Moderators & Speakers

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Moderators & Speakers

Moderators

Dr. Musaed Alshalan

Consultant of Blood Transfusion

Prince Sultan Military Medical City

Dr. Musaed Alshalan

Consultant of Blood Transfusion

Dr. Musaed Alshalan completed his PhD in Blood Transfusion from RMIT University, Australia. He is currently serves as a consultant in Blood Transfusion at Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC), Riyadh. He also Head of Training & Education at the Central Military Laboratory & Blood Bank, PSMMC. Additionally, he is a president of scientific committee, SICBT at the Blood Transfusion Services Center, Ministry of Health. With over 20 years of professional experience, Dr. Alshalan has made significant contributions to the development of transfusion medicine in Saudi Arabia and contributed extensively to blood donation services, transfusion safety, accreditation, and healthcare education. He has played a central role in advancing national standards and practices, ensuring quality and safety in blood transfusion services across the Saudi Arabia. Dr. Alshalan research focuses on blood donor safety, transfusion-transmitted infections, and platelet biology. He has published in international journals including Blood and Platelets, and co-authored national reference books such as Guidelines for Venous Blood Collection and the Phlebotomy Student Manual. Dr. Alshalan played a key role in designing and leading national training programs, including Blood Bank and Transfusion program and phlebotomy program, in collaboration with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS). He is certified as CAP inspector as well as a program surveyor and actively contributed to program accreditation, curriculum development, and capacity building for future healthcare professionals.

Dr. Jose Cancelas

Professor of Medicine

Harvard Medical School

Dr. Jose Cancelas

Professor of Medicine

Prof. Jose Cancelas is a Hematologist with a broad background in Transfusion Medicine, cell therapies, hematology, and stem cell biology. He is the executive director of the Connell and O’Reilly Families Cell Manipulations Core Facility at Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, in Boston, Massachusetts, and member of the DFCI/Harvard Cancer Center and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. He and his team are responsible for managing a research portfolio on translational and clinical studies involving novel blood derived therapeutics. Previously, he was the Director of Hoxworth Blood Center, a center with national and international reputation in developing and validating new blood products for transfusion and transplantation; and the Executive Director of the Translational Core Laboratories of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, a center specialized in product development gene modified cell products. His research group in hematopoiesis and hemotherapy has been funded by the NIH since 2008 and published over 230 peer-reviewed manuscripts.

Dr. Maha Badawi

Associate Professor of Clinical Hematology and Transfusion Medicine

King Abdulaziz University

Dr. Maha Badawi

Associate Professor of Clinical Hematology and Transfusion Medicine

Dr. Maha Badawi, Associate professor of clinical hematology and transfusion medicine at the Faculty of Medicine in King Abdulaziz University. Director of Blood Transfusion Services Unit at King Abdulaziz University Hospital since 2018, and recently appointed as Chairman of the Department of Hematology. Certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in internal medicine, hematology, and transfusion medicine, and has a Master of Medical Education from King Abdulaziz University. Currently represents the Ministry of Education within the National Blood Banks Committee in the Saudi Health Council and is the Regional Director of the Eastern Mediterranean Region on the Board of the International Society of Blood Transfusion. Research interests include donor care, medical education, and quality improvement.

Prof. Aaron Tobian

Professor of Pathology, Medicine, and Epidemiology

Johns Hopkins University

Prof. Aaron Tobian

Professor of Pathology, Medicine, and Epidemiology

Aaron Tobian, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Pathology, Medicine, and Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University and Director of the Transfusion Medicine Division and Clinical Laboratories at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He also serves as Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs in the Department of Pathology. Dr. Tobian is active in both clinical service and research, with a focus on transfusion medicine and global health. He has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and Lancet. His work has been featured in major media outlets including NBC Today Show, BBC World Service, and National Public Radio. He served as President of the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) in 2023-2024 and serves as associate editor or on editorial boards for TRANSFUSION, Journal of Clinical Apheresis, and UpToDate. He is founding Editor-in-Chief of Transfusion News. Dr. Tobian earned his MD and PhD from Case Western Reserve University.

