Regional Board

The Regional Board of MENA-VINS serves as a bridge connecting the Society’s leadership with local communities across the Middle East and North Africa. Composed of respected representatives from various countries, the Regional Board ensures that the Society’s initiatives are implemented effectively and tailored to regional needs. Through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and local engagement, the Board strengthens MENA-VINS’s presence and impact throughout the region.

Ali Al Balushi, MD

is a senior consultant in vascular and interventional neurology at Khoula Hospital in Muscat, Oman, where he serves as the head of the department of neurology and the stroke unit.

Ali Al Balushi, MD

is a senior consultant in vascular and interventional neurology at Khoula Hospital in Muscat, Oman, where he serves as the head of the department of neurology and the stroke unit. Dr. Al Balushi is the director of the National Integrated Neurology and Stroke Services in Oman. Dr. Al Balushi obtained his MD degree from Sultan Qaboos University, following which he was trained in adult neurology, vascular neurology, and interventional neurology in the United States. He is board-certified in neurology & vascular neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has several peer-reviewed publications and is a reviewer for many journals in the field of stroke and Neurointervention. He is the associate program director for the Oman neurology residency program and an experienced clinical lecturer affiliated with Sultan Qaboos University College of Medicine.

Aussan Al-Athwari, MD

Vascular and Interventional Neurologist at Abbood Military Hospital, Yemen. Member of ESNPN, WSO, AAN, YNS

Aussan Al-Athwari, MD

Vascular and Interventional Neurologist at Abbood Military Hospital, Yemen. Member of ESNPN, WSO, AAN, YNS Dr. Al-Athwari's clinical and research interests focus on the treatment of conditions such as acute ischemic stroke, brain aneurysms, carotid artery disease, and vascular malformations. He is dedicated to advancing the field through clinical research, innovation, and the education of future neurologists and interventionalists in Yemen, as well as the development of the Yemen National Stroke Program. He serves as the head of the Stroke Center – American Modern Hospital (AMH). He Received his M.B.B.CH degree in medicine and surgery from Aden University – Yemen in 2010, His MS and residency training from Cairo University in 2016, and from May-July 2015 had a training on emergency neurology and acute stroke care at Hannover Medical School – Hannover – Germany, a diploma in Neurosonology in 2017 and the Egyptian fellowship in neurology in 2022 with a special training in interventional neurology at Nasr City Insurance hospital in the period from 2020 to 2022.

Email:info@mena-vins.org

Belahsen Mohammed Faouzi, MD

Professor of Neurology at the Sidi Mohamed Benabdellah Uni., Fez, Morocco President of the Moroccan Stroke Society

Belahsen Mohammed Faouzi, MD

Belahsen Mohammed Faouzi, MD., is a professor of Neurology at the Sidi Mohamed Benabdellah University in Fez, Morocco. He graduated with an MD from Sfax University, Tunisia, and trained in Neurology in Tunisia and in neurovascular diseases in Besançon, France. Professor Belahsen heads the Department of Neurology at the Hassan II University Hospital in Fez. He pioneered the creation of the Stroke Unit in Morocco. He was Vice Dean for Research in the Faculty of Medicine of Fez, Morocco (2006-2013). His main scientific and clinical interests are multiple sclerosis, stroke, and neuroepidemiology. He published numerous articles on stroke, cerebral venous thrombosis, multiple sclerosis, and neurotuberculosis. Professor Belahsen is the vice-president of the Moroccan Society of Neurology and president of the Moroccan Stroke Society.

Email:info@mena-vins.org

Haytham Osman , MD, FEF(NS), FENS, FINR (Swiss),

Senior consultant neurosurgen at King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda. Head of neurosurgery department and director of NeuroSpine Center at Ribat University Hospital, Sudan.

Haytham Osman , MD, FEF(NS), FENS, FINR (Swiss),

Associate Professor and highly skilled Consultant Neurosurgeon, specializing in both conventional and endovascular neurosurgery. Currently serving as a Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda, he also holds the positions of Head of the Department of Neurosurgery and Director of the NeuroSpine Center at Ribat University Hospital in Sudan, in addition to being Head of Surgical Departments at the National Ribat University. His extensive expertise encompasses emergency and elective surgeries for brain and spinal tumors, spinal trauma, degenerative diseases, and cerebral hemorrhage. He is proficient in advanced techniques, including endovascular procedures, endoscopic pituitary and skull-base surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, and pediatric neurosurgery, such as managing hydrocephalus with V.P shunts and treating spina bifida. Dr. Osman’s distinguished training includes a Fellowship in Endovascular Neurosurgery and Interventional Neuroradiology from Zurich University Hospital, Switzerland, and the Egyptian Fellowship of Neurosurgery. He is actively involved in academic and administrative leadership, serving as chair of the Training and Accreditation Committee for the Neurosurgery Board in Sudan and examining for postgraduate and undergraduate degrees. An accomplished researcher has authored numerous scientific publications and book chapters and frequently serves as a speaker and chairperson at international conferences. Fluent in Arabic, English, and Russian, he is a dedicated professional committed to advancing neurosurgical care and education.

Email:info@mena-vins.org

Hussam Abdulrasool ,MS

Senior Neurology Specialist at Baghdad Medical City. Member of the Iraqi Ministry of Health's Committee for the stroke unit project.

