International Surgical Ambassadors (ISA's) in the Middle East
The College has International Surgical Ambassadors and Tutors based in the Middle East. Their role is to act as the representative of the College in their country or region. They can provide advice and guidance on:
- Career development
- Applying for and participating in RCSEd examinations and courses
- Local contacts in the surgical profession
- Access to RCSEd resources such as webinars or eLogbook
- Professional updates and skills development
- Local networking and events
For more information on the network or to connect with a local ambassador, please contact Ms Malou Micola von Furstenrecht, International Engagement Manager m.micola@rcsed.ac.uk
To find your nearest International Surgical Ambassador located in the Middle East, please find your country in the list below:
Oman
Dr Jatinder Singh Luthra – International Surgical Adviser
Dr Luthra is a consultant in Khoula Hospital Muscat, Oman, a level 1 trauma centre. His special interest is in primary and complex revision hip and knee arthroplasty, pelviacetabular surgery. He has an AO fellowship from Dusseldorf, Germany in trauma surgery and a fellowship in joint replacement surgery from Harrogate (UK) and a fellowship at the Endoclinic Germany in revision hip and knee arthroplasty. He completed a SICOT fellowship in pelvis and acetabular surgery at Aachen Medical Center (Germany) under Professor Christopher Pape. He participated in a surgeon to surgeon visitation with Professor Duncan in Oxford. He is a full-time trainer for Oman Medical speciality board and trains postgraduates. He is closely involved in developing research and examinations for local residents.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Dr Sattar Alshryda – International Surgical Adviser
Dr Alshryda is Trauma and Paediatric Orthopaedic surgeon at Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital, Dubai, UAE. He is the clinical head for the Surgical Specialities. He was the clinical lead for trauma and paediatric orthopaedics in Royal Manchester Children Hospital and Honorary Lecturer at the University of Manchester. He is a keen educator. He has directed, convened and participated in over 50 courses worldwide including ATLS, CCrISP, APLS, AO and Graf’s Infant Hip Ultrasound Courses. He has published four textbooks, over 30 book sections and over 20 peer reviewed papers. His favourite quote when training fellows ‘If I do not make you a better surgeon than me, we both failed’.
Lebanon
Dr Tarek Sunna – International Surgical Advisor
Tarek Sunna graduated from Jordan university of science and technology after being sent there on full scholarship. He then worked as an honorary senior house officer in Scotland Aberdeen before going to AUBMC where he did his 7 years of training in neurosurgery. After which he went to Montreal Canada where he did two years of clinical fellowship in oncology, minimally invasive and complex spine surgery - he then worked as a consultant in Suleiman al Habib hospital in Saudi Arabia then started working as a consultant neurosurgeon at The American University of Beirut medical Centre. He is well published in many of the peer reviewed Journals and international spine textbooks. Mr Sunna is board certified in Neurosurgery from the European board of Neurosurgery, and the Arab Board of Neurosurgery and is a Fellow of the American college of surgeons.
Egypt
Professor Emad Saweeres – International Surgical Ambassador
Emad Saweeres is an Orthopaedic Professor and Chairman of the Orthopaedic Advisory Committee in Cairo, Egypt, graduated and earned an M.Sc. in Orthopaedics from Cairo University. After training in the UK and completing research on ACL reconstruction, he returned to Egypt, building a clinical and teaching portfolio with a focus on arthroplasty and biomechanics. Currently holding key roles in the Arab Board of Health Specialisation and EFOT, he is an accomplished ATLS instructor and has directed various international courses. In 2019, he received the "Innovation in Education Award" from AOTrauma. Collaborating on the "Excellence in Education" course, his work garnered distinction in Harvard Medical School's Postgraduate Certificate Program in 2020.
Ms Mai Rostom – International Surgical Tutor
Mai Rostom is an Egyptian born and UK trained plastic surgeon. Her primary areas of interest are hand surgery, microsurgery, and reconstruction. She has completed fellowships in hand surgery, reconstructive microsurgery and aesthetic surgery in Sydney, Australia and has travelled widely in pursuit of further training and education. She has recently moved back to Egypt and splits her practice between Egypt and the UK.
Pakistan
Professor Muhammad Amjad Chaudhary - ISA for Islamabad
He is currently Professor/ Chair Section of Neonatal & Paediatric Surgery at University Children’s Hospital Islamabad. He is a Clinician, Medical Educationist and Researcher. He is mentor/supervisor, assessor, and examiner of Paediatric Surgery. His areas of special interest are Neonatal Surgery and Disorder of Sexual Development (DSD). He remained President, Associate of Paediatric Surgeons of Pakistan. He has academic appointment of Dean/Deputy Dean at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. Presently, he is Director, Residency Programs SZAB Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad, Pakistan. He is course Director of Hospital Preparedness of Emergencies, HOPE Pakistan. He authored many research papers published in various national and international medical Journals. He remained Additional Secretary of Annals of PIMS. He has fellowship Leadership development Program of University of Glasgow.
