Abdulla Zamzam

Abdulla Zamzam graduated from the pharmacy and biotechnology school from the German University in Cairo in 2008. He obtained his Master’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry in 2010 from the German university in Cairo and Wurzburg university in Germany. Abdulla attained his post graduate diploma in Clinical pharmacy from Queens University in Belfast in 2013.

Abdulla has been working as a clinical pharmacist for 14 years and specialized in PICU/CICU since 4 years. He has obtained his American Board Pharmacy specialty certification in Critical care in 2025. (BPS, BCCCP.)

Aneel Oad

Aneel Oad, Manager of the Neurophysiology Department with over 15 years of experience in Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM). Hold Master of Science in Physiology and certified by American Board in both Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) and Eletroencephalography (R.RRG). Dedicated to advancing in the operating room through real-time neuromonitoring.

Anjali SA Pillai

Anjali Sujatha is a dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse with over nine years of experience specializing in pediatric and neonatal care. Her professional journey reflects a deep commitment to providing high-quality healthcare services to children and their families, with a focus on promoting recovery and enhancing the quality of life for her patients.

Born on April 15, 1993, in India, Anjali pursued her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Kerala University of Health and Allied Sciences from 2010 to 2014. She received her professional registration as a Registered Nurse in March 2015, and she holds active licenses in both India and Qatar. Anjali currently serves as a Clinical Nurse in the Neuroscience Department at Sidra Medicine in Doha, Qatar, a role she has held since January 2023. Prior to this, she gained valuable experience in neonatal intensive care at King Saud Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Certified in Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) by the American Heart Association, Anjali consistently updates her knowledge to stay aligned with best practices in pediatric healthcare. She is also an active contributor to clinical leadership and currently chairs the Shared Governance Committee at Sidra Medicine. Known for her collaborative approach, strong clinical skills, and empathetic patient care, Anjali remains committed to advancing her expertise in pediatric nursing and continuing her journey of service in the healthcare sector.

Beshayer Al-Haroon

Beshayer Al-Haroon, RDN, MS, is a Qatari Registered Dietitian with over five years of specialized experience in pediatric nutrition, particularly ketogenic diet therapy for epilepsy. She is registered with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (USA) and the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners. Beshayer earned a Bachelor’s in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University and a Master’s in Clinical Nutrition from New York University, completing her dietetic internship at Detroit Medical Center. Her clinical training spans the U.S., Qatar, and Kenya, where she volunteered to provide nutrition care to underserved communities.

Since joining Sidra Medicine in 2017, Beshayer has provided nutrition therapy across various pediatric specialties, including general medicine, allergies, oncology, neurology, rehab and neurosurgery. She now leads ketogenic diet therapy service for pediatric epilepsy alongside a multidisciplinary team. Beshayer is committed to evidence-based, empathetic, and patient-centered care and strives to expand access to ketogenic therapy for children in the region.

Dr. Adelaide Robb

Adelaide S. Robb, M.D. holds the title of Distinguished Endowed Professor and Chair of Children’s National Health System and is a Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine. She is a Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. She is the co-chair of the DC Hospital Association Mental Health Task Force and also co-chaired the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry committee on Psychopharmacology and Neurotherapeutics.  Dr. Robb sees outpatients with serious Axis I disorders including major depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, and ADHD for medication management. She directs a large clinical trial program in pediatric psychopharmacology for new agents being tested for FDA approval in children and teens. Dr. Robb serves as a member of the program committee for the AACAP annual meeting. She serves as the chair of multiple data safety monitoring boards for psychopharmacological clinic trials.

Dr. Alia Satti

Dr. Alia Satti is an Attending Physician in Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation Medicine at Sidra Medicine, where she has served since 2019. She works closely with a multidisciplinary team to assess and manage children with communication, social, intellectual, behavioral, and mobility challenges.

Dr. Satti is the Clinical Lead for Developmental Pediatrics and Associate Program Director of the Fellowship Program. She is the only UK CCT board-certified pediatric neuro-disability subspecialist (GRID) in Qatar and holds a Diploma in Pediatric Neuro-disability from Sheffield Hallam University—one of only two practitioners in Qatar with this qualification.

Actively involved in national service planning and research initiatives, Dr. Satti focuses on autism and early intervention for children with disabilities.

