Shaping the Future of Oncology & Hematology Nursing Excellence

Abirami Lakshmanan is a Breast Cancer Nurse at Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai, supporting patients throughout their breast cancer care journey. Her role focuses on patient education, care coordination, and providing ongoing support to patients and their families as part of the multidisciplinary oncology team.

Alison Wade is currently working in Tawam Hospital, Al Ain as a Senior Charge Nurse, Case Manager for 11 years. The role addresses patient readmissions, utilization of resources, length of stay, complex discharge planning and knowledge in various insurance health plans. Units covered range from the Emergency Department to Oncology, Haematology, Palliative and Paediatrics. She is a recipient of the International Daisy Award, 2025 and attained the Fellowship and Certification in the American Academy of Case Management, 2024.

Dr Amal Al Haddad is the Operations Director Administrator at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City – Abu Dhabi. Dr Amal has over 17 years of experience serving various clinical, managerial, academic and research roles at multiple government and private institutions within the UAE including SKMC & Tawam Hospitals, the College of Medicine at the UAE University, Al Noor Hospital Group/Mediclinic Middle East, Moorfields Eye Hospital, and other facilities and academic institutions. She is also the former Vice President of the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE) – MENA. Dr. Amal obtained her PhD from the UAE University; a Master of Business and Management from the University of Wollongong Dubai; and her nursing degrees from Abu Dhabi Institute of Nursing and Sharjah University. She has a diploma in hematology and advanced training in palliative and end-of-life care. She is a recognized subject matter expert, trainer and speaker at many national and international conferences, and a member of ASCO, ONS, POEM, SIOP and ACHE. She has won various scholarships, research grants, and research awards, and has multiple ongoing research projects and peer-reviewed publications.

Asma is the Acting Nurse Manager at Tawam Hospital, with a wide range of expertise in hematology, oncology and palliative care, and previously held the position of Hematology/Oncology Navigator, which deepened her experience with patients. She is the winner of the Daisy Award and SEHA IHSAN Award, an ENA member and trainee in the RCSI SEHA program, a moderator at international medical conferences, an instructor in the Oncology Educational Program, and a member of the Oncology Nursing Advisory Group at SEHA.

Dr. Darcy Burbage is an experienced Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist with more than 30 years in clinical care, education, research, and program development. She is a recognized leader in survivorship, oncology nurse navigation, and evidence-based practice. An international speaker and author, she has held key leadership roles within the Oncology Nursing Society. Dr. Burbage is committed to advancing cancer care, improving patient outcomes, and mentoring the next generation of oncology nurses.

With over 22 years of nursing experience, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2004 in Lebanon, where she began her career in an adult ICU. She later joined King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, dedicating a decade to pediatric oncology, progressing from staff nurse to charge nurse and eventually clinical instructor. Following this, she served as Manager of the Oncology Clinic and Radiation Therapy Unit at American Hospital Dubai for three years. For the past five years, she has been the Nurse Manager at University Hospital Sharjah, concurrently serving as a Clinical Tutor at the University of Sharjah. She completed her Master’s degree in Nursing Education in 2015 and is currently pursuing a PhD in Nursing Leadership from Walden University.

Dr. Alaloul, an esteemed Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs at Sultan Qaboos University, College of Nursing in Oman, is a prominent figure in the field of oncology nursing. Possessing a doctorate in Nursing and a Master of Public Health from the University of Kentucky, as well as a Master's degree in Oncology Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, he is well-equipped to drive impactful change. His research program, which centers on comprehending the personal experiences of individuals with cancer, is committed to developing and evaluating interventions aimed at improving patient health needs. Dr. Alaloul's international recognition for his studies with Muslim cancer survivors underscores the significance of his work.

Dr. Hosny Maher Sultan is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatric Health Nursing at Ajman University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, UAE. He holds a Ph.D. in Pediatric Nursing from Ain Shams University, an MBA from Cairo University, and a Fellowship by Examination from the RCSI Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ireland (2025). He has authored 18+ peer-reviewed publications (79 citations, h-index 4) spanning pediatric nutrition, machine learning in healthcare, palliative and neonatal care, and nursing education, in journals including Nutrition, BMC Nursing, Cephalalgia, and Teaching and Learning in Nursing, with active collaborations across the MENA region.

