Aadil Khan

Mr Aadil Khan, MPH, PhD, FRCS(Plast), is a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at The Royal Marsden Hospital and an honorary faculty member at The Institute of Cancer Research. He specialises in breast reconstruction, lymphoedema surgery, complex reconstruction and breast implant-related disease.

After studying medicine at the University of Oxford, he completed an MPH at Harvard University and a PhD at The Institute of Cancer Research, followed by specialist plastic surgery training in London and advanced fellowships in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.

Mr Khan is a clinician-scientist with a strong interest in translational research, particularly the biological mechanisms underlying implant-related pathology, radiation fibrosis and lymphoedema. He is Chief Investigator of BASILICA, a translational biobanking study investigating BIA-ALCL, capsular contracture and the immune response to breast implants. As a member of The Royal Marsden's specialist multidisciplinary BIA-ALCL team, he combines scientific investigation with clinical care. His presentation will explore the recognition, investigation and multidisciplinary management of BIA-ALCL, alongside emerging insights into its pathogenesis.

Ahmad Matalkah

Dr. Ahmad Matalkah, MD, FACS, is a Consultant Surgical Oncologist and Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, with a clinical and academic focus on advancing breast cancer surgery through innovation, education, and research. He serves as Associate Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Khalifa University, where he is actively involved in training the next generation of surgeons. Dr. Matalkah has authored book chapters and numerous peer-reviewed publications in breast oncology and surgical innovation. His research and clinical work focus on improving oncologic outcomes while optimizing quality of life through minimally invasive and oncoplastic techniques. His areas of expertise include minimally invasive and robotic breast surgery, risk-reducing mastectomy, genetic risk assessment, axillary reverse mapping, lymphaticovenous bypass surgery for lymphedema prevention and treatment, and advanced oncoplastic breast reconstruction. He has played a leading role in introducing innovative breast surgical techniques and technologies in the region. In addition to his clinical and academic responsibilities, Dr. Matalkah serves on the Emirati Board Committee of General Surgery, contributing to surgical education and the development of national training standards. He remains committed to delivering patient-centered, evidence-based care while advancing the field of breast surgery through research, innovation, and international collaboration

Andreas Karakatsanis

Andreas Karakatsanis currently serves as Chief of Breast Surgery and Senior Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon and Chief of Breast Surgery at the Akademiska University Hospital in Uppsala, Sweden, where he is the director of the International BRESO fellowship, Associate Professor of Breast Surgery at the Medical School of Uppsala University and the founder of the Uppsala Breast Meeting. Since January 2026, he has been appointed visiting professor of surgery of Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. 

Andreas is a graduate of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece and completed his General Surgery training at the 2nd Department of Surgery of the University of Athens. Following his core training, he undertook a fellowship at the Akademiska University Hospital in Uppsala, Sweden, where he was appointed as a consultant since 2014. He holds 2 PhD degrees: one from the Medical School of the University of Athens on microRNA and malignant liver disease (2015) and one from Uppsala University in the implementation of innovative techniques in breast cancer surgery (2018).  

Andreas is the Secretary of the Executive Board of the UEMS Breast Division. of the European Board of Surgery (Breast), having served as an examiner for a decade.  He has served with the Editorial Board of the European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO) since 2018, currently as Deputy Editor-In-Chief. 

A highly sought speaker in international meetings and courses, Andreas focuses his research in maximizing outcomes in breast conserving therapies, standardizing oncoplastic surgery and  developing minimally invasive techniques. 

