Archives: Specialized Doctors

Dr. Frea Perdawood is a double board-certified Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgeon. She performs all aspects of breast cancer, cosmetic, and implant-based reconstruction surgery. Dr. Frea has more than 27 years of experience as a physician. She completed her academic degree (MD) in Denmark and then obtained the Danish Board in General and Breast Surgery in Copenhagen, Denmark. She obtained the certificate of completion of specialty in breast oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery training from the Danish Breast Surgical Association (DBKS). She later obtained the European Board of Breast Surgery/UEMS, the European Union of Medical Specialists, Bruxelles, Belgium. As a part of her training program, she went for an oncoplastic breast fellowship at the Plastic and Breast Surgical Department, Odense University Hospital (OUH), a tertiary high specialized department, and the Plastic and Breast Surgical Clinic, Rigshospitalet (The Royal Danish Hospital), Copenhagen, Denmark, the largest and highest technical center in Denmark and one of the most highly specialized hospitals in Europe. Since 2014, Dr. Frea has been appointed as a senior consultant Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgeon and has performed more than 3,000 breast and axillary operations, including oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery, at the Plastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgical Clinic, Zealand University Hospital, one of Denmark’s and Scandinavians largest breast cancer center with highly specialized treatment modalities for all type of breast cancer and breast disease with a huge volume of operative procedures. She attended various technical training programs in breast cosmetic and oncoplastic, breast reconstruction surgery, and correction of post lumpectomy defects at Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN) in Spain, an academic medical center in association with ESSO, the European Society of Surgical Oncology. Her areas of expertise include,

• Breast Screening and Assessment, Breast Health Counseling.
• Scarless Breast Surgery (Tumorectomy of All Sizes).
• Therapeutic and Cosmetic Breast Reduction, Breast Uplift.
• Simple Mastectomy, Skin, and Nipple-sparing Mastectomy.
• Reconstruction With Implant and Expander.
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy With Dual Localization. Axillary Nodal Clearance.
• Breast Conservation Surgery With Oncoplastic Techniques, Lateral Mastopexy, V Mastopexy, Round Block, Benelli Mastopexy, Inverted T, and Lollipop Mastopexy).
• Microdochectomy, Milk Duct Excision, Nipple Reconstruction.
• Drainage of Breast Abscess, Hematoma, and Seroma.
• Surgery for a Male Breast Lump, Gynecomastia.
• Fat Grafting and Nano Fat Grafting.

Professor Humaid Obaid Al-Shamsi serves as Chief Executive Officer of Burjeel Cancer Institute in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He is President of the Emirates Oncology Society and holds a leadership role in the Gulf Cancer Society. He is Visiting Professor at Harvard Medical School at Harvard University and Visiting Scientist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Full Professor of Oncology at the Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. An Adjunct Professor of Oncology at the College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, and Honorary Professor at Gulf Medical University in Ajman, UAE. He graduated with honors from University College Cork, Ireland, in 2004. He completed his residency in internal medicine at McMaster University, Canada, followed by a fellowship in medical oncology and advanced training in gastrointestinal (GI) oncology and palliative care. He is the first Emirati to complete a fellowship in palliative care in the UAE. During his training at McMaster University, he received multiple awards, including the Outstanding Senior Resident of the Year Award by the Medical staff Association of McMaster University (2012) and the Jeff Ginsberg Subspecialty Resident Award (2012). Professor Al-Shamsi is the first Emirati to be promoted to the rank of Professor in Oncology in the UAE. He serves as Chairman for Colorectal Cancer in the MENA region, appointed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN) in the USA. He is the only member of the Lung Cancer Policy Network in the MENA region, which aims to advance lung cancer research and screening globally. He is Chairman of the Oncology and Hematology Fellowship Training Program for the National Institute for Health Specialties in the United Arab Emirates. He is the only member in the GCC of the WIN Consortium, an international organization representing all stakeholders in personalized cancer medicine worldwide. He is board-certified in both internal medicine and oncology by the UK, USA (ABIM), and Canada (FRCPC). He is the only physician in the UAE with a subspecialty fellowship certification and training in gastrointestinal oncology and the first Emirati to train and complete a clinical post-doctoral fellowship in palliative care. He is the first physician globally to be documented as having been granted the well-recognized royal fellowships from the royal colleges of FRCP (Canada), FRCP (Ireland), FRCP (London), FRCP (Edinburgh), FRCP (Glasgow), and the American College of Physicians, FACP (USA), reflecting broad international recognition of his clinical and academic standing.

