Home
Speakers
Agenda
Committee
- Scientific Committee
- Organizing Committee
Sponsors

Home
Speakers
Agenda
Committee
- Scientific Committee
- Organizing Committee
Sponsors

Home
Speakers
Agenda
Committee
- Scientific Committee
- Organizing Committee
Sponsors

Home
Speakers
Agenda
Committee
- Scientific Committee
- Organizing Committee
Sponsors

Speakers

Vanessa Santos

Group Head Nurse, American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology

Read Bio

Vanessa Santos

Vanessa has been practicing nursing since 2007. A Cum Laude graduate of Far Eastern University and Top 9 in the Philippine Nurse Licensure Exam, she brings over 15 years of clinical experience, including more than a decade in neurology and psychiatry. She currently serves as the Group Head Nurse at the American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, overseeing clinical operations across multiple branches and supporting quality, accreditation, and patient safety initiatives. Vanessa is a strong advocate for patient empowerment, believing that understanding and engagement in care are essential to improving treatment adherence.

She has contributed significantly to major projects, including JCIA re-accreditation, and the development of specialized services such as the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, Headache Clinic, Memory Clinic and the Long-Acting Injectable (LAI) program in ACPN. Known for her leadership, clinical expertise, and dedication to advancing mental health and neurological care, Vanessa continues to mentor nursing teams, elevate patient care standards, and drive innovation across the organization.

Dr. Chadi Al Alam

Specialist Pediatric Neurologist, American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology

Read Bio

Dr. Chadi Al Alam

Dr. Chadi Al Alam is Specialist Pediatric Neurologist at ACPN. Completing his MD qualification in 2011, he went on to specialize in Pediatrics from the Lebanese University in 2015. He completed Pediatric and Adolescent Neurology fellowship at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), Lebanon in 2018. Dr. Al Alam also holds a University Diploma in Principles of Medical Research, Lebanese University held in collaboration with the Foundation-Medical Research Institutes of Switzerland in 2015.

Dr. Al Alam’s experience marks more than three years as a Consultant in Pediatrics and Adolescent Neurology at many university hospitals and NGOs in Lebanon. Before moving to the UAE, Dr. Al Alam also worked in genetic research and rare diseases in collaboration with University College London, UK, and Haykel Hospital, Lebanon, 2021, and in sickle cell research and drug trials, Nini Hospital, Lebanon, 2021.

With deep experience in medical academics and practice in neurological disorders and diseases in children and adolescents, Dr. Al Alam presents at medical conferences with scientific papers published in international journals.

Dr. Al Alam treats children and adolescents presenting with headaches, seizures, epilepsy, sleep disorders and neuromuscular diseases. He also works with children with autism spectrum disorders, tic disorders, attention deficit and hyperactive disorders, and has a special interest in rare genetic diseases.

Dr. Ahmed Shatila

Consultant Neurologist, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE

Read Bio

Dr. Ahmed Shatila

Dr. Ahmed Shatila has over 17 years of experience in the field of neurology, treating and managing patients with all types of neurological disorders. He has a special interest in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and manages the MS Clinic at SSMC. He is also dedicated to spreading public awareness about neurological disorders and advocating for people with disabilities.

Dr. Shatila obtained his Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology from Wayne State University in the United States and then earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the same university. He completed his residency and neurophysiology fellowship at the Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University. In addition to his clinical roles, he has been invited as a guest speaker at many local and international conferences and has authored numerous publications and research papers discussing a wide range of neurological disorders.

Dr. Mona Thakre

Consultant Neurologist, Al Zahra Hospital Dubai

Read Bio

Dr. Mona Thakre

Mona Thakre is a Consultant Neurologist working with Al Zahra Hospital Dubai. She had her basic MBBS and MD from Nagpur University, India and DM and DNB in Neurology from Bombay Hospital, Mumbai University, India. She has completed her Speciality Certificate in Neurology from Royal College of Physicians (UK).

Dr. Shady Samy

Neurology Specialist, Burjeel Royal Hospital, Al Ain , UAE

Read Bio

Dr. Shady Samy

Dr. Shady Samy is a Neurology specialist at burjeel Royal hospital , Al Ain , UAE with more than 12 years of experience with a particular interest in stroke medicine, epilepsy, Multiple sclerosis and headache. Before his joining Burjeel Medical Centre, He was appointed as lecturer of neurology at Ain Shams University hospitals, which is considered one of the largest tertiary centers in Egypt. Dr. Shady Samy has also finished his training as a fellow of stroke medicine and interventional Neurology beside advanced training in epilepsy. In addition to that, Dr. Shady has been exposed to complicated issues of adult and pediatric epilepsy, being a part of the pre-surgical planning team. He has also been working as a visiting physician at the Springfield memorial hospital, the University of Louisville in the USA, St George’s university hospital in the UK, and P.Stadins clinical university hospital in Latvia.

