1st SSMC Burns Centre of Excellence Symposium

Dr Simon Myers Dr. Simon Myers, PhD, MBBS, FRCS (Plast), is the consultant and division chair of the burn surgery division at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) in Abu Dhabi. Possessing over 20 years of extensive experience, Dr. Myers graduated from St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School and trained as a plastic surgeon in London and the South East of England, after which he earned a PhD from the University of London in skin repair, regeneration and engineering. As a clinical academic at Queen Mary University, he became a substantive professor of Plastic Surgery after directing London’s Burn Centre at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. Until recently, he was the head of the local Group for Academic Plastic Surgery (GAPS), which directed MSc courses in burn care, reconstructive microsurgery, aesthetic medicine, and a microsurgery simulation centre. Additionally, Dr. Myers established the International Microsurgery Simulation Society (IMSS) and was a Burn Consultant at the internationally renowned St Andrew’s Burn Centre in Broomfield, Essex.

Dr Jussi Valtonen Dr. Jussi Petteri Valtonen, M.D., is a consultant in burn surgery with the department of burn surgery at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), in Abu Dhabi. A dedicated consultant specialising in burn care and surgery, Dr. Valtonen brings over 11 years of experience in leading multidisciplinary teams to enhance treatment outcomes. His career is testament to a resolute commitment to excellence and innovation in addressing severe burns injuries and advancing surgical techniques related to this field. Renowned for his comprehensive management of complex cases, Dr. Valtonen combines strong leadership with collaborative skills to improve team efficiency and patient care. His extensive expertise in burn management plays an important role in contributing to a progressive healthcare environment. Driven by knowledge, experience and a dedication to patient-centred care, Dr. Valtonen continues to advance the field of surgery and burn care.

Dr. Reem Muaz Naif, M.B.B.S., is a medical practitioner with the department of burn surgery at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Reem is a dedicated medical practitioner specialising in burn surgery and internal medicine. With 8 years of experience, Dr. Reem works alongside a multidisciplined team of professionals to provide exceptional patient care. As part of her ongoing commitment to medical development, Dr. Reem actively engages in learning opportunities to enhance her practice and the care that she provides to her patients.

Dr. Basel Debal, MD, is a burn surgery medical practitioner at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Debal is currently undergoing MRCEM specialisation and serves in the Burn Surgery Unit at SSMC, bringing with him a diverse background encompassing internal medicine, surgery and emergency medicine. He exhibits exceptional proficiency in managing acute and chronic illnesses, particularly excelling in burn care and surgical interventions. He has contributed valuable research in the field of burn surgery and remains dedicated to advancing knowledge and improving outcomes in this speciality. He is licensed by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH).

Mohammad graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan. He holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Management from York University, UK. Mohammad’s professional journey began as a Charge Nurse at the Arab Medical Center for Heart and Special Surgery in Amman, followed by a role as a Clinical Instructor in the Critical Care area at Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan. He later joined Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) as a Senior Charge Nurse in the Medical-Surgical ICU. Currently, he serves as the Senior Charge Nurse and Unit Manager of the Burns Intensive Care Unit (BICU) at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC).

Katharina has been working as Burn Rehab Coordinator at the Burn Unit, SSMC, since November 2024. She has experience working as a Burn Physiotherapist since 2020, with almost 17 years of experience as a Physiotherapist in the UAE and Germany across different settings and specialties. She joined Mafraq in 2018 in the OPD. Transitioning from the OPD to the Critical Care Unit, she became a Senior Therapist and was recently promoted to Supervisor Physiotherapy for Tower D service.

Katharina’s passion for burn cases drives her care, and she has obtained several burn-related certificates to further enhance her expertise in this area.

Goldamier is working as a physiotherapist specialising in the critical care environment of the Burn Intensive Care Unit (BICU). With a comprehensive background in physiotherapy and 13 years of experience across acute care, post-acute care, and home care settings, she plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation and recovery of patients facing severe burn injuries.

She is committed to ongoing professional development, participating in workshops and staying current with advancements in burns rehabilitation to enhance patient outcomes.

