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.

Dr. Catherine Clase completed degrees in pathology and in medicine at Christ’s College, Cambridge, UK, before moving to Canada (Turtle Island) for clinical training in internal medicine (Memorial University of Newfoundland), nephrology and health research methodology (McMaster  University). Between 1997 and 2001 she was an assistant professor at Dalhousie University. Since 2001, she works at McMaster  University, where she is currently professor of medicine and an associate member of  the department of health research methods, evidence and impact (HEI). Research interests include the population epidemiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD), optimization of medical management and transitions in people with CKD, and management of potassium disorders in people with CKD. In 2019 she co-chaired the Canadian commentary on KDIGO metabolic bone disease guidelines and co-chaired the KDIGO potassium controversies conference. She is  medical lead for the St Joseph’s Hamilton Healthcare program for transitioning young people with kidney disease from pediatric to adult practice.  She is a long-term associate editor for ACP Journal Club. She is an advocate for the use of masks in healthcare, workplaces, and institutions, to prevent the acute and chronic loss of health associated with recurrent COVID infection, and editor-in-chief of the website www.maskevidence.org. As part of a McMaster-based team, she coordinated the donation of several containers of humanitarian aid to Uganda and to the Ukraine. She is grateful to live and work on the traditional territory shared between the Haudenosaunee confederacy and the Anishinabe nations, acknowledged in the Dish with One Spoon wampum.

Dr. Shamseddin is a Transplant Nephrologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Queen’s University. He serves as the Medical Director of the Kingston Kidney Transplant Program (KKTP) and the Napanee Hemodialysis Clinic (NDC). He previously led the Adult Nephrology Residency Program at Queen’s (2012–2019) and now spearheads the university’s Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) initiative. He is Vice-Chair of the Canadian Blood Services Kidney Transplant Advisory Committee (KTAC) and actively contributes to several local, provincial, and national committees. A graduate of Damascus University, he completed residencies in Internal Medicine (Kansas University) and Nephrology (Memorial University), a Master’s in Clinical Epidemiology, and a Kidney Transplant Fellowship at Ottawa University. His research focuses on clinical outcomes in hemodialysis and kidney transplantation, as well as developing a CBME-based Nephrology curriculum at Queen’s. Dr. Shamseddin’s impactful work has been recognized with the 2024 Canadian Society of Nephrology Distinguished Service Award and the 2020 Queen’s Distinguished Service Award.

Dr. Muhamad Raed Rihani is a highly accomplished anesthesiologist with over two decades of experience in the field. He earned his medical degree from Damascus University Medical School in 1993 and completed his American Board of Anesthesiology certification in 2001 at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Rihani holds additional certifications from the American Academy of Pain Management and the American Society of Anesthesiology POCUS (Point-of-Care Ultrasound). Currently, he serves as a Staff Anesthesiologist at Niagara Health System in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Rihani’s expertise and dedication to excellence in anesthesiology have made him a respected figure in his field, committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered care.

OUR STAFF

 Yasmen Zaghloul, Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Yasmen Zaghloul is a nonprofit leader with over 15 years experience in the non for profit sector with a strong background in managing complex humanitarian programs and community initiatives. As Chief Operating Officer at UOSSM Canada, Yasmen oversees all operational functions and reports directly to the board. She brings extensive experience in strategic planning, program development, project management, and organizational leadership from her prior roles, including Heading Programs, Volunteers, Youth, Operations,  and Special Projects at Seeds of Leadership and ISNA Canada. With a Master’s degree in Information Management from the University of Toronto, Yasmen has a deep understanding of crisis management, information systems, process innovation & automation, and user experience design. Her work is marked by her commitment to operational innovation, strategic partnerships, and youth empowerment, having led impactful projects that increased program engagement, organization performance, and secured government funding.

Mariam Abu El Magd, Acting Programs Director 

Mariam is the Acting Programs Director at UOSSM Canada with over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Recently completed her Master of Science in Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics from the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph. This academic achievement follows her earlier education at McMaster University, where she earned both an Honours Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Business Administration from the DeGroote School of Business. Mariam is committed to creating meaningful change, driving positive social impact and creating sustainable solutions within the non-profit sector.

Mohamed Nazir Salem, Programs Manager

Mohamed brings over 18 years of diverse experience, including 9 years in the nonprofit sector, where he has collaborated with international and local NGOs, government entities, and UN development agencies. As UOSSM Canada's Programs Manager, he excels in program and project management, risk assessment, and supporting refugees and vulnerable populations. Mohamed’s expertise includes providing strategic advisory support, advancing economic recovery, promoting social integration, and leading capacity-building initiatives to drive sustainable impact.

 Mona Munim, Senior Operations Coordinator 

Mona Munim is the Senior Operations Coordinator at UOSSM Canada, where she contributes to humanitarian efforts aimed at improving healthcare access in times of crisis. Committed to ensuring that operations run smoothly, she understands how the inner workings of an organization come together to save lives around the world. In addition to her role at UOSSM, Mona is currently pursuing her Master's in Urban Planning at the University of Toronto, seeking to expand her skill set and create local impact in her community.

May Awad, Operations Coordinator 

May Awad has over than six years of experience in customer service, administration, and management within the education sector, May Awad brings a strong foundation in operations support, team leadership, and fostering collaboration. She focuses on optimizing processes, enhancing client experiences, and driving organizational growth. In addition to her professional background, May has over two years of experience volunteering and working on fundraising initiatives for nonprofit organizations. Her efforts support impactful projects that create meaningful change, reflecting her passion for service and dedication to making a difference in the nonprofit sector.