Dr. Sweta Adatia

Neurologist, Neurology Department at Gargash Hospital UAE

Read Bio

Dr. Sweta Adatia

Dr. Sweta Adatia is a dynamic and accomplished neurologist currently leading the Neurology department at Gargash Hospital in the UAE. With ten years of experience in the region, she previously served as the Medical Director of RAK Hospital for close to 4 years. Dr. Adatia completed her medical degree in Mumbai, India, followed by a paralytic stroke fellowship in Calgary, Canada. She is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, USA, and holds an impressive 13 Gold medals in various subjects.

Having worked across three continents – Asia, Central Africa, and North America – Dr. Adatia’s global perspective enriches her medical practice. She pursued an MBA in Healthcare and finance at Cambridge University, where she was selected to work with the NCD UN on a funding program for 90 LMIC countries. Her exceptional achievements were recognized with the Brightest Minds in Cambridge scholarship for her MBA program.

Dr. Adatia’s innovative work extends to mapping high achievers’ brains through her Limitless Brain Lab in Dubai, utilizing AI algorithms to analyze the peak markers in the brain leading to success. She has built AI algorithms for mapping the brain’s function to optimize and upgrade brain health and peak performance.

A multi-talented individual, she has excelled in music with a Bachelor of Arts in harmonium, sports with table tennis championships, and spiritual pursuits including advanced training in Pranic Healing, Hypnotherapy, past life regreassion and Neurofeedback Therapy from renowned experts worldwide. Her dedication to mastering diverse fields beyond medicine and neurology exemplifies her commitment to holistic well-being and innovation in healthcare.

Dr. Adatia empowers the next generation to map their brains to help them embrace their limitless potential through her startup Mylimitlessbrain. Her book on this subject FUTURE READY NOW has achieved global bestseller status on Amazon.

A sought-after keynote speaker, she has delivered a TEDx talk on the impact of storytelling on the brain and conducted more than 500 seminars on neuroscience-based topics, bridging science and spirituality, Neuro parenting, Neuro manifestation, total transformation of the brain, A journey from Illness to Wellness and neuroscience for daily life. Her YouTube channel @drsweta.adatia is fast growing with over 55 million impressions and over 10 million views. Some of her talks are vividly viral and appreciated by a global audience. Dr Adatia lives in Dubai currently and has a collaborative lab in Cambridge and USA.

Dr. Moustafa Shakra

Neurologist, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi

Read Bio

Dr. Moustafa Shakra

Dr. Mustafa Shakra is an experienced neurologist with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and healthcare industry. He specializes in clinical neurology, neurological emergency medicine, and healthcare consulting. His expertise extends to multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease, among other neurological conditions. He holds multiple prestigious certifications, including MD, MSc, MRCP (UK), FRCP (LON), and a Syrian Board diploma in Neurology. His extensive experience enables him to provide advanced patient care and innovative treatments in neurology.

Dr. Muez Siddig

Consultant Psychiatrist, American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology

Read Bio

Dr. Muez Siddig

Dr. Muez Siddig is a Consultant Psychiatrist at ACPN Abu Dhabi. He earned his MBBS from Ain Shams University, Cairo in 2008, and was awarded the Arab Board of Psychiatry in 2016. He became a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych), UK, in 2019. He is licensed with DOH Abu Dhabi, and holds additional memberships with the International Society of Substance Use Professionals and the International Society of Sport Psychiatry.

With over 13 years of experience in adult psychiatry, Dr. Siddig served in prominent psychiatric institutions in the UAE. He began his psychiatric residency at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) in 2012, advancing to specialist psychiatrist. At SKMC’s Behavioral Sciences Pavilion, he worked across rehabilitation, community psychiatry, and liaison services, also taking on teaching and CME coordination responsibilities. In 2018, he joined the National Rehabilitation Center, Abu Dhabi, leading inpatient psychiatric services for individuals with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, while also serving on the education committee. Most recently, he worked as Consultant Psychiatrist at Mediclinic Hospital, Abu Dhabi before joining the ACPN family in 2025. Dr. Siddig co-authored published case studies and Arabic-language psychiatric resources, and continues to advocate for mental health awareness through public outreach and medical conferences.

Dr. Siddig specializes in the treating mood and anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders. His professional interests lie in rehabilitation psychiatry and integrative care approaches. Through a calming approach to patient-centered care, coupled with strong collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, he aims to enhance mental health through education, advocacy, and evidence-based clinical care.

