Regional Speakers

Abdulrahman Sabbagh

Emergency Medicine Consultant | Saudi Arabia

Dr. Abdulrahman Sabbagh, an Emergency Medicine, Medical Education and Simulation Consultant at King Fahad Medical City and Medical Director with World Athletics. Dr. Sabbagh leads the Physical Wellbeing Program at Riyadh Second Health Cluster. He holds an Executive MBA in Sports Management from Real Madrid Graduate School, Master Degree in Medical Education and Clinical Simulation Fellowship from Harvard Medical School affiliated hospitals. Dr. Sabbagh serves as Medical Director for major athletic events including the Riyadh Marathon and is a marathon runner himself, advocating for physical wellness as an ambassador for the Saudi Sport for All Federation.

Amrinder Singh

Associate Professor | India

Dr. Amrinder Singh is an Assistant Professor at the MYAS-GNDU Department of Sports Sciences & Medicine, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. He holds a B.P.T, M.P.T (Sports), and Ph.D., and is certified with a FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine. He serves as an Executive Member of the Indian Association of Sports Medicine and a mentor at GNDU's Fitness Club. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Singh specializes in sports rehabilitation, sports biomechanics, and the application of physical activity in lifestyle disorders. He has published 51 research papers and guided numerous master's and PhD theses.

Dalal AlRowaished

Athletic Trainer | Kuwait

Dalal holds a degree in Athletic Training from California State University, Northridge. She is a certified Athletic Trainer with expertise in injury prevention and rehabilitation. Dalal has extensive experience working at Bodylogic, a leading sports medicine clinic. She specializes in developing innovative injury prevention programs and overseeing comprehensive rehabilitation plans for athletes. In addition to her clinic work, Dalal has served as the athletic trainer for Kuwait's Women's National Teams and Olympic athletes. She has traveled with the teams, providing on-site medical support and training guidance.

Hani Alabbad

Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapist | Saudi Arabia

Dr. Hani received his physical therapy bachelor degree in 2005 from King Faisal University (Dammam). In 2011, he completed his Masters of Musculoskeletal & Sports Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia. Dr. Hani was accredited as a MULLIGAN Concept teacher (MCTA) in 2014. Also, he has completed the one-year Global Clinical Scholars Research Training Program (GCSRT) with commendation from Harvard Medical School in 2016. He completed his PhD degree in 2022 from Curtin University, Australia. In addition to his clinical practice in the field of musculoskeletal and sport’s physical therapy, he has special interest in both clinical training and research with 8 published peer-reviewed articles.

Ibraheem Algarni

Assistant Professor | Saudi Arabia

Dr. Ibraheem Algarni is an Assistant Professor and Consultant in Family and Sports Medicine at King Abdulaziz University and the Saudi Olympic Training Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Board-certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine, he is also a registered musculoskeletal sonographer. Dr. Algarni combines his clinical expertise with a commitment to teaching and research, enhancing athletic performance, and managing sports-related injuries at the highest level.

Ismail Saracoglu

Associate Professor of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation | Turkiye

In 2011, I graduated with a Bsc. (Physiotherapy and Rehabiltiation) from Pamukkale University, TURKEY. After two years clinical experience in Musculoskeletal physiotherapy in Ankara, I got Msc. Degree in Physiotherapy (Manual Therapy) at the University of Nottingham. When I returned home, I began working as a lecturer at Kütahya Health Sciences University. Meantime, I started to my PhD at the same university and graduted in early 2019. My PhD thesis was about the effectiveness of pain neuroscience education combined with manual therapy and home exercise for chronic low back pain. I continued my researches on chronic pain, cognitive behaviorual therapies such as pain neuroscience education and pain classification regarding pain phenotypes. I have published more than 15 papers in these fields. I have been teaching several modules (Manual therapy, Clinical Reasoning, Musculoskeleatal Assessment etc.) both in Bsc and Msc level.

K. A. Thiagarajan

Professor & Head | India

Dr. K.A. Thiagarajan is a distinguished Sports Medicine Physician and Professor, currently serving as the Head of the Department of Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine at Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Chennai. With an MBBS, Dip.PMR, and an MD in Sports Medicine, Dr. Thiagarajan is also a Senior Consultant in Sports Medicine at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre & Hospital. He has extensive experience in sports medicine, arthroscopy, and rehabilitation, contributing significantly to research and academia

Khalil Al-Busaidi

HOD of Physiotherapy | Oman

Khalil Khalfan Al-Busaidi is the Head of the Physiotherapy Department at the Sport Medical Center, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth in Oman. With a Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy from the College of Health Sciences in Muscat, Khalil has built a distinguished career in sports physiotherapy since his graduation in February 2012. Khalil’s expertise is reflected in his extensive experience with various national teams. He has served as a senior physiotherapist for the Oman Football Team U19, the Oman Football Team U16, and the Oman Futsal National Team, among others. His work has also spanned across Oman’s national basketball and hockey teams, demonstrating his versatility and deep understanding of different sports disciplines. In addition to his work with national teams, Khalil has been actively involved in public education and awareness. He is a national radio presenter for fitness programs during Ramadan, an official lecturer for the Ministry of Sports focusing on sports injuries and sports science, and a certified lecturer for the National Committee for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances under the Ministry of Health, where he educates on drug abuse. Khalil's commitment to sports physiotherapy and public health reflects his dedication to enhancing athletic performance and promoting wellness in his community.

