Dr. Ali Saeed Wahla, MBBS, is a Staff Physician within the Pulmonary Medicine Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Hospital Care Institute.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Wahla worked as a consultant physician in the Department of Intensive Care at King Abdul Aziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for a year. Prior to his role in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Wahla worked as a Consultant Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center in Lahore, Pakistan. It was here that he co-established the first Interventional Pulmonary program in the country. During this time, he also served as the Director of the Intensive Care Unit, where he established and ran a respiratory therapy training program.

Dr. Wahla received his medical degree from the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US, where he also completed his fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Wahla completed a one year fellowship in Interventional Pulmonology.

Dr. Wahla is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, with additional specialty certification in Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine. He specializes in advanced pulmonary procedures focused on complex airway and pleural disorders.

Dr. Armen Khanoyan is a thoracic surgeon currently serving as the Head of Thoracic Surgery Service at both Erebuni and Nairi Medical Centers in Yerevan, Armenia. He holds an academic position as a lecturer in the Department of Surgery at Yerevan State Medical University, a role he has maintained since 1998. His biography includes extensive international education and specialization, with medical degrees and residencies from institutions in Russia and Armenia, and fellowships supported by the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) in France. A specialist in advanced and minimally invasive procedures like video-assisted thoracic surgery (UVATS), he focuses on the surgical treatment of pulmonary diseases and thoracic oncology. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the ESTS and the Cardiothoracic Surgery Network (CTSNet). You can find more information about his practice at the Nairi Medical Center website.

She is a radiation oncologist who has extensive experience in caring for people with a variety of cancers.

She is a radiation oncologist who has extensive experience in caring for people with a variety of cancers.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Hajj worked at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, US. She also lead the MSKCC proton radiation therapy program for gastrointestinal and hematologic malignancies at New York Proton Center, New York, US.

Dr. Hajj obtained her medical degree from Université Saint Joseph Beirut, Lebanon. She completed residencies in Internal Medicine at the American University of Beuruit, Lebanon and in Radiation Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, US. She gained a fellowship in Lymphoma and a research fellowship from the same institute.

Dr. Hajj has significant experience in treating a wide range of tumors using advanced techniques, including intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)/stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), proton therapy, and radiation therapy using the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Guided Linear Accelerator (MRI-LINAC).

Her clinical research focuses on hematologic malignancies and gastrointestinal cancers. This involves two main efforts: learning about different malignancies and investigating novel technologies and treatment combinations in clinical trials to improve outcomes and quality of life in patients with cancer. As outcomes improve, many survivors could experience long-term side effects related to their cancer therapy. Her mission as a radiation oncologist is not only to cure cancer, but also to preserve quality of life after cancer treatment.

Dr. Hajj believes communication is key to maximizing quality of life for patients and always takes time to speak with them and their families about their diagnosis, concerns, and treatment goals. She also communicates and works closely with a team of experts from many different areas, including medical and surgical oncology, radiology, and pathology, to improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Dharmesh Gopalakrishnan, MD, is a Staff Physician in the Oncology Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Gopalakrishnan worked as a Staff Physician and Associate Professor of Oncology and Hematology at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, US. He held the position of Associate Director of the Medical Oncology and Hematology fellowship at State University of New York and Jacobs School of Medicine, Buffalo. He also served as the leader of the Genitourinary Clinical Trials Division at Roswell Park Cancer Center and as a member of their Institutional Review Board.

Dr. Gopalakrishnan received his medical degree from the Government Medical College, Kozhikode, India. He completed Internal Medicine residencies at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) at Chandigarh, India, and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, US. He then completed a fellowship in Medical Oncology and Hematology at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, US.

Dr. Gopalakrishnan has received multiple awards including the Gerald Logue Memorial Award, the Thomas Frawley Research Fellowship, Excellence in Teaching Award from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the Conquer Cancer Merit Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and Young Investigator Award from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, US. Dr. Gopalakrishnan has served as Principal Investigator on several multicenter clinical trials. His research has focused on novel immunotherapy approaches and drug development in oncology, leading to publications in high impact journals including Annals of Oncology, JAMA Oncology, and Journal of Immunotherapy in Cancer.

Dr. Gopalakrishnan resides in Abu Dhabi with his physician wife and two daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and exploring new cuisines and cultures.

Dr. Essa AlGhunaim is an experienced surgeon known for his work in both general and thoracic surgery.

Current Role: He is a Senior Specialist General and Thoracic Surgeon at the Chest Diseases Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuwait.

Education and Training: Dr. AlGhunaim completed his undergraduate medical degree at Western University. He then completed his residency program in Cardiac Surgery, followed by a dedicated Thoracic Surgery Fellowship, at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He also holds a Kuwait Board of General Surgery certification from the Kuwait Institute of Medical Specialization (KIMS).

Expertise: His practice areas are extensive, covering surgical procedures on the lungs, esophagus, chest wall, diaphragm, mediastinum, pleura, trachea, and bronchi. He has a demonstrated history of skill in various surgical techniques, presentations, and medical writing.