Sondos Jarrad works as Emergency Department Clinical Resource Nurse Educator at SSMC. She is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Healthcare Simulation Educator, Board-Certified Nursing Professional Development, and AHA & Emergency Management of Severe Burns instructor. She earned her BSN degree from the University of Sharjah and her MSN from RAK Medical & Health Sciences University.

A seasoned Clinical Nurse and Educator with more than 17 years of experience in acute care, nursing education, and leadership. Currently serving as Burn Unit interim Clinical Educator at Sheikh Khalifa Hospital, Fujairah, with expertise in simulation-based training, competency development, EMR integration, and specialty burn care. Passionate about advancing clinical excellence, recognised for inspiring, mentoring, and driving quality and safety through innovative education.

Saritha Kunju is an experienced Clinical Resource Nurse, Emergency Department, at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City and carries 23 years of extensive experience in emergency and trauma nursing, working at leading trauma care hospitals in the UAE. Her expertise lies in emergency nursing with a strong focus on trauma care, and she is widely recognised for her clinical excellence and leadership in high-pressure environments.

She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Hospital Management from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India, and a Master of Nursing from the University of Wollongong in Dubai. Saritha also holds the Nursing Professional Development certification (NPD-BC) from the American Nurses Association, and she is a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (IHI)—credentials that underscore her strong commitment to quality care and patient safety.

Her dedication to both clinical excellence and continuous education makes her a valuable leader and educator in the field of emergency nursing.

Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2007. Pursued a Master’s degree and graduated with a Master’s in Nursing, majoring in Leadership, in 2010. Worked in the Philippines as an ICU Nurse Coordinator for five years (2008–2013). From 2013 to 2017, worked at Armed Forces Hospital, Southern Region, as an ICU Nurse and Acting Clinical Nurse Specialist. From 2017 to 2018, worked at Security Forces Hospital as an ICU Clinical Nurse Specialist. From 2018 to 2022, worked at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Ajman, as Acting Clinical Resource Nurse. Since 2022, has been working in the Burns ICU as Charge Nurse.

Professor Peter Dziewulski FRCS, FRCS (Plast) is a Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon at the St Andrews Centre for Plastic Surgery & Burns, Chelmsford, Essex, U.K. (1998-present). Past Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch and the Shriner’s Hospital, Galveston Texas, USA. Visiting Professor with StAAR at Anglia Ruskin University, Essex.
Authored over 120 published articles and fifteen book chapters mainly relating to burn care.
Trained in Plastic Surgery in London, Yorkshire, Newcastle and Texas, U.S.A. Special interest in burn management. Court of Examiners MRCS (Emeritus) RCS, England. Examiner for FRCS (Plast). Past Chairman of the British Burns Association. Current BAPRAS Council Member. Editorial Committee of the Burns Journal.

Prof. Jyrki Vuola, general and plastic surgeon, trained at the University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital. He is the past President of the European Burn Association and former director of the Helsinki Burn Centre in 1993-2021. His research activities concern mainly burns and wound healing. Another focus is reconstructive head and neck microsurgery. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Burns and the new series, European Burn Journal.

Consultant Burn & Reconstructive Surgeon Faculty surgical skills at Szabmu, Islamabad; AHA training faculty, adminstrator for BLS and ACLS at Szabmu, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Dominique Navet-Potokar is Burn nurse (training in France) and scrub nurse (diploma from Switzerland), she also has a Diploma in Tropical Medicine from Antwerpen in Belgium. She is fluent in French and English. She is the lead nurse for Interburns nursing training. She worked in Burn care in France and in the UK and in many countries with less resources through Interburns and MSF. She is in charge since its creation, of a 5 days interactive course ABC Advance Burn Course for Nurses, developed and delivered by an international faculty in 7 countries since 2016. Twice in Abdhabi

She supervised a mentorship in Quality Improvement of small sustainable projects in burn care for Nurses, Physiotherapists and Dieticians in 2021, trained UKMED staff for deployment in Burn Care on line (all day training) and European Teams in Burn for Rapid Response Teams funded by the EU, next trainings in October 2022, December 2022, and early 2023 in the Netherlands) She translated a lot of educational material from English to French. She has dedicated her carrier to the improvement of Burn Care globally.