Anwar Nouri

Graduated medical school from the arabian gulf university at bahrain. Completed internal medicine residency followed by medical oncology fellowship at mcgill university in canada. He completed another fellowship in breast cancer. Currently head of the breast cancer unit at the kuwait cancer control center and the program director of the medical oncology program at the kuwait institute for medical specializations

Bassel Jallad

Dr. Bassel Jallad, MD, CPE is a Staff Physician within the Medical Oncology Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Cancer Institute. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Jallad was the Associate Director of Medical Oncology Fellowship Program at St Louis University in St Louis, Missouri and the Medical Director of Medical Oncology Service Line at Blessing Health System in Quincy, Illinois, USA. Dr. Jallad received his medical degree from Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan, and completed his residency at the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA. He completed his fellowship at the Henry Ford Hospital, Wayne State University, Michigan, USA. Dr. Jallad is triple American Board Certified in Internal Medicine , Medical Oncology and Hematology. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Jallad has specialized in managing different cancer types, especially Breast Cancer, and the management of benign and malignant hematological disorders. Dr. Jallad has multiple peer reviewed publications discussing various cancer related topics in highly influential medical journals Currently, Dr. Jallad resides in Abu Dhabi, with his wife and three children. When he is not working at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Jallad enjoys swimming and working on his tennis skills.

Carla Hajj

Dr. Carla Hajj is a U.S.-trained Radiation Oncologist and Consultant Physician at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, where she also serves as Director of Clinical Research for the Cancer Institute. Dr. Hajj completed her postdoctoral research training in translational oncology, residency training in Radiation Oncology, and the Mortimer J. Lacher Clinical Lymphoma Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she served as Chief Resident. She subsequently joined the faculty, where she held several academic leadership roles, including Associate Program Director of the Radiation Oncology Residency Program and Medical Student Clerkship Director. She also led the gastrointestinal and hematologic malignancy proton therapy program at the institution and the New York Proton Center. Dr. Hajj has successfully secured multiple competitive research grants and serves as principal investigator and co-investigator on multiple clinical and translational studies. She has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and remains committed to advancing cancer care through clinical excellence, innovation, education, and mentorship.

Elif Dalkilinç

Emad Dawod

Dr. Emad Dawoud, a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Chief of Medical Oncology at Tawam Hospital in the United Arab Emirates, has a distinguished medical career spanning over two decades. Dr. Dawoud completed his medical degree (MD) and PhD in clinical Oncology in 2010. He further solidified his expertise in the field by becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom in medical oncology in 2012 and obtaining a Master’s degree in clinical oncology in 2003. Dr. Dawoud’s academic journey began at Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, where he graduated in 1997, and has been appointed as lecturer of clinical oncology in 2010. Throughout his career, Dr. Dawoud has been involved in numerous clinical trials, serving as a principal investigator or co-investigator in over 50 clinical trials and over 100 publications . His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and he has been a member of various esteemed associations, including (ASCO),(ESMO), and (ESTRO).

Faisal Alterkait

Fawad Khan

Dr. Fawad Khan, MBBS, is a Staff Physician within the Longevity Medicine Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Cancer Institute. He serves as a Family Medicine Consultant, Medical Breast Specialist and High-Risk Physician, who leads the Hereditary High-Risk and Longevity Medicine Programs within the Oncology Institute. He previously served as Chairman of the Primary Care department. Dr. Khan completed Fellowship training in Medical Breast with a focus on Cancer Genomics from Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio. In 2022, he spearheaded the Hereditary High-Risk Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a unique program which focusses on populations at increased of cancers. These high-risk patients are then managed under a personalised Precision Prevention Program to reduce the risk of cancer, under a multi-disciplinary team of experts at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He also leads the Longevity Medicine Program which is designed to support cancer patients after their cancer treatment ends and to guide them through the next stage of their care. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Khan served as a Medical Director for Mediclinic Group. During his role over 4 years, he was responsible for 22 ambulatory multi-specialty centres across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. He led a team of over 170 physicians and played an instrumental role in establishing a strong clinical governance structure across the network of clinics. Under his leadership he saw the introduction of practice guidelines, physician appraisal process and structured CME programs to support physicians to practice at the top of their license. Prior to this, he served in the Primary Care Taskforce at the Department of Health and played a key role from conceptualising to implementation of the Primary Care Strategy across the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Before relocating to the UAE in 2013, he served in several leadership roles in the UK. He lives in Abu Dhabi with his wife and two children and is an avid golfer.

