Chairman Letter
Dear Colleagues and Distinguished Guests,
It is my distinct honor to welcome you all to the inaugural Pediatric Hematology Oncology Conference in Kuwait. I am privileged to stand before you as the Chairman of Pediatric Hematology Oncology at NBK Children’s Hospital and proudly lead the Stem Cell Transplant Unit.
This groundbreaking conference brings together a blend of international and local expertise to explore the intricacies of Pediatric Hematology Oncology. Our collective mission is to delve into vital topics and provide the latest updates, fostering an environment of shared knowledge and collaboration.
I extend my warmest welcome to each participant, as your presence enhances the richness of this gathering. Together, let us embark on a journey of learning, discussion, and innovation, propelling the field of Pediatric Hematology Oncology to new heights.
Thank you for being a part of this significant moment in our shared pursuit of advancing pediatric healthcare.
Sincerely,
Chairman, Pediatric Hematology Oncology
Conference
Speakers
Sondus Alsharidah
Chairperson, Director of Pediatric SCT program in Kuwait
Head of pediatric Hematology Oncology
Conference SCT unit in NBK Children’s Specialized Hospital,
Committee head for Stem Cell and tissue principles and technical and administrative standards.
Head of committee for Central Policies for secondary and tertiary care, member of COVID-19 inspection team in MOH, Vice-president of SCD higher committee, president of Kuwait Pediatric association. Treasurer of Kuwait Thalassemia league. Member of international bodies: EBMT, ISCT, ASTCT, ASHI, ARSHI. Graduated from Dublin, Ireland RCSI, double qualification for pediatrics’ (Kuwaiti board and MRCPCH), fellowship in pediatric hematology and SCT UK. Established the pediatric SCT in 2020, initiated the treatment of CCP in Kuwait 2020.Research interest in the field of benign hematology, thrombosis haemostasias and stem cell transplantation.
John M. Cunningham
George M. Eisenberg Professor of Pediatrics Chair
Department of Pediatrics Physician-in-Chief
University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital
Eugene Hwang
Eugene (Gene) Hwang, M.D., is chief of the Division of Oncology at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. He is also part of the Children’s National Hospital pediatric neuro-oncology team, focusing on treating children with brain tumors. Dr. Hwang has developed and led many novel early phase therapeutic clinical trials with a focus on immunotherapeutic trials, and he also leads trials focused on gene therapy and new, targeted agents. He is the site Principal Investigator of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, where he is the co-chair of the Immunotherapy Working Group. He serves on grant review committees and on the scientific advisory boards of several large foundations. For each patient, Dr. Hwang carefully considers the best possible options for treatment, trying new, cutting edge treatments coupled with the best available know
Birte Wistinghausen
Birte Wistinghausen, M.D., is a pediatric oncologist and member of the leukemia and lymphoma team. She treats children, adolescents and young adults with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), histiocytosis and leukemia. Her clinical research concentrates on non-Hodgkin lymphoma, specifically on the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (PTLD) and cellular therapy in EBV-positive PTLD as well as the biology and treatment of B-lymphoblastic lymphoma.
Dr. Wistinghausen’s roles within the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) include serving as the principal co-investigator of a clinical study using EBV-specific T-cells in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and being the responsible investigator for B-lymphoblastic lymphoma. She is also serving as vice-chair for education of the COG NHL committee.
Yasser Wali
Professor Wali was trained in Alexandria Children’s University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, and completed his Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Pediatrics from the same university in 1994. He gained his Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) certification in 1998 and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (FRCPCH UK) in 2005.
He has authored over 140 peer-reviewed journal publications and more than 400 abstracts and presentations in both international and local meetings in the field of Pediatric Hematology and oncology. He serves as Associate Editor of Frontiers in Pharmacology, Frontiers in Oncology, Acta Biomedica, and Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. He is a reviewer of many international peer-reviewed journals. Currently, he serves as Professor and Head of the Pediatric Hematology / Oncology Unit, Child Health Department in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman.
Dan Yeomanson
Consultant Paediatric and TYA Oncologist, Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Adekunle Adekile
Kuwait University | KU · Department of Pediatrics
MBBS, PhD, FMCPaed, FWACP, FRCPCH, FRCP
Nisreen Khalifa
Dr. Nisreen M. Khalifa is a Consultant Pediatric Oncologist in the Solid Tumor Unit at the NBK Children’s Hospital in Kuwait. Dr. Khalifa received her MD degree in 1992 from Assiut University in Egypt and completed her training in General Pediatrics in Assiut University Hospitals. She received her MSc degree in Pediatrics from Assiut University in 1997. Dr. Khalifa started her career in Oncology at the South Egypt Cancer Institute in Assiut University in 1998. She trained at National Cancer Institute. Cairo University before receiving her PhD in Pediatric Oncology in 2006 and becoming a faculty member at the South Egypt Cancer Institute. Dr. Khalifa joined the Pediatric Unit in the Medical Oncology Department at the Kuwait Cancer Control Centre in 2007. She later joined the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department at the NBK Children’s Hospital as a consultant. Over her 22 years of practice, Dr. Khalifa has developed experience in solid tumors in children including sarcomas, brain tumors and malignant lymphomas.
