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Here are some of our extraordinary C3 Summit past speakers:

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    Samer Khoury

    President of Engineering & Construction
    Consolidated Contractors Company
    Greece

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    Wael Fakharany

    Regional Director
    Egypt & North Africa
    Google

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    Ambassador Frances D. Cook

    Former Ambassador
    Sultanate of Oman
    USA

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    Dr. Henry Kissinger

    Chairman
    Kissinger Associates, Inc.
    Former Secretary of State
    United States of America

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    Ambassador Isobel Coleman

    U.S. Representative to the United Nations
    UN Management and Reform
    USA

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    Elizabeth Richard

    Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
    U.S. Department of State

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    His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa

    Minister of Foreign Affairs
    Bahrain Foreign Minister

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    Ambassador Mohammed Al Hussaini Al Sharif

    Chief Representative to the United States
    League of Arab States

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    HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Tala bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

    Member International Advisory Committee
    National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations

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    Nahlah Al-Jubier

    Director
    Center for Career Development
    Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission

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    Jared Kushner


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    Chemi Peres

    Managing General Partner and Co-Founder
    Pitango Venture Capital

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    Ambassador Leslie Rowe

    Office of Global Health Diplomacy
    U.S. Department of State

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    Ambassador William Roebuck

    US Ambassador to Bahrain

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    Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor

    Chairman
    Al Habtoor Group
    UAE

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    Ellen Lord

    President & Chief Executive Officer
    Textron Systems

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    General Wesley K. Clark, (ret.)

    CEO
    Wesley K. Clark & Associates, LLC

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    Rabbi Arthur Schneier

    Founder & President
    Appeal of Conscience Foundation

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    Tamara Cofman Wittes

    Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy
    Center for Middle East Policy
    Brookings Institution
    USA

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    General David H. Petraeus

    US Army, Retired;
    Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency;
    Chairman
    KKR Global Institute





Speaker Bios 2018 (Subject to Change)

Mr. Steven J. Thompson, MBA (Senior Vice President, Chief Business Development Officer, Brigham and Women's Healthcare)

Mr. Steven Thompson has over 30 years experience in various positions within academic healthcare. As the Chief Business Development officer at Brigham and Women's Healthcare (BWHC), Mr. Thompson is responsible for BWHC's regional, national and international external clinical business relationships.

He has extensive experience in global healthcare and global healthcare business development. Additionally, he has worked extensively in academic medicine and academic health centers. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine International as well as the Senior Vice President of Johns Hopkins Medicine to oversee its international activities.

Mr. Thompson was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine International. This organization was established as the arm of Johns Hopkins Medicine providing a focus and leadership at the institutional level for all international activities. It is the mission of this organization to establish international programs and businesses that are consistent with, and support, the Johns Hopkins mission of excellence in clinical care, research and teaching.

Mr. Thompson has a particular interest in identifying innovative ways for academic health systems to collaborate with a wide range of partners to work towards the common objective of improving health and healthcare delivery locally, regionally and around the world. He has written and spoken extensively on a wide range of topics related to academic health system leadership, the globalization of healthcare including health system design and healthcare workforce development.

Mr. Thompson has served on the boards of several healthcare organizations including an Advisory Board of the US Department of Commerce. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Minnesota. He also earned a Master's degree in Business Administration from Loyola University in Maryland.

His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla Bin Rashid Al Khalifa (Ambassador U.S. Embassy, Kingdom of Bahrain)

His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla Bin Rashid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, a member of Bahrain’s royal family, was appointed his country’s ambassador to the United States in April 2017. He presented his credentials to President Donald Trump on July 22, 2017. He replaces another member of the royal family, Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Khalifa.

His Excellency is the son of Bahraini Interior Minister Lieutenant General Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. He graduated from Ibn Khuldoon National School in 1997 and came to the United States for college. He earned a B.S. in management from Bentley College (now Bentley University) in Waltham, Massachusetts in 2001 and an MBA from the same school in 2003. Bentley opened a Bentley in Bahrain program in 2002.

His Excellency returned to Bahrain and was made head of educational affairs for the Royal Family Council. Two years later, he was director of education and the Social Affairs Directorate. In 2007, he was named director of planning and followup for the General Organization for Youth and Sports. The following year he became the organization’s human resources director.

In March 2010, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa appointed His Excellency to a four-year term as governor of Bahrain’s Southern Governorate, the largest such political division. He was reappointed in 2015.

His Excellency is also a member of the National Commission for Drug Control and the board of the Bah

His Excellency Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty (Consulate General of India , New York)

His Excellency Sandeep Chakravorty a member of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) since 1996, has served in India’s Missions in several countries. Prior to becoming Consul General of India in New York in August, 2017, he was the Ambassador of India to Peru and Bolivia. Earlier he had been India’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Bangladesh. He has also served in Indian Embassies in Madrid and Bogota. In India’s Ministry of External Affairs he has held several positions including Press Relations Officer, Staff Officer to Minister and worked on desks dealing with Central Asia, East Asia and China. Before joining the Government, Mr. Chakravorty worked with civil society organizations dealing with natural resources and environmental issues.

His Excellency has a Master’s degree in Advanced Studies in International Security from Geneva University; a Master’s degree in Sociology; and a Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management. He graduated in Physics from Delhi University. He speaks Hindi, Bangla and Spanish fluently. In his spare time he reads up on International Relations and the Environment and enjoys visiting historical sites. He is married and is father of twin daughters.

Dr. Bavaguthu Raghuram (B.R.) Shetty (Founder & Chairman of NMC Healthcare; Founder & Chairman of Finablr; Founder & Chairman of Neopharma; Founder & Chairman of BRS Ventures)

Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty, popularly known as Dr. B. R. Shetty, hails from Udupi district of Karnataka in India. From his youth, he was at the forefront of social and community related causes, including serving as the Vice Chairman of the Udupi Municipal Council for two consecutive years. Dr. Shetty moved from India to UAE in 1973 in search of greener pastures and went on to become a pioneer in the private healthcare sector in UAE with establishing NMC in 1975. Under his able leadership an array of service-oriented businesses has flourished across Healthcare, Financial Services, Pharmaceuticals, Hospitality, Education, Distribution and Food and Beverage.

NMC Healthcare:

Dr. Shetty is the Founder and Chairman of NMC Healthcare. He took his first significant step in the Healthcare sector in 1975 with the launch of a clinic named New Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi. From these humble beginnings, NMC has today become the largest healthcare provider in the region with over 200 facilities that includes hospitals, medical centres, long term care facilities, day surgery centres, fertility centres and home health services providers across 17 countries, with over 18,000 employees including over 3,000 doctors treating over 8.5 million patients annually. NMC is also the second largest IVF service provider in the world. NMC was the first healthcare company from the region to list on the London Stock Exchange and is part of the FTSE100 index with a market capitalization more than USD 10 billion. Recently, NMC got inducted to an exquisite club of MSCI Global Index.

Distribution:

Dr. B. R. Shetty ventured into distribution in 1976 and established NMC Trading. Today, NMC Trading is one of the largest distributors in the UAE responsible for exclusive distribution of iconic brands such as Nivea, Nestle, Unilever, Pfizer Samsung among many others; across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consumables and equipment, personal care, food and beverage, household care and home improvement, veterinary, education and stationery products.

Financial services:

1980 saw the birth of UAE Exchange Group, when Dr. B. R. Shetty identified the needs of a growing number of expatriates and the potential of an untapped remittance opportunity. Today, this Group is a leading global network among financial service providers with a presence in 45 countries. It handles 6.5% of the total global remittances volume and 7.1% in foreign exchange. Xpress Money, a global money transfer brand with a presence in more than 150 countries and over 200,000 agent locations around the world, was started in 1999. In 2014 the Group acquired Travelex, the world’s leading independent foreign exchange specialist, followed by Remit2India, the online money transfer portal. All these leading brands are now a part of the recently formed financial services holding company – Finablr.

Pharmaceuticals:

In 2003, Dr. B. R. Shetty ventured into pharmaceutical manufacturing by setting up Neopharma. The state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility was inaugurated by the then President of India, late Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Neopharma has collaborations with multinational companies such as Pfizer, Merck, Abbott Laboratories, Hetero Pharmaceuticals, Biocon and many others to manufacture various lifesaving drugs for the treatment of cancer, coronary diseases and diabetes. Neopharma also owns a manufacturing plant in Japan where several diagnostic and therapeutic products for oncology are produced. Omnicare Drugs India, an arm of the UAE-based Neopharma LLC, and Japan’s ASKA Pharmaceuticals have inked an agreement to establish a joint venture (JV) in India.

BRS Ventures:

BRS Ventures is the holding company for the new growth businesses that Dr. B. R. Shetty has acquired focusing on healthcare in emerging economies, food and beverage and education.

Healthcare:

With a belief of giving back to his motherland India, Dr. Shetty has established a leading healthcare services brand – BR Life. The main aim of the BR Life is to provide quality healthcare at affordable cost reaching out to the urban, rural and tribal areas. Under the banner of BR Life, Dr. Shetty currently operates multi super specialty healthcare facilities in India, Nepal and Egypt. Headquartered in Bengaluru, BR Life is growing its footprint across India. The hospitals under BR Life are SUT Hospital, Trivandrum; SSNMC Super Specialty Hospital, Bangalore; Shree Narayana Hospital, Raipur; Kalinga Hospital, Bhubaneshwar; Mother and Child Hospital, Udupi; Grande International Hospital, Nepal.

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects are critical to enhance overall healthcare system across all tiers and sections of the society. BR Life has recently begun making inroads into this space in India.

BR Life has been selected by the Government of Karnataka, India to set up, upgrade, operate & manage dialysis centers in seven clusters across the Karnataka state for a period of 5 years. Each cluster has a combination of already existing dialysis units at Taluka Hospitals, functional dialysis units requiring upgradation at District/Major Hospitals and set up new dialysis units. This is the first of its kind Public-Private Partnership project undertaken by the government with the support of Dr. B. R. Shetty.

BR Life has also taken over the existing government’s Mother & Child Hospital and constructed a new hospital which is currently offering free medical care to the underprivileged people in the region. This is a 200-bed hospital that will go a long way in providing high quality healthcare services with advanced diagnostic facilities together with the highest level of care and commitment to the people of Karnataka. This hospital will bring world class healthcare facilities to the women and children of the region and provide services to the weakest sections of the society. BR Life is a pioneer in the PPP model and wishes to replicate it in other states of India.

Dr. Shetty is setting up Medi-cities – international teaching hospital and medical, nursing, pharmacology and allied health schools – across multiple locations in India, at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Amaravathi in Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Shetty is also working closely with the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi to set up a Medi-city in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Dr. Shetty has signed an MoU with Government of Maharashtra to set-up a 1000-bed super specialty cancer hospital in conjunction with a leading American hospital dedicated to cancer research in Mumbai, India.

In January 2019, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the hospital in Varanasi.

Alexandria New Medical Centre (ANMC), is one the biggest private hospitals in Alexandria, Egypt. Although ANMC was a loss-making hospital at the time Dr. Shetty took over the entity, he and his team have managed to transform this into one the best multi-specialty hospitals in Egypt. With a 400-bed capacity, and state of the art facilities, ANMC is transforming the healthcare scenario in the region.

Dr. Shetty plans to set-up 200-bed Hospitals and Nursing Colleges in 10 Governorates in Egypt.

In July 2018, Dr. Shetty signed an MoU with the Ministry of Public Health, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to handle Operations & Management of Sheikh Zayed Hospital (SZ) and Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital (WAK ) and establish a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Unit in Afghanistan.

Education:

Dr. B. R. Shetty has a deep passion for education. He strongly believes that quality education is the cornerstone to build a strong society. He is the Honorary Chairman of the Board of Governors of the largest community school in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Indian School with over 8,000 students. He owns and operates several schools including Bright Riders School in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Deira Private School in Dubai, and Sara Nursery in Abu Dhabi. Dr. Shetty is the Chairman of the Board of Brindavan College, a premier educational institution of higher learning established in 1993 in Bengaluru. The college offers 39 courses, and has over 3000 students from 46 overseas countries. One of Dr. Shetty’s dreams is to setup a world-class medi-city in UAE. Dr. Shetty has setup the BR Academy in India to provide skills, training and upgradation to professionals such as nurses. Under this banner Dr. Shetty is operating nursing institutes in Kerala, India.

