1st SSMC International Stroke Symposium

Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), in collaboration with Focus Gulf, presents the inaugural SSMC International Stroke Symposium — a premier hybrid event taking place on 27 September 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

This event focuses on advancing collaborative approaches to enhance patient recovery. At SSMC, patients are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why this symposium features inspiring talks, practical workshops, and valuable opportunities to connect with peers and exchange strategies to elevate patient experience.

Whether you’re exploring new treatments or learning from real-world experiences, you’ll leave with fresh ideas and new connections.

Join us in shaping the future of stroke care — be part of the conversation, the collaboration, and the change.

Bringing together experts in neurology, rehabilitation, nursing, and allied health, the symposium aims to address the global impact of stroke and improve patient outcomes.

Learning Objectives


By attending this event, participants will be able to:
  • Apply the latest evidence-based practices in stroke prevention and acute care.
  • Establish connections and collaborate effectively with experts, practitioners, and stakeholders in the field of stroke care.
  • Identify and explore new innovations that advance stroke diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
  • Enhance patient outcomes by integrating newly acquired knowledge into clinical practice.

Target Audience

All healthcare professionals involved in stroke care, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, radiologists, emergency physicians, nurses, therapists, and rehabilitation specialists.

Academics, researchers, and students with an interest in stroke and cerebrovascular health.

CME/CPD Credits: Opportunities for professional development through accredited sessions.

Dr. Mohammed Almekhlafi

Consultant, Interventional Stroke Neurology
Associate Professor, Clinical Neurosciences
University of Calgary, Canada

Dr. Khalil Kurdi

Consultant, Interventional Neuroradiology
King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Jeddah, KSA

Dr. Aiman Salem Quateen

Chair of Division of Interventional Neuroradiology
Consultant, Interventional Neuroradiology
Neuroscience Insitute
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, UAE

Dr. Seby John

Consultant, Vascular Neurology and Neurointerventional Surgery
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Mohammad Asha

Chief, Neurosurgery
Consultant, Neurosurgery
Chair, Neuroscience Department
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed Medical City (STMC), UAE

Dr. Yara Al Jalbout

Consultant, Anesthesia
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, UAE

Dr. Ahmed Salem Quateen

Consultant, Neurosurgery and Complex Spine Surgery, STMC and Tawam Hospitals, UAE
Assistant Professor, McMaster University, Canada

Dr. Suhail Abdulla Alrukn

Consultant, Stroke Neurology
President, MENA Stroke Organization and Emirates Neurology Society
Fakeeh University Hospital, UAE

Dr. Waqar Haider Gaba

Consultant Physician and Stroke Lead at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), UAE
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at UAE University and Khalifa University, UAE

Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti

Assistant professor and Vascular Neurology Consultant
United Arab Emirates University, UAE

Dr. Manzoor Ahmed

Consultant, Neuroradiology
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), UAE

Dr. Alessandro Terruzzi

Consultant, Neurology
Mediclinic, UAE

Dr. Khurram Saleem Khan

Consultant, ICU
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City , UAE

Dr. Tarek Ahmed Rayan

Consultant, Neurosurgery and Cerebrovascular Surgery
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, UAE

Dr. Josef Alawneh

Consultant, Stroke Neurology
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, UAE

Dr. Aiman Salem Quateen

Chair of Division of Interventional Neuroradiology
Consultant, Interventional Neuroradiology
Neuroscience Insitute
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Chair of Conference

Dr. Josef Alawneh

Consultant, Neurology
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Chair of Scientific Committee

Dr. Mohamad Istanboli

Consultant, Neurology
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Member of Scientific Committee

Dr. Mohammed Salman Qureshi

Consultant, Neuroradiology, Clinical Imaging
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Member of Scientific Committee

Dr. Seby John

Consultant, Vascular Neurology and Neurointerventional Surgery
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Tarek Ahmed Rayan

Consultant, Neurosurgery
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Abdul Ghani Moussa Pacha

Consultant, Interventional Neuroradiology
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Isam Sayed Saleh

Chair, Neurology
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Taleb Mohamed Almansoori

Chair, Radiology Department
Consultant, Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology
College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, UAE

Coming soon…

Time Agenda Speaker
8:30 – 9 a.m. Registration
9 – 9:05 a.m. Opening Remarks
9:05 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome Message
Session 1 Moderator 1: Dr. Seby John
Moderator 2: Dr. Aiman Salem Quateen
9:15 – 9:35 a.m. No-reflow Phenomenon and Reperfusion Enhancement

Dr. Mohammed Almekhlafi
9:35 – 9:55 a.m. Low Profile Stent Retrieval for Thrombectomy in Distal Vessel Occlusion

Dr. Khalil Kurdi
9:55 – 10:15 a.m. Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Stroke (SSMC Experience)

Dr. Aiman Salem Quateen
10:15 – 10:30 a.m. Q&A
10:30 – 10:50 a.m. Coffee Break
Session 2 Moderator 1: Dr. Isam Sayed Saleh
Moderator 2: Dr. Taleb Mohamed Almansoori
10:50 – 11:10 a.m. Intracranial Atherosclerotic Treatment

Dr. Seby John
11:10 – 11:30 a.m. Difficult Cases in Acute Stroke

Dr. Suhail Abdulla Alrukn

11:30 – 11:50 a.m. Stroke Pathways in Abu Dhabi

Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti
11:50 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Role of Tenecteplase in Acute Stroke

Dr. Waqar Haider Gaba
12:10 – 12:25 p.m. Q&A
12:25 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
Session 3 Moderator 1: Dr. Tarek Ahmed Rayan
Moderator 2: Dr. Abdul Ghani Moussa Pacha
1:30 – 1:50 p.m. Artificial Intelligence in Stroke

Dr. Ahmed Salem Quateen
1:50 – 2:10 p.m. Complex Wide Neck Aneurysm Surgery vs. Endovascular Treatment

Dr. Mohammad Asha
2:10 – 2:30 p.m Sleep or Not to Sleep

Dr. Yara Al Jalbout
2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Q&A
2:45 – 3 p.m. Coffee Break
Session 4 Moderator 1: Dr.Josef Alawneh
Moderator 2: Dr. Alessandro Terruzzi
3 – 3:20 p.m. Advanced Imaging in Acute Stroke

Dr. Manzoor Ahmed

3:20 – 3:40 p.m. Tenecteplase Bridging Therapy vs. Bypass

Dr. Alessandro Terruzzi
3:40 – 4 p.m. Blood Pressure Management After Acute Ischemic Stroke in Critical Care

Dr. Khurram Saleem Khan
4 – 4:20 p.m. Moya Moya Stroke and Cerebral Revascularisation

Dr. Tarek Ahmed Rayan
4:20 – 4:45 p.m. Q&A
4:45 p.m. Closing Remarks

Dr. Josef Alawneh
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