From 2014 to 2017, he served as Assistant Professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He was the first (inaugural) graduate of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Program for outstanding UAE Physicians training in 2016 — a prestigious national scholarship/training initiative. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles published in leading journals including  CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians ,  Cancer ,  JAMA Oncology ,  Lancet Oncology ,  Journal of Clinical Oncology ,  The Oncologist ,  BMC Cancer , and many others. He received the Publication of the Year 2020 award from  The Oncologist  journal for an international paper on COVID-19 and cancer management. He is a regular peer reviewer for numerous international oncology journals and has served as guest editor for several leading oncology publications. He is also involved in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) research network, contributing to large-scale analyses that inform cancer epidemiology and health policy worldwide, and is a regular contributor to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Connection platform, where he shares insights on oncology practice, system development, and global cancer care. He also chairs sessions at major international congresses (e.g., ESMO Congress 2025). His areas of expertise include precision oncology and cancer care in the UAE. In 2016, he co-authored with his MD Anderson colleagues a landmark study in the  Journal of Clinical Oncology  that described a new distinct subgroup of colorectal cancer: non-V600 BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer. In 2022, Professor Al-Shamsi published the first book on cancer research in the UAE and the first book on cancer in the Arab world, both launched at Dubai Expo 2020.  Cancer in the Arab World  has been downloaded more than 600,000 times in its first two years and remains the ultimate source of cancer data in the Arab region. He also published the first comprehensive book  Cancer Care in the United Arab Emirates , the first book in UAE history to document cancer care in the country, addressing many topics for the first time. In addition, he authored the open-access book  Healthcare in the United Arab Emirates . This book achieved over 100,000 downloads in its first two months. All of his books have been made open access to ensure free access to scientific knowledge for everyone. His cancer research focuses on precision oncology and multi-omics AI-driven biomarker discovery in cancer. 

Professor Al-Shamsi is passionate about advancing cancer care across the UAE and the GCC region. As President of the Emirates Oncology Society and through his leadership role in the Gulf Cancer Society, he has helped build one of the most active oncology education platforms in the MENA region, offering frequent, high-quality educational activities accessible to oncologists across the region. He has been instrumental in bringing major international oncology educational initiatives to the UAE and the MENA region, including Best of ESMO, ESMO Breast, and Best of ASCO. He has made significant contributions to cancer awareness and early detection through public education on social media platforms and has championed free consultations for cancer patients without insurance, ensuring no patient is denied timely expert guidance due to financial barriers. He is recognized as the most followed oncologist in the world, with over one million subscribers across Instagram, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, and TikTok. In 2022, he received the prestigious Feigenbaum Leadership Excellence Award from Sheikh Hamdan Smart University for his exceptional leadership and research contributions. He was also awarded the Sharjah Award for Volunteering in recognition of providing thousands of free consultations to cancer patients across the UAE and the MENA region. He was named Researcher of the Year in the UAE in both 2020 and 2021 by the Emirates Oncology Society. 

In May 2024, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, awarded him first place in the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (NAFIS) program for outstanding leadership in the private sector across all business and medical disciplines. He was recognized as one of The 100 Most Influential CEOs in Oncology in 2025. In February 2025, he was awarded the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Program for Excellence and Community Intelligence Award by the UAE President in recognition of his role as a successful role model in UAE society for increasing cancer awareness across the UAE and GCC. In October 2025, he was officially received by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in recognition of his academic achievements (Harvard Visiting Professor and Dana-Farber appointments) as the first GCC national to achieve this academic ranking. As CEO of Burjeel Cancer Institute, Professor Al-Shamsi leads the largest cancer network in the UAE, comprising more than 30 oncologists and hematologists. Despite his extensive leadership, academic, and administrative responsibilities, he remains in full clinical practice, conducting clinics five days a week to continue providing direct, high-quality care to his patients. 

