Planning Committee

Activity Director

Dr. Samer El-Kaissi

Activity Director
Department Chair
Endocrinology
Medical Subspecialties Institute

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Dr. Samer El-Kaissi

Dr. Samer El-Kaissi, MD, is the Department Chair in the Medical Subspecialties Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. El-Kaissi served as a consultant endocrinologist and Chairman of the Endocrinology Department at King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Dr. El-Kaissi earned his medical degree from The Flinders University of South Australia in Adelaide, Australia. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Flinders Medical Center, followed by an endocrinology fellowship at Barwon Health in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

Dr. Mahdi Shkoukani

Co- Activity Director
Department Chair, Otolaryngology (ENT) and Head & Neck Surgery, Surgical Subspecialties Institute

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Dr. Mahdi Shkoukani

Dr. Mahdi Shkoukani, MD, is the Department Chair for Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery department in the Surgical Subspecialties Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Learner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University. Also, Dr. Shkoukani is the Medical Director for Supply Chain Operations at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Shkoukani is a double American Board-certified surgeon in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, as well as in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Shkoukani served as an Associate Professor and Chief of Craniofacial Surgery at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, US. Additionally, he was the chief of otolaryngology at the John D. Dingell Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, US.

Planning Committee Members

Dr. Hussein Saadi

Vice Chief, Medical Subspecialties Institute Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Clinical Professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

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Dr. Hussein Saadi

Dr. Saadi earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut in 1985. He subsequently trained in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He is currently the Vice Chief of the Medical Subspecialties Institute of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Clinical Professor of Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, Ohio.

Dr. Saadi has over 100 publications including peer-reviewed articles, abstracts, letters, and book chapters and has presented his work at several international meetings. He is a recipient of several awards for his distinguished performance in Research, Education and Clinical Service. He was elected to membership of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AOA) at American University of Beirut School of Medicine in 2015. He was also selected as the 2016 recipient of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist Gulf Chapter Ibn Sina Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of diabetes and endocrinology.

Dr. Mario Skugor

Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism specialist

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Dr. Hussein Saadi

Dr. Skugor graduated from the Zagreb Medical School in 1986 and then spent two years as a research associate at the Institute for Nuclear Medicine in Zagreb. During 1991-1992 I was in the Croatian army. In 1993, I finished my nuclear medicine residency and moved to Ohio State University as a researcher in the Bone and Mineral Metabolism Laboratory. I completed my internal medicine residency at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Cleveland in 2000. In my final year, I served as a chief resident. My career was followed by an endocrinology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic from 2000-2002. Since then, I have been on the staff at Cleveland Clinic focusing on diabetes, obesity, thyroid disorders, and disorders of calcium metabolism.

Dr. Basel Altrabulsi

Acting Chair
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

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Dr. Basel Altrabulsi

Dr. Basel Altrabulsi has been part of National Reference Laboratory’s (NRL) scientific leadership team since 2015, in his current role he oversees the pathology and laboratory services at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is one of NRL’s flagship laboratories in the UAE, specializing in Anatomic Pathology.

Dr. Basel is certified by the American Board of Pathology, combined Clinical and Anatomical Pathology and brings to NRL more than 18 years’ international experience in the field of laboratory medicine and diagnostic pathology.  

Dr. Basel started his internship in pathology at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas and completed his residency training in 2003. He then completed his Selective Pathology Fellowship, followed by a Clinical Research Training Program, at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. 

Dr. Basel’s career has included multiple leadership positions at elite US hospitals and reference laboratories, such as Chief of Service and Medical Director at Baylor University Medical Center; Director of the Histology Laboratory at Greater Dallas Pathology; and Medical Director of Arlington Cancer Center. He has also served as an Inspection Team Leader for the College of American Pathologists (CAP) on multiple occasions. 

He has authored many research publications and is a member of global organizations, such as the International Society of Urological Pathology, the International Society of Breast Pathology, and the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology. Dr. Basel is passionate about research and education and is the Pathology Course Director at Khalifa University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. David Grossman

Staff Physician
Medical Oncology & Hematology
Oncology Institute
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

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Dr. David Grossman

Dr. David Grossman, MD FACP, is a Staff Physician in the Hematology Oncology Program in the Oncology Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Grossman spent 7 years at Cleveland Clinic Florida, US, building the Cancer Center, bringing his years of experience and expertise to a small and excellent program. He helped to build that program to 17 physicians in his time in Florida before coming to Abu Dhabi.

Prior to that, Dr. Grossman was in practice in the Western Suburbs of Philadelphia, US, in a practice affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. He joined one other physician and grew to 12 physicians in 26 years. The practice took pride in providing the highest level of cancer care in the community, taking care of patients close to their home.

Dr. Hammad Hussain

Staff Physician Endocrinology, Medical Subspecialties Institute Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

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Dr. Hammad Hussain

Dr. Hammad Hussain, MBBS, is a Staff Physician in the Endocrinology department of the Medical Subspecialties Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Hussain served as an Endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He was also Assistant Professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

Dr. Hussain received his medical degree from The Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. He completed his residency at University of Pittsburgh Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He subsequently completed fellowships in Geriatrics at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina and Endocrinology and Metabolism at University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.

Dr. Hussain has experience in general endocrinology and a special interest in thyroid disease, disorders of calcium and osteoporosis. He has his Endocrine Certification in Neck Ultrasound (ECNU) that validates a physician’s ability to perform neck ultrasound and thyroid biopsy. He is also certified to read bone mineral density reports and has vast experience in the latest technologies for managing diabetes, including insulin delivery pumps and continuous glucose monitors.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hussain has presented his work at several international meetings. In addition, he has been involved in the teaching of medical students, residents and nurse practitioners. Dr. Hussain also supplemented his academic teaching skills by completing a faculty development program at Duke University.

Dr. Hussain resides in Abu Dhabi. He enjoys reading and traveling.

Planning Committee

Activity Director

Dr. Samer El-Kaissi

Dr. Mahdi Shkoukani

Planning Committee Members

Dr. Hussein Saadi

Dr. Mario Skugor

Dr. Basel Altrabulsi

Dr. David Grossman

Dr. Hammad Hussain

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

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