Dr Mustafa Javed Bhalli – ISA for Islamabad
Dr Mustafa is leading orthopaedic surgeon in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Pakistan. He specialises in procedures that include arthroscopy (key-hole surgery) of the knee, shoulder, ankle, and hip. He is an internationally accredited surgeon with FRCS degree in Trauma and Orthopaedics from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom and obtaining a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) from the prestigious Yorkshire Orthopaedic Rotation Program. Following that he has been on a full time Orthopaedic Consultant Post in the National Health Service (NHS) United Kingdom. Apart from his academic qualifications he is also a Health Executive MBA graduate from the Keele University in the United Kingdom. He has been a member of various societies including the British Orthopaedic Association, British elbow and shoulder Society, British Orthopaedic Training Association. He is currently a member of the internationally renowned AO UK Trauma Society and a long-term member of the Yorkshire Orthopaedic Rotation Trainees. Dr Mustafa completed his medical degree from Rawalpindi Medical College, Pakistan in 2002 and following this he moved to the United Kingdom where he underwent core and specialist training in various prestigious orthopaedic centres across the United Kingdom culminating to a satisfactory completion of orthopaedic training. Following that he underwent specialist training in joint replacements surgery, trauma and sports injuries and arthroscopy training in centres of excellence in the UK the USA and continental Europe. These included the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins University, and the San Antonio Orthopaedic Group in the USA. During his training and as a Consultant in the UK, he has gone through various courses relevant to this work including joint replacement courses, trauma courses as well as general courses for effective communication skills and research methodology. Dr Mustafa is also involved in education both locally and internationally. He is a member of the prestigious Chesterfield FRCS revision course and the Hull FRCS course in the United Kingdom where he is invited every year to teach trainees who are undergoing the FRCS exam. He is also a part of the local faculty in his hospital in Islamabad which is soon to be linked with a Medical University and he will be serving his duties as an educator. He has a number of publications that have been published in international and local journals over the period of his service in the United Kingdom as Pakistan and he continues to strive to publish high-quality articles relevant to this field. He is an excellent public speaker and has invited various conferences to present his work locally and internationally.
Professor Muhammad Rizwan Khan – ISA for Karachi
Professor Muhammad Rizwan Khan is a Professor of Surgery at Aga Khan University & Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. He graduated from King Edward Medical College in 1995 and received his FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2002. His primary area of interest and expertise include GI Oncological Surgery and Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgery. He has published around 70 papers in per reviewed journals, presented in numerous surgical congresses worldwide, published book chapters, and organized numerous academic events. His academic contributions are well recognized, and he has recently been appointed as Kulsum Naurozali Rupsi Endowed Chair at the Department of Surgery of Aga Khan University Karachi. He has also completed his Masters in Health Professions Education (MHPE) with honours and currently appointed as the Associate Dean of Postgraduate Medical Education at Aga Khan University Karachi. His areas of interest in Surgical Education include Accreditation, Simulation and Assessment.
Dr Muhammad Asad Parvaiz – ISA for Lahore
Dr Muhammad Asad Parvaiz qualified MBBS from Pakistan with a gold medal, and then moved to UK for basic as well as higher surgical training, MRCS followed by FRCS from the RCS Edinburgh. He had the opportunity to do a one-year oncoplastic breast surgical fellowship at The Royal Marsden Hospital, London. His name was entered on GMC specialist register in 2016. He worked as a consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon in Peterborough, UK for a year and then re-located back to Pakistan in 2016. He is a leading surgeon at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Lahore Pakistan, which is a tertiary care cancer hospital in the region. He was instrumental in starting the national fellowship training in Breast & Oncoplastic Surgery (FCPS) in Pakistan in 2019 and became College of Physicians & Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP) Supervisor & Examiner for this fellowship. He is Faculty Convenor of CPSP for development of breast surgical training in Pakistan. He regularly arranges oncoplastic breast surgical training courses in various cities of Pakistan and mentor many aspiring surgeons throughout the country. He has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed papers, 102 published abstracts and regularly contributes to public awareness about health issues especially cancer on national media, TV shows and newspapers.
Dr Zeeshan Khan – ISA for Peshawar
Dr Zeeshan Khan completed his basic surgical training in the west midlands and his higher surgical training in the east midland’s regions of UK. After passing his FRCS Tr & Ortho exam, he undertook fellowships in musculoskeletal oncology and arthroplasty in the Royal Orthopaedic hospital Birmingham UK. During his training he was also awarded a post graduate certificate in evidence-based Orthopaedics with distinction from University of Warwick, UK. He moved back to Pakistan in 2016 and is currently working as associate Professor of Orthopaedics in Rehman medical institute and as faculty in Rehman medical college with specialist interest in musculoskeletal oncology and lower limb arthroplasty. He is also an orthopaedic clinical supervisor for college of Physicians and surgeons of Pakistan and has set up the first Musculoskeletal oncology fellowship in Pakistan approved by Pakistan orthopaedic association. He is also currently a member of executive board of Asia pacific orthopaedic association and Pakistan orthopaedic oncology forum. He is a reviewer and editorial board member of various journals and is actively involved as faculty in various musculoskeletal oncology and arthroplasty courses.