BRS Ventures has signed an MoU with IIM -Ahmedabad to offer higher education programs in UAE and an MoU with Manipal Global Education to establish a Medical College in UAE.

Hospitality - Catering:

Dr. B. R. Shetty owns several brands in the Hospitality space in UAE including Royal Catering Services, one of Abu Dhabi’s largest catering companies. Royal Catering Services is responsible for supporting ADNOC and its subsidiaries both within Abu Dhabi city and at their onshore and offshore locations, the catering at the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix event, and outlets at the Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi and numerous other large companies and events in the UAE. He also owns multiple restaurants across UAE.

Food and Beverage - Manufacture:

Dr. Shetty is the owner of Abu Dhabi Vegetable Oil Company (ADVOC), a premier manufacturer of vegetable oils and specialty fats. ADVOC owns many popular brands across the GCC including Coroli, Lite Life, Sarola and many others.

Environment: Being closely associated to Healthcare and Manufacturing sectors, Dr. Shetty has always been conscious about the global problem of Waste Management. To contribute towards clean and green environment, he has been recently awarded a Waste Management contract by Centre of Waste Management – Abu Dhabi, where the medical and other industrial waste will be collected and incinerated in an eco-friendly way.

Other Interests:

A humanitarian to the core, Dr. B. R. Shetty takes to heart his job as a citizen of the world and has provided aid during natural and human calamities in countries including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Japan, Indonesia, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Thailand. He also supports the Special Care Centre in Abu Dhabi and the Rashid Centre for the Disabled in Dubai.

Dr. Shetty is on the Advisory Board of Boston University USA, Perdana University Malaysia and RAK Medical and Health Sciences University UAE. By a special decree from the Prime Minister of UAE, Dr. Shetty has been appointed to the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health, UAE.

Dr. Shetty is the Chairman of the Indian Business and Professional Group Abu Dhabi and the Vice President and founder member of Swiss Business Council Abu Dhabi, thereby creating business synergies between councils and local businesses. He is also a founder member of American Business Group, Canadian Business Group, Netherlands Business Group, Australian Business Group and Philippines Business Group.

Mr. Jared Elkins (President and CEO, Alitheia Holdings)

Mr. Jared Elkins is President & CEO of Alitheia Holdings. Born marching to the beat of his own drum and hailing from Dallas TX, Mr. Elkins is a natural entrepreneur with a passion for the web. His career started as an early adopter of the Internet working part-time in web development and SEO in 1996. In ‘99 he went full-time and started working in data; backed by his personal studies of psychology and human behavior, he took the full plunge into everything Internet. In the mid-2000's, his work led him to design his first user data driven AI which ultimately became Sylvanus AI more than a decade later.

In 2011, Mr. Elkins moved into data hygiene and then found cryptocurrency marking a key turning point in his career and life. His natural drive for industry and market solutions inspired him to start a gold-backed coin in 2012 with the idea of creating the first “real” cryptocurrency as seen by the securities world, but it was ultimately nixed by legal counsel as premature, out of bounds of existing law, guidance, and the Department of Treasury in general. Needing to understand this rejection of what seemed to be such a complete solution, Mr. Elkins dove deep into investigating the Securities laws, case law, markets, and players involved concluding that perhaps the world just wasn't quite ready. So he continued with AI, data, and internet work ultimately perfecting his AI, which is modeled after the human hippocampus.

In 2015, Mr. Elkins started investing in cryptocurrency and recognized the massive potential for blockchain to operate and influence both his work and multiple industries, but it just wasn’t materializing. In 2017, he merged his decades of tech expertise, with deep behavioral understanding, to focus his energy, intent, and efforts to create a global market changing movement to better humanity through ultimate transparency and truth.

Over the first nine months of 2018, Mr. Elkins worked tirelessly to design, build, and implement a hedge fund, blockchain, and cryptocurrency unlike any other. This massive project needed to include the highest standard of fiduciary and the most transparent transactional process (borderless; commodity agnostic; asset agnostic; currency agnostic; recorded on the blockchain). His efforts resulted in investors holding a coin that earned interest as well as a variable rate of return based on fund performance, hedge fund sector performance, and project performance. Built in Ethereum, with hard-coded smart contracts that are governed by ratified bylaws; strict adherence to the rules, regulations, and laws governing the US Securities Markets; requiring five keys to "turn" in every investment the fund makes (only in declared sectors), all platform functionality is focused on improving the Human Condition. For this reason, he chose Alitheia as the name for the project and his company, for its derivative meaning of "Truth" in Greek.

Creating a fair and just balance, the Alitheia Fund fills the missing components, answers the pending repetitive questions, and provides a complete solution to the blockchain community. The Alitheia Ethos: "Our mission is to decentralize commerce, currency and communication, based on truth and transparency."

Ms. Cynthia Gonzalez (Executive Director, International Patient Services, Cook Children’s Health Care System)

Ms. Cynthia Gonzalez is Executive Director of the International Patient Services Program within Cook Children’s Health Care System. Prior to joining Cook Children’s in 2014, Ms. Gonzalez spent over 35 years working for and leading large sales and international business development teams at Fortune 100 companies such as IBM, Microsoft & Symantec where she developed exceptional skills in marketing and strategic sales initiatives and was appointed a Diversity Leader.

Among other notable achievements, the International Patient Services Program, while under her leadership, has expanded and transformed into a more efficient and impactful service line by deploying winning strategies and concierge, resort-like best practices. Ms. Gonzalez is guided by the belief that there are no limitations to what can be achieved for children when people work together in today’s globally interconnected world. “As long as there is need for children, I’ll keep going!” she says.

Ms. Gonzalez is a special advisor to the President of Visit Fort Worth, Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau and a partner of the Bilateral U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce. She is married to Michael Gonzalez and they are the proud parents of 2 children and 5 grandchildren.

In Order of Appearance

Ms. Kate Karwelies (Sales Vice President, Aetna International)

Ms. Kate Karwelies is a Sales Vice President for Aetna International and is based in New York City. She is responsible for new business development and executive sponsorship, working with both multinational employers and the consultant/brokerage community.

Ms. Karwelies joined the International team in 2011 after working in Aetna’s National Accounts and Middle Market departments for eight years. She has more than 15 years of industry experience, and has held positions in sales, account management and underwriting.

Ms. Karwelies is a graduate of Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Danny R. Thomas (Founder & President, Water for the World)

Dr. Danny Thomas, Founder and President of Water for the World, turned his focus to the worldwide water crisis after serving communities for 40 years.

Due to the efforts of Dr. Thomas, over 750,000 people now have access to clean drinking water across India, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Chad, Sudan, Haiti, Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Tanzania and Nigeria. All of this was accomplished in just three years with only one paid staff member and a network of volunteers.

Water for the World NLA (Next Leadership Association), provides a variety of filtration technologies including: Biosand filtration systems, NASA developed filtration suitcases, Desalination filtration systems, Methane gas removal and Agricultural filtration. In addition to clean water, each community receives a comprehensive education and training program, which often includes latrine location and construction.

Water for the World NLA is recognized for not only its range of filtration solutions, but also for it’s ability to identify potential funding sources and creative partnerships that can be engaged on behalf of each community.

Dr Thomas is currently the Founder and President of Water for the World, NLA and President of Eagle Ministries, Inc. where he is involved with pastoral coaching, fundraising, staff development, leadership mentoring and short-term mission trips. He has served as the National Director of Peacemakers- an Urban Church Planning Ministry, as the World Outreach Director of the 700 Club and Director of Hope International Ministries. PDr. Thomas was the founding pastor of Grace Place Church in Tacoma, WA.

With over twenty years of experience in financing, he has extensive experience in both short-term and long-term funding projects for both churches and entrepreneurial start-up businesses.

Married to his late wife Jane for over thirty-two years, he is a father of two, and grandfather of seven. In the summer of 2016, Danny married, Lorianne Jackson of Hancock, Maine.

His educational background includes:

  • BA. Theology and Biblical Studies, North Central University, Minneapolis, MN, 1977
  • MA. Communications and Management, Columbia Pacific University San Raphael, CA. 1987
  • PHD Old Testament Studies, Grace Theological University, 2009
  • DHL. Not for Profit Fund Raising, Faith Seminary Tacoma WA, 2010
  • PHD. Divinity Dayspring University and Seminary Fort Lauderdale, FL, 2018

Mr. Andy Tucker (Founder, Two Lions Holdings )

Mr. Tucker, founder of two companies, has been a pioneer in developing practices, standards and controls worldwide in all aspects of the hemp/cannabis industries. He has testified in multiple states on medical and recreational implementation of state licensed hemp/cannabis programs and on best policy and implementation practices for recreational hemp/cannabis state programs. Mr. Tucker was instrumental in developing agricultural science technologies, banking and merchant service solutions for the hemp/cannabis industry as a whole. Mr. Tucker has done consulting for U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo bank, Kellogg’s corporation and Kashi foods corporation. And as the hemp/cannabis industry has developed, he has been recognized and has established himself as one of the top experts in the industry worldwide. With over three decades of real world hemp/cannabis industry experience, he has a unique ability to use this knowledge, connections and political alliances to service the stakeholders in the industry.

Dr. Philip A. DeFina, PhD (Founder, CEO, Chief Scientific Officer, International Brain Research Foundation)

Dr. Philip A. DeFina, as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of the International Brain Research Foundation, Inc., spearheads the collaborations among top neuroscientists and research facilities around the world by facilitating and coordinating cutting-edge research. Under his leadership, IBRF is in a position to accelerate the scientific findings that are key to solving the complex issues in the area of brain health.

Dr.DeFina is a well-known author, lecturer, and clinician. He was a Guest Researcher in the Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology at the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr Defina was a proud member of the World Health Organization. His work has been published in leading medical journals, as both author and co-author. He has been a pioneer in developing and directing national clinical training programs in the cognitive neurosciences. This research has helped doctors from all over the world treat a myriad of neurological diseases and injuries. His passion for unlocking the mysteries of the brain has been his impetus in life.

Dr. Pamela Sherman, MD (Medical Director, International Patient Services and Director; Hand surgery Program, Cook Children's Medical Center)

Dr. Pamela Sherman, MD is the Medical Director of the International Patient Services Program and Director of the Hand Surgery Program at Cook Children’s Medical Center. Prior to joining their award winning Orthopedic team in 2010, her surgery practice included treating children and adults with hand/upper extremity cases. Her calling became children and with that, her trajectory brought her to Fort Worth.

During her residency and early career in New York, Dr. Sherman cared for many international patients with the intention to not only treat and heal, but to help their families find the patience and understanding needed to face the challenges ahead with their child’s recovery. She is a top rated doctor by families and professional peers alike, with comments like "Dr. Sherman has a fantastic bedside manner. She is informative and gracious. Treated our family like family,” which were posted online by appreciative parents.

Dr. Sherman graduated from Brown Medical School in 1992, having been a part of the combined baccalaureate-MD program in the program. She is a designated Castle Connolly, America’s Top Doctors recipient, an honor shared by only the top 1% of physicians in the country. Through her efforts, Cook Children’s is at present embarking on an upper extremity motion analysis lab. Additionally, Dr. Sherman is engaged in research in the areas of upper extremity motion assessments, robotic gloves for cerebral palsy patients and Vitamin D. Dr. Sherman believes that reaching physicians early in their careers to instill not only strong clinical expertise but the ability to convey compassion and sensitivity is vital. Her work in educating residents earned her the 2015 Teaching Award from the Fort Worth area hospital's Orthopedic Residency Program.

Dr. Sherman lives an abundant life in Fort Worth with her family which includes three teenagers. She serves as sports team Mom, interviews for her alma mater, runs, and loves to travel the world.

Dr. Charles J. Prestigiacomo (Professor of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgeon)

A 1993 graduate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Prestigiacomo completed his residency in Neurological Surgery at The Neurological Institute of New York, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and subsequent fellowship in Endovascular Neurosurgery at Beth Israel Medical Center’s Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in New York City.

Now Professor of Neurological Surgery, Radiology and Neurology & Neuroscience, Dr. Prestigiacomo joined the faculty of New Jersey Medical School’s Department of Neurological Surgery in 2001 and became a research professor at The New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2003. During this time, he has steadily helped in developing the specialty of vascular neurosurgery . In the last 10 years, Dr. Prestigiacomo has published more than 70 peer reviewed journal articles, 40 chapters, and is editor of an upcoming textbook in his specialty. As a founding Associate Editor of a new medical journal, Dr. Prestigiacomo has contributed to increasing the body of knowledge in the field of vascular and endovascular surgery.