Dr. Ibrahim holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of Western Sydney, a Master of Cancer and Hematology Nursing from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Nursing from Jordan University of Science and Technology. He is currently Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing, University of Wollongong Dubai. Dr Ibrahim actively engages in systematic reviews of current research literature and has many publications in highly reputable journals.

Issam is the Assistant Nurse Manager for the Hematology and Oncology Ambulatory Clinics at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He earned his BSN from Makassed University of Beirut in 2011 and a postgraduate diploma in Nursing Leadership and Management from the American University of Beirut. With over eight years at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Issam brings extensive expertise in patient care, team leadership, and clinical operations, fostering collaboration, excellence, and compassionate care.

Khaled is an experienced healthcare leader specializing in pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Hemophilia care. He holds a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Jordan, a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from the University of Atlanta, and a Masters in Global Child Health from St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, USA. Khaled contributes to advancing pediatric Hematology/Oncology care through international and regional leadership roles, including Nurses Committee Member at the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), General Secretary of the UAE Hemophilia Group, and Chairperson of the Nursing Care Working Group under the Pediatric Oncology Eastern Mediterranean (POEM) Group. He also provides leadership consulting for health services and medical personnel development at the Arab Leadership and Foresight Agency, focusing on improving healthcare delivery in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Khaled Al Qawasmeh, RN, MSN, APRN, OCNS, CCRP, is a Clinical Research Nurse and Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist in Oncology and Hematology at Tawam Hospital’s Oncology Department. He brings extensive expertise in oncology nursing, clinical research, and evidence-based practice, with a strong focus on improving patient outcomes and advancing cancer care. Khaled holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Oncology Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been an Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) since 2009 and is a Certified Clinical Research Professional through the Society of Clinical Research Associates. He serves as Chair of the SEHA SOCRA Chapter, supporting research excellence and professional development. He chairs the SEHA Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Committee, leading initiatives that promote the integration of research into clinical nursing practice, and serves as Vice President of the Emirates Oncology Hematology Nursing Society, contributing to the advancement of oncology and hematology nursing at a national level.

Mahmoud Hasan is the Chief Nursing Officer at Al Dhafra Hospitals - SEHA, where he oversees the nursing staff and ensures the highest standards of patient care. With over 23 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Mahmoud brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for nursing excellence to the role. Mahmoud earned his Master of Science in Healthcare Management from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). He began his career as a registered nurse in oncology and BMT services, quickly rising through the ranks due to his dedication, clinical expertise, and leadership skills, and led the oncology nursing services at Tawam Hospital as Assistant Director of Nursing. Throughout his career, Mahmoud has been instrumental in implementing patient-centred care models, improving nursing workflows, and enhancing patient safety protocols. At Al Dhafra Hospitals - SEHA, he is responsible for strategic planning, policy development, and the overall management of nursing services, and is committed to promoting ongoing education, professional development, and evidence-based practice. Mahmoud has participated in a number of oncology nursing research projects, including improving oral chemotherapy compliance, improving patient experience with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), and assessing the patient education needs of thalassemia patients taking iron-chelating factors.

Mr. Mohammad Khader is the Oncology Educator for all cancer services—Oncology, Hematology, Apheresis, and Radiation Therapy—at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), with 15 years of dedicated experience in the field of oncology. Mr. Khader holds a Master’s degree in Oncology Health Nursing, awarded in 2015 by The Hashemite University. In 2016, he was among the first group in Jordan to be recognized as an Oncology Nurse Specialist by the Jordanian Nursing Council. He has actively contributed to numerous research initiatives, quality improvement projects, and evidence-based practices in the fields of oncology, hematology, and palliative care.