Dr. Raef Albugami

Consultant Clinical Scientist – Laboratory Medicine and Cellular Therapy

King Fahad Medical City

Dr. Raef Albugami

Consultant Clinical Scientist – Laboratory Medicine and Cellular Therapy

Dr. Raef Albugami is a Consultant Clinical Scientist with nearly two decades of experience in laboratory medicine, specializing in transfusion, transplantation science, and cellular therapy. He earned his B.Sc. in Medical Laboratory Sciences from King Saud University (2006), M.Sc. in Laboratory Medicine (Transfusion and Transplantation Science) from RMIT University, Australia (2011), and Ph.D. in Transplant Immunology and Immunotherapy from the University of Birmingham, UK (2020). Since joining King Fahad Medical City in 2006, Dr. Albugami has co founded and directed the Stem Cell Processing Laboratory and currently leads the Flow Cytometry and Cellular Therapy Processing Laboratory. Nationally, he has served as Deputy Executive Director for Laboratory Operations at the Ministry of Health’s Health Support Services Center and chaired the National Stem Cell Committee at the Saudi Health Council. Dr. Raef is a FACT-JACIE and ISO 15189 accredited inspector, co-founder of the Society for Oncology Research (Daem), and Fellow of ISQua in Leadership and Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. His contributions span healthcare innovation, quality improvement, and national policy development.

Dr. Evan Bloch

Professor of Pathology

Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Evan Bloch

Professor of Pathology

Dr. Evan Bloch is an Professor of Pathology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he serves as the Associate Director of Transfusion Medicine and Medical Director of the Apheresis Service; he also holds a joint appointment in International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Originally from South Africa, Dr. Bloch’s research is focused on global health and transfusion medicine. He has a particular interest in the interplay with infectious diseases, given that transfusion transmitted infection remains a metric of suboptimal policies and practices in low and low-middle income countries.

Dr. Nour Almozain

Consultant of Hematopathology and Transfusion Medicine

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh

Dr. Nour Almozain

Consultant of Hematopathology and Transfusion Medicine

Dr. Nour Almozain is a Hematopathology and Transfusion Medicine Consultant at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Dr. Nour serve as the International Society of Blood Transfusion, ISBT Young Professional Council representative of the Eastern Mediterranean region and the Social Media Editor and Ambassador for Transfusion Medicine Reviews. An active member in numerous professional international societies, including the ISBT, the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB), and The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA). An ISBT Harold Gunson Fellowship Award recipient in 2022 for young investigators. Dr. Nour areas of expertise include malignant and non-malignant hematopathology, clinical transfusion with special focus on patients with hemoglobinopathies, Patient Blood Management, apheresis, and cell therapy. Dr. Nour also passionate about promoting better transfusion practice and am actively involved in research and education.

Dr. Claudia Cohn

Professor and Medical Director of Blood Bank / Chief Medical Officer

University of Minnesota Hospital - AABB

Dr. Claudia Cohn

Professor and Medical Director of Blood Bank / Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Cohn earned her PhD in Immunology and Infectious Diseases from the Johns Hopkins University (currently the Bloomberg School of Public Health) and subsequently earned her MD at Louisiana State University. After finishing her Transfusion Medicine fellowship at Blood Centers of the Pacific/University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Cohn joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, where she is a Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and serves as Medical Director of the Blood Bank. Dr. Cohn is also the Chief Medical Officer of the AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies) and was the Editor-in-Chief of the 20th and 21st editions of the AABB Technical Manual. Dr. Cohn’s major interests include platelet support for stem cell transplant patients, hemovigilance, and appropriate use of blood components.