Originally one of the few practicing neurosurgeons in the specialty of catheter-based vascular neurosurgery, Dr. Prestigiacomo cares for patients with complex vascular disease in the tri-state area and trains future practitioners of the field through his approved fellowship. His commitment to educating colleagues, residents and medical students has recently been recognized by New Jersey Medical School and the UMDNJ Foundation by being honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award.

In his second year as Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery and Program Director of the Residency Training Program in Neurological Surgery, Dr. Prestigiacomo continues to be one of the leaders in the many facets of organized neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology at a local, national and international level, while also leading the department in its continued growth as the largest University-based practice in the state of New Jersey.

In addition to his clinical and basic science research interests in the treatment of cerebral aneurysms and ischemic stroke, Dr. Prestigiacomo continues to diligently work gon developing practice and training policies in the field of cerebrovascular disease in particular and in neurological surgery in general.

Dr. James Halper (Psychiatry, Lenox Hill Hospital)

Dr. James Halper is a psychiatrist in New York, New York and is affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital. He received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is one of 138 doctors at Lenox Hill Hospital who specialize in Psychiatry.

Ms. Judi Hershman (Founder, RAFTR Communications and Sangha Wellness)

Ms. Judi Hershman, Founder of RAFTR Communications and Sangha Wellness sustains over 25 years of experience as a management consultant to individuals, corporations and associations that require expertise when addressing the impact of communications on society and business.

In 2000, RAFTR Communications, a crisis/perception management full-service marketing firm was conceived. In 2018, Sangha Wellness was formed. For the past 10 years Ms. Hershman's focus has been primarily in the pediatric healthcare sector serving as an executive consultant to the CEO of Cook Children’s Health Care System. It is her passion for pediatric medicine and the belief that healthy children become healthy adults that led Ms. Hershman to launch Sangha Wellness.

Ms. Hershman has been nationally recognized for a number of client engagements. Her expertise in coalition-building and strategic message development won recognition with awards from PRWeek, the Bulldog Award for Excellence in Media Relations & Publicity, and two IABC Silver Inkwell awards. She has worked extensively in the healthcare, technology, academic, government and security sectors advising cabinet secretaries, c-suite level executives and teams. A master in strategic media communications coaching for executives, she has effectively prepared key influentials for appearances on national media networks and for congressional, state and local hearings.

Ms. Hershman has a record of achievement for contributions to her community past and present: co-founder and past president, Safe Community Coalition, co-founder and past president, The Angels Network; founder Red Apple Advocate; former vice-chair, FxCo Public Library Foundation; Phillips Schools and The Giving Circle of Hope.

Mr. Stan Davis (COO & SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COOK CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM)

Mr. Stan Davis, Senior Vice President and COO of Cook Children’s Health Care System’s flagship medical center, provides executive and strategic leadership for all operational components of the organization.

Arriving at Cook Children’s in 2006, Mr. Davis led the essential development and implementation of a comprehensive retail space strategy for over 100,000 sq. ft. of pivotal medical, retail and communications outlets. Leading efforts to deploy clinical services and facilities in off-campus growth markets, expand on-campus specialty clinics and develop diagnostic road mapping of patient experiences designed to take Cook Children’s caregiving to “higher heights” is Stan’s current trajectory.

Additionally, Mr. Davis established “The Collaboration Forum” a channel that allows for synergy, alignment and understanding between staff resulting in more effective deployment of initiatives. “I seek ways in which I can make their jobs easier as the physicians and other caregivers of Cook Children’s are my heroes. Each and every day I see firsthand how they emotionally and clinically care for our patients and their families and it inspires me to remain present and my very best.”

Mr. Davis holds an MBA from Troy State University, 2002, and a TCU Advancing Healthcare Leadership certification. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a Certified Healthcare Facilities Manager. He has or currently serves on boards of: Ronald McDonald House, First Tee, Junior Achievement, UTA Graduate Healthcare Administration Program, Cook Children’s Northeast Hospital (vice chairman) and Cook Children’s Plano Surgery Center (vice chairman).

In 2011, Mr. Davis was honored with a Distinguished Service Award from The Greater Fort Worth Area Negro Business & Professional Women’s Club. In 2014, he was elevated as a Healthcare Hero by the Fort Worth Business Press. He and his wife, Carolyn are the proud parents of three children.

Ms. Cheryl Petersen (Senior Vice President and CNO, Cook Children's Medical Center)

Ms. Cheryl Petersen became a Vice President and CNO of Cook Children’s Medical Center in 2015. As the cornerstone of one of the nation’s largest pediatric hospital systems, it boasts a level IV NICU, CAMTS accredited transport service, level II trauma center, and ECMO Center of Excellence. Additionally, Cook Children’s is a three-time recipient of the designation Magnet® hospital, an esteemed honor held by the nursing staff of only seven percent of all healthcare organizations nationwide. In her executive role, she directs and guides 1,500 nurses and oversees the expansive patient care services. She astutely managed several pivotal positions after joining the Medical Center in 1994.

In prior positions, Ms. Petersen was employed by North Carolina Children’s Hospital, Chapel Hill, Loyola University Medical Center, and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She is an active member of the North Central Organization of Nurse Executives, Texas Organization of Nurse Executives, American Organization of Nurse Executives, Texas Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She serves on the board of Community Hospice of Texas, and is a participant in the organ transplant program. She is also a certified child safety technician.

Ms. Petersen received a BS in Nursing from the University of Iowa, an MBA from Benedictine University, Nurse Executive Board certification and maintains an alumna status pediatric Critical Care with AACN certification. In 2013, she was notably recognized as a Dallas/Fort Worth Great 100 Nurse. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband, Chris, and their two sons. She enjoys gardening, biking and spending time with her family.

Dr. Charles Pozner, MD (Associate Professor Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Brigham and Women's Hospital)

Dr. Pozner, MD is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School and practices at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He graduated from Tufts School of Medicine and completed residencies in internal medicine at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital/Harvard Medical School and in emergency medicine at UCLA/Olive View. Dr. Pozner was the founding director of the Neil and Elise Wallace Center for Medical Simulation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He has been an invited speaker nationally and internationally and has consulted on simulation projects globally. He was honored as an Inaugural Fellow in the Academy of the Society of Simulation in Healthcare in 2017.

Ms. Madelyn Pearson (Chief Nursing Officer, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services, Brigham and Women's Hospital)

Ms. Madelyn “Maddy” Pearson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, is chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Patient Care Services at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Ms. Pearson joined BWH from the Mount Sinai Health System Downtown Campus in New York where she served as regional senior vice president of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. There she was instrumental in efforts to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and improve quality and patient safety.

Prior to Mount Sinai, Ms. Pearson was the Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, a 352-bed community and teaching hospital in New Jersey. With her leadership, the hospital obtained and sustained Magnet status. Ms. Pearson has also served as a program appraiser for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program for more than a decade.

Ms. Pearson earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, her master’s in Nursing Administration from New York University, and her Master of Science in Nursing from Rutgers State University. She received her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Rutgers in May, 2018. The focus of her doctorate was leadership development in performance improvement. She is also certified as a nursing executive advanced.

Dr. Allen Kachalia, MD, JD (Chief Quality Officer, Brigham Health; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate Professor of Health Policy & Management, Harvard School of Public Health)

Dr. Allen Kachalia, MD, JD, is the Chief Quality Officer for Brigham Health in Boston, Massachusetts. In this role, he oversees the institution’s inpatient and ambulatory quality and safety initiatives. Dr. Kachalia is a general internist and practices as an academic hospitalist on the hospital wards with medical students and residents.

Dr. Kachalia is also Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard School of Public Health where he teaches a course on legal issues in clinical medicine. His research focuses on how the law affects medical care, particularly how liability system reform and the disclosure of medical error relate to the quality and safety of healthcare.

Dr. Douglas S. Smink, MD, MPH (Associate Professor in Surgery, Harvard Medical School; General Surgeon of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital)

Douglas S. Smink, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor in Surgery at Harvard Medical School and a minimally invasive general surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His clinical interests include abdominal wall hernias, foregut surgery, and biliary tract disease. Dr. Smink trained in general surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and in minimally invasive surgery at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Dr. Smink is the program director of the general surgery residency at Brigham and Women’s and the associate chair of education for the BWH Department of Surgery. He is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Surgical Education and serves as a member of the editorial board of SCORE (Surgical Council on Resident Education).

Dr. Smink’s research focuses on resident and faculty education through simulation. He is co-leader of the Surgical Culture program at the Center for Surgery and Public Health, where he studies how to teach communication, leadership, and decision-making to surgeons and surgical teams.

Dr. Daniele Rigamonti, MD, FACS (Chief Executive Officer, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, KSA)

Dr. Daniele Rigamonti, MD, FACS is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare is a joint venture between Johns Hopkins Medicine and Saudi Aramco, a world leader in energy. Its goal is to strengthen the company’s health system and establish population health strategies for Saudi Aramco’s 355,000 employees, beneficiaries and retirees.

Dr. Linda A. Lee (Associate Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Chief of Staff, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH))

Dr. Lee has been in practice for more than 20 years and is an internationally known expert in gastroenterology and hepatology. In addition to her appointment as an associate professor of medicine for Johns Hopkins, she is also a seasoned medical director and has founded and led multiple medical initiatives.

Dr. Lee serves as the clinical director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the director of endoscopy of The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

She is also the founder and director of the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine & Digestive Center of The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Felicia Hill-Briggs, PHD, ABPP, PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE & PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION; PROFESSOR OF HEALTH, BEHAVIOR & SOCIETY (BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH; PROFESSOR OF ACUTE & CHRONIC CARE; JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF NURSING; CORE FACULTY, WELCH CENTER FOR PREVENTION, EPIDEMIOLOGY & CLINICAL RESEARCH; SENIOR DIRECTOR OF POPULATION HEALTH RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, JOHNS HOPKINS HEALTHCARE, LLC)

Dr. Felicia Hill-Briggs, PhD, ABPP is a clinical psychologist and behavioral scientist. She is a national expert in behavior change and self-management of diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and related conditions. She conducts NIH and PCORI-funded clinical trials of individual-level and systems-level interventions to improve disease outcomes modifiable through behavior change. A key contribution of her work is effective intervention design and implementation within populations of health inequity.

Her work extends globally to governmental and private sector population health partnerships in regions including the Caribbean, South America, and Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Hill-Briggs has served on the NIH Interagency Committee on Diabetes, IOM expert panels, and several national task forces. She is the recipient of honors including: The Nelson Butters Award for Outstanding Research Contributions to Clinical Neuropsychology (National Academy of Neuropsychology); Tracy Orleans Distinguished Service Award (Society of Behavioral Medicine); Telly Awards for health and wellness educational video productions; and a 2011 recognition by then-sitting U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin. Dr. Hill-Briggs is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (formerly, IOM). She is also the 2018 American Diabetes Association President for Health Care and Education.

DR. J. HUNTER YOUNG, MD, MHS (ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY, JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, JOHNS HOPKINS BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH; MEDICAL DIRECTOR, PATIENT SERVICES, JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE INTERNATIONAL, CORE FACULTY OF THE WELCH CENTER FOR PREVENTION, EPIDEMIOLOGY, AND CLINICAL RESEARCH)

Dr. J. Hunter Young, MD, MHS, focuses his research program on the genetics and molecular epidemiology of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes, and population-based approaches to the management of these conditions. In his epidemiological work, he studies the factors related to the worldwide variation in prevalence of these conditions and the factors related to their poor control. In his program development work, he provides oversight in the development, implementation, and evaluation of novel, population-based approaches to their prevention and management.

Dr. George Cheriyan, MD, FRCP, FRCPI, MBA (Corporate CEO/Chief Medical Officer, American Mission Hospital, Bahrain)

Dr. George Cheriyan, MD, FRCP (Lon), FRCPI, MBA is the Corporate CEO and Chief Medical Officer of the American Mission Hospital (AMH) in Bahrain, the oldest hospital in the GCC. He worked as a Neonatologist for over 25 years after obtaining his post graduate training in Pediatrics in London at The Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, and sub-specialization in Neonatology at the Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Cheriyan has also worked as a Consultant Neonatologist in the National Health Service In London before moving up to take up a position as Head of Neonatology at the Saudi Aramco Hospital where he worked for 18 years in various capacities of leadership. He is a trained ‘Improvement Advisor’ in Healthcare quality from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Boston, MA where he was adjunct teaching member of the faculty and has been an invited speaker at various healthcare Forums both in and outside of the US.