Hussam Abdulrasool ,MS

born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1984, is a highly qualified Board-Certified Neurologist who earned his MBChB in 2008 and became a Fellow of the Iraqi Board for Medical Specialization in Neurology in 2017. Following his extensive medical training, Dr. Alrobiai served as a Senior Neurology Specialist at Baghdad Medical City, holding a significant administrative role as the Director of the Medical Emergency Department for one year before moving to the Department of Neurology, where he continues to practice and serves as the Director of Continuous Medical Education. He is deeply involved in medical education, training both undergraduate students and residents for the Arabic Board of Medical Specialization, and actively participates in national strategic initiatives as a member of the Ministry of Health's committee for the Stroke Unit Project. Dr. Alrobiai maintains a strong international presence in his field, holding memberships in the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), European Stroke Organisation (ESO), and World Stroke Organization (WSO), reflecting his commitment to advanced neurological and stroke care.

Email:info@mena-vins.org

Samy ML DADAH, MD,

associate professor at Nouakchott University and head of the neurology department in Nouakchott hospital of specialty - Mauritania

Samy ML DADAH, MD,

Samy ML DADAH, MD, associate professor at Nouakchott University and head of the neurology department in Nouakchott hospital of specialty. He received his MD and advanced training in neurology from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar. He benefits from visiting trainer on stroke in Paris. His research interests focus on stroke, cerebral venous thrombosis, and cerebrovascular disease, with expertise in acute medical management, risk factors, and stroke prevention. He is a pioneer in acute stroke management in Mauritania and West Africa, and he has published several papers focused on this topic. Dr Dadah is the general secretary of the Mauritanian Society of Neurology. He is responsible for the neurology fellowship national program.

Maryam Omar Alqaseer, MD, MRCP

Consultant of Neuromedicine, Head of Neurology Department at Misrata Medical Center, Libya.

Maryam Omar Alqaseer, MD, MRCP

Maryam Omar Alqaseer, MD, MRCP. Consultant of Neuromedicine, Head of Neurology Department at Misrata Medical Center, Libya. Dr. Maryam is a neurologist interested in stroke medicine, currently serving as the Head of the Neurology Department at Misrata Medical Center. Her academic qualifications include an MBBCh, MD, MRCP, and an MSc in Stroke Medicine (University of Glasgow), which collectively form a strong foundation for her professional focus on cerebrovascular diseases and acute stroke care. Currently, she is responsible for the comprehensive management of the Neurology Department, overseeing clinical services, staff coordination, training, and quality improvement initiatives. A major component of her work was creating and directing a Stroke Mini-Unit, which provides focused acute stroke care through a dedicated inpatient unit, an outpatient follow-up stroke clinic, and an emergency stroke assessment room. Her responsibilities include optimizing clinical pathways, ensuring timely stroke evaluation, enhancing early diagnosis, and implementing best practices in stroke management and secondary prevention. Dr. Maryam is actively engaged in developing and refining local stroke protocols, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, and improving patient outcomes through evidence-based practice. Additionally, she supervises training activities for junior doctors and nursing staff, ensuring high standards in neurological and stroke care delivery across the department.

Email:info@mena-vins.org

Samia Ben Sassi, MD

Samia Ben Sassi, MD. Head of the Neurology Department at the Mongi Ben Hmida National Institute of Neurology in Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar. President of the Tunisian Association of Neurology and Neurosciences, and the Tunisia SITS National Coordinator.

Samia Ben Sassi, MD

Samia Ben Sassi, MD. Professor of Neurology and the Head of the Neurology Department at the Mongi Ben Hmida National Institute of Neurology in Tunis, Tunisia, which is part of the Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar. Her extensive education includes an MD. in Medicine (2000) and a Residency in Neurology (2004) from the Faculty of Medicine of Tunis. She also holds numerous diplomas, including Clinical Neurology (2006), Neurophysiology from Paris VI Pierre et Marie Curie University (2006), Neuroradiology (2013), Statistical methods, Epidemiology and Clinical research (2015), and Molecular Genetics and Genomics (2019). Dr. Ben Sassi has held various academic and leadership positions, progressing from Assistant Professor (2007-2014) to Associate Professor (since 2014) and then Professor of Neurology (since 2021) at the same institute. She has been involved in the study of neurological diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease and stroke, with research funded by organizations like the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the European Commission. Currently, she is the President of the Tunisian Association of Neurology and Neurosciences, the Secretary-Elect of MDS-AS, and the Tunisia SITS National Coordinator. Her international involvement also includes past roles as a member of the IBRO-MENA executive committee and an associated member of the IBRO-ARC executive committee.

Wael Elwahshi, MS

Head of Neurology department at Ali Omar Asker Hospital in Tripoli, Libya.

Wael Elwahshi, MS

a Neurology Specialist with over 15 years of clinical experience, is currently heading the Neurology Department at Ali Omar Asker Hospital in Tripoli, Libya. He coordinates the Libyan Board for Physician Training at the hospital and teaches neurology and internal medicine at Tripoli University Medical School. Dr. Elwahshi holds the Arab Board in Internal Medicine and recently completed a Stroke Fellowship in 2024 through the American Pakistani Physicians Society. His training also includes a fellowship from the World Federation of Neurology. He is actively involved in national neurology societies, serving as Head of the Libyan Parkinson’s Society and Secretary of the Libyan Stroke Society. Dr. Elwahshi, work focuses on managing neurological disorders, mentoring junior doctors, and contributing to research and community outreach projects. He is committed to advancing neurological care and education in Libya and the wider region. Outside of medicine, He enjoys football, billiards, drawing, and health education through social media.

Regional Board

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