British trained consultant Neurosurgeon with highly specialised fellowships in open and endoscopic skull base surgery in the U.K. , France and Canada as well as Neuroncology (Canada). Dr Asha is currently the Chief of the Neurosurgery Department at Tawam Hospital (National Oncology Tertiary Centre in Abu Dhabi).

Dr Asha is a pioneer in complex brain tumors surgery in UAE for adults and pediatrics. He has keen interest in open vascular surgery and functional Neurosurgery as well.

Dr Asha is very motivated educator. He holds masters degree in evidence based medicine, Cardiff University and A degree in Global Health Education, University of Toronto. In addition to his clinical roles, he holds a position as adjunct professor at the University of UAE.

Prof. Nicandro Figueiredo is a Consultant Spinal Neurosurgeon and Professor of Neurosurgery with over 25 years of international experience across Brazil, the USA, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. He completed medical training and a PhD in Brazil, with postdoctoral training at top U.S. institutions including Johns Hopkins and the University of Wisconsin. He has served in leading academic and clinical roles, and currently practices at King’s College Hospital in Dubai. An active researcher, editor, and international speaker, he is a member of NASS and other global societies, contributing significantly to spinal surgery, education, and evidence-based neurosurgical practice.

Jonathan Pollock qualified in medicine from Oxford University in 1990 and trained in Oxford, Nottingham and London. He is senior consultant neurosurgeon at Essex Neurosciences Centre in Romford, East London, appointed in 2002. His practice includes brain tumours in adults especially meningioma and pituitary tumours, and trigeminal neuralgia. He founded the local multi-disciplinary skullbase team and is Treasurer of the British-Irish Meningioma Society. He served on the training body for UK Neurosurgery and as an author for the neurosurgical examination. He is writing a History of Neurosurgery in the UK and Ireland for the Centenary of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons, 2026. 

Dr. Anas Dyab is a senior consultant neurosurgeon and spine surgeon at in Luxembourg, specializing in Neurosurgery and complex spine cases. He holds the European, German, and Jordanian Boards of Neurosurgery, along with advanced diplomas in spine, neuro-intensive care, neuroradiology, and emergency medicine. He completed fellowships in complex and endoscopic spine surgery in technical university of Munich and University hospital Homburg. Dr. Dyab serves on EUROSPINE, AOSPINE, EANS, and NASS committees, and reviews for The Spine Journal. As Spinal Lead, he treats cases from across Europe and leads cutting-edge research and multicentric RCTs, advancing minimally invasive spine surgery internationally. 

Dr. Sinan Barazi is a London-based Consultant Neurosurgeon specializing in pituitary, skull base, spinal surgery, and complex facial pain. Appointed at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2011, he co-leads the Complex Facial Pain service across King’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals. He has extensive fellowship training in endoscopic pituitary and skull base surgery in Italy and the UK, has published widely, and is active in several national and international neurosurgical organizations.

Training at the Department of Neurosurgery at the Medical University Vienna under Prof. Koos and Prof. Knosp. Specialisation in Neurosurgery and Intensive Care Medicine.

Research focus on cerebrovascular microsurgery, endovascular neurosurgery, and neurosurgical intensive care medicine.

Director of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Kepler University Hospital Linz, Austria.

Dean of research at the Medical Faculty of the Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria.

President of the Austrian Society of Neurosurgery.

Secretary of the Section of Neurosurgery at the European Union of Medical Specialists.

Board Member of the CV Section of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies.

Dr. Francesco Doglietto works in Rome (Italy) as Professor of Neurosurgery at the Catholic University School of Medicine and Neurosurgeon at the Gemelli Foundation Hospital. Among other giants in the field of neurosurgery and skull base surgery, he trained with Dr. Giorgio Frank and Pasquini (Bologna, Italy) in 2005 during his residency, and with Prof. Fred Gentili in 2008-2009 in Toronto, Canada. Back in Italy, he worked in Brescia with Prof. Nicolai. He is now back in Rome, in one of the largest academic Italian hospitals, and is dedicated to open and endoscopic skull base surgery, as well as neuro-oncology.