He further obtained training in Healthcare management at the Harvard Business School and is both an alumni of the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. His area of interest is the economics in developing a model of non-profit healthcare which is both affordable and of high quality.

Dr. Narendra Pai, MD (Board Advisor, KMC)

American Board Certified in Anesthesiology.
American Board Certified in Pain Management.
President KMCUSA Alumni.
Danville, Pennsylvania, 17821

Mr. John Payne (Chairman & CEO, PURELIFE Health Sciences Group, LLC)

Mr. John Payne is Chairman & CEO of PURELIFE Health Sciences Group and heads a team of scientific researchers focusing on genetics and its relation to diabetes. The Arizona and Florida based research group has spent 23 years researching and identifying causes and solutions to metabolic syndrome health issues based on genetics, DNA based nutritional adaptation, and the interactions between genes that are critical to live long & healthy lives. Significant research has been done in Africa and Australia to identify genetically compatible ingestible sources to support broad spectrum human health, taking into consideration xenohormesis, and how it can affect mitochondrial and telomere health, geography, ethnicity and culture. PURELIFE Health Sciences has bio-engineered scientific formulas and clinical protocols that meet the WHO criteria for being genetically compatible, while reducing inflammation and boosting the immune system resulting in prevention of, and long-term reversal of diabetes. They bridge mankind’s ancient, genetically determined DNA with the biological human needs of today. What we eat and drink must match our inherited DNA to be effective in supporting our overall health and wellness. PURELIFE Health Sciences provides the innovative matched resources for health and healthy weight management.

PROFILE

Researcher • Author • Formulator Product / Ingredient Platform Development More than 35 years of experience in developing ingredient platforms for medical and nutraceutical products domestically and internationally. Devoted to developing natural health products that are genetic based and genetically compatible. Concentrating on ingredient profiles that are based on traditional food resources that address the large and growing need for genetic based nutrition.

HISTORY

  • Research/Development/Technology
  • Nutraceuticals for the prevention and long term reversal of type 2 Diabetes.
    • Platform for fruit & vegetable extracts for health and Diabetes.
      • Plant based high viscosity polysaccharides for menopause symptoms.
        • Nutraceuticals for immune system enhancement.
          • Pure Minerals for bone, teeth, osteoporosis and dental health.
            • Plant based weight loss formulas and body composition improvements that work thru the digestive system.
              • Anti-inflammatory formulas to dampen systemic inflammation.
                • Plant based insulin resistance formulas for Metabolic Support and Enhancement.
                  • Specific strains of enzymes and critical intestinal bacteria necessary for optimum health.


                  • RESEARCH

                    Identify & develop DNA technologies for genetic based health solutions. Developed genetically compatible nutritional platforms that effectively prevent and reverse;
                    • Diabetes
                    • Metabolic Syndrome X diseases c. Insulin Resistance Diseases
                    • Obesity
                    AREAS OF EXPERTISE

                    • Technology development – DNA / Genetic based.
                    • Nutritionally changing gene expression formulations.
                    • Health/Marketing need identification.
                    • Infectious disease rapid diagnosis thru DNA testing.

Mr. Angelo DiMaggio, PT, Dip. MDT, Spine Therapist (CEO/Founder, American BackPain Center and American Headache Institute)

Mr. Angelo DiMaggio is a physical therapist specializing exclusively in the treatment of spinal pain for the past 35 years. As CEO and Founder of the American BackPain Center (ABC), he developed a series of spine seminars for the purpose of teaching physical therapists, physicians, and dentists a new, physical medicine approach to helping patients who suffer from headache, migraine, TMJ, and oro-facial pain, as well as complex neck, back and arm pain.

Through major medical centers and universities, Mr. DiMaggio and staff have conducted over 500 spine seminars and trained more than 10,000 medical practitioners. With a 20 year, 98% audience rating, the ABC seminars are the highest rated seminars in North America. These extremely high ratings are primarily due to the fact that the ABC instructors are the only instructors who teach using actual headache patients. Fifty percent of each headache seminar consists of live demonstrations where headache and migraine sufferers volunteer to be evaluated and treated in front of a live medical audience.

Audiences are treated to an unprecedented demonstration of clinical confidence. The use of actual patients clearly demonstrates to the audience that the ABC system’s meticulous application of cervical biomechanics is first and foremost safe, and secondly is capable of achieving rapid, predictable, and significant relief in the vast majority of cases.

One in every 3 volunteers will leave their first visit completely headache-free, with no use of drugs or injections. Most importantly, patients are then taught how to maintain their relief by altering their posture and spine alignment throughout the day and are given a single “pain relieving” neck exercise which empowers them to control their own pain.

This new, physical medicine approach to headache and migraine has led to the American BackPain Center’s Strategic Spine Headache Program (SSHP).This program is designed to train a large staff of physical therapists (10-30) in the cervical examination and treatment principles in only 5 days of training. The SSHP training allows for the addition of headache and migraine patients to the usual physical therapy case load.

The addition of these headache patients has generated an entirely new revenue stream for participating medical centers. One such medical center, the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network of eastern Pennsylvania, attracted over 600 headache patients in the first year, which generated $1 Million dollars, with 11 trained therapists.

Now in their 5th year, the number of Good Shepherd headache patients and subsequent revenue has grown by 8.5-9% per year, for the past 4 years. Medical centers which acquire the SSHP are granted Exclusive Rights for the communities they serve to prevent competitors from obtaining the program.

Mr. DiMaggio is also the CEO and Founder of the American Headache Institute in Rochester Hills, Michigan where he is in clinical practice and continues to treat headache and migraine patients.

Dr. Maan Fares, MD (Vice Chairman, Global Patient Services, The Cleveland Clinic)

Dr. Maan Fares, MD, is a practicing cardiologist in the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, and Vice Chairman of Global Patient Services, at the Cleveland Clinic.

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey.

As a global health care organization with an international reputation for excellence in specialty care particularly in cardiovascular diseases. The department of Global Patients Services helps in organizing the care and management of more than 5,000 patients annually. Patients arrive from all corners of the globe with immensely diverse backgrounds seeking various health care needs. Their care demands excellence in management of complex medical illnesses and special cultural awareness to ensure a better experience and superb outcomes.

Dr. Fares is board-certified in cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology/cardiovascular imaging (Level II, including SPECT and PET) and echocardiographic imaging (Level II) and has completed Level II training in cardiac CT angiography. He performs nearly 2,000 nuclear stress tests, 2,000 adult echocardiograms, and more than 2,500 stress tests and EKGs each year.

Dr. Fares earned his medical degree from the University of Damascus, School of Medicine, Syria. He completed a residency at Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio, and a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at New England Medical Center, in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Fares spent time on staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, as a clinical associate in echocardiography. Prior to his appointment to the Cleveland Clinic medical staff in 2013, Dr. Fares was a member of the Ohio Permanent Medical Group/Kaiser Permanente medical staff and Chief of Cardiology. Additional positions he held with Kaiser Permanente Ohio include Associate Medical Director for Medical Specialties and member of the Board of Directors.

He is a member of the American College of Cardiology, American Society of Echocardiography and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology and is a founding member of the Syrian American Medical Society.

Mr. Bishoy M. Mikhail, JD (Associate Chairman, Philanthropy Institute, Cleveland Clinic Innovations)

Mr. Bishoy M. Mikhail, J.D. is currently Associate Chairman of the Philanthropy Institute with oversight of the International Development program, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Florida and Cleveland Clinic Innovations. An attorney with a passion for philanthropy, he has a focus on matching the research, innovations, clinical care and educational priorities of the Cleveland Clinic with its supporters from around the world.

A key role of his portfolio includes management of the International Leadership Board, comprised of 43 members from 23 countries, who facilitate partnerships that enhance patient care and provide philanthropic support for medical research, education and clinical innovations; all while furthering Cleveland Clinic’s global visibility and reputation.

Mr. Bishoy was born in Cleveland, studied at John Carroll University and Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He was admitted to the Bar of the States of New York and Ohio. He is married to Susan and the father of twins.

Dr. Rana Hajjeh (Director, Department of Communicable Diseases, Eastern Mediterranean Region;EMRO RD Candidate, World Health Organization, Egypt)

Dr. Rana Hajjeh is a senior public health leader with extensive experience in global health, health policy and diplomacy, especially in the Middle East region. Currently, Dr. Hajjeh is the director of the Department of Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control at WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO). In this capacity, she played a major role in supporting emergency response in the region, and in accelerating the agenda for prevention and control of vaccine preventable diseases, HIV, hepatitis, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and antimicrobial resistance.

Prior to joining WHO EMRO in 2016, Dr. Hajjeh was with the US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) for 23 years, where she held many senior positions, and worked extensively in the Middle East. Between 2005-2010, Dr. Hajjeh was the director of the GAVI Hib vaccine Initiative, that introduced lifesaving vaccines for Hib meningitis and pneumonia to millions of children in limited resource countries around the world. Between 1996 and 2016, Dr. Hajjeh led many responses to major epidemics across the world, including meningitis during Hajj in Saudi Arabia in 2000, cholera in Haiti in 2010, and recently MERS coronavirus in Saudi Arabia and Ebola in West Africa. She has considerable experience in health policies and supported development of various global policies for prevention of infectious diseases, such as for new vaccines and strategies for building laboratory and surveillance systems. Throughout her career, she managed increasingly complex departments and initiatives with large budgets. She is a well known speaker, and advocate for strong public health capacity in the region. She has broad health diplomacy skills working with ministries of health and governments in the Middle East and globally. She is fully fluent in Arabic (mother language), French and English.

Dr. Hajjeh holds a Medical Doctor (M.D.) degree from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, and has benefited from extensive training in medicine (American board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, trained at Emory University) and public health (epidemiology training at the CDC-EIS). She has received many awards, including the prestigious U.S. Federal Employee of the Year Award in 2014 for her global vaccine work. Dr. Hajjeh has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, serves as a reviewer for multiple journals, and holds professor positions in medicine and public health at Emory and Johns Hopkins universities.

Dr. Subroto Chatterjee (Professor, Departments of Pediatrics-Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Dr. Chatterjee earned his doctoral degree from the University of Toronto and has been a member of the faculty at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine for over four decades, rising from an Instructor to full Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics-Cardiology and Medicine, as well as the Cell and Molecular Medicine Graduate program.

The focus of his research laboratory has been in the area of Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology. Dr. Chatterjee has received several patents for his drug discovery and drug delivery research including for synthetic and herbal compounds. Some of the awards he has received include: Distinguished Scientist award from the Governor of Maryland; the Mizutani award from Japan; the Ranbaxy International Medical Research award from the president of India, Dr. Abul Kalam; the All-Star Award from the American Heart Association; and numerous awards from the National Institutes of Health and the US Army. He owns a Biotech company called Amarani Therapeutics, which is focused on drug development and delivery and cholesterol centric disease prevention.

Dr. Chatterjee’s philanthropic efforts have largely been in directing the program of the American Heart Association in the state of Maryland and volunteering at the “Embracing the World program.”

Ms. Paige Peterson (Executive Vice President, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, BOARD MEMBER, NATIONAL COUNCIL ON U.S. ARAB RELATIONS CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, MARIN MAGAZINE)

Ms. Paige Peterson has worked at the Huntsman Cancer Foundation since 2006 as Executive Vice President, focusing primarily on a cause close to her heart—cancer research.

Huntsman Cancer Institute, founded by the late Jon M. Huntsman, Sr., is a leader in the study of cancer genetics. Its researchers have discovered more inherited cancer genes than any other cancer center. Its goal is to eradicate cancer worldwide.

Ms. Peterson facilitated the partnership of Huntsman Cancer Institute and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They are now collaborating on cancer research.

As a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council on U.S. Arab Relations, Ms. Peterson shares the Council’s commitment to improving American knowledge and understanding of the Arab world. As a board member, she participates in the C3 Saudi-American Healthcare Forum, created to advance healthcare diplomacy.

She has written extensively about the Middle East. Her work has appeared in American and Arab media.

Before joining Huntsman, Ms. Peterson worked closely with Christopher Cerf, an award-winning author and television producer. She was a researcher and editor on several of Cerf’s books, including “The Experts Speak” and “Mission Accomplished.” The two were co-directors of a Welcome Books’ imprint, Cerf & Peterson, and co-authored a bestselling book, “Blackie, The Horse Who Stood Still,” which Ms. Peterson also Illustrated. She also illustrated Jesse Kornbluth’s adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens.