Before joining Sidra, she served as Consultant and Lead for Pediatric Neurodisability, Epilepsy, and Clinical Governance at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, one of the UK’s top-performing hospitals.

Dr. Amal Al Tenaiji

Dr. Amal completed her undergraduate studies at UAE University and graduated in 2006 with Bachelor in Medicine and Health Science. She then completed the Pediatrics residency program at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and successfully obtained the Arab Board Specialization in Pediatrics as well as the MRCPCH. She then continued and pursued further postgraduate studies at The University of Toronto, and Hospital for Sick Children, Canada. In 2014, She completed a clinical fellowship in biochemical genetics. She is certified by the Canadian College of Medical Genetics Board in Clinical Biochemical Genetics. Currently, she is a​ metabolic genetics consultant at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Amna Al Futaisi

Professor Amna Mohammed Al Futaisi is an Omani pediatric neurologist and academician, currently serving as the Head of the Department of Child Health and Professor of Pediatric Neurology at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). She is also a Senior Consultant in Pediatric Neurology and Pediatric Electrophysiology at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQU.

Professor Al Futaisi holds an MD and BSc from SQU and completed her pediatric neurology and EEG/epilepsy fellowships at McGill University and the University of Toronto in Canada. She is certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (UK).

Over the years, she has played a transformative role in advancing child neurology services in Oman, including the establishment of long-term EEG monitoring, vagal nerve stimulation, ketogenic diet clinics, and multidisciplinary care models. She has also pioneered virtual clinics at SQUH and contributed significantly to teaching, curriculum development, and clinical examination reforms at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Her research focuses on neurogenetic disorders, epilepsy, and pediatric neurological diseases, with over 95 publications in high-impact journals. She has received multiple national and regional awards for excellence in clinical service, education, and research.

In addition to her academic and clinical roles, Professor Al Futaisi holds prominent positions in regional and international medical organizations, including serving as President of the Oman League Against Epilepsy and the Arab Board Pediatric Neurology Fellowship Program.

Dr. Arif Khan

Dr. Arif Khan is a British Board-certified Consultant Pediatric Neurologist.

He has trained and worked in a number of regional and tertiary hospitals in the United Kingdom. The prominent ones included Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester and the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham. He was a Consultant Pediatric Neurologist at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust for 3 years. During his tenure, he was assigned as lead clinician for complex epilepsies, vagal nerve stimulation service and ketogenic diet service in Leicester.

He moved to Dubai in the year 2015 and was appointed as the Head of Children’s services at the American Center for Psychiatric and Neurology in 2015. After having completed 2 contractual years at the center, he set out to develop the first Pediatric Neurosciences center in the region called Neuropedia.

Dr. Ata Ur Maaz

Dr. Maaz Ahmed is a Consultant Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist and Clinical Lead for Neuro-Oncology at Sidra Medicine since August 2018. He completed pediatric training in the UK’s West Midlands Deanery and subspecialized in Pediatric Oncology and Neuro-Oncology at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. He holds dual CCT accreditation in Pediatrics and Pediatric Oncology.

Dr. Maaz has extensive experience managing childhood cancers, particularly central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Before Sidra, he was a Consultant Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales, Cardiff. He previously led Pediatric Oncology services at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Pakistan.

He is also the lead of the Survivorship Program at Sidra. His clinical interests include brain tumors in young children and the late effects of chemotherapy. He has published in journals such as Pediatric Blood and Cancer and the British Journal of Radiology. His current research focuses on pediatric brain tumor epidemiology and outcomes in Qatar.

Dr. Beth Wells

Elizabeth M. Wells, MD, MHS is the senior vice president for the Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine Center overseeing the programmatic, academic and financial aspects of the Center's 8 divisions and 2 institutes. She is internationally known for advancing care for complex pediatric neuro-inflammatory disorders. Dr. Wells graduated from Harvard & Radcliffe Colleges with a concentration in Mind/Brain/Behavior and from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She was an Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) fellow at the National Institutes of Health and holds a Master's in Health Sciences from the NIH/Duke Clinical Research Training Program. Dr. Wells is the past-president of the Children's National Hospital Medical Staff and the Washington Clinico-Pathological Society. She lives with her husband and three children in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Carmen Fons