Dr. Kentaro Watanabe is a skull base neurosurgeon and lecturer at Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo, specializing in complex brain tumor surgery with a focus on skull base surgery. With over 20 years of surgical experience, he integrates traditional microsurgical mastery with cutting-edge endoscopic and exoscopic techniques to achieve safe, minimally invasive outcomes. Trained under world-renowned mentors in Japan, the U.S., and France, he leads a 100-member neurosurgical team, advances surgical education, and pioneers’ clinical innovation. Currently he bridges medicine, leadership, and technology to enhance patient care, education, and hospital management worldwide.

Nicholas Thomas qualified in medicine from the London Hospital in 1988 and trained in neurosurgery at leading UK centres, with a spine fellowship at Ohio State University, USA. He has been a Consultant Neurosurgeon at King’s College Hospital, London since 1998. His subspecialty interests include endoscopic pituitary and skull base surgery, complex spinal surgery, and the cranio-cervical junction. He leads the skull base service and pituitary surgery at King’s, is part of the national NF1/2 and paediatric auditory brainstem implant programmes, and contributes to spinal trauma and malignant cord compression care. A past President of the British Skull Base Society and Executive Committee member of the European Skull Base Society, he also serves on the National Proton Beam Panel. He has published widely and is a regular faculty member at UK and international workshops. Since 1996, he has volunteered annually in Sri Lanka, introducing pioneering spinal and pituitary surgical techniques. 

Jonathan Shapey is a Clinical Reader in Neurosurgery at King’s College London and an Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon with a specialist interest in pituitary and skull base neurosurgery at King’s College Hospital. Jonathan’s research is focused on the translational development of innovative healthcare engineering solutions for neurosurgery. His principal research interests include advanced intraoperative optical imaging technology and the application of artificial intelligence to guide patient management.

Prof. Atul Goel is a distinguished neurosurgeon and academic leader with pioneering contributions in craniovertebral junction surgery, spine surgery, and neuro-oncology. He has served as President of the Neurological Society of India (2018–2019), the Craniovertebral Junction and Spine Society, and the Indian Society of Neuro-Oncology. He has held prominent editorial positions, including Chairman of the Editorial Board of Journal of Neurosurgery (Spine), Section Editor of World Neurosurgery, and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Journal of Craniovertebral Junction and Spine. Prof. Goel has authored landmark textbooks, including Neurosurgery of Complex Tumors and Vascular Lesions and The Craniovertebral Junction: Diagnosis, Pathology, Surgical Techniques. With over 800 PubMed-indexed publications, 150 original surgical techniques, and an h-index of 64, his work has shaped contemporary neurosurgical practice worldwide. He is also an innovator, holding 2 U.S. patents and 21 Indian patents.

Chief of Neurosurgery and Head of the Department of Surgical Specialities of San Filippo Neri Regional Hospital, ASLRoma1. Executive Member of IANA (international Academy of Neurosurgical Anatomy), Member of WANS (World Academy of Neurological Surgeons), Member of YMA (Yasargil Microneurosurgical Academy), Co-Director of INERF (Takanori Fukushima Foundation), Executive President of FRIENDS (International Foundation devoted to teach microneurosurgical anatomy and techniques in cadaver dissection courses: Director and Teacher of >100 International cadaver hands-on dissection courses of Microneurosurgery, Skull-base).

Alex completed neurosurgical training in Newcastle upon Tyne UK, MSc in surgical technology at Imperial College London and a Skull Base and Cerebro-vascular fellowship in Pittsburgh, USA. His sub-specialist interests include anterior and lateral skull base surgery, pituitary surgery, surgical treatment of facial pain and hemi-facial spam.