Born in Marin County, California, Ms. Peterson is also a painter who is represented by Gerald Peters Gallery in New York City. The prestigious Guild Hall Academy of the Arts in East Hampton has honored her with a lifetime membership.

Ms. Peterson lives in New York City.

DR. FAISAL ZAGZOOG, MD (OTOLARYNGOLOGY-HEAD AND NECK, KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY)

Dr. Faisal Zagzoog, MD received his medical degree from College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University in 2015. He also received his Masters in Business Administration from University of Business and Technology in 2017. Currently he is PGY-II Otolaryngology-Head and Neck resident at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. His interests focus on innovation in otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. He has two product patents and has international product patents at major universities and hospitals. He has also established an initiative called Inventor Doctors.

Ms. Zainab Salbi (Founder, Women for Women International; Author, Freedom Is an Inside Job, TV Host)

Ms. Zainab Salbi has frequently been named as one of the women changing the world by leading publications ranging from Newsweek to People Magazi ne. Most recently, Foreign Policy Magazine named her as one of “100 Leading Global Thinkers”.

At the age of twenty-three, Zainab founded Women for Women International, a humanitarian organization dedicated to women survivors of wars. Under her leadership (1993–2011), Women for Women International grew from helping 30 women upon its inception to helping more than 420,000 women and distributing more than 100 million dollars in aid.

Zainab is the author of several books, including the bestseller Between Two Worlds: Escape from Tyranny; Growing Up in the Shadow of Saddam (with Laurie Buckland); The Other Side of War: Women’s Stories of Survival and Hope; If You Knew Me You Would Care (with photographs by Rennio Maifredi); and an upcoming new book Freedom Is an Inside Job.

She is also the Executive Editor and Host of the #MeToo, Now What? series on PBS, The Zainab Salbi Project with Huffington Post and AOL, and The Nida’a Show with TLC Arabia. She is currently the Editor-at-Large for Tina Brown’s Women in the World.

Ms. Miriam Oueslati Khiari (PRESIDENT, ISLAMIC HERITAGE, INC.)

Ms. Miriam Oueslati Khiari holds a Fashion Events planner, graduated recently on 2018 from Fashion Institute of Technology of New York, and an Executive Assistant Diploma in four languages: Arabic, French, English and Italian.

Always looking to deepen and update her skill-set, currently she is also a freshman in Communications and Multimedia Programming and Design at Borough of Manhattan Community College, BMCC.

Ms. Khiari is currently the Haven Hill’s COO, President of the Islamic Heritage Inc., Board Member of Women’s International Forum at the United Nations, Member of the International Committee of Network 20/20, previous Board Member of Maria Toopakai Foundation Inc, which is dedicated to building peaceful communities and gender equality equity by investing in education, sports and health care programs in remote regions of the word.

She has also served previously as President of UNAASG (United Nations African Ambassadors’ Spouses Group), Board Member of the United Nations Ambassador Ball 2017-2018, Board Member of the International Bazaar, and Board Member of UNDWC, United Nations Delegates Women Club.

Ms. Khiari is the mother of two daughters. Besides living in New York for the past 6 years, and in her native Tunisia, she also spent 11 years in Geneva, Switzerland and 6 years in Brussels, Belgium.

Ms. Ruma Bose (Consultant, Serial Entrepreneur, Investor, Philanthropist, Author)

Ms. Ruma Bose is a consultant, serial entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and author. She was most recently President of Chobani Foundation and Chobani Ventures, supporting entrepreneurs and organizations with a mission to make better food for more people. In 2014, she strategized and executed the launch of Tent, Chobani Founder Hamdi Ulukaya’s personal philanthropic foundation. As President, Ms. Bose established it as one of the leading foundations working to end the global refugee crisis.

Previously, she was President and Co-CEO at Sprayology, President at Vincent Longo, Co-Founder at Finishline and Senior Director at Roseworth Capital. Ms. Bose co-authored the international bestselling book, Mother Teresa, CEO, which was translated into eight languages. The book documents and demonstrates the management and leadership principles of Mother Teresa which led her to create one of the world’s largest and most successful organizations. Ms. Bose spent several months working with Mother Teresa and leverages the lessons learned into a set of guiding principles for successful leaders.

Ms. Bose is a member of the Young President’s Organization and serves on the Global Entrepreneurs’ Council at the United Nations Foundation and is a Global Ambassador for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Ms. Tala Al Jabri (Non-executive Board Director at Ento Capital; Fellow, Harvard University; Strategy & Finance Advisor)

Ms. Tala Al Jabri focuses on economic and financial empowerment of nations in developing markets and views the activation of women’s talents as the key to building sustainable, competitive economies.

Ms. Al Jabri has served as a management and financial advisor in over 6 countries to public, private and non-for-profit entities. She is also actively engaged in expanding the sphere of gender-lens VC and has led research on the competitive advantage that can be reaped from women's economic participation in the Middle East. Earlier in her career, she served as the Head of Government Strategy & Markets at Dow Chemical Saudi Arabia, and worked at Oliver Wyman, Monitor Group and The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency. She serves as the Non-executive Board Director at Ento Capital.

Ms. Al Jabri has received accolades for her work including being featured on Women 2030, Inspirational Women Series, Poets&Quants, Wharton MBA magazine and Misk Foundation. She is a Ghobash Family Fellow at the Wharton School, a Leadership Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University and a Fellow at Penn Law.

In her spare time, she is a mentor to female entrepreneurs at the Cherie Blair Foundation and is a contributing writer for such publications as Entrepreneur Magazine, Wharton Impact Investing Partners, and Khaleej Times. She completed her MBA at the Wharton School and Bachelors at McGill University in Finance and Women’s Studies. She is from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Nizar N. Zein, MD (Director, Hepatology Center; Chairman Global Patient Services, The Cleveland Clinic)

Dr. Nizar Zein, MD is the Director of Hepatology Centre and the inaugural endowed holder of the Mikati Foundation Chair in Liver Diseases at the Cleveland Clinic. He received several awards, including the American Liver Foundation Scholar Award, the Cleveland Clinic Innovator Award and the Distinguished Faculty Award for Research Mentorship. He has been recognized for academic excellence by the Syrian American Medical Society and honored for his leadership and community service by the Ana G. Mendez University of Puerto Rico as the recipient of Presidential Medal in 2011. He was elected to the Board of Governors of the Cleveland Clinic in 2015. He is appointed to the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Clinic in 2017.

Dr. Zein’s research focuses on improving disease and treatment outcome in patients with the Hepatitis C virus before and after liver transplantation. He has authored over 200 publications, and has been the Principal Investigator of several large clinical trials. He holds several patents and established a research group at Cleveland Clinic focused on 3D printing of solid organs.

Dr. Zein is actively involved in the education of fellows and residents being trained at the Cleveland Clinic. He has been recognized by the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Teacher of the Year, a distinction that reflects his commitment to the education and mentorship of young physicians.

Dr. Zein has served as the Editor of “The Year in Gastroenterology and Hepatology” associate editor of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, Special Section Editor of “Liver Transplantation” and an editorial board member of Hepatology and Gastroenterology & Hepatology. His education included: University of Tishreen, Syria (MD); Medical College of Ohio (residency 1988-1992); Mayo Clinic (fellowship 1992-1996); Mayo Clinic (Mayo Scholar 1996-1997); Harvard Business School (eMBA/PLD 2016-2017).

Dr. Stella George, MBBS (Head of Americas Care Management, Aetna International)

Dr. Stella George, MBBS is responsible for driving the care management strategy for the Americas. She is responsible for the delivery of all of its care management programs through her team’s global clinical operations. She has oversight on the clinical program design, which is focused on developing member centric innovative programs. She has been with Aetna for more than nine years.

Prior to joining Aetna International, Dr. George was the head of the medical department for a leading third-party administrator in United Arab Emirates — with operations in eight countries in the Middle East and Asia. She has practiced medicine in India and is a trained leprologist.

Dr. George received her degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Bombay – India and obtained her post-graduate Diploma in Public Health (DPH) from University of Bombay – India. She received an M.B.A. from the University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom.

Ms. Mariam Farag (Head of MBC Al Amal / CSR Arm of MBC, Middle East Broadcasting Center)

Ms. Mariam Farag is leading the CSR program at MBC Group, which is responsible for driving its corporate responsibility vision and strategy in the region & globally. Founded & launched in 2013, MBC Group’s CSR arm, MBC Al Amal, is an ongoing interactive initiative that is the collective umbrella for the multitude of campaigns, initiatives, and contributions whether created, launched, supported or adopted by MBC Group. MBC Al Amal’s core focus is on the empowerment and development of Arab youth, for our future and theirs. Their strategy is also about developing and implementing initiatives to show their ongoing commitment to education, capacity building and work readiness, supporting entrepreneurship, and humanitarian causes.

Ms. Farag brings to MBC Group over 18 years of experience working in the fields of social development, humanitarian relief, communication, corporate & social change in the MENA region & globally with UNDP, UNHCR, education and governmental sectors.

Ms. Farag's advisory roles include:

  • Regional Board Member of “INJAZ Al-Arab”, part of the “Junior Achievement” Worldwide Network (since June 2012).
  • Member of the “UAE Advisory Board of Education for Employment (EFE)”
  • Active member of the Media & Communication Global Steering Committee of Education for Employment (EFE)
  • Member of the SOS Villages Global Strategic Advisory Network
  • Active advocate in the entrepreneurial, youth development & women empowerment field focusing on building strategic partnerships between the private & public sector to mainstream initiatives, spreading CSR awareness and maximizing impact in the region & globally.
Ms. Farag received her B.A in Political Science specialized in International Relations from The American University in Cairo (AUC) and completed her M.A in International Relations and Political Theory from University of Westminster in London, UK.

Ms. Tuba Terekli (Saudi Arabia High Commissioner of World Business Angels' Forum)

Ms. Tuba Terekli started her business career as an entrepreneur at the age of 14. She later moved on to a teaching career for years in private schools, and at home, while finishing college. She utilized her self-taught business skills to get recruited into Saudi Aramco's core business in 2003 and became exposed to the dynamics of international business. This was the true catalyst whereby her life's aim was to become an international executive.

Her learning propelled her to the first international hospital commissioning in Saudi Arabia when International Medical Center was partnering with Cleveland Clinic. She served as a founding team member in the marketing and hospitality departments as director. She had additional training in Ohio and then attended the launch of the Abu Dhabi Cleveland Clinic when it was first announced by Dr. Cosgrove, the then CEO.

Later she moved her commissioning knowledge to become the Chief Strategist for the first healthcare real-estate development firm. Subsequently, she was appointed as project manager of the first long-term care facility in Saudi Arabia, as well as the first healthcare hotel project.

Through her knowledge about commissioning and wanting to be at the point and time where innovation is taking place, cemented her passion to pursue entrepreneurship. As a result, she became a key supporter of the Saudi Fast Growth 100 initiative (Now Arabia 500), and decided to become the entrepreneur that supports people to become entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia.

That led to a short career path at NCB which led to exploring entrepreneurship in many different regions of KSA. Meeting with Dr. Ghassan AlSulaiman, and together in a partnership, they formed Qotuf. It became the first entrepreneurship foundation from the private sector in Saudi Arabia. As its main founder and CEO, Ms. Terekli built the first tech accelerator of Saudi Arabia Flat6LabJeddah; the first tech investors network; and the first tech mentors network which, to date, has incubated 43 tech companies, of which over 60% have received post investments.

These opportunities generated many country-wide initiatives working with ministers, heads of chambers, deans of universities/colleges, and venture capital houses to build a local ecosystem that meets the expectations and needs of Saudi entrepreneurs, as the Co-Founder and CEO of Qotuf. By holding local and international events, Ms. Terekli became the host of Global Entrepreneurship week which has linked 173 countries with entrepreneurs of all ages, backgrounds and industries, ultimately mentoring and supporting them by matchmaking with angel investors. As a result, many international agreements have been signed.

Ms. Terekli is currently serving the role of World Business Angels Forum, Saudi Arabia High Commissioner; Advisor to Sh. Tarek Abdulrahman Fakieh; Advisor to the Governor of SME authority Saudi Arabia; BOD member for SEDCO investments; and, partner/investor/mentor in various startups globally.