Dr. Carmen Fons is Head of the Pediatric Neurology Department at University Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (SJDH) in Barcelona, Spain, and an expert in neonatal neurology and early onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. She earned her MD from Rovira i Virgili University and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Barcelona. She trained in Pediatric Neurology at SJDH and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Fetal-Neonatal Neurology at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard University. Since 2007, she has worked as a pediatric neurologist at SJDH and has been an associate professor of Medicine at the University of Barcelona since 2021. She is also the director of the Master degree in Pediatric Neurology at Barcelona University. Dr. Fons was a key partner in the International Consortium for Research on Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (IAHCRC) and Co-coordinator of the WP-neonatal seizures of the Complex epilepsy European Reference Network (Epicare). 

Dr. Chima Oluigbo

Chima Oluigbo, M.D., FRCSC, FAANS, is a pediatric neurosurgeon at Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC and Professor of Neurological Surgery, Neurology and Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine.

He specializes in the surgical care of children with epilepsy as well as pediatric functional and restorative neurosurgery. He completed his residency in neurological surgery at University Hospitals Birmingham, England and subsequently completed fellowships at the University of Colorado (pediatric neurosurgery) and the Ohio State University (functional and stereotactic neurosurgery).

His research interests include epilepsy surgery, deep brain stimulation, functional neurological restoration and the development of innovative neuromodulation therapies for the treatment of chronic neurological disorders including epilepsy, movement disorders, neurobehavioral and cognitive disorders, chronic pain and spasticity.

Dr. Farouq Thabet

Dr. Farouq Thabet is an Attending Pediatric Neurologist at Sidra Medicine and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. Before joining Sidra. Dr. Thabet worked as a Consultant Pediatric Neurologist at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. He is an adjunct Assistant Professor of Specialty Medicine at Des Moines University in Iowa, USA. He is American Board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Thabet is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Geneviève Bernard

Dr. Geneviève Bernard, MD, MSc, FRCPC, is a pediatric neurologist and senior scientist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), and MUHC Research Institute. She is a Full Professor in the departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Pediatrics at McGill University and an associate member of the Department of Human Genetics. Internationally recognized for her bedside-to-bench-to-bedside approach, Dr. Bernard research program focuses on translational research in leukodystrophies, particularly hypomyelinating disorders. Her work spans gene discovery, pathophysiological mechanisms, therapeutic development, and clinical trials. Her team has identified several disease-causing genes, including those responsible for POLR3-related leukodystrophy, and has led pivotal studies characterizing its clinical, radiological, genetic, and pathophysiological features. Dr. Bernard has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and presented at numerous national and international conferences. Her excellence in research and clinical care has earned her multiple prestigious awards. She serves on several patient organization boards and represents Canada in multiple international leukodystrophy consortia.

Dr. Jonathan Santoro

Dr. Santoro serves as the Director of Neuroimmunology and Demyelinating Disorders Program and Director of Research for the Neurologic Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He is also an Associate Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. Dr. Santoro completed his undergraduate, masters, and medical degrees at Tulane University. He completed residencies in pediatrics and child neurology at Stanford University and subsequently had sub-specialty training in pediatric neuroimmunology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Santoro is one of only a handful of national clinician-scientists who treats neurologic disorders associated with Down syndrome. Dr. Santoro’s research focus is on the relationship between the genetics of trisomy 21 and the development of inflammatory neurological disorders including cerebrovascular diseases such as moya moya vasculopathy and neuropsychiatric disorders such as Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (DSRD), of which he spoken on internationally. In addition to his clinical and research activities, Dr. Santoro advocates for persons with disabilities at both the state and federal level through the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Neurology.

Dr. José Hinojosa

Dr. Jose Hinojosa - Since November 2018, Dr. Hinojosa led the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Sant Joan de Déu Hospital (Barcelona), a global reference center in the field. Our team performs over 500 surgical procedures and manages nearly 3,000 medical consultations annually. The department is recognized for its excellence across all subspecialties, with particular expertise in Neuro-Oncology, Epilepsy Surgery, Craniosynostosis, Spinal Dysraphism, and Tethered Cord Syndrome.