Dr. Shivam Om Mittal, MD

Consultant Neurologist, Staff Physician, Neurology Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Neurological Institute

Read Bio

Dr. Shivam Om Mittal, MD

Dr. Shivam Om Mittal, MD, is a Staff Physician within the Neurology Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Neurological Institute.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Mittal was a Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Specialist and Consultant Neurologist at Columbia Asia Hospital and Vikram Hospital, Bangalore, India.

Dr. Mittal received his medical degree from Datta Meghe University of Medical Sciences University, Wardha, India. He completed his Neurology residency at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He did postdoctoral fellowship in Botulinum Toxin Treatment at the prestigious Yale University, where he initiated several clinical studies and streamlined unique treatment options for movement disorders. To pursue his interest further in the field of Clinical Movement Disorders, he completed a fellowship in Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders at the Renowned Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, USA.

Dr. Mittal returned to India after completing his residency and advance training in USA to work in busy tertiary hospitals in south India, where he was able to develop a Movement Disorders Department to cater to a large population with facilities of deep brain stimulation and botulinum toxin injections. He has performed botulinum toxin (Botox) injections for more than 1,000 patients for common conditions, such as writer’s cramp, cervical dystonia, hemifacial spasms, blepharospasm and spasticity. He also performed Botox injections for uncommon indications, such as essential tremor, parkinson’s disease tremor, drooling of saliva, excessive sweating and oromandibular dystonia. He had solid exposure to a range of neurological disorders along with his commitment to high-quality health care, first-class training and treatment skills and an indubitable desire to continually improve the quality of life of the patients. His motto is patient centered care and finds gratification in being responsible and taking care of his patients.

Dr. Mittal lives in Abu Dhabi with his wife and two sons. He enjoys cycling, listening to music and spending time with his family.

Maya Sidani

Clinical Psychologist, American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology

Read Bio

Maya Sidani

M.A in Clinical Psychology

Maya Fleifel Sidani joined the American Center for Psychology and Neurology – Dubai Office as a Clinical Psychologist with 20 years of international experience gained in the USA, Egypt, and the UAE. Maya was most recently serving as Lead Clinical Psychologist at Al Noor Hospital (Abu Dhabi) from 2011-2015.

Prior to Al Noor Hospital, Maya was a Clinical Psychologist at the Human Relations Institute, in Dubai from 2004 to 2011. Before moving to the UAE, Maya resided in Egypt and served as a Researcher at the National Institute of Cancer; focusing on children with cancer. In 2001, Maya served as a Crisis Intervention Counselor at the Arab-American Family Support Center (Brooklyn, New York). She provided Counseling and Crisis Intervention support for the Arab-American community and handled numerous cases dealing with post 9/11 trauma. A frequent guest on Television and Radio shows covering parenting and childhood development issues, Maya is also a writer for prominent magazines and publications. Maya is also involved in community work, public awareness programs and workshops for schools and social organizations on relevant psychology and mental health subjects.

Maya offers her expertise to both UAE Nationals and Expatriate clients dealing with various psychological disorders such as Anxiety Disorders, including Panic Disorders, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, Mood, and Adjustment Disorders. An expert in Parenting and Child Development, Maya also handles all issues of development, such as Pervasive Symptoms, Anxiety, Shyness, problems in communication and assertiveness, and behavior problems of childhood.

Maya is part of the multidisciplinary team for the eating disorders program at ACPN using evidence-based models such as CBT-E, and Family Based Therapy. She is a certified practioner in CBTE. She is an active member of the Middle East Eating Disorders Association (MEEDA).

Carina Khoury

Clinical Dietitian, American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology

Read Bio

Carina Khoury

Carina Khoury Ghossoub is a licensed clinical dietitian at ACPN Dubai specializing in mental health nutrition and eating disorders, with certifications in both Lebanon and Dubai.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from NDU Lebanon and gained clinical experience in a hospital setting for three years before relocating to Dubai in 2016. Since 2018, she has been dedicated to providing personalized nutrition counseling in the UAE.

Carina holds a master’s degree in Psychological Medicine from London Metropolitan University, UK. She is also certified in CBT-E for eating disorders from CREDO, University of Oxford, and has received supervision from Dr. Riccardo Dalle Grave and Marcia Herrin, internationally recognized experts in the field of eating disorders.

Her mission is to help individuals of all ages and genders achieve their optimal health while fostering a positive relationship with food. Taking a holistic approach, she addresses chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and gastrointestinal disorders—guiding her patients toward sustainable, healthier lifestyles without restrictive diets.

Beyond physical health, Carina provides specialized support for mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and emotional eating.

For the past seven years, she has been part of ACPN’s multidisciplinary team, working with individuals affected by anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and ARFID.