined the faculty of the AUBMC in June 2012. Dr Mukherji completed her advanced specialty training in Medical Oncology at Guys and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust, London UK and was awarded a Post-Graduate Diploma in Oncology from the Institute of Cancer Research, University of London in 2011.

Dr Fathi Azribi is a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Chief of Medical Oncology Division at Tawam Hospital. He graduated from Tripoli University, Libya, then completed specialty training in Oncology in the UK and obtained a Certificate of Completion of Training in Medical Oncology in October 2009. His main interest is in thoracic, breast, gynaecological and gastrointestinal malignancies; with expertise in treatment with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal and targeted therapy. He published several papers and abstracts in peer reviewed journals. He is also the Program Director of the medical oncology fellowship program at Tawam Hospital.

Dr. Diaeddine Trad is a Consultant of Medical Oncology, at Tawam Hospital, in Al Ain, UAE. He is a member of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). He is an investigator in several ongoing clinical trials. Dr. Trad is certified as a specialist in internal medicine, hematology and oncology by the Lebanese Ministry of Health. His research interests include; non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma and locally advanced breast cancer. Dr. Trad was a speaker in many international conferences and forums.

Dr. Diab has been working with NMC since May 2014 as Consultant Medical Oncologist. He completed his MD in 2004 from Karolinska University, Sweden. Subsequently, he completed his Certificate in Bone Marrow Transplantation in 2008 from Oncology Hospital, Radiumhemmet. Dr. Diab was instrumental in setting up the Oncology clinic at NMC hospital, where he implemented updated chemotherapy protocols according to the highest international and European standards. He has also set up a one of its kind, unique tumour board, which meets weekly to discuss all cancer cases to ensure that each patient’s treatment is personalised and most appropriate to his/her needs. This tumour board is multi-disciplinary & consists of the onco-surgeon, onco-pathologist & onco-radiologist in addition to allied specialities. Prior to joining NMC, he was a Consultant Medical Oncologist since 2008 in the West Gotland Region in Sweden that had 2 hospitals having capacities of 525 and 300 beds respectively. He was also instrumental in setting up and leading the oncology clinics of these hospitals while in Sweden. Dr. Diab manages his own Medical Oncology study and participates actively in many studies for different Tumour diagnosis. He is multilingual and can communicate fluently in English, Arabic, Swedish and has knowledge of conversational Norwegian and Danish.

“Solange Peters, MD, PhD, is a full professor and chair of medical oncology, as well as the thoracic malignancies program in the Department of Oncology at the University Hospital of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland. She received both her doctorate in medicine and PhD from the University Hospital of Lausanne. After completing her clinical education in medical oncology and molecular biology in Switzerland and Italy, Prof. Peters has specialized in thoracic tumors, lung cancer, and pleural tumors. Prof. Peters is currently in charge of teaching and patient care in thoracic malignancies at Lausanne University, where she is building a translational program in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the Ludwig Institute. Her main fields of interest are new biomarkers discovery and validation in preclinical and clinical settings, multimodality strategies for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as cancer immunotherapy. Her current research projects are mainly focused on innovative immunotherapy combinations and new immunomodulating treatments across thoracic malignancies. She acts as the local principal investigator (PI) for lung trials opened at Lausanne Cancer Centre and is a co-PI of several other trials. Additionally, she acts as the scientific coordinator and Foundation Council member of the European Thoracic Oncology Platform. Professor Peters has authored numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters, acts as associate editor of the Annals of Oncology, serves on the editorial board of several other oncology journals, and was the deputy editor of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology for 10 years. Prof. Peters is active in the educational programs of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) – where she created the Women for Oncology Committee and for which she is the youngest President ever for an extended time of 3 years 2020-2022, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) – were she was a previous Board of Directors member. “

Giuseppe Curigliano, MD PhD, is Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Milano and the Head of the Division of Early Drug Development at the European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Italy. He is a clinician and researcher specialising in early drug development for patients with solid tumours with a special commitment to breast cancer. He has been a member of the Italian National Health Council since 2018 and, in 2019, he served as Chair of the Scientific Committee of The Lega Nazionale Lotta ai Tumori. 

Dr. Bhawna Sirohi started her oncology career at Tata Memorial centre (TMC), Mumbai in 1994 and completed training at Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, UK. She serves in Max Super specialty Hospital and is currently an honorary consultant with QMUL, London. At TMC in 2012-2014, she set up GI medical oncology &medical oncology information system (MOIS) for e-prescribing chemotherapy. She has been involved in initial setting up of cancer centres in Sangrur and Mohali, Punjab for TMC. She has piloted use of virtual consults using PROM & PREM in London.