We are nationally accredited as a CSUR (Centro de Referencia Nacional) for Complex Pediatric Neurosurgery and Epilepsy Surgery. Internationally, we are recognized as a European Reference Network (ERN) center in three key areas: Craniofacial Surgery (ERN CRANIO), Pediatric Oncology (PaedCAN), and Epilepsy Surgery (EpiCARE). Our commitment to innovation, multidisciplinary care, and clinical excellence continues to position our department at the forefront of pediatric neurosurgery.

Dr. Khalid Al-Kharazi

Dr. Khalid Al-Kharazi is a senior pediatric neurosurgeon at Sidra Medicine with nearly 20 years of neurosurgical experience. Before joining the medical team in Qatar in 2014, he practiced in Canada, Germany, Jordan, and Yemen. He holds neurosurgery certifications from Canada, Germany, the UK, and Jordan, and completed a clinical fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at the University of British Columbia (BCCH, Vancouver).

A Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Dr. Al-Kharazi also earned the German board certification after training in Berlin. He has pioneered several neurosurgical interventions in Qatar, including minimally invasive craniosynostosis and epilepsy surgeries.

He serves as a core faculty member and Site Director (Sidra) of the HMC Neurosurgery Residency Program. In addition, he is a member of the Neurosurgery Committee and an examiner for the Qatar Board of Medical Specialties (QBMS). Dr. Al-Kharazi also holds an MBA from the University of Manchester, UK.

Dr. Khalid Hundallah

Consultant Pediatric Neurologist
Head of pediatric department, Prince Sultan Military Medical City
Associate Editor, Neuroscience Journal
Deputy president, Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society
Member of the Saudi commission for health specialties scientific and clinical exam committees
Pediatric neurology fellowship in Canada 2012
Master of medical education, Canada 2012
Interested in research, more than 40 publications in peer review journals  

Dr. Khalid Ibrahim

Dr. Khalid Omer Ibrahim, CCST, MD, FRCP, FRCPCH, MBBS, MRCP, is a Senior Attending Pediatric Neurologist at Sidra Medicine and Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. Before joining Sidra Medicine, Dr. Ibrahim served as the Chief of the Pediatric Neurology Division at Hamad Hospital. He was also the former Pediatric Neurology Fellowship Program Director at Hamad Hospital. Former Clinical Lead for Epilepsy Service in North London, UK. Former Member of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)

Dr. Khalid Sidahmed

Dr. Khalid Sidahmed is a Senior Attending Physician in Pediatric Neurology and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. He is a fully trained pediatric neurologist specializing in complex disabilities and movement disorders, with expertise in gait analysis and botulinum toxin injections.

From 2004 to 2006, Dr. Mohamed served as lead clinician for clinical governance at Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool, and was appointed Chief of Pediatric Neurology in 2010. He holds a postgraduate diploma in medical education and is recognized as a leading authority in pediatric and neurology education. He has served as program director for both the Pediatric and Neurology Residency/Fellowship programs.

Dr. Mohamed is a certified Level 1 coach with the Dartmouth Institute’s Microsystems Academy and an International Quality Fellow with IHI. He has developed quality improvement projects targeting no-show reduction and referral management in outpatient services. He has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles and presented at regional conferences, focusing on improving access to care and coaching for healthcare improvement.

Dr. Khalid Walid Al-Dasuqi

Dr. Khalid Al-Dasuqi is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist and a diplomate of the American Board of Radiology with subspecialty certification in pediatric radiology. He currently serves as an Attending Radiologist in Pediatric Neuroimaging and Associate Program Director of the Pediatric Radiology Fellowship at Sidra Medicine. He received his medical degree with academic distinction from Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, completed residency training at Yale-New Haven Hospital/Yale School of Medicine, where he served as chief resident, and pursued dual fellowships in pediatric radiology and pediatric neuroradiology at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Dr. Al-Dasuqi’s academic interests include pediatric neuro-oncology, brain malformations, imaging informatics, and radiology education. He has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and has presented at leading international conferences including RSNA, ASNR, and SPR. He remains actively engaged in medical education and is involved in various ongoing research projects.

Dr. Kristian Aquilina

Dr. Aquilina is a consultant paediatric neurosurgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, UK, where he is the neurosurgical lead for neuro-oncology.

He graduated from the University of Malta in 1995 and completed his neurosurgical training in the UK. He was appointed consultant paediatric neurosurgeon at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, in 2010, and subsequently at Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2012.