Ahmed Al Hurraiji
Consultant hematologist at kuwait Cancer Control Center and Kuwait hospital
Deputy director of the kuwait hematology fellowship program
President, kuwait hematology association
Vice president, Kuwait Leukemia lymphoma society
Maha Bourusly
Dr Maha Jassim Bourusly is a pediatric consultant at the department of hematology and oncology at the NBK Children’s Hospital in Kuwait. Dr Maha received her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Kuwait University, 1990, She received her Diploma in child health, Dublin (DCH) 1994. And Kuwait Board in Pediatrics (PGTP) 2002. And MRCPCH (UK) 2003. Dr Maha Joined the department of hematology and oncology at the NBK Children’s Hospital in Kuwait in 2003. Over her 32 years of practice, Dr. Maha has developed experience in general Pediatrics and pediatric hematology and leukemia, and shared these experiences through scientific literature and mentoring young pediatricians . She headed the Thalassemia league up until recently, and currently VP Pediatric league, Kuwait Medical Association. She is also board member and Co- founder of I want to learn society, an initiative to teach children at hospital with chronic debilitating illnesses.
Fatima Khadadah
Dr. Fatima Khadadah is a Specialist in the Department of Hematology at the Kuwait Cancer Centre with an interest in acute and chronic leukemias.
Eman Al Mattar
A Pediatric Consultant at the department of Hematology and Oncology at the NBK Children’s Hospital Kuwait. Covering Leukemia clinic, Leukemia off therapy Clinic and Platelets disorder Clinic.
Dr. Eman Received her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Kuwait University. She received her Diploma in Child health from Dublin (DCH) and Kuwait Board in Pediatrics (PGTP).
Muna Burahma
Dr. Muna Hamad Burahma
Consultant in pediatric hematology oncology department NBK Children’s hospital Sabah specialized health area
Head of the department from 2014-2022
A-member of pediatric and thalassemia league under Kuwait medical association and also a board member in I want to learn society . Has many publications in the field of pediatric hematology oncology .
Yaser Al Yacoub
1.Bachelor degree in medical Laboratory form Kuwait University In 2000
2 .BOARD OF American Association of Bioanalysts ( AAB) in 2008
3.Board of The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) IN CYTOMETRY SCYM ASCP in 2009
4. Board of American Medical Technologists (AMT) in 2007
5. Senior Specialist in Flow cytometry unit in Yacoub Bahbahani Center for bone marrow transplant in 2016
Hamdan Elsamman
Pharmacist
Joined KCCC Hospital since 1997
More than 25 years experience in dealing with oncology medication
in charge of controlled and special items medication
In charge of pharmaceutical continues education program in kccc pharmacy department.
Moderators
Kareema Altahou
A pediatric senior specialist at the department of pediatric hematology / oncology /SCT
NBK Children’s hospital in Kuwait
Dr. Al Tahou joined the pediatric stem cell transplant unit at NBK Children’s hospital in Kuwait in 2011 .
She later joined the pediatric oncology unit at the NBK Children’s hospital in Kuwait in 2019
Dr.Al Tahou has developed experience in general pediatric , pediatric oncology and pediatric stem cell transplantation .
Education :
– MBBS Arabian Gulf university / Faculty of medicine and medial sciences in Bahrain in 1990
– Diploma in child health (DCH ) / National University of Ireland in 1994
– E.C.F.M.G certificate / USA 1999
– Pediatric Residency training certificate issued from Miami Children’s hospital, Miami, FL./ USA Sept .2002
– American Board in pediatric ,2008
– Fellow of the American academy of pediatric ,2009
– Physician license – medicine .Board of medicine / Michigan ,USA in Oct 2010
Omar Arafa
Consultant of Pediatric Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt.
Pediatric Oncology specialist, NBK hospital, Kuwait.
Najat Rouheldeen
FRCPath , DCP
Consultant hematology .
Head of hematology unit Maternity hospital ,
Head of premarital testing for hemoglobinopathy .
Head of the premarital center Hemoglobinopathy molecular diagnostic lab.
Genetic councler for hemoglobinopathies in premarital center .
Vice president Society of Kuwait clinical laboratory .
Head of MOH sickle cell multidisciplinary medical team committee .
Ahmad Alabdulkareem
Senior Registrar Haematologist at Jaber Alahmad Hospital
Faculty of medicine: Royal college of surgeons Ireland
Kuwait Board of Haematology
Committee member of Kuwait Haematology Association
Clinical Tutor of Kuwait Institute of Medical Specialisations
Hanan Al-Abboh
-Dr Hanan Al-Abboh is a Pediatric Consultant in Mubarak Al-Kabber Hospital
-She is a graduate from Kuwait University, Faculty of Medicine, in 2003.
-Had her Pediatric Residency in Mubarak Hospital from 2004 to 2009 when she passed her Kuwait Board of Pediatrics examination.
-From 2010 she was trained in the field of pediatric hematology under supervision of professor Adekale Kunle , since then she encountered a broad spectrum of benign Pediatric Hematology disorders. In particular different types of anemias, mainly sickle cell & thalassemia. In addition she manages other diseases such as hemophilia and other rare inherited disorders, bone marrow failure syndromes, thrombosis & Platelet disorders.
-She had an attachment in the Pediatric Hematology Department of Cincinnati Children Hospital, Ohio /US in 2014.
-She is involved with the research projects going on in the pediatric unit in Mubarak Hospital and is a co-author of a number of published papers.
Samar Ousia
Consultant hematology and stem cell transplantation
Kuwait cancer control center
Farid Al-Enezi
Senior pharmacist specialist
Graduate of Philadelphia University, Kingdom of Jordan
Head of the Pharmacy Department, Kuwait Cancer Control Center
Acting Head of Pharmaceutical Services in the Al-Sabah Health Region
As well as a liaison officer between the Al-Sabah Region and the medical store.
Member of the KCCC Drug Accreditation Committee, representative of the Pharmacy Department.
Samar Ousia
Consultant hematology and stem cell transplantation
Kuwait cancer control center
Samar Ousia
Consultant hematology and stem cell transplantation
Kuwait cancer control center
Sponsors
