Dr. Abed Al-Lehibi is the President of the Arabic Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Chairman of the Gastroenterology & Hepatology Department, and Endoscopy Director. He also serves as a Professor of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Dar Al Uloom University in Riyadh, KSA.

Dr. Al-Lehibi is a certified Gastroenterologist and Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopist. He completed his Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship, as well as his Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship, at Washington University in St. Louis (Wash U), Missouri, USA, in 2010. He is currently the Chairman of the Gastroenterology & Hepatology Department and the Endoscopy Director at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) in Riyadh, where he is recognized as an expert in endoscopy and advanced therapeutic endoscopic procedures.
Dr. Al-Lehibi played a pivotal role in establishing the Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy Unit at KFMC. In 2016, he launched the Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Program at KFMC, which gained full accreditation from the Saudi Council of Health Specialties. Additionally, he founded the Saudi Live Endoscopy Symposium at KFMC in 2014. Dr. Al-Lehibi has authored numerous papers, abstracts, and lectures at both national and international conferences.

Dr. Brian E. Lacy, PhD, MD, FACG, is a Professor of Medicine and Consultant at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. He is the Program Director of the GI Fellowship and Associate Program Director for Scholarly Activities in the Medical Residency Program. Previously, he served as Section Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and as a Professor at the Geisel School of Medicine.

Dr. Lacy’s research focuses on gastrointestinal motility disorders, including IBS, dyspepsia, gastroparesis, and more. He has authored over 250 peer-reviewed articles, multiple textbook chapters, and books for both medical professionals and the public. He is a member of several prestigious scientific organizations, has held editorial roles, and has contributed significantly to the Rome IV Committee.

Dr. Lacy earned his doctorate in cell biology from Georgetown University and his medical degree from the University of Maryland. He completed his Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and is board certified in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Dr. David Cangemi received his medical degree from the Florida State College of Medicine in 2011. He completed his internal medicine residency at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville in 2014, followed by a gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, in 2017. He then pursued a year-long advanced fellowship in motility and functional gastrointestinal disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2018, he joined the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, where he currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Medicine specializing in gastrointestinal motility disorders and disorders of gut-brain interaction.

Dr. Cangemi’s research focuses on identifying novel pathophysiologic mechanisms and treatments for functional dyspepsia and gastroparesis. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to multiple medical textbook chapters. As a principal investigator, he recently completed the first prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study evaluating virtual reality as a treatment for functional dyspepsia. He is currently leading another prospective study on virtual reality for functional dyspepsia, supported by a Clinical Research Award from the American College of Gastroenterology. Additionally, he is the principal investigator of an ongoing prospective study exploring markers of increased intestinal permeability in patients with functional dyspepsia, funded through a Mayo Clinic benefactor award.

Dr. Joshi is a Consultant Hepatologist at the Institute of Liver Studies at King’s College Hospital. He graduated from King’s in 2001 and trained in hepatology at the Institute of Liver Studies for five years. During this time, he undertook a PhD examining the predictors of fibrosis in patients following liver transplantation. Dr. Joshi completed his endoscopy and ERCP training at University College London Hospitals. He is the co-author of Hepatology at a Glance and has also contributed numerous papers, reviews, and book chapters. Dr. Joshi has a keen interest in clinical research, particularly in the predictors of fibrosis.

Dr. Wallace is the Fred C. Andersen Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic and Director of Research and Innovation in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. A graduate of Duke University School of Medicine, he completed advanced training at Harvard Medical School and the Medical University of South Carolina, specializing in EUS and ERCP.

Since joining the Mayo Clinic in 2003, Dr. Wallace has held prominent roles, including Division Chair and Editor in Chief of *Gastrointestinal Endoscopy*. He has published over 450 peer-reviewed papers, with a focus on the early detection of gastrointestinal cancers, particularly pancreatic cancer, using AI tools. He has contributed to more than 20 patents and co-led innovative research and development teams at Mayo Clinic, driving advancements in gastrointestinal medicine and technology.

Shounak Majumder, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Consultant at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. He serves as Chair of Innovation for the GI Division and Program Director for the Pancreas Fellowship Program. A board-certified gastroenterologist and fellowship-trained medical pancreatologist, he is a clinical expert and globally recognized leader in pancreatic disease management.

Dr. Majumder leads Mayo Clinic’s NIH-funded Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Research Program, focusing on developing molecular and digital tools for early pancreatic cancer detection. His contributions include identifying methylated DNA biomarkers in pancreatic juice, cyst fluid, and blood. His research also explores AI-based applications for screening and prospective validation of biomarkers in high-risk individuals.

Having published extensively in high-impact journals like Lancet, JAMA Oncology, and Gastroenterology, Dr. Majumder is also a Councillor for the PAN section of the American Gastroenterology Association Institute Council.