Mario Teo is a Consultant Neurosurgeon and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Bristol Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, North Bristol University Hospital, UK, having completed a Cerebrovascular and Skull Base fellowship at Stanford University, California, USA. He trained in Neurosurgery at Glasgow, Cambridge and London. His clinical focus includes management of complex brain tumours and cerebrovascular pathologies, incorporating various surgical techniques (keyhole surgery, endoscopic approaches, cerebral revascularizations) and technological advancement (3D reconstruction, fiber-tracking, virtual reality, intraoperative neuromonitoring). Academically, he has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, editorials, book chapters, and is an advocate of collaborative clinical and scientific research, at local, national and international level.

Dr. Abdu Alkhairy is a Consultant Neurosurgeon specializing in skull base surgery at Aseer Central Hospital and King Faisal Medical City in Abha, Saudi Arabia. He is the Deputy Head of the Department of Neurosurgery and serves as the Program Director of the Neurosurgery Training Program in the Aseer region, where he plays a key role in advancing neurosurgical education and training for future specialists.

Dr. Calvin Mak specializes in endoscopic and complex skull base surgery and performed the first endoscopic transorbital brain tumor surgery in Hong Kong. He has organized international dissection courses, published extensively, co-edited a multidisciplinary skull base textbook, and serves on editorial boards and international neurosurgical societies. Beyond surgery, he leads innovation in healthcare technology as Cluster IT Coordinator of Kowloon Central Cluster, where his team established Hong Kong’s first Hospital Command Centre and pioneered 5G and AI applications in medicine. Dr. Mak is Vice President of the Hong Kong Neurosurgical Society, First Vice-President of the Hong Kong Neuro-oncology Society, and holds leadership roles in regional and global neurosurgical associations. He was named one of Hong Kong’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons in 2022 and has received multiple awards for clinical innovation and leadership.

Dr. Ala Arikat is a consultant neurosurgeon . Head of scientific committee of the Jordanian spine society.He attended Jordan university medical school. He started his surgical career in the Jordanian Royal Medical services, Then pursued his neurosurgical specialized training in Lille University Hospital in France. His clinical interest include Minimally invasive spine surgeries and pain management. He has 15+ years clinical experience in the UK,France,and Jordan. Member of AO spine Europe, Eurospine foundation, Jordanian neuroscience society, Jordanian spine society.

Dr. Mahmoud Abdallat is an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Jordan and a board-certified neurosurgeon with German, Jordanian, European, and Arab Boards of Neurosurgery, as well as the German Board of Pain Therapy. He completed residency and subspecialty training in functional neurosurgery and pain therapy at Hannover Medical School in Germany, followed by a fellowship in epilepsy surgery at Western University, Canada. Formerly a Consultant Neurosurgeon at Hannover Medical School, he specializes in functional neurosurgery, epilepsy surgery, spine surgery, and advanced pain therapy, combining academic expertise with innovative patient-centered surgical care.

Imad Hashim Ahmad received his M.B, Ch.B. from Mosul Medical College in Iraq in 1977 and passed his primary F.R.C.S. examination in 1979, final F.R.C.S. examination in 1982 from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He got his F.R.C.S. in Neurosurgery in 1986 at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He’s currently a Consultant Neurosurgeon and spine surgeon at the Medical International Specialist Centre and is the visiting surgeon of the Mediclinic City Hospital and the Canadian Specialist Hospital. He is an adjuvant Professor of neurosurgery at Sharjah Medical College. He was the president of the Emirates Neuroscience Society. He is currently an education advisor for the AO Spine Middle East. He is a reviewer of the global spine Journal. 

Prof. Abdul Karim Msaddi is a leading neurosurgeon in Dubai with over 38 years of experience and international recognition in neurosurgery and spine care. Trained in France and certified by both the European and French Boards of Neurosurgery, he specializes in minimally invasive brain and spine surgery, traumatic injuries, tumors, pediatric and vascular neurosurgery, and chronic pain management. He has treated thousands of patients worldwide and is fluent in Arabic, English, and French. Beyond clinical work, Dr. Msaddi is Chairman of the Arab Spine Scientific Committee, founder of DISC Dubai, and past president of several regional neurosurgical societies. A passionate educator and researcher, he continues to shape neurosurgical practice and innovation across the Middle East and globally.