He is the founding Medical Director of Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK, and is currently serving as the Executive Medical Director for SCRI UK and Clinical Lead for the Hospital Corporation of America International Cancer Service Line. Dr. Arkenau has vast experience in Early Oncology Clinical Drug Development with a special interest in gastrointestinal cancer and melanoma.

Dr. Wafaa Helmi Ayesh, Consultant Clinical Nutrition Masters in Food Science & Nutrition (Clayton University, USA) Diploma Holder in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism (ESPEN, France) Diploma Holder in Nutrition (American Association of Continuing Medical Education AACME) Consultant, Public Health Protection Department (Dubai Health Authority, UAE) Her areas of expertise are Pediatric to geriatric nutrition, Diabetes nutrition, Renal nutrition, Oncology nutrition, Baristric surgery nutrition & General and parenteral nutrition.

Associate Professor, Nutrition and Food Research Group (NFRG), Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences (RIMHS), Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics College of Health Sciences – University of Sharjah – UAE

Dr Farah Naja is an associate professor in Nutrition Epidemiology, at the University of Sharjah. She earned her doctoral degree from University of Toronto, Canada. Dr Naja is leading an active research portfolio, with over 75 publications. Her research focus is to explore innovative approaches to study dietary intake, with a focus on the Mediterranean diet, its health and environmental impacts. Together with her team, she has launched the first mother and child nutrition cohort in the Middle East in Lebanon (MINA) and contributed to the launch of a similar cohort in the UAE (MISC). By researching research, Dr Naja has laid out the agenda for research in nutrition and NCD and in nutrition and breast cancer in the Arab world.

“Dr. Osama Kamel Allala holds a PhD in the physiology of physical exertion and health – the first in the class with distinction with honors. Experience of more than 30 years in the field of physical activity, health, nutrition, obesity and lack of movement diseases. Certified trainer in athlete nutrition and athlete health behaviors Certified international trainer and lecturer in the fields of obesity, physical activity, lack of movement and lifestyle. Participant as a keynote speaker in more than 500 conferences, seminars and workshops on physical activity, obesity, nutrition, fitness and healthy behaviors for athletes Has more than 52 published research papers and 16 published books on physical fitness, health, obesity, healthy lifestyle, lack of movement and physical activity.”

Dr. Wafaa Helmi Ayesh, Consultant Clinical Nutrition Masters in Food Science & Nutrition (Clayton University, USA) Diploma Holder in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism (ESPEN, France) Diploma Holder in Nutrition (American Association of Continuing Medical Education AACME) Consultant, Public Health Protection Department (Dubai Health Authority, UAE) Her areas of expertise are Pediatric to geriatric nutrition, Diabetes nutrition, Renal nutrition, Oncology nutrition, Baristric surgery nutrition & General and parenteral nutrition.

“With over 40 years of experience in General Surgery, Dr. Rolf Ulrich Hartung brings with him a wealth of information and experience in the field of Medicine and Medical Management from both within and outside the UAE. Dr. Rolf’s education & training have spread over diverse countries including France, Germany, Argentina, England & Scotland. He holds Facharzt in General Surgery, Facharzt in Visceral Surgery, FRCS of England & FRCPS of Glasgow. German by origin, Dr. Rolf speaks 6 languages including, Arabic, Mandarin, French, German, Spanish & English. Dr. Rolf has held various leadership positions in prominent medical establishments within the UAE including Head of Thoracic Surgery, Rashid Hospital (DOH), Head of Urology Department, Dubai Hospital(DHA), Head of surgical department BR Medical Suites (DHCC), Medical Director in Mediclinic City Hospital (DHCC). In addition, he has held many Professorship positions at leading Medical Educational Bodies within and outside the UAE including Dubai Medical College & Medical College at Mohammed Bin Rashid University and has been part of over 20 hospital committees and over 30 medical societies.”

Dr. Bello is a highly experienced general and breast / Aesthetic Oncoplastic surgeon who has practiced for most of her career in the UK. She had worked at Nottingham Breast institute before moving to Noble’s Hospital on the Isle of Man, UK, where she was responsible for developing the landscape of breast care delivery on the island. She is a specialist in breast surgery and breast reconstruction, as well as a fully accredited general surgeon. Dr Millicent Alache Bello joins King’s with more than 35 years of experience both in the UK and UAE. Dr Bello completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) in 1982 and earned FRCS (Ed) in 1991, FRCS (Gen.Surg Ed) in 2000, MPhil (Leicester) in 2005. She gained The Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) in 2000.