Professional Contributions: Dr. AlGhunaim is an active contributor to the global surgical community, publishing content and articles on the Cardiothoracic Surgery Network (CTSNet). He has published on topics such as Uniportal VATS pneumonectomy and single-port VATS tension decortication. He is also involved in educational efforts, having served as an examiner for mock exam sessions for surgical residents.

Dr Goran is Consultant Pulmonologist and Internal Medicine, with 18 years’ experience. He is Danish Board Certified in Internal and Pulmonary Medicine, he did his fellowship at many tertiary centers at Copenhagen University Hospitals, Denmark.

Dr Goran was Program Director of Adult Pulmonary Fellowship program from 2017 to 2021, likewise Consultant Pulmonologist and Internal Medicine, Clinical Education Leader for Adult Respiratory Medicine, at Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark, a tertiary Respiratory Center. Clinically he worked specifically as Interventional Pulmonologist and Interstitial Lung Diseases Consultant through many years.

Dr Goran worked also as HOD for Respiratory Diseases at Odense-Svendborg University Hospital, a tertiary Respiratory Center l, Odense, Denmark After Moving to UAE in May 2021, he worked as Consultant Pulmonologist at American Hospital Dubai. In February 2022 he joined the Department of Pulmonary, Sleep and Allergic diseases at Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health as Consultant Pulmonologist, where he is currently director of interventional pulmonology, interstitial lung diseases clinic, and adult respiratory fellowship program under The Saudi Commission of Health Specialties (SCFHS). He is member at ITC at Graduate Medical Education (GME) at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences) MBRU

In January 2025 he has been appointment as Clinical Associated Professor in Internal Medicine at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, MBRU Since November 2024 he has been elected as Member of the Board of Emirates Thoracic Society ( ETS) for a period of 3 years from 2024-2027, appointed as Chairperson of Scientific Committee.

He has been organizer of multiple scientific meetings, organizing scientific concerence both nationally and internationally , participated as chairman, speaker and moderator.

Currently member of multiple international scientific committes both in the field of Interventional Pulmonology and Interstitial Lung Diseases.

Currently he is also member of the Adult pulmonary Scientific Committee under National Institute for Health Specialties (NIHS), Emirati Board.

Dr Goran living in Dubai with his Wife who is a gastric and oncoplastic breast surgeon in UAE together with their 2 children.

Dr. Hussam Ismael is currently the Director of Thoracic Surgery and a Consultant Surgical Thoracic Oncologist and General Surgeon at the American Hospital Dubai. He is an American board-certified surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, with extensive expertise in minimally invasive robotic surgery for both general surgery and thoracic oncology cases. Dr. Ismael specializes in managing benign and malignant diseases of the chest and abdomen, with particular interest in lung and esophageal cancer. In addition to his clinical practice, he is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Sharjah, actively involved in educating future surgeons and contributing to research in surgical outcomes and robotic techniques.

Dr. Ibrahim Husni Moh’D Abu Gheida is the Clinical Director of Radiation Oncology at Burjeel Medical City and a regional committee representative for the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in the Middle East and Africa. He trained at the American University of Beirut, served as chief resident in Radiation Oncology, and completed fellowships at Cleveland Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Center, specializing in breast, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary cancers. Dr. Abu-Gheida played a key role in establishing Burjeel’s radiation oncology department and has chaired multiple international oncology conferences. He has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals, including Nature and Journal of Clinical Oncology, and contributed chapters to several medical textbooks.

Dr. Khaldoon with about 20 years of practice, he has wide experience in the field of Thoracic Surgery and holds a Doctorate from Damascus University, Faculty of Medicine. He continues to contribute to patient care in his specialized area. He is interested in keyhole minimally invasive surgery VATS (Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery), Thoracic Onco Surgery, and operating both of Adults and Pediatrics.

Levente Bogyó is a thoracic surgeon with a decade of experience in minimally invasive (VATS, RATS) and open thoracic procedures. He has been a core member of the Hungarian Lung Transplantation Program since 2016 and has served as its program manager since 2021, overseeing the coordination and development of the national lung transplant service.

In 2023–2024, he completed a six-month fellowship at the Medical University of Vienna, gaining extensive experience in complex oncological, tracheal, and transplant surgeries, while also working part-time as a consultant in thoracic trauma and emergency care. Earlier in his career, he practised general and abdominal surgery before specialising fully in thoracic surgery.

Dr. Nicolás Moreno Mata holds the job title of Chief of the Thoracic Surgery Department at both the University Hospital Ramón y Cajal and the University Hospital Virgen del Rocío in Spain, in addition to being an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Alcalá.