Dr. Ahmed Quateen is a Clinical Assistant Professor at McMaster University and a dedicated neurosurgeon at Hamilton Health Services. Renowned for his expertise in neurosurgery, Dr. Quateen combines advanced surgical techniques with compassionate patient care, contributing significantly to both medical education and neurological health in the community.

Dr. Aseem Alhaj is a German Board Certified Neurosurgeon and leading spine surgeon in Dubai. He trained at Hannover Medical School and Clemenshospital Münster and later served as a consultant at Helios Seehospital Sahlenburg. He specializes in treating low back pain and neck pain using both non-surgical options and minimally invasive spine surgery. He also performs complex and revision spine surgeries. Dr. Alhaj holds the Master Certificate in Spine Surgery from the German Spine Society and diplomas from EUROSPINE and EANS.

Dr. Debora Garozzo is an Italian neurosurgeon specializing in peripheral nerve surgery. After training in Verona, she began her career in Bergamo in 1992 and helped establish a leading center for brachial plexus surgery in Rovigo. With advanced training in Sweden, Germany, and China, she fostered global academic collaborations, including with Huashan Hospital in Shanghai. Since 2017, she has practiced in Dubai at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital. A prolific author and speaker, she holds leadership roles in SINCH, EANS, WFNS, and ACNS. Dr. Garozzo is internationally recognized for her contributions to peripheral nerve surgery and global neurosurgical education.

Florian Roser, MD PhD, is Chief of the Neurological Institute and Department Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi since it’s inception in 2014. Dr. Roser is a graduate of the Johannes-Gutenberg-University in Mainz/GER, and studied Medicine in Morgantown, West Virginia/USA, as well as in Johannesburg/SA. He completed his residency in the prestigious Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Nordstadt with Prof. Dr. Madjid Samii, a Skullbase fellowship at the University of Tübingen/GER (Prof. Tatagiba) and Spine fellowship at the National Institute of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Queens Square, London/UK.

He is a Full Professor of Neurosurgery at the Eberhard-Karls University of Tübingen in Germany, serves as Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, US and is Adjunct Professor at the Biomedical Engineering Faculty at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi. Dr. Roser has authored over 128 peer-reviewed articles (h-index 38) and has presented more than 220 invited lectures worldwide. He is Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, Elsevier since 2020. Prof. Roser has received several research grants from prestigious research institutions, for basic molecular research on meningioma tissue, clinical research on diagnostics in Syringomyelia and technical innovations in surgical anatomy.

Dr. Khaled Fares Al-Ali is Head of Neurosurgery at Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE. His expertise includes spinal surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, and pediatric neurosurgery. He is among the pioneering Emirati neurosurgeons and the first from the UAE to achieve North American board certification. Dr. Al-Ali co-founded the Emirates Society of Neurosurgery and introduced advanced techniques such as minimally invasive spine surgery. He remains active nationally and internationally, recognized for his dedication to education and humanitarian service in conflict areas. He has published three academic books and continues shaping the future of neurosurgery in the region.

