OUR BOARD
UOSSM Canada is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board creates the vision, mission and values for the organization, establishes and maintains its by-laws, and assures appropriate organizational performance. The Board is committed to organizational excellence and to ensure transparency and accountability of the organization.
Dr. Hussam Al Fakir is a dentist and orthodontist who practices in Canada. Dr. Al Fakir completed his dental training at Dalhousie University, then went on to practice general dentistry in Edmonton. He went back to school to complete a clinical residency in Orthodontics and a masters degree in medical sciences. Dr. Al Fakir’s passion to help other people and make a positive difference in people’s lives motivated him to join medical relief organizations. He helped establish a dental clinic in Turkey to serve Syrian refugees and currently, he is proud to serve as the Chairman at UOSSM-Canada.
Dr. Anas Al-Kassem is a trauma and bariatric surgeon practising in Canada. Dr Al-Kassem received his MD in Damascus, Syria, completed his general surgery training at the University of Ottawa, and his clinical fellowship in trauma at Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary. He was offered the position of Trauma Team Leader at the Civic Hospital at the University of Ottawa as a result of his leadership skills in the field. Dr. Al-Kassem extended his surgery skills and expertise by earning an MIS/Bariatric Surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. Dr. Al Kassem has also been active in many humanitarian organizations. He initiated an electronic data registry system employed in trauma hospitals across Syria and continues to be involved in surgery missions to over 80 hospitals in the war-torn country. He is a co-founder of UOSSM and serves as the Vice-Chairman of UOSSM-Canada.
Dr. Aliya Aziz Khan is a Professor of Medicine at McMaster University. She is the Director of the Calcium Disorders Clinic and the Fellowship in Metabolic Bone Disease at McMaster University. She graduated from the University of Ottawa Medical School with Honors and completed postgraduate training at the University of Toronto. She has published over 200 scientific papers and numerous books on osteoporosis and parathyroid disease.
Dr. Khan has been recognized by numerous national and international awards including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for excellence in clinical care, research and teaching as well as the International Hypoparathyroidism Award, the International Osteoporosis Foundation award for publishing excellence and recognized by Osteoporosis Canada for outstanding contributions to research and education. She was recognized as being in the top 0.1% of the world experts in hyperparathyroidism by Expertscape.
Dr. Maher Saqqur is a neurologist and stroke specialist at the University of Alberta. Dr. Saqqur received his MD in Damascus, Syria. He moved to the United States, where he completed his residency in Neurology at Penn State University. Since 2002, he has been serving as a stroke specialist at the University of Alberta. He has been working with medical relief organizations since the civil war in Syria started and he helped establish a rehab centre in Turkey. Dr. Saqqur is currently helping with the telecommunication unit to provide consulting services for a neurological intensive care unit in Syria.
Dr. Reem Alsabbagh completed her residency in family medicine at the University of Western, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. Currently, Dr. Reem Alsabbagh is practising as a family physician in Milton, Ontario. With the large flow of incoming refugees, Dr. Alsabbagh is playing a key role in aiding the Syrian refugees in the Halton region area by providing health care services and educational sessions.
Dr. Amgad Ezzat Elsherif is a thoracic surgeon practicing in the Greater Toronto Area and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Surgery at Western University. Passionate about surgical education, he previously served as Program Director for the first ACGME-accredited surgery program with Johns Hopkins International. Dr. Elsherif has organized and led numerous humanitarian and surgical missions to regions in need, including Africa, Syria, and Gaza. Dr. Amgad has traveled multiple times to Gaza and continues to provide support on the ground since the conflict began in October 2023. He brings his dedication and experience to UOSSM Canada's board, helping advance vital medical support in Gaza.
OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Dr. Adel El Fitori is a General Surgeon and a specialist in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery, practicing at Pembroke Regional Hospital since 2007. He graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2006 and is currently the most senior surgeon at Pembroke Regional Hospital. Dr. El Fitori has been a dedicated supporter of UOSSM Canada for over a decade and serves on the UOSSM Canada Board Advisory Committee, contributing to its humanitarian medical initiatives. Dr. El Fitori now serves at UOSSM Canada as a board advisory member.
Dr. Ben Thomson is a renowned public health expert, nephrologist and general internal medicine doctor, an award-winning educator, and global humanitarian physician. Beginning his academic career at Western University, he later became an associate professor at Queen’s University in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Thomson's academic impact extends internationally through his work as an annual lecturer and physician examination demonstrator at IUG Medical School in Gaza City. Dedicated to humanitarian initiatives, he has enhanced healthcare delivery across 133 Indigenous communities in Ontario, established a vital healthcare facility in Uganda, and spearheaded improvements in medical infrastructure in Gaza. Dr. Thomson has founded the Keys of Health Fellowship and co-founded EmpowerGaza, initiatives that have influenced healthcare systems in Gaza. His innovations, such as the Kidney-CAP and the aerosol-reducing mask, address global medical challenges. A cancer survivor and kidney donor, Dr. Thomson's personal experiences deeply inform his empathetic approach to medicine, shaping his vision of a world where resilient, compassionate healthcare is accessible to all communities globally. Dr. Ben has been supporting UOSSM Canada over the years, and currently serves as a board advisory member.