During his training Mr Aquilina completed a one-year clinical fellowship in paediatric neurosurgery, and particularly in paediatric neuro-oncology, at St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in the United States. He also spent time at the Center for Cerebral Palsy in St Louis, Missouri, where he learnt the single-level selective dorsal rhizotomy procedure and subsequently introduced it to the UK. He is chief investigator of the ENLIVEN-UK study, an NIHR-funded multicentre randomised study evaluating the role of endoscopic lavage in intraventricular haemorrhage and hydrocephalus related to prematurity.  He also has an interest in drug delivery to the brain and gene therapy for neurological disorders.

Dr. Lisa Thornton

Dr. Lisa Thornton is an American Board-Certified Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine physician and the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine and Developmental Pediatrics at Sidra Medicine. She also serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar. With a broad expertise in pediatric physical disability, Dr. Thornton focuses on providing holistic care for children with complex movement disorders, cerebral palsy, and other motor disabilities. She is also an advocate for enhancing accessibility and inclusion for children with disabilities across education, transportation, recreation, and more.

Prior to joining Sidra Medicine, Dr. Thornton was a sought-after health commentator on U.S. national television, where she frequently discussed topics related to pediatric health and disability. She has lectured widely about the needs of children with disabilities and continues to drive public policy initiatives that support full integration of these children into the community.

Dr. Mahmoud Fawzi

Dr. Mahmoud Fawzi is a senior attending physician in pediatric neurology at Sidra Medicine and Hamad Hospital. He also serves as an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar. Previously, Dr. Mahmoud worked as a consultant in pediatric neurology at Hamad Hospital from 2006 until 2017. He then joined Sidra Medicine as a senior attending physician in pediatric neurology. He specializes in treating patients with muscle disease, multiple sclerosis, and tuberous sclerosis. He got research grants in congenital brain anomalies and muscle diseases, hereditary spastic paraplegia and microcephaly, and spinal muscular atrophy. He is widely published and has lectured at local and international conferences. Dr. Fawzi has extensive experience in pediatric neurology since 1995. He has more than 50 publications in international journals.

Dr. Majid Aziz

Dr. Majid Aziz is a pediatric neurologist and epileptologist with expertise in complex epilepsy, epilepsy surgery, and EEG. His other areas of interest are movement disorders, headaches, and stroke. Dr. Aziz received his medical degree from Pakistan and trained in pediatrics and child neurology in the United Kingdom. He then completed a fellowship in movement disorder at Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, and a second fellowship in pediatric epilepsy and EEG at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. He has been working at SKMC, Abu Dhabi, since 2019. Before joining SKMC, he was working as a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist in the Northern Children's Epilepsy Surgery Service at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, UK.

Dr. Marwa Qaraqe

Dr. Marwa Qaraqe is an Associate Professor in the Division of Information and Communication Technology at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and co-founder of HBKU’s Autism Sensing Center. She earned her BSc in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University at Qatar in 2010, followed by an MSc and PhD from Texas A&M University in the U.S. Her research spans wireless communication, signal processing, and machine learning, with applications in IoT, security, and health. She is particularly focused on AI-driven health solutions and behavior assessment in children with autism. Dr. Qaraqe serves as a reviewer for several IEEE journals and is on the IEEE ComSoc Board for the EMEA Region. Her accolades include the 2022 IEEE GLOBECOM Best Paper Award, the Richard E. Wing Award, and top honors at the Qatar Foundation Annual Research Forum. She has led projects exceeding $3 million in competitive research funding.

Dr. Mitchell Stotland

Dr. Mitchell Stotland is Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery, Division Chief of Plastic, Craniofacial, and Hand Surgery, and Medical Director of Perioperative Services at Sidra Medicine. He completed medical school and plastic surgery residency at McGill University, followed by a craniofacial surgery fellowship at UCLA. In 1997, he began clinical practice at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, founding a multidisciplinary craniofacial anomalies program. He earned a Master of Science in Evaluative Clinical Sciences from the Dartmouth Institute in 2007.

Since joining Sidra in 2014, Dr. Stotland has introduced complex plastic surgical procedures and established a multidisciplinary approach to craniofacial care in Qatar. He was appointed Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar in 2019.