Ms. Terekli holds a BSC in Computer Science and Engineering from King Abdulaziz University; an MBA from University of Liverpool, and various executive degrees from Harvard, Stanford, and George Washington University. She was also part of the Goldman Sachs and US State Department program in 2016. In light of all her accomplishments, her greatest achievements are a great supporting husband, four wonderful kids and a cat that rules the house!

Dr. Asmus Hammerich, MD (Director, Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH), World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Region)

Dr. Asmus Hammerich is the Director for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH) at the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (WHO EMRO), based in Cairo, Egypt where he has led the department since November 2015. Moreover, in November 2017, Dr. Hammerich was appointed the EMRO coordinator for the ongoing WHO global transformation process in support of the organization’s new 13th General Program of Work (GPW).

Prior to this, he served as WHO Representative (WR) in Uzbekistan, EURO (2012-15) and as Deputy WR in Laos, WPRO (2008-12). Before that, he led bilateral German BMZ/GIZ- and British DFID-supported public health programs in Indonesia (2005-08), India (2000-04) and Rwanda (1996-99) and practiced as family physician in the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany after being affiliated as a doctor with different teaching hospitals in Devon, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, UK (1991-1996).

Dr. Hammerich holds an MBBS (1991) and a research MD (1992) from Kiel University, Germany, as well as a Master degree in Public Health in Developing Countries (MScPHDC, 2000) from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. He also holds a UK Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP, 1996) and a Fellowship as family medicine specialist in Germany (FAAM, 2000).

He possesses cutting edge public health and management knowledge based on further education at some of the leading institutions in the field (e.g. Oxford, LSHTM, Harvard, WBI).

Dr. Hammerich speaks fluent English, French and German and has basic knowledge of Spanish, Russian, Indonesian and Arabic.

Dr. Sameh El-Saharty (Program Manager & Human Development, GCC Countries & Mena Region, The World Bank, Egypt)

Dr. Sameh El-Saharty is a global expert in international health. He works as Program Manager for Human Development at The World Bank in Washington, DC. He is responsible for the Bank’s advisory services in health, nutrition and population as well as education, social protection and labor markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Since he joined the World Bank in 1998, he has been responsible for leading the health policy dialog and strategy development as well as preparing and managing programs and projects amounting to about $3 billion in more than 25 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the US. His most recent work has focused on non-communicable diseases, health-in-all policies, policy reform, service delivery, health governance, implementation science, and human capital. He has more than 30 publications including journal articles, books, book chapters, analytical reports and policy briefs.

Before joining the Bank, he held several positions with USAID, UNFPA, Harvard University, the American University in Cairo, and Pathfinder International. He also held the position of Assistant Professor of International Health at Georgetown University in the US where he developed and taught a graduate course on “Combatting Noncommunicable Diseases in Developing Countries.”

He is a member of distinguished boards and committees including the Global Think Tank of the Center for Translational Research and Implementation Science of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of Health; the Dean’s Leadership Council of Harvard Chan School of Public Health; and Chair of the Advisory Committee of the MENA Health Policy Forum. He is a Medical Doctor graduated from Cairo University and holds a Master of Public Health from the Military Medical Academy in Egypt and Master’s Degree in International Health Policy and Management from Harvard University.

Dr. Ahmed Emara, MD, MBA (Group CEO and Managing Director, ReAya Holding)

Dr. Ahmed Emara, MD, MBA, is a Healthcare & Life Science entrepreneur, operator & investor, enjoying a very strong international operational background & a solid track record of private equity transactions.

He has also founded and been managing partner of several entrepreneurial ventures including Muse, a healthcare M&A and advisory firm, and Tech. Developers, an IP commercialization venture. Earlier, Dr. Emara held senior positions at multinational companies like Sanofi, Bayer, Abbott, & Spimaco.

Additionally, he has held & still holds several positions of significant responsibilities:

  • Founder, CEO and M.D. of ReAya Holding, a regional private equity investment firm.
  • CEO of Jeddah BioCity, a pioneer life science venture-capital firm,
  • Board Member, Exec & Finance Committ. of Arabio, first JV Biological plant in MENA
  • Managing Director of ESD, a hazardous-medical-waste-manage ment corporation
  • Managing Director of BioScan, a unique cyclotron cancer-diagnostic center
  • Board Director at SABA Medical, a 30 yrs old Ambulatory Healthcare group
  • Managing Director & CEO of Metrek a chain of retail pharmacies and polyclinics.
  • Chairman & CEO of Avrupagoz, a leading Turkish chain of ophthalmology centers.
  • Managing Director & CEO of Zahrawi, Dubai-based distributor of Medical Devices.
  • Managing Director and CEO of Dar Zahrawi, Saudi based distributor of Med Dev.
  • Exec. Chairman of Orzax, Turkish production & marketing co. nutritional supplements.
As a "thought leader," Dr. Emara is a regular panelist and speaker on healthcare private equity & operational excellence at regional and international conferences.

Dr. Emara is a Medical Doctor/Surgeon by profession and MBA holder. He further received executive certifications from Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Insead, IMD, Chicago Booth and MIT. He is an Alumnus of Harvard Business School.

Ms. Jasmine Nahhas di Florio (Senior Vice President, Strategy & Partnerships, Education For Employment)

Ms. Jasmine Nahhas di Florio is a social impact leader dedicated to economic opportunity for youth in the Middle East and North Africa. She has more than15 years of experience spanning the non-profit/philanthropy, government and private sectors. Joining EFE in 2006, she worked closely with the Founder and Chairman on EFE’s start-up. She developed and ran programs for private donors in Afghanistan for Afghan Women Leaders Connect at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and Arzu, a social enterprise.

Previously a corporate attorney at the international law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, Ms. Nahhas di Florio also was an attorney-advisor at the U.S. Department of Treasury. She consulted the United Nations (UNFIP) on private-public sector partnerships. A Rhodes Scholar, Frank Knox Scholar and Fulbright Scholar, she is a graduate of the University of Alberta, Oxford University and Harvard Law School. She also completed the Columbia Business School's Social Enterprise Program Senior Leaders Program for Nonprofit Professionals. She has been interviewed by The Financial Times, Finance Middle East, Khaleej Time, and Huff Post Live, among others.

Dr. Herbert I. London (President, London Center for Policy Research)

Dr. Herbert I. London is president of the London Center for Policy Research and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He is the former president of the Hudson Institute. Dr. London is professor emeritus and the former John M. Olin Professor of Humanities at New York University. And he was responsible for creating the Gallatin School of Individualized Study in 1972 and was its dean until 1992. This school was organized to promote the study of “great books” and classic texts.

He is a noted social critic whose work has appeared in every major newspaper and journal in the country including such diverse publications as Commentary, National Review, American Spectator, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Washington Times, New York Magazine, New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Modern Age, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Orbis, Encounter, Forbes, and The New Criterion. He is the author and editor of twenty-seven books and three plays “My Most Embarrassing Moment”, “A Love That Cannot Speak Its Name” and “Mr. Tin Pan Alley.”

In addition to Dr. London’s television program, “Myths that Rule America,” he created a 47 part C.B.S. series entitled “The American Character.” He has been a guest lecturer on many major radio and television news programs and at colleges and universities and has appeared as co-host on the popular CNN program, “Crossfire.” He is the chairman of the National Association of Scholars, and is the erstwhile editor of Academic Questions. Dr. London was Executive producer of “Rodney King Incident.” He was formerly syndicated by Knight-Ridder and Bridge News. He is a contributing editor for St. Croix Review, American Arts Quarterly and The American Spectator. Dr. London wrote a monthly newsletter calledThe London Letter and a nationally syndicated column for King Features.

Dr. London is listed in the Outstanding People of the 21st Century; Directory of Distinguished Americans; Who’s Who in Education; Who’s Who in the East; Men of Distinction; Who’s Who in America, Kingston’s National Registry of Who’s Who, and 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21stCentury. He is a recipient of honorary degrees from the University of Aix-Marseille, 1983 and Grove CityCollege, 1993. He has received a Presidential Citation from N.Y.U., is a recipient of the National Pro-Am Achievement Award, was the 1996 recipient of the Martin Luther King Award from the Congress of Racial Equality for Citizenship Achievement, was the 1997 recipient of the Jacques Maritain Society Award, was the first recipient of the Peter Shaw Award for his exemplary writing on higher education and American intellectual culture, was awarded the Templeton Honor Roll Award in 1997 as one of the nation’s exemplary professors. In 2000, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, in 2001 the American Jewish Congress Award, and in 2002 the Liberty and Media Award. In 2011, he received the Harbour League’s Founders Award and in 2012 he was given the Jeane Kirkpatrick Academic Freedom Award from the Bradley Foundation.

In 1989, Dr. London was one of the Republican candidates for Mayor of New York City. In 1990 he was the Conservative Party Candidate for Governor of New York garnering more votes than any third party candidate in the state’s history. In 1994 he was the Republican Party candidate for New York State Comptroller losing in a close election.

He is currently on the Board of Trustees for BlackRock Funds, the Board of Advisors for Cerego LLC and Cybersettle, the Board of Directors for InnoCentive; the Board of Governance for the American Jewish Congress; the Board of Trustees for the American Council on Science and Health; Chairman of the Board of Governors for Grantham University; Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Scholars; the Editorial Advisory Board for the Edmund Burke Institute; the Board of Directors of the Coalition for a Secure Driver’s License; the Board of Directors of the National Association for Industry-Education Cooperation. He is contributing editor at The American Spectator, on the Board of Advisors of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Inc., the Editorial Advisory Board for the Texas Education Review, and American Arts Quarterly and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He formerly served on the Board of Governors at St. John’s College, the Board of Overseers at the Center for Naval Analyses and the board of the Hudson Institute. He is an affiliated professor at the University of Haifa in Israel. He is a member of the Union League Club.

Dr. London is a graduate of ColumbiaUniversity, 1960 and the recipient of a Ph.D. from New YorkUniversity, 1966.

Dr. John Duke Anthony (Founding President & CEO, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations)

Dr. John Duke Anthony is the Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, and currently serves on the United States Department of State Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy and its Subcommittee on Sanctions. In 2012, he chaired and was the core lecturer in the Council’s 26th Annual 10-Week University Student Summer Internship Program’s Academic Seminar on Arabia and the Gulf. For the past 38 years, he has been a consultant and regular lecturer on the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf for the Departments of Defense and State. He is former Chair, Near East and North Africa Program, Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State as well as former Chair of the Department’s Advanced Arabian Peninsula Studies Seminar. A life member of the Council on Foreign Relations since 1986, Dr. Anthony has been a frequent participant in its study groups on issues relating to the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf regions and the broader Arab and Islamic world. More recently, Dr. Anthony was elected to the Board of Advisors of the Yemen College for Middle Eastern Studies. For the Fall 2012 semester, in addition to fulfilling his duties as Council President and CEO and Adviser to the Department of State, he was appointed Dean’s Chair in International Studies and Political Science at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he taught the Institute’s first-ever course on “Politics of the Arabian Peninsula” to First (Senior) and Second (Junior) classmen.

On June 21, 2000, on the occasion of his first official visit to the United States, H.M King Muhammad VI of Morocco knighted Dr. Anthony, bestowing upon him the Medal of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite, the nation of Morocco’s highest award for excellence. In addition to heading the National Council, consulting, lecturing, and serving as an Adjunct Faculty Member of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Institute for Security Assistance Management (DISAM) since 1974, Dr. Anthony has been an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies since 2006. There, he developed a course for graduate students on “Politics of the Arabian Peninsula,” the first such semester-long academic course to be offered at any American university. In 2007, he was Visiting Lecturer at the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies. In 2008 he was the Distinguished Visiting Professor at the American University in Cairo’s HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin ‘Abdalaziz Al-Sa’ud Center for American Studies.

In 1983, Dr. Anthony received DISAM’s Distinguished Achievement Award, one of three granted to American Middle East specialists in the Institute’s history. In March 1989, the Kappa Alpha Order’s National Executive bestowed upon him its Distinguished Public Service Award for Excellence “through a strenuous and useful Life of Service to others.” In 1993, he received the U.S. Department of State’s Distinguished Visiting Lecturer Award, one of three awarded over a span of 25 years in recognition of his preparation of American diplomatic and defense personnel assigned to the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf states. In 1994, he received the Stevens Award for Outstanding Contributions to American-Arab Understanding. In May 2008, the Rotary Club of the Nation’s Capital bestowed upon him its first-ever Local Giants Leadership Award.