Dr. Moreno Mata is a highly accomplished professional specializing in thoracic surgery who balances his clinical leadership with significant academic and research commitments. He earned his Doctor in Medicine and Surgery degree with outstanding honors and previously served as a consultant at the Gregorio Marañón Hospital. His clinical and research interests are centered on lung cancer, bronchopneumology, and the operational impact of COVID-19 on surgical units. He is an active contributor to the scientific community, with numerous publications in indexed national and international journals, and he has also held leadership positions, including Vice President of the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgery in 2012 and membership in the European Board of Thoracic Surgery. His work reflects a commitment to advancing the field of thoracic surgery through both clinical practice and research.

Dr. Paul Ramia, MD, FRCP, is a Staff Physician within the Radiation Oncology Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Cancer Institute.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr Ramia was a Staff Physician at McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Faculty Lecturer at McGill University.

Dr. Ramia received his medical degree at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, and completed his Radiation Oncology residency at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. He then completed a fellowship in Stereotactic Radiotherapy at McGill University.

Dr. Ramia’s clinical focus includes specialized and conventional radiation techniques for a wide array of benign and malignant diseases.

Dr. Ramia resides in Abu Dhabi with his wife and son. In his spare time, he enjoys taking walks with his family, reading novels and playing soccer.

Dr. Khaitan is an American board-certified general and thoracic surgeon. She specialises in non-cardiac chest surgeries, focusing on lung cancer, mesothelioma, oesophageal cancer, chest wall tumours, and mediastinal masses, as well as treating patients with benign pathologies. Dr. Khaitan earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, US. She then pursued a General Surgery Residency at Emory University Hospital, US, with a simultaneous two-year NIH-T32 research fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre in the Department of Cancer Biology. Subsequently, she completed her cardiothoracic training at Harvard Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, US. She previously served as an Assistant Professor at Houston Methodist Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, and as an Associate Professor and later a full Professor at Georgetown University, MedStar Washington Hospital Centre. As a highly trained and experienced minimally invasive thoracic surgeon, Dr. Khaitan performs thoracoscopic, laparoscopic, and robotic surgeries, as well as open complex surgical procedures. Additionally, Dr. Khaitan is passionate about educating and training surgical residents and fellows. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, given lectures nationally and internationally, and is a reviewer for selected thoracic journals such as the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, and Journal of Thoracic Disease. Numerous honours and awards have been bestowed upon Dr. Khaitan, and she serves on several committees in national and international professional societies.

Dr. Ting Ye, M.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Chief Physician and Director Assistant in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, where he also serves as Deputy Director of the Lung Cancer Subspecialty. An active member of IASLC, ESTS, and the Japan-China Medical Association, he completed advanced training as a visiting scholar at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo. Dr. Ye has built a strong clinical and academic career focused on lung cancer, thoracic surgery, and oncogenic research, supported by major grants including the National Natural Science Foundation of China. He has presented at leading international conferences — such as AATS, ESTS, and JACS — and has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals including JAMA Network Open, Annals of Thoracic Surgery, and Journal of Thoracic Oncology. Recognized as one of Shanghai’s “Top Young Talents,” Dr. Ye continues to contribute significant advancements to the understanding, diagnosis, and surgical management of lung adenocarcinoma.

Dr. Usman Ahmad, MD, is Division Chair of Thoracic Surgery within Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Ahmad was a staff surgeon in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, US. He was the director of Thoracic Robotic surgery and assistant director of Lung Transplant programs at Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Ahmad holds a joint appointment with the Taussig Cancer Institute and is Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.

Dr. Ahmad earned his medical degree from the Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. He completed an immunology and vascular biology research fellowship at the Yale School of Medicine's Vascular Biology and Transplantation program, in New Haven, Connecticut. His internship and residency in general surgery were also completed at Yale, where he also served as the Educational Chief. Dr. Ahmad completed his training in cardiothoracic surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and New York Presbyterian - Weil Cornell Medical Center, both in New York, NY.

Dr. Ahmad and his research team focus on studying clinical outcomes in thoracic surgery, thoracic oncology and end stage lung disease. The group is uniquely positioned to study benign and malignant thoracic surgical disorders in lung transplant.

Dr. Ahmad serves in various leadership roles in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American Association of Thoracic Surgery, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

Dr. Yusuf Bayrak, MD, is a Staff Physician within the Thoracic Surgery Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.

Before joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Bayrak was Staff Physician and Associate Professor of Thoracic Surgery at Istanbul Medipol University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Dr. Bayrak received his medical degree from Istanbul University, Istanbul School of Medicine in Istanbul, Turkey. He completed his surgical training at Istanbul University, Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Istanbul School of Medicine.

During his tenure, he treated a wide spectrum of complex benign and malignant thoracic disease utilizing minimally invasive thoracic surgery technologies including video thoracoscopic and robotic lung resections and also traditional open surgery techniques. He also served as a teaching faculty at the international medical school.

Dr. Bayrak's clinical interests include pulmonary metastasectomy and extended resections for malignant lung tumors. His research interests include fast track surgery, interactions between gut flora and sepsis.

Currently, Dr. Bayrak resides in Abu Dhabi. Dr. Bayrak is married and has three children. When he's not working at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, he enjoys bass guitar playing, cooking and reading.