Marcelo Salazar

Football Coach | Saudi Arabia

Marcelo Salazar Filho has been deeply involved in the football industry for several years, serving in various coaching and executive roles. Currently the Director of Football at AL NASSR since December 2021, he previously worked as an Assistant Coach and Interim Trainer at the same club. Prior to his tenure at AL NASSR, Marcelo served as an Assistant Coach at AL FAISALY, AL HILAL, and AL SHABAB CLUB in Kuwait. His expertise lies in professional football, and his career highlights include his contributions to team achievements and development throughout his journey in the sport.

Marco Cardinale

Executive Director | Qatar

Prof. Marco Cardinale is a Sports Scientist with extensive experience in various field. He was the Head of Sports Physiology and Research of Aspire Academy in Doha (Qatar) from 2013 until recently. Before moving to Qatar, he led the Sports Science activities for the preparation of Team GB (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) at the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games. A former Handball player and coach, he has been involved in coach education in various countries in the area of strength and conditioning and exercise physiology. A widely published and cited author in the scientific literature on various aspects of human performance, he has also patented an innovative exercise device consisting of a vibratory biofeedback system which received research awards from NEStech and the Design Council.

Mohamed AlRwaily

Director of Clinical Services | Saudi Arabia

Dr. Muhammad Alrwaily, PT, MS, PhD, COMT, PSP, OCS, FAAOMPT, is a distinguished professional in the field of physical therapy, currently serving as the Director of Clinical Services at PhysioTherabia, the largest physical therapy network in Saudi Arabia. In addition to his administrative role, Dr. Alrwaily is actively engaged as a practicing clinician and dedicated researcher. With a specialization in low back pain disorders, Dr. Alrwaily's expertise lies in the intricate clinical decision-making process essential for tailoring effective rehabilitation treatments to individual patients. His work on algorithms for clinical decision-making has garnered recognition, with publications in the Physical Therapy Journal cited as influential contributions to the understanding of spine impairment. As the visionary founder of the Dr. Alrwaily Academy, he has extended his reach nationally and internationally, delivering enlightening lectures on musculoskeletal disorders. Driven by a passion for education, Dr. Alrwaily has also imparted his knowledge to aspiring physical therapy students at esteemed institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh, West Virginia University, and Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University. His teachings encompass diverse topics ranging from orthopedic disorders to research methodologies and statistics. Dr. Alrwaily's academic journey began with a Bachelor's degree in physical therapy from King Saud University in 2007, followed by a Master's degree in musculoskeletal studies from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010. He culminated his academic pursuits with a PhD in rehabilitation sciences, also from the University of Pittsburgh, in 2017. Furthermore, Dr. Alrwaily holds certifications in orthopedic manual therapy and clinical and translational sciences, reflecting his commitment to excellence and continuous professional development.

Omar Alsayrafi

Physician | Qatar

Dr. Omar Alsayrafi is the first Qatari sports medicine specialist. He works at Aspetar Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Hospital in Qatar. He has long experience in sports events medical coverage and participated in the FIFA World Cup 2022 as a venue medical manager. He also holds a master's degree in sports psychology and a sports medicine diploma from the International Olympic Committee. He has been chairing the TUE committee in Qatar Anti-doping Committee for the last 3 years.

Pieter d'Hooghe

Chief Medical Officer | Qatar

Dr. Pieter D’Hooghe is the Chief Medical Officer at Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Doha, Qatar. He specializes in Sports Traumatology of the lower leg with focus on the arthroscopic treatment of athletic Knee and Ankle/Foot injuries. He speaks 7 languages and holds a Master in Sports Medicine, a Master in Tropical Medicine and an MBA in Sports Management. He is the Editor of 9 textbooks on Sports Injuries of the lower leg and authors + 50 book chapters and +130 peer-reviewed academic publications. Over the last decade, he has successfully delivered the medical coverage as Chief Medical Officer of major sports events such as the football World Championship 2022, Arab Cup & Asian Cup as well as World Championships in Athletics, Gymnastics, Handball, Cycling and Swimming. As ISAKOS Executive Board Member and past-Chairman of the ISAKOS’ Leg, Ankle and Foot and Young Professionals Committee, he leads an international panel of experts in the field. As Associate Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery at the Weill Cornell University and visiting Professor at the University of Minnesota ( Mayo ), Rome, Madrid, Denver, Liege, Bologna and Shanghai, he is academically involved in Orthopaedic Research and Education while delivering lectures worldwide. He also serves as Orthopaedic Consultant for 7 Champions League Football teams in Europe, 1 in the USA and 4 in Asia. Additionally, he serves as Vice Chair Board Member at the Medical Commission of the European Clubs Association (ECA) and the Football Doctors network (FDN).