Dorria Salem 1953, Egyptian radiologist, MD, Cairo University 1987. A professor at Cairo University teaching hospital, since 1998 and the general manager of the women’s health outreach program [National Egyptian breast screening program] since 2007. She is one of the pioneers in the women’s imaging the thing that put her in a very distinguished position on the national level as well as the Arab level. She is the founder of the women’s imaging unit at the radiology department at Cairo university teaching hospital since 2003. She has recently been selected to be a member in the Middle East board of Aunt Minnie radiology website.

Dr Bhawna has been In teaching hospital & University For 20 years. She has More than 50 publications in National & International Peer Reviewed Journals.

Consultant Breast Radiologist Dr Sim graduated from University of Edinburgh and completed Radiology specialist training in Glasgow, attaining the FRCR in 2011. She worked as a Consultant Radiologist in Scotland U.K., with vast experience in diagnostic and interventional breast radiology and breast cancer care. She was Director of Breast Screening in East of Scotland since 2015. She relocated to Dubai in 2020 and is a Consultant Breast Radiologist at Mediclinic City Hospital, where she provides full range of breast diagnostics and image-guided intervention, including contrast-enhanced mammography, MRI-guided biopsies and vacuum-assisted excisions.

She is a Consultant Radiologist at Tata Memorial Hospital with special interest in Breast, Gynaecological and Urological malignancies.

Dr. Yunus is a fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists, London (FRCR) with CCST certification, and a fellow and member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan (FCPS and MCPS) in Diagnostic Radiology. Dr. Yunus is a highly experienced radiologist who is an expert in sectional body imaging including CT and MRI as well as CT-angiographies, cardiac-CT, virtual endoscopy and MR-angiographies. She has a special interest in breast imaging and is experienced in breast ultrasound, mammography and MRI with CAD stream analysis. She is also trained in ultrasound guided FNA, trucut biopsies of breast lesions and axillary lymph nodes and mammographic guided pre-operative needle localisation of non-palpable breast lumps. She also performs galactography.

Dr. Mordani is an experienced interventional radiologist with many years of UK-based experience in both diagnostic and interventional radiology. He has a keen interest in vascular and non-vascular intervention and he regularly performs procedures such as peripheral vascular angioplasties and stents, hepato-biliary drainages and stents, selective celiac/mesenteric and renal embolisations, ultrasound and CT-guided biopsies and drainage and trans-jugular liver biopsies. Dr. Mordani attained a Fellowship in Interventional Radiology from the University Hospitals Network in Toronto, Canada and, among others, is a member of the British Society of Interventional Radiologists.

Dr. Masood Ali is an experienced pulmonologist dealing with variety of conditions such as acute and chronic cough, airway disease, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer and pleural diseases. He is experienced in assessing and managing patients with sleep-related complaints which include reporting full polysomnographies and providing treatment for both respiratory and non-respiratory sleep disorders and was also Clinical Lead for Sleep & Ventilation service at Southend University Hospital (UK). Dr. Masood Ali has also managed pulmonary inpatients with a variety of conditions, including pneumonia, PE, exacerbations of airway and interstitial lung diseases and pleural effusions, as well as providing respiratory consult service to intensive care patients by providing a weaning expertise to the tracheostomy ventilated patients. Some of Dr. Masood achievements are: Clinical Excellence Award by the National Health Service, UK; Innovation Award by Southend Hospital, UK Best clinical teacher nominee for London Deanery

Dr. Abhishek Mahajan has completed his MBBS and MD Radiodiagnosis from KMC Manipal, and then did super-specialisation,2 yrs Fellowship in Cancer Imaging at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, from August 2009 to July 2011. Then worked as senior resident in TMC from August 2011 to September 2011.

Dr. Abhishek Mahajan has completed his MBBS and MD Radiodiagnosis from KMC Manipal, and then did super-specialisation,2 yrs Fellowship in Cancer Imaging at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, from August 2009 to July 2011. Then worked as senior resident in TMC from August 2011 to September 2011.