Mr. Saleh is an Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) with extensive clinical experience in oncology/hematology. After vast years of experience in nursing from clinical educator to Nurse Manager, he is now the Tawam Oncology Center Manager. He participates effectively in training and developing nursing staff. Mohammad has served as a Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Trainer since 2011 and was the first international trainer at the level of the UAE. He was responsible for a variety of quality improvement initiatives and hospital quality measures such as central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSI), prevention of chemotherapy error, improving the safe handling of hazardous drugs, and management of radiation therapy side effects based on the latest evidence-based practice. Mohammad actively participates in oncology service development and collaborates with others in setting the standards in cancer care, improving quality and cancer patient outcomes through continuum of care, and stays connected with local and international cancer centers.

Rosemary Wasti is a Nurse Manager at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, with experience in nursing leadership, clinical operations, and patient-centered care. In her role, she supports multidisciplinary teams in maintaining high standards of nursing practice, quality, and patient safety.

Resilient and deeply committed to patient care, she brings over 25 years of nursing experience across clinical practice, leadership, and research. She holds a PhD in Health Care Management and an Oncology Nursing Certification from the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS, USA). Her career has included active participation in numerous national and international conferences, reflecting her dedication to continuous learning and professional development. Currently, she contributes to clinical trials and patient-centered research, combining compassionate care with scientific rigor to advance evidence-based practice. Her work bridges frontline nursing with innovation, ensuring that patient needs remain at the heart of healthcare progress. She has been honored with the Distinguished Employee Award from H.H. Sheikh Hamdan in 2018, the Angel Award in October 2025 organized by Arabian Radio Network and Nikai, and the Daisy Award in February 2026. Outside of her professional life, she is a proud mother of two.

Mr. Soufiane Roussia is a clinical nurse educator and emerging nursing scholar specializing in cardiology and critical care nursing. He serves as Chair of the Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Committee at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City and Chair of the UAE Specialist Nurse Forum. Mr. Soufiane holds dual Master’s degrees in Adult Health Nursing (RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, 2021) and Cardiovascular Nursing (Mohammed Bin Rashid University, 2023). He further enhanced his expertise through a certificate in Advanced Clinical Education and a Cardiac Nurse Specialist internship at Queen’s University and the NHS in the UK.

Dr. Sumaya is the President of the Emirates Nursing Association, Director of the Nursing Department in Emirates Health Services, leading the National Nursing & Midwifery Strategy in the UAE, and Honorary Associate Professor at MBRU. She leads the taskforce committee for the Cabinet Initiative on the Attractiveness of the Nursing Profession. Dr. Sumaya is an awardee of the Emirates Pride Medal for Mohammed Bin Rashid Government 2017, the Community Serving Medal 2020, and Best Government Communication Campaign in promoting the nursing profession (2018). She was named “Pioneer Nurse” at the Global Health Pioneer Awards and was recently inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Tahani Dweikat, MSN, EMHCA, CNS AG-OCNS, APRN, OCN, CCRP, EBP-C, is an oncology nursing and clinical research leader with over 20 years of healthcare experience. She holds dual master's degrees: an Executive Master’s in Healthcare Administration (EMHCA) from Zayed University affiliated with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Adult-Gerontology Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-OCNS) from California State University Dominguez Hills. Tahani is nationally certified as an Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN), Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP), and Evidence-Based Practice Certified (EBP-C). She currently serves as the Director of Clinical Research (Interim) at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center (California, USA), where she oversees high-complexity clinical trials, including early-phase, hematology research, and cellular therapy protocols. In addition, she served as the Clinical Research Nurse Manager for the Clinical Research Unit, leading interdisciplinary teams to optimize trial performance and promote research-integrated patient care. Tahani has held national and international leadership roles, including President of the Emirates Oncology Nursing Society (2016–2020) and the International Oncology Nursing Society Chapter, USA (2012–2016). She is a Board Director for the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) California Chapter and an active member of ANA, SOCRA, and NACNS. A published author, international speaker, and educator, she was honored in 2023 with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Emirates Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) for her impactful contributions to cancer nursing and clinical research.