Giancarlo Pruneri

Giuseppe Curigliano

Giuseppe Curigliano, MD, PhD, is the director of the Early Drug Development Division at the European Institute of Oncology, a comprehensive cancer center in Milano, Italy. He is professor of Medical Oncology in the Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology at the University of Milano. 

In ESMO he served as Chair the ESMO Nomination Committee (2017-2019) and as Chair of the ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline Committee (2019-2023). He was one of the founding member and served as scientific Co-Chair of the “ESMO Breast Cancer Congress”. He also served several years as scientific co-chair of St Gallen Early Breast Consensus Conference. 

He contributed to launch the ESMO Living Guidelines and to the recognition of the Fellow of ESMO (FESMO). He organized and participated to many professional and educational congresses for oncologists all over the world. Professor Curigliano’s research focuses on biomarkers and personalized therapies, with an emphasis on biomarker discovery, targeted agent development, and the integration of personalized medicine. 

He leads Phase I-III clinical trials on targeted therapies for breast cancer and oversees large-scale national studies on the implementation of high-throughput technologies in healthcare systems Professor Curigliano was identified as Clarivate™ world’s most influential researchers (the highly cited researchers) in 2022, 2023 and 2024. He has authored more than 900 papers in peer-reviewed journals (h-index 100) and many book chapters. 

He served as editorial board member for international journals in oncology (European Journal of Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Oncology). He served as Editor in Chief of ESMO Open from 2022 to 2025. He trained, mentored and sponsored dozens of medical oncologists from Latin America, Africa, Asia and Italy.

Professor Curigliano was awarded with the first ESO Umberto Veronesi Award (2017) and with the Fellowship of the European Academy of Cancer Sciences in Paris (2017). He is ESMO President elect. 

Hassan Ghazal

Dr Hassan Ghazal is an American board-certified Consultant Medical Oncologist and Consultant Clinical Haematologist with over three decades of distinguished clinical practice. He earned his MD from the American University of Beirut in 1989, then completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Maryland (1992). He proceeded to the George Washington University Medical Center for a fellowship in Medical Oncology (1992–1995) and remained there to undertake a senior fellowship in Bone Marrow Transplantation, awarded in 1997. Throughout his career in the United States, Dr Ghazal has held leadership positions such as Director of the Kentucky Cancer Clinic and Staff Oncologist/Haematologist at Hazard Appalachian Regional Medical Center. He has served as Principal Investigator on nearly 100 clinical trials over 25 years, enrolling hundreds of patients and contributing substantially to advances in cancer therapy. A prolific author of peer-reviewed publications and abstracts, Dr Ghazal is an active member of the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Haematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the European Society for Medical Oncology. His American Board certifications in both Haematology and Medical Oncology are current and active, ensuring his patients benefit from the very latest in evidence-based care.

Haythem Y Ali

Dr. Haythem Ali is a board-certified medical oncologist and Senior Staff Oncologist at Henry Ford Health in Michigan. With more than 25 years of experience in oncology, his clinical and research interests include breast cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, and precision oncology. He is an active member of leading professional organizations, including ASCO and ESMO, and has contributed extensively to clinical research, peer-reviewed publications, and international oncology studies.

Husam Marashi

Dr Husam Marashi is a consultant medical oncologist and breast cancer program director based at Tawam Hospital, UAE. He worked previously as a consultant clinical oncologist at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Scotland, UK. He completed the Scottish oncology training in 2013 and appointed as a consultant since. Fellow of the Royal college of radiologists and member of the royal college of physicians (UK). Member of ESMO and ASCO. Specialised in general Oncology with main interest in managing breast and GI cancers. He has participated as a principal investigator in many clinical trials for both systemic anti-cancer treatments and in radiotherapy. He was a member of the breast cancer advisory group for WOSCAN, WEST of Scotland. He has been the lead physician for the breast cancer genomic assays quality improvement project for West of Scotland. He provides non-surgical cancer treatment with chemotherapy, biological, endocrine and immunotherapy with competency in providing radiotherapy in both palliative and radical settings including stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy. He has a special interest in medical education, appointed as a clinical and educational supervisor for the Scottish Oncology training program for 8 years. He is currently the medical oncology program director at Tawam Hospital.