He is a Professor and Chief, Department of Head and Neck Surgery. His key focus area as head and neck cancers are the commonest cancer in India accounting for approx 30% of cases. He is committed to the causes of prevention, early detection, service, education and research in the field of cancer. Professor D’Cruz has held leadership positions in numerous professional bodies nationally and internationally. He has over 125 peer reviewed publications and text book chapters and has been the lead investigator for numerous self-initiated and global multicentre trials. His research is focused on innovation, novel therapy and cost-effective strategies.

Dr. Abdul Aleem is an ENT consultant with more than 20 years of experience. He was trained in the United Kingdom as an ENT surgeon and completed his fellowship in ENT from the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, following his initial medical training for MBBS at the Dow Medical College, University of Karachi in Pakistan. Dr. Aleem is experienced in major ontological work and Head and Neck Surgical Oncology in addition to routine ENT Surgery. Dr. Aleem has worked at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre as an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology. Apart from being the largest Postgraduate Teaching Centre, it is also one of the largest neurosurgical departments in Pakistan. During his time at the Centre, he dealt with various otological cases with intracranial complications. Dr. Aleem additionally gained extensive experience in mastoid and middle ear surgery. Most recently he completed one year Research Fellowship in Neurotology at the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Cincinnati, the University Hospital and the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

• 2012 – 2013; Professor (Lecturer) – Gülhane Military Medical Academy and Military Medical Faculty Nuclear Medicine Department. Ankara • 2013 – 2016; Professor (Head of Department) – Gülhane Military Medical Academy and Military Medical Faculty Nuclear Medicine Department. Ankara • 2016 – 2020; Professor (Head of Department) – Health Sciences University, Gülhane Medical Faculty Nuclear Medicine Department. Ankara

Dr Porcu is an established oncologist within the areas of breast, gastrointestinal, head and neck, prostate, brain, gynaecological, skin and thyroid cancers. She is experienced in the management of all malignant diseases, combining chemotherapeutic agents with advanced radiotherapy techniques. Dr Porcu graduated from the prestigious La Cattolica University, Rome in 2005 and obtained her speciality degree in Radiotherapy and Oncology from the University La Sapienza, Rome in 2009. She has been instrumental in developing advanced radiotherapy treatment techniques such as Intensity and Volumetric Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT-VMAT), Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT), Stereotactic Radiosurgery using Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Breath Hold Radiotherapy, Carbon Ions Therapy and Proton Therapy. In 2010, Dr Porcu was awarded a grant from the European Institute of Oncology, for a clinical research project on hypo-fractioned treatments in breast cancer. As a result, she has become a leading authority in the field of intra-operative radiation therapy in breast cancer. In the same year, Dr. Procu also became a consultant in Radiation Oncology working closely with the European Institute of Oncology in Milan (IEO) and the Italian National Centre for Hadrontherapy. Dr Porcu has written a number of published articles and she also actively participated in ongoing clinical trials particularly related to breast cancer, prostate cancer and gastrointestinal malignancies. In 2016, Dr Porcu was enrolled into the United Kingdom’s General Medical Council Specialist Register as a Clinical Oncologist. She also worked at Royal Free Hospital, London, as a consultant in Clinical Oncology and was the Oncology lead in several multidisciplinary team meetings and developed protocols within departments. She is an active member of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), the British Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and the Italian Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (AIRO).

Dr. Lutfi Kurban is a consultant Radiologist at Tawam Hospital and Assistant Professor at UAE University. He was trained in the UK and he has a wide experience in General Radiology. His areas of interests are thoracic, hepatobiliary & urological imaging including multiparametric MRI imaging of prostate, prostate fusion biopsies as well as tumour ablation techniques. In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Kurban is interested in research and was a principle investigator / co applicant for a few Urological and Chest clinical trials in the UK.

Dr. Mudhar is a consultant urologist with over 15 years’ experience. He worked at Danderyd University Hospital and Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden for the last eight years. Dr. Mudhar is a well experienced endourologist and robotic surgeon dealing with renal stones, bladder tumours and upper urinary tract tumors together with prostate cancer. Dr Mudhar has done more than 350 robotic procedures.

Dr. Reinhold Peter Posch Zimmermann is specialized in United Arab Emirates and of the most sought after doctors in Urinary Specialist. Dr. Zimmerman has over 15 Years years of experience.

Dr. Punekar worked in the UK for 10 years where he conducted his specialist training at the Northern Deanery and was a consultant radiologist at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK) from 2009 to 2014. During this time he was a core member of the multidisciplinary teams for GI cancers in the West Yorkshire Cancer network and for IBD (inflammatory bowel Disease). He moved to Abu Dhabi in 2014 and was Head of Department and Consultant Radiologist at Kings College Hospitals Clinics, Abu Dhabi before joining Mediclinic. He is a member of the General Medical Council (UK), the Royal College of Radiologists (UK) and the British Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology.

