Fatima Al-Haddad

Chief of Department | Bahrain Government Hospitals

Fatema Al-Haddad is a Clinical Dietitian from the Kingdom of Bahrain. She is the Chief of Department at Bahrain Government Hospitals. Fatima obtained her BSc. in Nutrition with a Major in Dietetics from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, after which she went on to earn a Fulbright Scholarship and obtained a MSc. in Public Health Nutrition with a Minor in Public Health from the University of Knoxville-Tennessee in the United States. She has a passion for infant and child nutrition and her focus on diabetes was the drive behind her PhD thesis from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom. Her area of research focuses on child health with an emphasis on evidence-based strategies for improving health outcomes in these populations.

Liana Poulia

Assistant Professor of Clinical Dietetics | Agricultural University of Athens

Kalliopi Anna Poulia is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Dietetics at the Agricultural University of Athens. She served as a Clinical Dietitian-Nutritionist at the Univesrity hospital of Athens from 2003 to 2021, with a special interest in nutrition in renal disease, cancer, malnutrition and artificial nutritional support. She has been the general secretary of the Hellenic Medical Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (GrESPEN) and the ESPEN LLL director since 2024. She is also the Nutrition Consultant for the European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association (EDTNA/ERCA). She has written several medical books on clinical nutrition in English and Greek and has spoken at many local and international congresses.

Mirey Karavetian

Senior Research Associate | University of Toronto

Mirey has a PhD in Health Promotion from Maastricht University, and a dietetics degree from American University of Beirut. She has worked in several Middle Eastern countries as university professor and a clinical dietitian. After relocating to Canada in 2021, Mirey has worked on nutrition research projects with principal investigators from McMaster, Calgary, and Toronto Metropolitan Universities before assuming her current position as a senior Research associate at the faculty Kinesiology and Physical education at University of Toronto. Her research focuses on finding effective strategies to enhance dietary and exercise habits to prevent and manage non-communicable chronic diseases in at-risk and/or clinical populations. She also aims to improve the health care policies that can facilitate this transformation. She shares her experience in conferences and workshops locally and internationally. In her free time, she likes to stay active and spend quality time with family and friends.

Reem Al-Saadi

Director of Dietetics and Nutrition Department | Hamad Medical Corporation

Ms. Reem Al-Saadi is a Clinical Lead for Metabolic Dietetics and Director of Dietetics & Nutrition Department at Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha-Qatar. She has a wealth of experience in pediatric and adult dietetics, having worked as a clinical dietetic specialist for almost 21 years. Her involvement in all aspects of IMD has spanned almost all her working life. As director of the Department, she helps oversee the inpatient/outpatient management of all IEM patients, diet and formula instruction, computer diet analysis, and the medical foods distribution center. Ms. Al-Saadi is one of the most trusted dietitians to Classical Homocystinuria (HCU) patients in Qatar and the Region. Her main research interests include maximizing the benefits of the early diagnosis through newborn screening (NBS) and pre-symptomatic treatment with diets to improve health outcomes and prognosis in children with IMD. In addition, Ms. Al-Saadi has contributed to many publications surrounding nutrition management and HCU. Ms. Al-Saadi participates in several projects that help with the development of translational clinical research. She is the Co-founder of MEMU (Middle East Metabolic University), which provide an academic training as well as practical aspects of dietetic management of IMD. She has also participated as a speaker in many national, regional and international IMD conferences. Her outstanding dedication and hard work in improving newborn screening and more specifically the HCU community.

Rolf Smeets

Managing Director and Board Member | Dutch Medical Food

Dr. Rolf Smeets is a scientist and healthcare professional with over 28 years of experience in medical nutrition, specializing in the development of evidence-based therapies for disease-related malnutrition. He holds a PhD in Medical Sciences, with expertise in molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology, complemented by extensive experience in clinical research. Dr. Smeets has led the development of nutritional interventions for complex medical conditions, including oncology, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and Alzheimer’s disease. His work includes the design and oversight of clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of medical nutrition products, as well as collaboration with healthcare professionals to integrate these therapies into clinical practice. In his previous roles, Dr. Smeets has been instrumental in the development of plant-based tube feeds and compact nutritional supplements, providing tailored support for patients with advanced nutritional needs. He has also contributed to shaping international medical nutrition guidelines through collaborations with regulatory bodies and healthcare organizations in Europe and Asia. Dr. Smeets’ focus on the translation of scientific research into practical therapeutic strategies underscores his commitment to advancing patient care through innovative and sustainable nutrition solutions.

Sanaa Youssef

Consultant of Pediatric Clinical Nutrition, President of ASPCN | Ain Shams University

University professor, clinician and researcher in the field of Pediatric nutrition with more than 30 years of exceptional record, experience and contributions in teaching nutrition knowledge and skills to medical students and health care professionals as well as applying such expertise for the welfare of patients. Awarded Ain Shams University award for distinguished papers published in international journals in the year 2008 Founder and Head of the Nutrition Rehabilitation Unit Children’s Hospital, 1997 till 2010, and Collaboration with various specialized clinics in the children’s hospital Ain Shams University to provide specific nutritional rehabilitation protocols.Teaching nutrition and clinical nutrition courses diploma and master degree in pediatric department faculty of medicine and Institute of childhood studies Ain Shams University. Supervision of more than 300 master degree and PHD thesis in Pediatrics; mainly in the field of clinical nutrition and nutritional disorders, with 25 international publications. Instructor of medical nutrition therapy diploma in AUC. Founder of clinical nutrition rehabilitation unit , EL GALAA Military Hospital. Board member in Middle East allergy guidelines. Board member in Egyptian complementary feeding guidelines. Project in collaboration with 57357 hospitals, NAMRU-3

Wafaa Ayesh

Consultant Clinical Nutrition | Tadawi General Hospital

Wafaa Helmi Ayesh, Consultant Clinical Dietitian & Head of Nutrition at Al Tadawi General Hospital, is a leader in clinical nutrition. She is the President of the Emirates PEN Society. Also, as President of the Middle Eastern Alliance of Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition Congress, she contributes significantly to the field. Wafaa directs the Master's Degree in Applied Nutrition Program at the University of Sharjah and has a history of service at Dubai Health Authority. With a Master's in Food Science and Nutrition, she initiated projects like DHA@Home and Tummy Fish. Wafaa, the first Arab recipient of an ESPEN diploma, actively contributes to education, co-founding Sweetkidz Group and receiving awards such as the "Sheikh Hamdan Award" and "Excellence in Healthcare.