His clinical interests include cleft lip/palate, craniosynostosis, facial trauma, and ear reconstruction. His research focuses on measuring facial differences, including AI-driven models. In 2023, he chaired Sidra’s inaugural symposium on AI in medicine.

Dr. Moutasem AlZoubi

Dr. Moutasem AlZoubi is a consultant pediatric neurosurgeon and Head of Pediatric Neurosurgery at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, Riyadh. He completed his clinical fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at the University of Ottawa, Canada. He has pioneered several national programs including epilepsy surgery, craniofacial surgery for craniosynostosis, and an accredited pediatric neurosurgery fellowship. Dr. Azzubi leads the Kingdom’s internationally recognized Craniopagus Twin Separation Program. As a respected academic, he contributes to scientific boards, mentor’s neurosurgery fellows, and presents at local and international conferences. In recognition of his contributions to neurosurgery, he was granted Saudi citizenship by royal decree in 2024.

Dr. Omar Ismayl

Bibliography
Consultant Pediatric Neurologist

I Graduated from Damascus University Medical School in 1990. Then I completed the master’s degree and Arab Board training in Pediatrics in Damascus University Children’s Hospital. After that I jointed the teaching staff of the pediatrics department.
In 1998, I went to the UK for training in Pediatric Neurology in Royal Manchester Children’s Hospitals then I was appointed as a consultant from 2001- 2007.
On return to Syria, I jointed the teaching staff of the pediatrics department, Damascus University from 2007 till 2012.
Thereafter, I have been working as Division Head & Consultant in Pediatric Neurology, SKMC Abu Dhabi till now.
I enjoy teaching. I was appointed as an honorary fellow in Manchester University and as a lecturer in pediatric neurology at Damascus University.
I contributed to Forfar and Arneil’s Textbook of Pediatrics 7th and 8th editions and many publications in neurology disorders. I presented in pediatric Neurology at many local and international conferences.
My main fields of interest are Epilepsy and Neuromuscular disorders.

Dr. Osama Muthaffar

Dr. Osama Muthaffar, Consultant of Pediatric Neurology and Associate Professor at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Currently, the Chairman of the Pediatric Neurology section at King Abdulaziz University. Executive Board Member of the Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society and the Saudi Epilepsy Society. Training: Toronto University Fellowship and Epilepsy, American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology, and Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology certificates

Dr. Osamah Al Walid

Dr. Osamah Alwalid is a board-certified Consultant Radiologist at Sidra Medicine in Doha, Qatar, specializing in Pediatric Imaging with a special interest in Pediatric Neuroimaging. He earned his medical degree from China Medical University in 2014 and completed Master and PhD in Medical Imaging & Nuclear Medicine at HUST-China, followed by pediatric imaging fellowship at Sidra Medicine. Dr Alwalid also holds the Fellowship of Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR-UK), European Diploma in Radiology (EDiR), and the Arab Board in Radiology & Medical Imaging. He is an active researcher with more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and over 6,500 citations. He is also an active tutor at Sidra Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, and Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar.

Dr. Raidah Baradei

Raidah Saleem AlBaradie trained in Pediatric Neurology and Epilepsy in Harvard Medical School, Boston Children Hospital and she obtained American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with special qualification in child neurology in 2006 & American Board in Epilepsy in 2016. Dr. Al-Baradie obtained an Executive Master degree in Health Administration in 2014 from the University of Alabama (EMSHA). She is currently a chairman of Eastern Mediterranean region and the Director of comprehensive epilepsy program at KFSHD.

She served as a Director of Neuroscience Center (2018-2023) & Chairman of Pediatric Neurology KFSH-D (2012-2023) . She served as President of the Saudi Chapter of Epilepsy & Saudi Epilepsy Society (2013-2019).

She is the founder of the Epilepsy Monitoring unit and pediatric neurology department and program at KFSHD. She is also a member of the Editorial & Advisory Boards of several journals, including Neurosciences and European Pediatric Neurology Journal. Her research interest has focused mainly on clinical aspects related to epilepsy. She published several abstracts in national and international publications.