Rod Whiteley

Assistant Director | Qatar

Rod Whiteley is Assistant Director of the Rehabilitation Department at Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital. He has a clinical and research interest in muscle and tendon injury in sports.

Rola Husain

Radiology Consultant | Bahrain

Rola Husain, a diagnostic and interventional musculoskeletal radiology consultant in the Kingdom of Bahrain, working in Salmaniya Medical Complex -Governmental Hospitals- Bahrain, and the head of radiology in Tarmeem Hospital - Abu Dhabi. Rola is a holder of both the Arab and European boards of Radiology and has completed two fellowships in musculoskeletal radiology in Mount Sinai hospital (NYC-USA) and Vancouver general hospital (Canada). She is the secretary of the Arabian Gulf Society of Skeletal radiology and their representative at the Asian Society of MSK. She is a member of the Bahrain medical Olympic committee. She is also a member of Society of Skeletal Radiology and the European Society of Radiology as well as the Bahrain Association of Sports Medicine and Sports Science, the international pain and spine intervention society and the American Society of Pain & Neuroscience. She is a reviewer in the European journal of radiology, and Radiographic (the official journal of the RSNA), and the journal of Computer Assisted Tomography

Shaun Jankielsohn

Physiotherapist | Qatar

Shaun Jankielsohn is a South African trained Physiotherapist currently working in Aspetar. He has a special interest in ACL injuries. In South Africa he worked in multiple sporting codes including football, rugby, cricket, field hockey and athletics. He started his journey in Qatar at Aspire Academy working with long term injuries in football before moving to the Athlete Rehabilitation department in Aspetar. He has also presented and performed workshops in multiple international conferences and symposia.

Somer Helvaci

Pharmacist | Turkiye

Specialist Pharmacist Somer Helvacı, who is a lecturer at Lokman Hekim University Faculty of Pharmacy, has been continuing his research and development studies since 2015 on the newly developing field of Sports Pharmacy in the world and our country. Somer Helvacı, who has organized presentations and training in many faculties, professional organizations, and sports institutions regarding the field of Sports Pharmacy, which was first defined in 2015 in our country, has also been awarded the "Pharmaceutical in Sports" certificate issued by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) Medicine and Science Commission since 2018. He is the only pharmacist who completed the program in our country. As a Pharmacist, Athlete Health consultant accredited by the IOC, he prepared Sports Pharmacy courses in the form of a 14-week curriculum for undergraduate students of Lokman Hekim University Faculty of Pharmacy in 2020. Upon the demands of the field, he also focused on Pharmacist training and designed Certified Sports Pharmacy Online Training Programs. Nearly 100 Pharmacists from Turkey and Cyprus have been certified through 50-hour programs organized with 25 trainers who are experts in their fields. Somer Helvacı, who participated in the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games held in Baku in 2017 and participated as an observer to examine the Pharmacy Service to the approximately 10,000 athletes and sports personnel who participated in the organization, participated in the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games held in Konya in August 2022. He was the General Coordinator of the Pharmacy Service in the Solidarity Games. In the aforementioned Pharmacy Service, together with 12 Certified and Volunteer Colleagues, they provided Pharmacy service during the games in Konya. Somer Helvacı, who contributed to the creation of the Sports Pharmacy Master's Program, which was implemented in Gazi University Faculty of Pharmacy in 2022, continues to work on the protection of athletes' health and the planning and development of preventive activities in this field. He is one of the directors of the International Sports Pharmacists Network and a member of the American Sports Pharmacists Group. In addition to these studies, he is a Ph.D. candidate. He continues his thesis studies at Lokman Hekim University Traditional and Complementary Therapies Doctorate Program.

Thaer El Manaseer

Assistant Professor | Jordan

Dr. Thaer Manaseer is an assistant professor and currently serving as the Head of the Sports Rehabilitation Department at Hashemite University in Jordan. He holds a Ph.D. degree from the University of Alberta, a Master's degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a Bachelor's degree in physiotherapy from Jordan University. Dr. Manaseer is certified as a physical therapist in Jordan, an athletic trainer in the US, and an athletic therapist in Canada. His primary research focus revolves around postural control assessment following sport-related concussions. Dr. Manaseer's work addresses a critical aspect of sports medicine, aiming to enhance our understanding of post-concussion challenges and improve rehabilitation strategies for athletes.