Dr Rana Irfan Mahmood is a British trained oncologist with more than 20 years of clinical experience. He moved to Dubai from the NHS, UK where he was working as Consultant Oncologist, leading cancer services across Colchester and Ipswich hospitals as Clinical Director. He also worked in King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre Riyadh as consultant oncologist while setting up advanced brachytherapy and Intra-operative radiotherapy services there in addition to enhancing the quality of cancer care as Quality Medical Director. He is well known for developing advanced forms of Image Guided Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy in several centres. Moreover, he is expert in managing patients with Immunotherapy for several types of cancers. Dr Rana Mahmood has extensively published his clinical experience and research work in peer reviewed journals. He has trained a number of oncologists and teaches at the Royal College courses. He has been awarded Fellowship of both Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Radiologists in UK. He led several international trials, for advanced radiotherapy, Immunotherapy and other biological/molecular agents. He is member of American Society of Oncology and European Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology. His special expertise include Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SABR/SBRT), MRI guided High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy for Cervix/Prostate cancer, LDR Brachytherapy for Prostate cancer, molecular radiotherapy, Biological targeted therapies and Immunotherapy.

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Professor Massimo Malago has a special interest in hepato-biliary-pancreatic, oncologic and transplantation surgery. He is bothEuropean and American trained and certified. He performed the first right living donor hepatectomy and the first successful adult living donor liver transplantation in Europe. His scientific interests are surgical techniques in split and liver donor transplantation, Small for Size Syndrome in liver transplant, post-surgical liver failure and cholangiocarcinoma.

Dr Okan deals with Non-vascular Interventional radiology and Abdominal Imaging. His current reseach interests 1. Percutaneous treatment of hydatid disease 2. Percutaneous treatment of simple cysts (liver, kidney, spleen) 3. Percutaneous treatmnet of lymphocysts 4. Celiac ganglia blocks 5. Image Guided tumor ablation (HCC-CRCLmetastasis, Lung tumor etc.) 6. IRE in panceatic adenoca. 7. Non-vasc interventional procedures 8. Imaging of diffuse liver diseases 9. Imaging of peritoneal diseases

Dr. Hemant Vadeyar is a Gastrointestinal & Liver Specialist with a particular interest in Diseases of the Liver, including fatty liver, hepatitis B & C, liver cancers and liver cirrhosis. He is presently a Consultant Gastrointestinal, Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary and Liver Transplant Surgeon at Mediclinic City Hospital.

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Dr. Mahmoud Tabbal is a Consultant General, Hepatobiliary & Transplant Surgeon with extensive experience in the field for more than 19 years in USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Most recently, he worked as the head of Hepatobiliary Surgery at King Fahad Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Tabbal is Jordanian board certified in general surgery and has received his advanced sub speciality training in USA and Canada through the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) and the American Hepatopancreatobiliary Association (AHPBA). He is an active member in numerous societies, committees and associations including the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the International HepatoPancreatoBiliary Association (IHPBA)

A Hepatologist with more than 15 years of experience to his credit, Dr. Kaiser Raja is an expert in the medical management of patients with the complex liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer and patients requiring liver transplantation. Trained at some of finest institutes in the United States as well as India, his fields of special interest include chronic viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and metabolic liver disease. Dr. Raja holds a major interest in the management of patients with chronic hepatitis B and C, autoimmune hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer and post liver transplant patients. Dr. Raja has published in leading medical journals and is a regularly invited speaker for major national and international medical conferences. Apart from Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, Dr. Raja has a regular monthly liver clinic in Indore in Madhya Pradesh and in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in UAE.

“With over 40 years of experience in General Surgery, Dr. Rolf Ulrich Hartung brings with him a wealth of information and experience in the field of Medicine and Medical Management from both within and outside the UAE. Dr. Rolf’s education & training have spread over diverse countries including France, Germany, Argentina, England & Scotland. He holds Facharzt in General Surgery, Facharzt in Visceral Surgery, FRCS of England & FRCPS of Glasgow. German by origin, Dr. Rolf speaks 6 languages including, Arabic, Mandarin, French, German, Spanish & English. Dr. Rolf has held various leadership positions in prominent medical establishments within the UAE including Head of Thoracic Surgery, Rashid Hospital (DOH), Head of Urology Department, Dubai Hospital(DHA), Head of surgical department BR Medical Suites (DHCC), Medical Director in Mediclinic City Hospital (DHCC). In addition, he has held many Professorship positions at leading Medical Educational Bodies within and outside the UAE including Dubai Medical College & Medical College at Mohammed Bin Rashid University and has been part of over 20 hospital committees and over 30 medical societies.”