Dr. Robert Keating

Robert Keating, MD  is currently the McCullough Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery and Chief of Neurosurgery at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC.  Dr. Keating graduated from Georgetown University Medical School in 1983 and subsequently went to New York where he did his training in Neurosurgery at Montefiore/Albert Einstein Medical Centers in the Bronx as well as completeing fellowships in Pediatric Neurosurgery and Craniofacial Surgery there in 1990. Dr Keating returned to Montefiore/Albert Enstein after serving in the Navy and then moved to Washington in 1996 to join the faculty at the Children’s National Medical Center becoming Chief of the of Neurosurgery in 2003 and Professor of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics in 2008.

He has published  and presented  extensively in the field and is senior editor of “ Atlas of Orbitocranial Surgery” and “Tumors of the Pediatric Nervous System” and currently finishing work on Neurosurgical Operative Atlas, (2nded.) due for publication in 2025 as well as “Focused Ultrasound (FUS) in Neurosurgery: Current approaches and new Horizons” to be published in 2026.

He currently maintains a busy practice of pediatric neurosurgery, with an emphasis on tumors, Chiari malformations, craniofacial reconstruction, spinal dysraphism, spasticity and brachial plexus surgery and continues be actively involved with  long-standing memberships in the CNS , AANS , ASPN and is currently on the Executive Board of the ISPN.

Dr. Sarah Wright

Sarah Wright, D.O., M.S. completed her medical training at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and her residency training in child neurology at the Children's Hospital of Montefiore in Bronx, NY. She then completed additional subspecialty fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology (neuromuscular focus) at Boston Children's Hospital and Lahey Health & Hospital in Boston, MA. Through this fellowship, she gained expertise in caring for both children and adults with nerve and muscle disorders, such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), and hereditary neuropathy. At Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC she has co-founded the DMD in-vivo genetic therapy treatment program. Her research focus includes investigating equitable access to care and patient education in DMD, cognition in SMA, as well as understanding the biomarkers and pathomechanisms of autoimmune Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis

Dr. Tena Rosser

Dr. Tena Rosser, M.D.is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology and Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) which is affiliated with Keck Medicine of University of Southern California. She is the director of the CHLA Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF)-endorsed Neurofibromatosis Clinic which opened in 2005 and sees over 500 patients per year. She is a long-standing and active member of the CTF’s Clinical Care Advisory Board. In addition, she is the 2015 recipient of the CTF’s Humanitarian Award and the 2022 Make NF Visible Award. Dr. Rosser serves as the Los Angeles site Principal Investigator for the U.S. Army Department of Defense NF Clinical Trials Consortium (NFCTC) which coordinates multi-center clinical trials for individuals with NF1 and Schwannomatosis. She is a member of the DOD NFCTC Quality of Life and Neurocognitive Committees. She is a collaborator on several translational NF1 and Schwannomatosis projects with researchers across the country.

Dr. William Gaillard

William Davis Gaillard, MD is Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the George Washington University, Chief of Neurology, Epilepsy, Neurophysiology, at Children’s National Hospital and  the endowed Chair of Epilepsy and Neurophysiology. W^m D Gaillard is an internationally recognized expert in pediatric epilepsy and imaging. His work focuses on the effects of epilepsy and other early brain injury and developmental disorders on brain structure and function. He directs an accomplished multidisciplinary team of pediatric epilepsy specialists and translational scientists to care for children and young adults with epilepsy from the onset of seizures, through novel therapeutic interventions, medication trials, and, when appropriate, surgery. His work has been continuously funded by the NIH, NSF, CDC, and several philanthropic foundations. His group plays a leading role in national and international collaborative efforts, databases, and registries in addition to industry and federal clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and device development.  

Wm Davis Gaillard MD
Professor (tenure), Pediatrics and Neurology
Geo Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Chief Divisions of Child Neurology, Epilepsy, and Neurophysiology
Endowed Chair, Epilepsy and Neurophysiology
Children’s National Hospital
Director DC-IDDRC
Associate Director, Center for Neuroscience Research
Children’s Research Institute

Hanem Abdalla Ali

Hanem Ali is an experienced Registered Nurse with over 18 years of clinical expertise across various healthcare settings, including NICU, PICU, general pediatrics, and neurology. She currently serves as a Clinical Care Coordinator and Patient/Family Educator in the Neurology Outpatient Clinic at Sidra Medicine, Qatar. She holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Management and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Her role focuses on care coordination, patient and family education, and support for children with complex neurological conditions such as epilepsy, MS, and SMA. She is actively involved in national research projects and awareness campaigns, particularly those addressing epilepsy stigma and gene therapy innovations. Known for her compassionate care, cultural sensitivity, and ability to manage critical clinical scenarios, Hanem is a key contributor to multidisciplinary teams and quality improvement initiatives. Fluent in Arabic and English, she continues to advance pediatric neurological care and education both locally and internationally.