Dr. Thaer Darwish is a German Consultant neurosurgeon, who obtained his medical Degree at University of Jordan in Amman. After medical degree he obtained an MD title also from New York, USA and he did research in Brain tumors (Glioblastoma multiforme) at Harvard medical school in Boston-USA. His residency was at Bochum University in Germany and its affiliated university Hospital as well as Bergmannsheil & Children Hospital in Gelsenkirchen in Germany. He is also a fully registered neurosurgeon in British General Medical Counsel (GMC). Dr. Darwish then worked as specialist Neurosurgeon and spine surgeon at Bergmannsheil & Children Hospital in Gelsenkirchen in Germany and then as a consultant Neurosurgeon and spine surgeon at Bochum university hospital in Germany. After that He was working as Consultant Neurosurgeon & Spine surgeon at Paderborn spine center (affiliated academic hospital of Georg[1]August-University Göttingen) where he did a lot of complex spinal surgeries and deformity correction surgeries in a minimal invasive techniques & robotic spinal surgeries. Dr. Darwish has an extensive experience in Neurosurgery & Spine surgery, with special interest in minimal invasive complex spinal surgeries & robotic spinal surgeries. He participated in many conferences as speaker in Germany and worldwide & He trained a lot of spinal surgeons on the robotic spinal surgery & minimal invasive complex spinal surgeries especially during his work as a consultant Neurosurgeon and spine surgeon at Paderborn spine center-Germany. He moved to Dubai in 2018 and worked in Dubai as Consultant neurosurgeon & Spine surgeon at Prime Hospital Dubai where he initiated and maintained the neurosurgery & spine surgery department there. Since 2020 He is leading the neurosurgical and spine department at Medcare orthopedics and spine hospital-Dubai.

Dr. Mohamed Samy Elhammady is an American Board-Certified Neurosurgery Consultant at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) and serves as Section Head of Neuro-oncology in the Neuroscience Institute. Additionally, he holds the position of Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, USA. Dr. Elhammady earned his medical degree from the University of Mansoura in Egypt and completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of Miami, Florida, USA. He pursued further sub-specialization through three fellowships, including neuro-endovascular surgery and open cerebrovascular/skull-base surgery at the University of Miami as well as minimally invasive/endoscopic surgery for brain and spine tumors at the Center for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery in Sydney, Australia.

Dr. Elhammady is a prolific author and presenter having delivered over 111 lectures worldwide. His bibliography includes 98 peer reviewed scientific articles, 17 book chapters, and 46 citable abstracts.

Dr. Abolfotouh is a distinguished alumnus of Harvard Medical School and a board-certified Orthopedic and Spine Surgeon at MEDCARE Hospital in Dubai, UAE. He completed extensive spine fellowship training at the University of Missouri, USA, and is a recognized leader in the global spine community. He currently serves as the AO Spine MENA Educational Chair and Board Member, and is the Chairman of the Pan Arab Spine Society (PASS). His commitment to academic excellence and advancing the field is further demonstrated by his role as Deputy Editor of the Global Spine Journal, where he helps shape the future of spine care through research and education.

Dr. Waseem Aziz is a Consultant Neurosurgeon working in SSMC in partnership with Mayoclinic, Abu Dhabi. He was graduated from Alexandria University, Alexandria Egypt in 1998, where he then joined the department of Neurosurgery, Alexandria faculty of medicine as a resident, then he became assistant lecturer in 2003, lecturer in 2010, and then appointed an assistant professor position in 2018. Dr. Waseem Aziz had his Masters (2003) and MD degrees (2010). He received training and worked in several hospitals in UAE and abroad. He had a Skull base, Cerebrovascular, Neuro-endovascular fellowship in Keio University, Tokyo, Japan in 2005, also a training in Neuro-endovascular at Fondation Ophthalmique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris in 2007, and a research fellowship in Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 2008 to 2009. His research interest is in the field of cerebrovascular, skull base, spine, and endovascular neurosurgery. He lectures to under and postgraduates in neurosurgery. Dr. Aziz is the chair of Emirates Society of Neurological Surgeons Scientific Committee, board member of Pan Arab Neurosurgical Society, member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, board member of the Egyptian Society of Neurological Surgery (ESNS), a board Member of the Egyptian Cerebrovascular Group of ESNS.