Dr. Anthony is the only American to have been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in the former People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (1969-1970). In 1971, he was cosponsored by the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Department of State as the sole American scholar to observe at firsthand the process by which the British ceased administering the defense and foreign relations for nine Arab states lining the coastal regions of eastern Arabia and the Gulf. His long experience in Yemen led to Dr. Anthony being asked to serve as an international observer in all four of Yemen’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

Dr. Anthony is the only American to have been invited to each of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Ministerial and Heads of State Summits since the GCC’s inception in 1981. (The GCC is comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). Since 1986 and continuing until the present, Dr. Anthony has accompanied more than 200 Members of Congress, their chiefs of staff, defense and foreign affairs advisers, and legislative and communications directors on fact-finding missions to the Arab world. From 1996 until the present, he has also served as the principal scholar-escort for delegations to various GCC countries, Egypt, and Yemen comprised of 132 officers assigned to the staff of the Commander, U.S. Central Command, including Generals J.H. Binford Peay III, Anthony C. Zinni, Tommy Franks, John P. Abizaid, David Petraeus, James Mattis, and Admiral William Fallon.

Dr. Anthony is the author of three books, the editor of a fourth, and has published more than 175 articles and essays, and five monographs dealing with America’s interests and involvement in the Arab countries, the Middle East, and the Islamic world. His best-known works are Arab States of the Lower Gulf: People, Politics, Petroleum; The Middle East: Oil, Politics, and Development (editor and co-author) and, together with J. E. Peterson, Historical and Cultural Dictionary of the Sultanate of Oman and the Emirates of Eastern Arabia. Among his more recent publications are The United Arab Emirates: Dynamics of State Formation, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), 2002; “The Future Significance of the Gulf Cooperation Council,” in Global Strategic Developments: A Futuristic Vision, Abu Dhabi, UAE: ECSSR, 2012; “The Intervention in Bahrain through the Lenses of its Supporters” and “Challenges Facing NATO in Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq,” all four published by ECSSR in the Summer and Fall of 2011; “War with Iran: Regional Reactions and Requirements,” published by Middle East Policy and the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, 2008; “Strategic Dynamics of Iran-GCC Relations,” in Jean-François Seznec and Mimi Kirk, eds., Industrialization in the Gulf: A Socioeconomic Revolution, New York: Routledge, 2011; and “Measuring the Iraq War ‘Accomplishments’ Through the Lens of Its Authors: A Preliminary Assessment”: a revised and edited version of an address presented to the Axis for Peace conference held in Brussels by Voltaire Network, 2005, published by the National Council.

In addition to being the founder and chief facilitator and moderator of the Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference, now in its 21st year, Dr. Anthony has been a founder, board member, and Secretary of the U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee; founding President of the Middle East Educational Trust; co-founder of the Commission on Israeli-Palestinian Peace; founding President of the Society for Gulf Arab Studies; co-founder and board member of the National Commission to Commemorate the 14th Centennial of Islam; and founder and former chairman of the U.S.-Morocco Affairs Council. In 2006 he was elected Vice-President and member of the Board of Directors of the International Foreign Policy Association in Washington, D.C.

After completion of his U.S. Army active duty military service, the Commonwealth of Virginia granted Dr. Anthony a four-year State Cadetship Award which allowed him to enroll at Virginia Military Institute (VMI), where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in History. At VMI, he was elected president of his class all four years in addition to serving as president of the Corps of Cadets’ Government General and Executive Committees during his First Class Year. He later earned a Master of Science Degree in Foreign Service (With Distinction) from the Edmund A. Walsh Graduate School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, where, in addition to holding one of three University Scholar Awards, he was inducted into the National Political Science Honor Society. He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and Middle East Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C., where he held a National Defense in Foreign Language Scholarship for Arabic, was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship, and was appointed in 1973 to SAIS’ full-time faculty while still a student. For nearly a decade, Dr. Anthony taught courses on the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf States at SAIS. He has been a Visiting and Adjunct Professor at the Defense Intelligence College, the Woodrow Wilson School of Government and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia, the Universities of Pennsylvania and Texas, the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and a regular lecturer at the National War College.

Dr. Anthony passed his proficiency exam in French at the Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in 1966. He passed his proficiency exam in Arabic at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in 1969 following study there as well as at Princeton University and the American University in Cairo’s Center for Arabic Study Abroad.

Dr. Anthony is married to Cynthia Burns McDonald, Director of the Washington, D.C. Office of the American University in Cairo, and has twin sons.

Mr. Hadi Al Alawi (Chairman & CEO, Alhayat Group)

Mr. Hadi Al Alawi is the Chairman, CEO and Founder of Al Hayat Group, which was established in the early 1990s as a holding company to oversee the diversified interests held under sole ownership, joint ventures, and equity stakes of varying sizes. Mr. Al Alawi is an experienced businessman with extensive regional and international networks who has successfully propelled various start-up ventures into industry leaders with record-breaking growth and expansion within highly competitive markets.

Mr. Al Alawi is also the Managing Director of Al Alawi Group of Companies founded in the early 1930s by his late father. Today the group has emerged as one of the most diversified and highly regarded business houses in the Gulf region and beyond. He is responsible for the strategic direction and the driving force behind the development of his family’s business. He is widely recognized for the role he has played in expanding the group’s portfolio towards a more diversified and globalized model. His group of companies is well diversified and active in the fields of advertising, marketing, public relationships, IT and telecom, construction, general contracting, electrical and mechanical divisions, manufacturing, printing, property development, real estate and investment, travel, and fashion.

Mr. Al Alawi is also the Executive Chairman of Fly.bh; the Chairman of Mackenzie Forbes Group; a Board Member of Innovative Film City; Chairman of the Executive Committee of Ebrahim Abdulaal Group of Companies; the Executive Chairman of Build Block Middle East; Founder and Board Member of Bahrain Family Business Association; a member and past President of the Manama Rotary Club; Founding Member of Manama Charity Fund; and a Board Member and a Shareholder of various companies worldwide. He is also advisory committee member for various organizations and he has been a featured speaker in international conferences and forums.

Mr. Ron Bruder (Founder & Chairman of the Board, Education for Employment)

Mr. Ron Bruder is an American entrepreneur and advocate for increased youth employment opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa. He is the founder of Education for Employment (EFE), a network of affiliated locally-run nonprofits which create public-private partnerships with employers to train youth in technical and soft skills and place them in jobs. The network has local affiliates in Jordan, Palestine, Yemen, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia and capacity-building support organizations in the United States and Spain. In 2011, Mr. Bruder was named on the TIME 100 list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Mr. Bruder began his career as a serial entrepreneur with businesses in real estate, travel, pharmaceuticals and energy. In 1977, he founded The Brookhill Group, which owns and manages properties throughout the US with a focus on creating investment partnerships to develop or redevelop shopping centers, office buildings and multi-family homes.

Mr. Bruder was an attendee at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. At the World Economic Forum in Tianjin in 2012, he was named a Schwab Foundation Global Social Entrepreneur for his work in founding EFE. He has served as a delegate of the Council on Foreign Relations to the Jeddah Economic Forum, and a contributor to the US-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar. He is frequently invited to share EFE's best practices at major international conferences and has addressed audiences at the Clinton Global Initiative, World Economic Forum and the United Nations, among others.

Mr. Andrew A. Baird (CEO, Global, Education For Employment (EFE))

Mr. Andrew Baird is the President & CEO of EFE. Previously, he was the Program Area Director, Workforce and Economic Development Group for RTI International, where he led a team of 130 employees and a $150 million portfolio. There, he provided leadership, strategic direction and technical support in workforce development, livelihoods, entrepreneurship, youth, and other areas closely related to EFE's work.

Mr. Baird brings to EFE more than twenty-five years of experience in advancing private sector-led strategies to create inclusive employment and livelihoods around the world - including in several countries where EFE operates. He co-founded the Global Center for Youth Employment, a membership-based organization devoted to developing collective solutions to the challenges of youth employment. He is a skillful business development expert and has managed a number of long-term donor-funded projects. Mr. Baird held leadership positions in a range of organizations in the field and home offices of RTI International, Making Cents International, Chemonics International, and the Peace Corps. He holds a BA from The College of Wooster and an MA from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Mr. Nawaf Althari (Counter-Terrorism & Counter-Piracy Focal Point, OIC Focal Point Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations)

Mr. Althari is a United Nations (UN) counter-terrorism specialist representing The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In that capacity he leads the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre’s Expert Advisory Board. He oversees UNCCT projects related to capacity building, countering violent extremism, preventing online radicalization, and dealing directly with international terrorists. He headed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the UN in 2014-2015. He is currently OIC Coordinator for all counter-terrorism matters at the United Nations. Mr. Althari also served as an Economic Adviser to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In that capacity he assessed and negotiated Saudi interest in the Sustainable Development Goals and provided briefs and analysis on economic growth and development, financing for development, poverty eradication, and globalization to the Government of Saudi Arabia. Mr. Althari was selected as a Distinguished International Affairs Fellow by the National Council on US Arab Relations.

Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt (Director, New Business Development, Reza Investment Group)

Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt was born in Los Angeles, California, and is the grandson of President Franklin Delano and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. He is also the direct descendant of President Theodore Roosevelt. He attended the International School in Geneva Switzerland; Brentwood Military Academy, California; Pacific Palisades High School; and Woodbury University, Los Angeles, California. Del’s father was James Roosevelt, FDR’s first-born son. Del lived on the East Coast when James served as a Congressman for 6 terms from California’s 26th District, then in Europe when his father was the United Nations Ambassador to Geneva.

Prior to Mr. Roosevelt’s election to the Long Beach City Council, Delano was Chairman and Member of the Long Beach Community Development Advisory Committee, which allocates the $10 million plus of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grants for city economic improvement projects. He also chaired the Solid Waste Management Commission, where he helped to start the City’s curbside city wide recycling program. Elected as the City’s Fourth District Councilmember, Councilman Roosevelt’s interest in environmental issues prompted him to recommend that the City Council establish a Sustainable Development Board – a recommendation that has been implemented by the Environmental Task Force. As a member of the City Council, Delano authored the City’s redistricting plan in 1996. He was appointed as Chair of the Federal Legislation and Environmental Affairs Committee which made him responsible to develop the City’s legislative agenda and required him to spend a great deal of time advocating in Washington D.C. and Sacramento, California. He also served as Vice-Chair of the Public Safety Committee and on the Joint Powers Authority with the City of Signal Hill, and participated in the City’s Collaborative Conversations Program with the Long Beach Unified School District. Based on experience gained in his work at Southern California Edison, working in Energy Conservation and Load Management as a Major Account Executive for ten years, Del took a leading position for the City Council when the City considered becoming its own electrical municipality and severing ties with Southern California Edison as a result of an opportunity for the city to renegotiate its franchise fees contract.

Mr. Roosevelt worked for the Boeing Sea Launch Program as Director of Governmental Relations, which took him on extensive trips to the South Pacific. He now heads Roosevelt Consulting Inc., an international consulting company focusing on assisting organizations and private investors in structuring cross-border transactions, technology transfers, and direct investments globally with focus on the Middle East.

Mr. Roosevelt is currently the Director of New Business Development for the Reza Investment Group based in Saudi Arabia. The Reza Investment Company is wholly owned by the Alireza family, one of the oldest and respected trading families in Saudi Arabia. Reza Investment has successfully developed market-leading positions in trading, manufacturing and service industries throughout Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC).

He also is a joint founder of Friends of Saudi Arabia, a cultural awareness program with King Abdullah’s son, HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah. Mr. Roosevelt and his wife, a retired electric utility executive and Long Beach native, lived in the Los Altos area of the City of Long Beach from 1988 to 2011. They have two sons and currently reside in in the country of Bahrain, which allows Mr. Roosevelt easy commuting access to his position in Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Roosevelt’s other involvement currently includes:

  • Board Member, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
  • Chairman, Middle East Council of American Chambers of Commerce
  • Executive Board Member, American Mission Hospital, Bahrain
  • First Vice President, Bahrain American Chamber of Commerce
  • Board Member, FDR Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation
  • Board Member, American Business Association, Easter Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Danny E. Sebright (President, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council)

Mr. Danny E. Sebright was appointed in June 2008 as President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, the key organization building commercial ties and growing business opportunities between the two countries.