Dr. Hilal Lashuel

Prof. Hilal Lashuel is the Research Development and Innovation Advisor to the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation and Executive Director of RDI at the Chairperson’s Office. He is also the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of ND BioSciences SA and Professor at EPFL, where he led the Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration. His research focuses on protein misfolding and neurodegenerative diseases, with over 230 publications, nine patents, and more than 32,000 citations. He has held positions at Harvard Medical School, Stanford University, and led the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute. Prof. Lashuel has contributed to several national and international boards, including the Qatar Biobank, Qatar Genome Project, and the Brain Forum. His work has been supported by major international foundations and industry partners, earning him awards such as the Takreem Award, the Kuwait Prize, and recognition as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

Issam Kadoura

BSN
Clinical Nurse Leader – Neurology and General Pediatric Clinic, Sidra Medicine

Issam Kadoura is a dedicated Clinical Nurse Leader at the Neurology and General Pediatric Clinic at Sidra Medicine, where he has been contributing since 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Jordan University of Science and Technology, earned between 1999 and 2003.

Issam began his nursing career at Jordan Hospital as a Registered Nurse, where he was promoted to Charge Nurse, serving from 2003 to 2007. In 2007, he joined King Fahad Medical City’s Neuroscience Center ward as a Staff Nurse and was later appointed Charge Nurse of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit in 2009. His leadership and clinical expertise led to his promotion as Epilepsy Nurse Coordinator from 2012 to 2017. In this role, Issam was instrumental in developing and leading specialized epilepsy care programs, clinical leadership, and multidisciplinary care coordination.

Jenny Sacree

Jenny Sacree. With more than 40 years of neuroscience experience, Jenny is presently the CNL for Movement disorders, rehabilitation medicine, and spines. She has been in Sidra Medicine for 5 years, completing the rest of her neuroscience experience in Bristol, UK. She is passionate about education and teaches neuroscience with the ISPN around the world.

Kurt Thompson

Kurt Thompson, BScPT, MRSC is a specialist pediatric physiotherapist at Sidra Medicine in Doha, Qatar. His areas of interest are improving function and wellness in children undergoing treatment for cancer as well as children with neurological disabilities of various congenital or acquired etiologies. He is passionate about quality improvement and implementation of evidence-based practice across various multidisciplinary teams.

Dr. Faisal Alotaibi

Faisal Alotaibi, MD, FACS
Professor of Neurological Surgery, Alfaisal University
Director of Neurorestoration, Neuroscience Centre of Excellence,
King Faisal Specialist & Research Centre
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Faisal Alotaibi serves as a professor of neurological surgery at King Faisal Specialist & Research Centre and Alfaisal University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He completed specialized neurosurgical training in epilepsy surgery and functional stereotactic neurosurgery at Western University in Canada. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Following his training, he returned to Riyadh to join King Faisal Specialist & Research Centre and Alfaisal University.

Dr. Alotaibi is a founding board member of the International Epilepsy Surgery Society (IESS) Additionally, he serves on the board of directors for the World Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN) and is involved with various committees within the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).

Dr. Karen Gunanayagam

Karen Gunanayagam is a Clinical Research Fellow at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology in London and an Honorary Fellow at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. Her research focuses on white matter disorders and neurogenetics. She is based in the Departments of Neuromuscular/Neurogenetics and Neuroinflammation, working under the supervision of Professor Henry Houlden, Professor Jeremy Chataway, and Dr David Lynch.

She graduated from Imperial College London and completed her adult neurology specialist training in Australia, which included subspecialty training in multiple sclerosis, neuroimmunology, and mitochondrial disorders in Sydney.

Alongside clinical and trial work, Karen presents the UK Adult Inherited White Matter Disorder Meetings and is pursuing a PhD focused on unravelling genetically unsolved leukodystrophies using advanced genetic techniques, among other projects.