Talha Aziz Malik, MD, is a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona and serves as the Team Lead for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Education. He is American Board Certified in Gastroenterology, with a special interest and fellowship training in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two primary inflammatory bowel diseases.

Originally from Pakistan, Dr. Malik grew up in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He attended medical school at Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan, and completed his internal medicine residency training at SUNY at Stony Brook in East Meadow, New York. He then pursued an IBD fellowship, an MSPH in clinical research, and formal GI fellowship training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Following his fellowship, he remained on the faculty at UAB for four years.

In 2018, Dr. Malik joined Mayo Clinic Arizona as the IBD Team Lead. In 2021, he accepted an expat assignment in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, serving as the IBD Lead at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City. In February 2024, Dr. Malik returned to Mayo Clinic Arizona to continue his IBD practice and assumed the role of IBD Team Lead for Education.

Professor Tine Jess is the Director of the National Center of Excellence for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PREDICT) in Denmark. She is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Science and Letters, a Science and Innovation Advisor to the Danish Ministry of Science and the Parliament, and the President of the Danish Medical Society for Theoretical and Applied Therapies.

Her career includes working at the Mayo Clinic in the US, Novo Nordisk in Denmark, and the Danish National Biobank. She has also merged and led the health data science departments of the Capital Region of Denmark. Most notably, Professor Jess founded PREDICT, which has become a world-leading center in combining health data and biobanks for the study of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), collaborating with prestigious institutions like Harvard, Imperial College, and Sorbonne.

Professor Jess is a renowned expert in the epidemiology of IBD, with over 230 publications and more than 21,000 citations in prestigious journals such as Science, NEJM, JAMA, BMJ, Gastroenterology, and Gut. She has received numerous accolades for her research, including the UNESCO for Women in Science Award, a UEGW Award, the ECCO Mark of Merit, the 2024 David Sachar Award from Mount Sinai in New York, and a Danish Medal of Honor.

Dr. Palmer is a Professor of Medicine and Consultant in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, as well as the Dean of the Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development. He holds board certifications in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Transplant Hepatology. He is the Director of the Hereditary Hemochromatosis Clinic at the Mayo Clinic, where he specializes in and actively conducts clinical research on genetic iron overload and common gastrointestinal diseases. Additionally, he serves as Florida’s Director of Education for the Mayo Clinic’s Center for Individualized Medicine.

Dr. Palmer has published over 120 peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, and book chapters, with more than 1,000 citations in his field. His accolades include the Karis Award from the Mayo Clinic Values Council and his election as Secretary of the Staff for Mayo Clinic Officers and Councilors in 2022. He has also been honored with the Distinguished Physician Alumni Award from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Mayo Brothers Distinguished Fellowship Award.

Dr. Ahmad Al-Rifai, MD, MA, MRCP, is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist with vast expertise in hepatology, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastrointestinal disorders. Holding advanced qualifications in Gastroenterology and Healthcare Ethics, he has contributed significantly to research, education, and clinical practice. Dr. Al-Rifai has authored numerous publications, presented his work globally, and played key roles in developing national clinical guidelines. He has also held prestigious academic and leadership positions, advancing medical education and specialized care in the UAE.

Dr. Ammar Kheir is the Director of the Complex Luminal Endoscopic Resection Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Previously, Dr. Kheir served as a Gastroenterologist and Therapeutic Colonoscopist at Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital and as a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.

Dr. Kheir completed his gastrointestinal training and fellowship in Advanced Therapeutic Colonoscopy in Brisbane, Australia, followed by additional Advanced Endoscopic Training at Kyushu University Hospital in Japan.

He specializes in image-enhanced endoscopy and advanced endoscopic resection techniques, including wide-field EMR and ESD, management of antithrombotic agents, and gastrointestinal polyposis syndromes. Dr. Kheir has presented at international conferences, published in peer-reviewed journals, and contributed chapters to endoscopy textbooks.

Dr. Eyad Alakrad is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and the Director of GI Motility Disorders and Endoscopy at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC). With over 20 years of experience, he has extensive expertise in gastroenterology and hepatology, having trained in leading institutions in the UK and USA. Previously a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, Dr. Alakrad developed innovative programs for gastroparesis treatment and endoscopic gastric electric stimulators. At SSMC, he established a state-of-the-art GI Motility Lab and introduced advanced technologies like Enoflip. His research focuses on foregut motility disorders and Eosinophilic Esophagitis, and he is a frequent speaker at international platforms.

Dr. Hatim Taha is a Consultant Gastroenterologist with a specialist interest in hepatobiliary medicine. He graduated from Khartoum University before completing his postgraduate training in the UK, working across several NHS teaching hospitals. In 2019, he undertook a fellowship in EUS and ERCP at the University Hospital of North Midlands. Dr. Taha joined Wirral Teaching Hospitals in 2021 as an ERCP specialist and advanced endoscopist before moving to SSMC Hospital in Abu Dhabi in August 2024. He has extensive experience in managing patients with pancreatic and biliary disorders.