“With over 40 years of experience in General Surgery, Dr. Rolf Ulrich Hartung brings with him a wealth of information and experience in the field of Medicine and Medical Management from both within and outside the UAE. Dr. Rolf’s education & training have spread over diverse countries including France, Germany, Argentina, England & Scotland. He holds Facharzt in General Surgery, Facharzt in Visceral Surgery, FRCS of England & FRCPS of Glasgow. German by origin, Dr. Rolf speaks 6 languages including, Arabic, Mandarin, French, German, Spanish & English. Dr. Rolf has held various leadership positions in prominent medical establishments within the UAE including Head of Thoracic Surgery, Rashid Hospital (DOH), Head of Urology Department, Dubai Hospital(DHA), Head of surgical department BR Medical Suites (DHCC), Medical Director in Mediclinic City Hospital (DHCC). In addition, he has held many Professorship positions at leading Medical Educational Bodies within and outside the UAE including Dubai Medical College & Medical College at Mohammed Bin Rashid University and has been part of over 20 hospital committees and over 30 medical societies.”

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Dr. Shailesh V. Shrikhande, is Deputy Director at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. He is also Professor & Head, Division of Cancer Surgery and Chief of GI and HPB Surgical Oncology at the Tata Memorial Hospital. After completing his MS from Mumbai University where he was ranked first in 1997, he proceeded to Switzerland where he worked with one of the leading pancreatic surgeons in the world, Professor Markus Buchler. During his 15 month stay there, he was actively involved in basic science research in tropical chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. On his return to India, he worked as a fellow in GI Surgery at the Tata Memorial Hospital from July 2001 till October 2002. He was then appointed as consultant GI and HPB surgeon of Tata Memorial Hospital in November 2002. In 2005, he became the first Asian to be awarded the Kenneth Warren Fellowship of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) – and was on special deputation from Tata Memorial for a year in the University of Heidelberg in Germany – perhaps the highest volume center for pancreatic resectional surgery in the world. He was awarded the “Doctor Med” (MD) degree by the University of Heidelberg with the excellent grade in January 2006 for his work on pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. He has been invited for over 80 lectures in India and abroad in Switzerland, Germany, Egypt and China and Russia. He has more than 70 clinical and basic science research papers in indexed international and national peer reviewed journals. He has contributed more than 30 book chapters to various national and international books and is the editor of the book “Surgery of Pancreatic tumors” released in October 2007. He has given live operative demonstrations on pancreatic, gall bladder and rectal cancer, is on the review board of many national and international journals, and is the Associate Editor of Indian Journal of Colorectal Diseases.

Dr Prathamesh Pai is Professor in the Department of Head & Neck Surgical Oncology at the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. He is a teacher for the MCh (Head and Neck Surgical Oncology) a structured three year training programme recognised by the Medical Council of India. A versatile surgeon, Dr. Pai has special interest in Laryngeal and Skull Base surgery with focus on Laser and minimal access. He is convener of the Multidisciplinary Skull Base Clinic since 2007. He was a member of the Institutional Review Board, Tata Memorial Centre for several years and is a reviewer for numerous national and international journals. Besides being a co-investigator in numerous basic and clinical studies, currently he is conducting a large randomised clinical trial on evaluation of oral metronomic chemotherapy in advanced operable oral cancers. With over 60 peer reviewed publications he has articles on Near-Total Laryngectomy, Transoral Laser Surgery for Early Glottic Cancers, Endoscopic Sinonasal tumour surgery amongst his more cited ones. He is co-editor of a monograph on surgery for the larynx and hypopharynx. Dr Pai an alumnus of the Grant Medical College, Mumbai specialized in Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery from Seth G S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai. He pursued Fellowship in Head & Neck Surgical Oncology at Tata Memorial Centre. In 2002 he received the UICC ICRETT Fellowship for training in Endoscopic Approaches to Sinonasal and Skull Base tumours in Kinikum Fulda, Germany. He was awarded the Hargobind Medical Fellowship in 2007 for training in Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Surgery of the Skull Base and Pituitary at the University of Pittsburgh, USA.

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