Mr. Jaffar Khiariy

Head of the Medical Laboratory

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Jeddah

Mr. Jaffar Khiariy

Head of the Medical Laboratory

Mr. Jaffar Abdulaziz Khiariy is the Head of the Medical Laboratory at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Jeddah, with over 25 years of leadership in diagnostic laboratory medicine and patient safety. He also serves as Specialty Team Leader for the Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) and is a certified Inspector for the College of American Pathologists (CAP). His expertise covers laboratory operations, transfusion services, accreditation, and healthcare quality systems. Mr. Khiariy has played a vital role in shaping national standards, training surveyors, and leading large-scale transformation initiatives under Saudi Vision 2030. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology and a Master’s degree in Health Administration. A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, he is widely recognized for advancing quality, accreditation, and innovation in healthcare, with a strong focus on patient-centered care, sustainable laboratory operations, and fostering global collaboration in diagnostic medicine.

Prof. Salwa Hindawi

CEO of Saudi Society of Transfusion Medicine & Services

Saudi Society of Transfusion Medicine & Services

Prof. Salwa Hindawi

CEO of Saudi Society of Transfusion Medicine & Services

Prof. Salwa I. Hindawi, MSc, FRCPath, CTM ,She has her FRCPath Fellowship, The Royal College of Pathologists, London. CTM RCPE Certificate in Transfusion Medicine, the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, Scotland. Professor of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, President of Saudi Society of Transfusion Medicine, President of Saudi Society of Friends of Thalassemia &Sickle Cell Anaemia. Part-time Transfusion Medicine Consultant at the Health Support Services Center, Ministry of Health Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Expert Member Advisory Panel on Blood Safety WHO. Member of AABB Committee for Fundamental Standard, Member of Global Blood Safety & Hemovigilance ISBT working parties. Member of Editorial Board of Vox Sanguinis Journal. An AABB Assessor and CAP inspector. she has more than 30 years of experience in blood Transfusion Medicine. She Had a lot of publication and engaged in many researches, Scientific Committees Member, Chairperson and speaker in many international and national Conference

Dr. Mona Kandeel

Policy Making and Patient Safety Coordinator

Ministry of Health

Dr. Mona Kandeel

Policy Making and Patient Safety Coordinator

Dr. Mona Kandel, Blood Bank Registrar at the Blood Transfusion Services Center of the Ministry of Health, with more than 20 years of experience in blood transfusion medicine & blood bank services management. She holds certifications in quality management, assigned as scientific coordinator for Blood Transfusion Services Center Steering Committee, participates in the regulatory and oversight committees for hemovigilance and patients safety., obtained Certified Professional Certificate in Patient Safety (CPPS) that is awarded by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) USA, and she is regularly contributes to research and training initiatives related to blood services quality improvement and patient safety.

Dr. Ammar Alsughayir

Senior Consultant of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine

King Fahad Medical City

Dr. Ammar Alsughayir

Senior Consultant of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine

Dr. Ammar Alsughayir is Hematology and Transfusion Medicine senior Consultant and chairperson of the transfusion medicine services, stem cell lab medical consultant at King Fahad Medical City, with over 20 years of experience in hematology, bone marrow transplantation, and blood bank management. Certified as a Hematopathologist and Transfusion Medicine by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), Accreditation surveyor for (CBAHI, CAP, AABB) he serves as a board member of the Saudi Society of Bone Marrow Transplant (SSBMT) and the Saudi Society of Blood Disorders. Serves as consultant for the Blood bank and transfusion medicine center (MOH). Dr. Alsughayir has led impactful quality improvement projects, including increasing voluntary blood donations and reducing blood product wastage, earning accolades such as the 2020 MOH Ehsan Award. He is a regular presenter at national and international conferences, contributing to research on transfusion Medicine and blood donation issues. His expertise enhances patient safety and advances transfusion medicine standards in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Nabeel Al Besher

Consultant of Transfusion Medicine

Prince Saud bin Jalawi Hospital

Dr. Nabeel Al Besher

Consultant of Transfusion Medicine

Dr. Nabeel Al Besher is a Consultant transfusion medicine at Prince Saud bin Jalawi Hospital, with more than 15 years of local and international experience in transfusion medicine, patient blood management, and blood bank leadership. He holds certifications in healthcare management and healthcare strategy. and currently worked as medical director beside his academic role as Clinical Assistant Professor and a member of the Transfusion Medicine Fellowship training committee at King Saud Universit