Under his leadership, the institute has built one of the country’s first comprehensive adult and pediatric bone marrow transplant programs and secured the UAE’s first European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) accreditation for a cancer center. In addition to his clinical and administrative responsibilities, he is actively engaged in education and research training for medical trainees at all levels to enhance their clinical and research skills. He has shaped the future oncology workforce of the UAE by establishing the country’s first hematology and oncology fellowship training pathway and currently serves as Chairman of the Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program, accredited by the UAE National Institute for Health Specialties at Burjeel Cancer Institute. Professor Al-Shamsi’s leadership has profoundly shaped the UAE oncology landscape. He has been a key architect behind several landmark national initiatives that have transformed cancer care delivery in the country. These include major contributions to the development of advanced national oncology care standards in collaboration with health authorities, the launch of the UAE’s National Guideline for Lung Cancer Screening and Diagnosis—which established a unified, evidence-based framework for early detection and risk stratification—and the establishment of the National Multidisciplinary Committee for Cancer Case Assessment through Ministerial Decree No. (20) of 2025, which formalizes multidisciplinary decision-making at a national level. In addition, he holds governmental advisory roles, including Advisor and Member of Governmental Committees for the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Dubai Health Authority, Ministry of Health & Prevention, and has been a Member of the Steering Committee on National Cancer Control Indicators since January 2018. His mission is to advance cancer care in the UAE and the MENA region and to make high-quality cancer care accessible to everyone in need around the globe. 

Dr. Neil Arun Nijhawan is a UK-trained Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Burjeel Medical City. After medical school at Kings College London, he pursued specialty training in palliative medicine in London and previously worked as a Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in the London, where he was Clinical Lead for Palliative Medicine. He has over 10 years of clinical experience in palliative medicine. Dr. Nijhawan is the first licensed Palliative Care Physician in Abu Dhabi and is licensed to practice all aspects of palliative medicine. He strongly believes that for all patients, if one’s symptoms are well controlled, they will feel better, and both the patient and their family will tolerate their medical treatments better. Dr. Nijhawan’s ethos is to treat every patient like family and believes that there is always something that we can do to help make people feel better. The overarching aim of Palliative Care is to improve the quality of life of patients through diligent and thorough assessment and treatment of both physical and psychological symptoms. Patients do not exist in isolation and therefore supporting the family is an essential component of the palliative care approach to care. His clinical area of interest is symptom control (including pain, nausea, breathlessness, fatigue) and assistance with complex treatment decision-making at the end of life and he is often called on to provide an independent second opinions. Palliative care is available for everyone – of any age, race, culture, background, and religion.

Dr. Rishikesh Ramesh Pandya has more than seven years of experience working as a Consultant and Head of Urology/Uro-Oncology at a private hospital in Abu Dhabi before joining Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi. He has a total of 19 years of urological experience. His primary areas of interest are prostate diseases, uro-oncology (urinary system cancers), and laparoscopic urological and reconstructive surgery. He treats urinary stones using a wide range of minimally invasive surgical procedures such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and ureteroscopy (flexible and rigid). He obtained his MBBS degree from the University of Mumbai. He earned a Fellowship in uro-oncology from the University of Toronto in Canada, where he spent four years enhancing his clinical and surgical skills in uro-oncology. Dr. Rishikesh completed his Fellowship in laparoscopic urology at the Elizabethan Hospital in Linz, Austria, where he gained expert surgical skills in laparoscopic technique for urological diseases such as prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers, as well as five years of international work experience in advanced uro-oncology and laparoscopic/robotic urology surgeries in countries such as Canada, Austria, and the United States of America. In Accra, Ghana, he established a program for laparoscopic prostatectomies (West Africa). Dr. Rishikesh received his Certification as a Robotic Urological Surgeon in 2013 from Roswell Park Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York. Dr. Rishikesh is passionate about educating the public and society about the importance of early detection of cancers of the urinary system, particularly the kidney and prostate gland, and other cancers.