Katherine Thomas

Manuelita Mazza

Dr. Manuelita Mazza is Section Head of Breast Cancer Oncology at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. She is a breast medical oncologist with more than 20 years of clinical, research and leadership experience. Her areas of interest include breast cancer treatment, survivorship, quality of life, sexual health after cancer, digital health, patient-reported outcomes and clinical trials. She has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator in more than 120 clinical studies and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in breast oncology.

Marco Lucarelli

Dr. Marco Lucarelli is a radiation oncologist based at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO). He specializes in the clinical management and treatment of breast and head and neck cancers. Dr. Lucarelli graduated with honors (110/110 cum laude) from the University of L'Aquila in 2019, where he subsequently completed his residency in Radiation Oncology, graduating with highest honors (50/50 cum laude). Committed to advancing clinical research, he serves as a co-investigator for the CRYSTAL phase 2 trial (Single fraction ablative preoperative radiation treatment for early-stage breast cance). His recent academic contributions include presenting the trial's findings as an oral communication at the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) 2026 congress in Stockholm.

Marian Khatib

Dr. Marian Khatib is a Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at the American Hospital Dubai. Dr. Khatib has extensive expertise in oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery, with a strong commitment to patient-centered care and innovative surgical techniques, she has been at the forefront of advancing breast health and cancer care. She received her medical degree from the University of Jerusalem, did her surgical training in a leading tertiary referral center, and after completing her subspecialty training in oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery at Oxford University Hospitals and the Royal United Hospitals in the U.K., Dr. Marian went on to serve as the Director of one of the largest breast cancer centers in the Middle East. She has earned a reputation for excellence and compassion in clinical practice, research, and mentorship. Known for her dedication to holistic treatment approaches, she has successfully led multidisciplinary teams, ensuring optimal outcomes for patients.

Mario Cherubino

Massimo Cristofanilli

Professor of Medicine and Associate Director of Precision Medicine Academic Breast Oncologist with Focus on Precision Medicine in the management of advanced breast cancer, including Inflammatory Brest Cancer (IBC). A pioneer and leader in the field of liquid biopsy technology development and clinical applications. Experienced clinical investigators with leadership role in the design of regulatory studies in the management of HR+ MBC (palbociclib, camizestrant).

Meteb Al-Foheidi

Dr. Meteb Al-Foheidi is a Medical Oncology Consultant specializing in breast cancer at Princess Noorah Oncology Center, National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah. He is also an Assistant Professor at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and President of the Saudi Oncology Society. Fellowship-trained in breast cancer at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Al-Foheidi is actively involved in clinical research, medical education, and the development of oncology guidelines.

Olga Oikonomidou

Dr Olga Oikonomidou is an Academic Consultant Medical Oncologist and the head of the Breast Cancer Translational Research Group at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer at Medical School of Edinburgh UNITED KINGDOM. Her research focuses on developing non-invasive analyses of breast cancer to understand its biology, identify therapeutic targets and assess treatment responses. She serves as Principal Investigator for over 60 clinical trials and as a national and international Chief Investigator for several ongoing trials. She sits on steering committees for international clinical trials and serves as a clinical expert for both NICE and SMC.

Paul Ramia

Dr. Paul Ramia, MD, FRCP, is a Staff Physician within the Radiation Oncology Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Cancer Institute. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr Ramia was a Staff Physician at McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Faculty Lecturer at McGill University. Dr. Ramia received his medical degree at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, and completed his Radiation Oncology residency at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. He then completed a fellowship in Stereotactic Radiotherapy at McGill University. Dr. Ramia’s clinical focus includes specialized and conventional radiation techniques for a wide array of benign and malignant diseases. Dr. Ramia resides in Abu Dhabi with his wife and son. In his spare time, he enjoys taking walks with his family, reading novels and playing soccer.