Dr. Ahmed Allam is a consultant and Professor of Neurological surgery, currently leading the department of Neurosurgery at Al Zahra private hospital Dubai with Academic positions in both MBRU and Sharjah Universities. Dr. Ahmed area of interest is Complex Spine surgery, Neuroncology  and Pediatric Neurosurgery, with over 4000 surgeries 

Dr. Essam Elgamal is a Senior Consultant Neuro Surgeon with a broad experience in adult and pediatric brain and spinal cord surgery over 35 years. He is a UK intercollegiate board certified in Neurosurgery. He is trained in Bristol and Oxford in UK and Alexandria, Egypt. He worked in a leading post at Oxford University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City, and was the Chairman of the Neurosurgery unit at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City – Abu Dhabi, where he established the first Pediatric Neurosurgery unit in the UAE. He is specialized in navigation-guided brain tumor surgery for adults and children, complex hydrocephalus and neuro-endoscopy, Spina bifida, and spinal cord tumors. He is an expert in treating children with hydrocephalus, neural tube defect, Craniosynistosis and intrathecal drug delivery pump implantation and regular care. He performs surgery for Chiari malformation, Syringomyelia, spinal lipoma, and spinal cord tethering. He counsels parents in the fetal medicine clinic for brain and spinal cord anomalies.

Dr. Husban has gained a local and international reputation as a result of his distinguished work as it is the one of the first to introduce minimal invasive spine surgery and modern techniques in scoliosis surgery to the Middle East with great success recorded by the Arab and international press and conducted many successful surgeries at the local and regional levels, the most prominent of which was the first of its kind in the Middle East As minimal invasive lateral access for lumbar fusion. He also previously served as Head of the Spine Surgery Specialist and consultant for Orthopedic and Joint Surgery at Al Hussain Medical City Hospital. In addition to many local and regional professional academic and administrative activities and positions. 

Dr. Mohamed Arnaout is an associate professor and faculty member in Neurosurgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt. Currently, Dr. Arnaout is working as Consultant in Neurosurgery division of surgery Institute, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) Abu Dhabi, United Arab of Emirates. He worked as a clinical and/or research fellow in the following countries: Italy (Bologna), United States of America (Pittsburgh& Weill Cornell New York), Turkey (Izmir) and Germany (Mainz). In addition to the plenty of conferences and workshops, He was a faculty member in many conferences and workshops. He is a peer reviewer for international journals, besides many national and international publications. His main research interests are; the endoscopic skull base, pituitary and other minimal invasive cranial and spine surgeries as well as neuromodulation.

Prof. Al Jasmi is the Dean of College of Medicine and health science, UAE University, Al Ain. Biochemical Genetics consultant at Tawam Hospital. She did her undergraduate studies at UAE University, UAE and graduated in 2000 with bachelor’s in medicine and health science. She pursued her postgraduate studies at University of Toronto, and Hospital for Sick Children, Canada. In 2006, Prof. Al Jasmi received Canadian Board of Pediatrics after completing the Pediatric residency program. Subsequently, she did her fellowship in biochemical genetics and in 2008 and certified with Canadian College of Medical Genetics Board (Biochemical Genetics). Prof. Al Jasmi established the UAEU genomic lab at CMHS, UAEU. She is the chair of MENA Medical Genetics Association. She participated in the expanding of national newborn screening and the premarital screening pilot study using Whole Exome sequencing. She organized and participated in numerous national and international conferences aiming to advance rare diseases community awareness, education and clinical sciences. She collaborated with numerous national and international clinical scientist to enhance rare metabolic disease research and clinical service. Prof. Al Jasmi research involved prevalence of inborn errors of metabolism in United Arab Emirate, Newborn screening in UAE, Whole exome sequencing for inborn errors of metabolism, mitochondrial DNA variation, lysosomal storage disorders, Peroxisomal disorders, identification of biomarker for propionate metabolism in addition to artificial intelligence in diagnosis of rare diseases. Dr. Al Jasmi is one of the founder of UAE rare disease society. Prof. Al Jasmi established the biochemical Genetic Fellowship at UAEU in collaboration with Tawam hospital and graduated two prominent Emirati consultants. She is recipient of Prime Minister Award for excellence in a specialized job (2017) Chancellors’ Innovation Award (2015) Women in Science (WiS) Hall of Fame as an outstanding woman in science throughout the Middle East North Africa region (2015) and L’Oreal UNESCO For Women in Science Pan Arab award (2013) Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum Award for Excellent Achievements in Medicine (2000).