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. Mohammed Jouda is a distinguished Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at Burjeel Medical City/ Burjeel Cancer Institute, bringing over 20 years of expertise in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery, General Surgery, and laparoscopic procedures. His expanse of services for breast surgery covers both male and female patients. His extensive training and long-standing experience in Ireland, Europe, and the Middle East have shaped his expertise in breast cancer management and oncoplastic surgical techniques and enabled him to adopt the latest advancements in breast cancer treatment, breast-conserving surgery, and oncoplastic techniques, ensuring that his patients receive the highest standard of care. He holds the prestigious Fellowship of the European Board of Surgery in Breast Surgery (FEBS) and has completed an advanced Fellowship in Breast Surgical Oncology and Oncoplastic Breast Surgery at St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. His qualifications from leading European institutions and surgical boards reflect his commitment to excellence in breast surgery. Dr. Jouda’s expertise covers the comprehensive management of all breast conditions, including breast cancer, benign breast diseases, therapeutic interventions, and cosmetic breast procedures. He is committed to delivering holistic, patient-centered care, integrating cutting-edge surgical techniques with a focus on both oncologic and aesthetic outcomes. Dr. Jouda is deeply involved in medical education, research, and surgical training, sharing his expertise with future generations of surgeons. His contributions to academic research and medical journals have advanced the field of oncoplastic breast surgery and breast cancer management. Dr. Jouda has trained at some of the most prestigious institutions across Ireland, Europe, and the Middle East, ensuring he remains at the forefront of breast surgery advancements.With his unparalleled expertise, extensive training, and dedication to breast health, Dr. Jouda remains a leading figure in oncoplastic breast surgery, transforming lives through his work. 

Dr. Jouda’s clinical expertise spans a wide range of breast conditions, including: 

• Breast Cancer Surgeries: Oncoplastic Breast Surgery, Breast-Conserving Surgery, Mastectomy (including Nipple & Skin-Sparing) and Immediate & Delayed Breast Reconstruction 
• Benign Breast Lumps & Diseases 
• Chronic Breast Pain & Hormonal Changes Management 
• Different Types of Mastitis & Breast Infections 
• Surgical Management of Nipple & Areola Disorders & Deformities 
• Cosmetic Breast Surgery: Breast Augmentation & Reduction, Male Breast Surgery, Gynecomastia (Male Breast Enlargement), Breast Cancer and All Other Male Breast Conditions 

Philosophy & Vision: 

Dr. Jouda strongly believes in a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to breast care. He collaborates with oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, plastic surgeons, psychiatrists, and physiotherapists to provide comprehensive, evidence-based treatment plans. 

His patient-first philosophy emphasizes: 

• Early detection and prevention 
• Minimally invasive techniques and advancing breast cancer treatment 
• Aesthetic-focused surgical methods 
• Patient education and empowerment 
• Providing compassionate, patient-centered care 

Dr. Mohamed Atef Elzoghby graduated from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, with Bachelor’s degree of Medicine and Surgery (MBBCh) in December 2000 with Honors. He then he completed his Neurosurgical residency at Ain Shams University Hospital, a well-constructed general Neurosurgery practice followed by higher surgical training including rotations in different subspecialties and was awarded Master’s degree of Surgery in 2005. Being one of the best residents, Dr. Zoghby was awarded a clinical-research Fellowship in the University of Virginia, USA, 2008-2010, fully funded by the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities, for the fulfillment of his Doctorate degree Thesis. During that time, he joined the neuroendocrine and skull base division under supervision of two of the pioneers in pituitary surgery, Prof. John Jane Jr., and Prof. Edward Oldfield. He then returned to Egypt, passed his board exams, and got his doctorate degree, top of his class in 2011. Dr. Zoghby is currently an Associate Professor in Ain Shams University, Cairo Egypt, he is one of the well-known Neurosurgeons in Egypt, he subspecializes in neuroendoscopy, pituitary, skull base surgery. He has also introduced intraoperative ultrasound guided tumor resection upon his return from USA. He actively participated in multiple local, regional, and international conferences and has numerous publications in highly reputable scientific journals. Dr. Mohamed Elzoghby has overall 20 years of work experience in the field of neurosurgery with special expertise in pituitary surgery and neuro-oncology. For the last 3 years he practiced in a high-ranking private hospital in Jeddah, KSA and in Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, UAE. He is a licensed Neurosurgery Consultant in Egypt, KSA and UAE. Recently, he joined the Burjeel Holdings and is currently practicing as Consultant of Neurosurgery, at Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Kesava is a Pediatric Intensivist with more than 20 years of experience in pediatric critical care. After completing the basic specialist training in Pediatrics in India, he pursued higher specialist training in pediatric critical care medicine in the UK and Australia. Following which, he worked in a tertiary care university hospital as a consultant in PICU for 8 years before moving to UAE. In the UAE, he worked as head of cardiac PICU in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City for 4 and half years before moving to Burjeel Medical City. He is passionate about patient safety, quality of care, training/education of staff and efficiency of the service. He has implemented the following projects in the previous four years:

• Benchmarking cardiac surgical outcomes
• Admission policy incorporating risk stratification that has cut down the delay in admission of children with critical congenital heart disease
• Early extubating policy
• Rational chest drain removal policy
• Bundle for reduction in PCICU LOS
• Bundle for prevention of cardiac arrest
• Home monitoring program for palliated patients until second stage surgery
• Organized seminars on congenital heart disease
• Hands on training workshop on pediatric CRRT

In the UK he was part of a dynamic team, which achieved high patient satisfaction and outcome despite expansion of service from 600 admission to over a 1000 admissions per year. He was a Lead Consultant for clinical practice development and research within the team. Under his leadership, the team participated in many multicentre trials including CHIP, STePS, CATCH, THAPCA and ADAPT. Dr. Kesava is competent in managing critically ill children from any cause. He has special expertise in postoperative care of children particularly in the area of congenital cardiac surgery. He is an expert in mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy and procedures such as central line insertion etc. He is also proficient in management of children on VA and VV ECMO.

Dr. Ramamurthy is a skilled anesthesiologist with more than 17 years of post-qualification experience in transplant anesthesia (liver and kidney), HPB surgery, trauma, oncology, bariatric, obstetrics, orthopedics, robotic, and GI surgery. He is well-versed and experienced in neonatal and pediatric anesthesia and advanced ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia. After receiving his MBBS from Kilpauk Medical College in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, he completed his anesthesia training at King George Medical University in Lucknow, India. He continued his career advancement in the UK by joining the West Yorkshire Anesthesia Rotation in Leeds, which led to his Fellow of the Royal College of Anesthetists and a certificate of completion of training in Anesthesia. During his final years of training, he was heavily involved in upper GI, HPB, transplant anesthesia, and critical care. He returned to India and worked at Global Hospitals and Aster DM Healthcare in Bengaluru, where he managed hundreds of kidney and liver transplants with a multidisciplinary team. He has extensive experience managing cadaveric and living donor kidney and liver transplants. His most recent position was as Consultant Anesthesiologist at NMC Royal Hospital, Khalifa City, an active tertiary care hospital in Abu Dhabi that provides anesthesia to all surgical subspecialties.

Dr. Mourad has 18 years of anesthetic experience in a diversity of hospitals. He has published and presented at both national and international levels. Qualified in 2001, MBBCh. Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. Excellent Hon. After residency training in university hospitals, I got an MSc. degree in 2006 and qualified as a staff member in the anesthesia department of the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. He got MDs in Anaesthesia, ICU, and Pain Management. Cairo, Egypt, 2011 and registered as a Consultant Anaesthetist. He worked at King Hamad University Hospital, Bahrain, for five years. He got a European Diploma in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care in London in 2015. He earned a Fellowship from the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland, Dublin, in 2016. He worked in Ireland at the University Hospital of Limerick and Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin. Dr. Mourad has worked in the field for a long time in many of the many subspecialties of anesthesia, including:

Anesthesia for neurosurgery
Anesthesia for Pediatric and neonatal surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery
Complex vascular surgery
Epidural analgesia for labour
General surgery, breast, and plastic surgery
Gynecology and obstetrics
Orthopedics
Otolaryngology
Major robotic surgery (colorectal, urology)
Major trauma and resuscitation, critical care management
Nerve blocks
Ophthalmology
Oral maxillofacial
Pain management (acute and chronic)
Preoperative assessment