Dr. Khaled Alnuaimi is a Consultant Gastroenterologist. He graduated from the UAE University Faculty of Medicine in 2010. Dr. Alnuaimi completed his medical and gastroenterology training in France, followed by advanced endoscopy training in Montréal, Canada. He is currently serving at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC).

Dr. Badre Alam is a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in the UAE. He attended medical school at Kolkata University in India and completed his gastroenterology fellowship at the Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia. He also served as a staff specialist at Wollongong Hospital and Nepean Hospital in New South Wales, Australia.

Dr. Alam is one of the lead IBD physicians at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and is highly passionate about enhancing the quality of care for IBD patients in the UAE and across the region. Additionally, he is a core faculty member of the GI fellowship program, where he plays a key role in endoscopy training.

Dr. Yaqub is an Associate Professor at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he leads the BioMedIA group. He earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Oxford. His expertise spans Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and biomedical health and image analysis.

Dr. Yaqub has authored over 80 peer-reviewed articles, holds six patents, co-edited two books, and has secured numerous national and international research grants. He is also an Honorary Research Fellow at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN) at the University of Oxford.

In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Yaqub founded Labib AI, MBZUAI’s first start-up based in Abu Dhabi. He is the General Chair for MICCAI 2026, the world’s leading AI in medical imaging conference, which will take place in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Mohammed Abdel-Rahim Karajeh, MBChB, FRCP, CCST in Gastroenterology and GIM, is the Chair of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) in Abu Dhabi.

He completed his undergraduate training at Dundee University in Scotland, followed by postgraduate training in general internal medicine, gastroenterology, and hepatology in England. Dr. Karajeh worked for over a decade as a consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the UK and also served as a senior lecturer at Sheffield University.

With over two decades of experience in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, he possesses specialized expertise in performing complex endoscopic procedures, including ERCP, cholangioscopy, stenting, and endoscopic bariatric procedures such as intragastric balloons and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.

Dr. Mohammed Nabil Quraishi, PhD, FRCP, FEBGH, is a UK board-certified consultant gastroenterologist and the director of the IBD Centre at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Quraishi is a recognized specialist in inflammatory bowel disease, gut microbiome health, and therapy, with extensive experience in gastroenterology. He serves as the clinical and scientific advisor for the University of Birmingham Microbiome Treatment Centre and was the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) IBD quality improvement lead.

Dr. Quraishi is also a chief and principal investigator for several academic studies and has received numerous international awards. He was the editor of a core gastroenterology textbook, has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers and guidelines, and is a regular presenter at scientific conferences.

Prior to joining SSMC, Dr. Quraishi worked at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust in the UK as a consultant gastroenterologist and is an honorary senior clinical lecturer at the University of Birmingham.

Dr. Osama Yousef, MD, is a Staff Physician specializing in Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at the Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Before joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, he held esteemed roles at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, including Assistant Professor of Medicine and Associate Program Director for the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. He also served as the Site Program Director at Truman Medical Center.

Dr. Yousef earned his medical degree from the University of Jordan and completed his Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. His expertise spans functional bowel disorders, colorectal cancer screening, and more.

Dr. Saeed Almarzooqi is indeed a distinguished consultant in gastroenterology and hepatology at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) in Abu Dhabi. His impressive academic journey includes graduating from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and completing multiple fellowships at the University of Toronto, specializing in hepatology research, clinical gastroenterology, clinical hepatology, and transplant hepatology.

Dr. Almarzooqi has a strong focus on liver diseases and pre- and post-liver transplant care. He currently serves as the director of the hepatology service and the program director of the gastroenterology fellowship at SSMC. His contributions to the field are further highlighted by his numerous publications and presentations at both regional and international conferences.

Dr. Sacha Sidani completed his medical studies, internal medicine residency, and gastroenterology subspecialty at the University of Montreal Hospital Center in Canada. He then pursued a post-doctoral fellowship in gastrointestinal motility and gut microbiota at McMaster University’s Farncombe Family Digestive Health Institute, under the mentorship of Dr. David Armstrong and Dr. Paul Moayyedi. His research focused on the role of gut microbiota in gut-brain axis disorders.

From 2016 to 2024, Dr. Sidani served as full-time faculty and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Montreal Health Center, where he directed the Neurogastroenterology and Motility laboratory. His expertise includes severe motility disorders, such as chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and upper gastrointestinal dysmotility, as well as the gut microbiota’s role in gut-brain axis disorders. He has published extensively and contributed to the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology IBS clinical guidelines while also actively teaching medical students and residents.

In 2024, he relocated to the UAE, initially practicing in Dubai Healthcare City, before joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi as a staff physician and motility lead in the Digestive Diseases Institute.