Peter Fasching

Rafal Iskandaranian

Dr. Rafal Iskanderian, MD, is a consultant Oncoplastic and Endoscopic Breast Surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Fatima Bint Mubarak Center and serves as the Associate Director of the General Surgery Residency Program. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Iskanderian was a Surgical Oncologist at King Hussein Cancer Center Amman, Jordan. Dr. Iskanderian received his medical degree from University of Baghdad, Iraq. He completed his residency in General Surgery at Jordan University Hospital, and held the Jordanian and Arab Boards of General Surgery in 2014. He then completed a Surgical Oncology Fellowship at King Hussein Cancer Center Amman/Jordan, and held the European Board of Surgical Oncology in 2017. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the European Society of Surgical Oncology and a member of the Royal College of Surgeons/Ireland. Dr. Iskanderian is interested and committed to clinical research and published many articles in peer reviewed journals, he is also spearheading many active research projects in the fields of oncology and cancer care. Dr. Iskanderian is dedicated to clinical excellence and patient-focused care with a particular interest in Breast and Axillary surgery for cancer, correction of Gynecomastia.

Rosemarie Wasiti

Saba Almashjari

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Saba Almashjari is a skilled and compassionate physical therapist with eight years of clinical experience at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, specializing in medical, surgical, and oncology rehabilitation. Her clinical expertise includes cardiac-pulmonary, medical, oncology, and surgical rehabilitation across both inpatient and outpatient settings. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist through the Academy of Lymphatic Studies (ACOLS), USA, with specialized expertise in the assessment and management of lymphedema. Saba is committed to delivering patient-centered, evidence-based care and works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to develop individualized rehabilitation programs that support patients’ recovery, functional independence, and quality of life. Her extensive clinical experience and specialized training have equipped her with a comprehensive approach to managing patients with complex medical, surgical, and cancer-related conditions. She is passionate about advancing rehabilitation practice and sharing clinical knowledge and experience with fellow healthcare professionals.

Sadaf Brown

Dr. Sadaf Brown, MBChB, is a Staff Physician within the Primary Care Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Medical Specialty Institute. Dr. Brown specializes in Family Medicine. She has over 17 years of experience in both the UK and Abu Dhabi health sectors. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Brown worked as a Family Medicine Consultant for the East of England Clinical Commissioning Group, which is part of the UK National Health Service. During this time, she provided the full range of primary care services, treating both adult and children and specializing in women’s health and substance misuse disorders. In 2014 she moved to Abu Dhabi, where she served as Family Medicine Consultant and Head of Family Medicine at Healthpoint. She helped to establish a complete primary health care service. In 2021 she undertook the role of Medical Director and Family Medicine Consultant at Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre, where she participated in several clinical research projects and led a multidisciplinary team undertaking novel cellular therapies. Dr. Brown received her medical degree from the University of Leicester in the UK. She has additional Diplomas in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Substance Misuse. She also holds a Master’s degree in Global Health and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Brown is UK-board certified and is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. She is passionate about global health, disease prevention, women’s health, mental health and travel medicine. She has served on the Abu Dhabi Women’s Health Committee and Primary Care advisory taskforce. Dr. Brown resides in Abu Dhabi with her husband and 3 daughters. She enjoys travelling and yoga.

Sara Saad

Shilpa Kudekar

Shilpa is a Medical Scientist with over 15 years of experience in healthcare, including 11 years at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Throughout her career, she has come to appreciate that while medicine is essential, healing is also found in compassion, connection, and feeling truly seen. A certified Reiki Master Practitioner for more than 25 years, Shilpa is also a Sound Alchemist, Functional Medicine Health Coach, and Quantum Coach. She supports women navigating cancer by integrating evidence-based practices with holistic healing including Reiki, Sound Bath, Meditation, Breathwork, and Coaching to regulate the nervous system, restore balance, cultivate resilience, and enhance overall wellbeing. As the founder of "Tribe of Warrior Women and Farasha Wellbeing," Shilpa creates nurturing spaces where women feel supported through every stage of their journey. Her mission is to remind every woman that healing is deeply personal, hope is always possible, and no one should have to walk the path alone.