Previously, Mr. Sebright worked at the geo-strategic advisory firm The Cohen Group from 2002-2016. Prior to this, he served as the Defense Department’s Director of the Policy Executive Secretariat for the global war on terrorism from 2001-2002 during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and Operation NOBLE EAGLE. He was awarded the Department of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award for his service to his country.

Mr. Sebright also served in the Office of the Under Secretary for Policy at the Department of Defense from 1995-2001, advising the Defense Department on the Middle East Peace Process, regional arms sales, and counter-proliferation initiatives. Mr. Sebright coordinated and implemented U.S. foreign military sales to Israel and many other countries in the Middle East. He received the Paul H. Nitze Award for Excellence in International Security Policy for his work on the Middle East Peace Process. Prior to this, Mr. Sebright served with the Defense Intelligence Agency from 1984 to 1995 as a career intelligence officer, earning numerous Intelligence Community awards for his service.

Mr. Sebright earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2001. He earned his BA in International Affairs from the George Washington University in 1984.

Ambassador Mr. Marc Ginsberg (Former US Ambassador, Morocco)

Ambassador Marc Ginsberg, former presidential adviser on Middle East policy and United States ambassador has more than 30 years of diplomatic, commercial, legal and intelligence affairs experience working in and on behalf of the U.S. government. Since 1971, he has held many prominent public and private sector positions, focusing on foreign policy, national security, trade and investment, with a principal focus on Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

Ambassador Ginsberg served as a foreign and defense legislative assistant to Senator Edward M. Kennedy, White House Liaison for Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, Deputy Senior Advisor for Middle East Policy to President Carter, U.S. Ambassador to Morocco and Special U.S. Coordinator for Mediterranean Trade, Investment and Security Affairs for Secretary Albright.

He serves as a part-time special adviser on strategic communications to the Department of Defense Special Operations Command and to the U.S. State Department on outreach initiatives in the Muslim world. He serves on the Middle East-focused Advisory Boards of the Aspen Institute, the Rand Corporation, and the Brookings Institution’s U.S. – Islamic World Forum.

Ambssador Ginsberg is a regular foreign policy senior contributor to the Huffington Post, and is a nationally- recognized foreign policy media commentator on BBC TV and Radio, MSNBC, NBC, CBS TV and Radio Network, Al Arabiya, Al Hurrah and Al Jazeera television stations in the Middle East. His analysis of Middle East events are frequently found in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Foreign Policy.com, and CNN.com.

Dr. Ghassan Abou-Alfa, MD, MBA (Attending Physician, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Chair Heatobiliary Task Force, National Cancer Institute)

Dr. Ghassan Abou-Alfa joined the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York back in 2001. Dr. Abou-Alfa specializes in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers and in particular, liver cancer. Dr. Abou-Alfa received his medical degree from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, and completed his post-doctoral training at Yale University School of Medicine. He received his MBA from Columbia University.

Dr. Abou-Alfa serves as the chair of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Task Force for Hepatobiliary Cancers, the chair of the AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC) Non-AIDS Defining Malignancies (NADC) Liver/GI Task Force, and is the President-Elect for the International Society of Gastrointestinal Oncology. Dr. Abou-Alfa has lectured worldwide on the subject on gastrointestinal malignancies. He serves as the chair the medical/scientific board of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation and the Blue Faery Liver Foundation, and also serves on the National Medical Advisory Committee of the American Liver Foundation.

Dr. Abou-Alfa has also spearheaded many international projects since 2006, and now serves on the institutional leadership panel for international healthcare. Dr. Abou-Alfa helped Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center establish a strong relationship with many institutions worldwide, with an ongoing faculty exchange, repeated video-link conferencing, and class-training courses with China and the Middle East. These joint collaborations have led to the development of the first joint tissue bank with a shared database with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and supported fellowship opportunities for excelling medical graduates. Dr. Abou-Alfa has also helped promote and enhance the MSKCC international patients’ referral base.

Dr. John Lantis, MBBS (Vice Chairman, Department of Surgery; Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Mount Sinai)

Dr. John Lantis is a native of New York City and was born at St. Luke’s Hospital. After attending Davidson College he matriculated at Albany Medical College where he graduated Cum Laude, and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical honor society. He then went on to complete his general surgical residency at Tufts/New England Medical Center and his vascular surgery fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In 2000 he accepted a faculty position in Surgery at Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons.

He joined the faculty at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in 2004, after 4 years in practice at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Where in 2007 he accepted the position of the Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery; and in 2013 the additional role of Vice Chair for Operations in the Department Surgery. Prior to accepting the position in 2007, he was the Director of Clinical Research for the Department of Surgery, a position he still holds.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, past President of the New York Vascular Surgery Society, and a Founding Board Member of the American Board of Wound Medicine and Surgery. He was named a Professor of Clinical Surgery at Columbia University; College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2013. With the merger of the Mount Sinai and Continuum Health Partners systems, Dr. Lantis is currently the Vice Chairman for Operations; for the Department of Surgery; Chief of Division, Vascular/Endovascular Surgery and Director of Clinical Research at Mt. Sinai St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals. He also holds the position of Professor of Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine.

His clinical practice includes endovascular and open limb salvage, with a multi-disciplinary approach to wound closure and limb preservation, carotid artery surgery, open and endovascular abdominal and thoracic aneurysm repair. He has a strong interest in the pathophysiology of wound care - including chronic venous disease, diabetic foot ulcers and ischemic lower extremity ulcers. He has served as principal investigator on over 55 clinical trials and is widely published in Journal of Vascular Surgery, WOUNDS, Diabetes Care and Annals of Vascular Surgery.

Dr. Aftab Ahmed (Vice President & Chief Science Officer, PureLife Health Sciences Group)

Dr. Aftab Ahmed is Vice President & Chief Science Officer of PURELIFE Health Sciences Group, a scientific medical research organization that is doing extensive research on diabetes, obesity & infectious diseases.

Dr. Aftab Ahmed has more than thirty years of experience in administration, business, teaching, research & training in the health & science field. He has completed many international research projects in collaboration with the National Institute of Health, Uniformed Services of Health Sciences, US AID, Harvard International Development, Medstar Research Institute, Obetech, Obesity Research Center & Tissue Technologies. He has worked with the International Referral Epidemic Center “Infectious Diseases.” Additionally, Dr. Ahmed has participated in many clinical trial studies on water born diseases, i.e. typhoid fever & diarrhea.

His primary interests are metabolic syndrome, infectious diseases & biochemistry/biotechnology. He has written “Complications of Obesity” published in the Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition and “The Serum Proteins in Health and Disease” published in “Protein Structure Function Relationship”.

Dr. Ahmed has more than 100 publications & scientific presentations.

Dr. Khawla S. Al-Kuraya, MD (Professor of Pathology, Director Research Centre, KFNCCC, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre)

Dr. Khawla S. Al-Kuraya is a Distinguished Physician-Scientist and the Director of the Research Centre at King Fahad National Centre for Children’s Cancer and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research (KFSH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After receiving her Medical degree from King Saud University School of Medicine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, she completed her Residency and Fellowship in Pathology at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC. She is an Author of over 100 original research articles, editorials, review articles and book chapters. Her professional memberships include the American Association for Cancer Research, College of American Pathologist and The American Society of Human Genetic. She is also on the Executive Committee of ICGC.

Dr. Al-Kuraya was born in the Al Jawf Region of Saudi Arabia. She was admitted to King Saud University in Riyadh and earned her MD in general surgery and medicine. She completed her residency in clinical pathology in Washington D.C. at Georgetown University Hospital. She then completed a fellowship in molecular diagnostics and hematopathology at the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Al-Kuraya first identified the FOSM1 gene, which prompts the human body to form cancer cells. For her cancer research she was awarded the Order of Abdulaziz al Saud in 2010. She was the first Saudi woman to receive the award. Saudi newspapers and television depicted King Abdullah shaking her hand and placing the medal around her neck. The public display of proximity to an unrelated woman was unprecedented at the time.

She was among 30 women who in 2013 were appointed by King Abdullah to the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, an advisory body that proposes laws.

Dr. Amit Kumar (CEO & President, Eminent Physicians LLC)

Dr. Amit Kumar is CEO and President of Eminent Physicians LLC. He is an eminent cardiologist and has been serving as Chairman and Chief Medical Officer of Cardiovascular Institute of America. Under his leadership, Eminent Physicians has launched human genome based, personalized preventive Health Care Plan serving the Middle East population. He is a well published author, eloquent speaker and has significant work in preventive Medicine. He has received several awards in the area of preventive medicine and cardiology.

Mr. Duncan Darrow (Founder & Chairman, The Cancer Trust)

Mr. Duncan Darrow established The Cancer Trust in 2015 to serve as a catalyst in assembling a sizeable number of scientists from academia, who would agree to undertake drug development projects on a highly collaborative basis and share, on equal basis, in the proceeds from licensing of their discoveries.

The Cancer Trust was founded upon the thesis that cooperation among scientists accelerates their search for new cancer therapeutics.

This business model attracted attention from NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers and the first Collaborative included CCC’s from: Columbia, Hopkins, Penn and Mt. Sinai. After committing to 10 years of cooperative research, the group was funded by Celgene Corporation with $50M upfront (split equally among the four) and in the past two years Celgene has funded another 12 cutting edge research initiatives typically combining expertise from at least two members of the Collaborative.

The most recent Collaborative assembled by The Cancer Trust includes another four renowned cancer research centers: Dana-Farber; The Rockefeller University; Weill-Cornell/New York Hospital; and Cold Spring Harbor Labs.

In 2018 The Cancer Trust expects to assemble yet another Collaborative comprised of four CCC’s and possibly a comparable center of research excellence from an institution overseas.

Ms. Katherine Malmay-Bazemore (FOUNDER, MANAGING PARTNER AND CEO, Cocoon Resources, Inc.)

Ms. Katherine Malmay-Bazemore has been involved in financial and entrepreneurial activities for over thirty -five years. A serial entrepreneur & a patented inventor, she has launched businesses in the sciences, financial services, and energy segments.

Cocoon (An Alabama C Corporation) is as an accelerator, investor, and global connector of integrated initiatives supplying technology, processes and leadership with a primary focus in biotechnology. Ms. Bazemore brings years of experience in Deep Learning and Big Data from the Financial Services industry to integrate to biotechnology discovery and investment communities for such initiatives.

Cocoon is lead investor in Volatile Analysis Corporation, a company that has recently been successful in obtaining funding at a billion dollar plus valuation. Volatile has been featured on global news sites like Fox News, BBC, and others due to its development of a chewing gum for cancer detection. Volatile has now been positioned to utilize AI and Deep Learning on a predictive disease consumer database and Cocoon is working with Volatile to achieve success of those efforts. Volatile Analysis Corporation is also part of the biotechnology think tank and innovation discovery center, Hudson Alpha Institute For Biotechnology.

Ms. Bazemore's other recent activities include global expansion of deals into China, Israel, India, and other countries and participation in a US trade delegation to Saudi Arabia.

She is wife to Dr. Russell Bazemore and has two children, a daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and three grandchildren. She is very committed to stand for truth in the sciences and exercise bioethics based on foundational spiritual principles that are a part of her daily life. Her motto is "Never, Never, Quit."

Mr. Olivier Jarry (CEO, Lifnano)

Mr. Olivier Jarry is CEO of Lifnano. Previously, he was the founder of 3xBL and a strategic partner of Endeva. In his 28 year tenure in the Healthcare, Nutrition and Consulting industries, he has generated profitable, organic and inorganic growth for a number of organizations.

At Bristol-Myers Squibb, Mr Jarry has coordinated the transformation of the Emerging Markets division, accelerating the adaptation to fast changing environments, and enhancing the Market Access function.

At Bayer, he has led the Bayer Diabetes Care business unit to increased market shares in most countries, launching 5 innovative products in 2009 and 2010, which have been acclaimed in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, among other media.

At Novartis, he has re-launched the strategic plan process for Novartis Consumer Health, managed M&A and BD&L across several business units, developed Infant Nutrition in Latin America and in Asia, launched a for-profit access to medicines business in India. He has also grown the European business of Novartis Vaccines and helped governments address the 2009 “swine flu” pandemic.

At Danone, Mr. Jarry has led Strategy and M&A for the beverages division after having managed Finance and Operations in North America, jointly for several business units.

At Accenture, he has designed and conducted major enterprise transformation programs with more than 60 companies in durable and consumer goods, leading a dozen pre-acquisition and post-merger integration projects.

Mr. Jarry has assembled talented, successful and very diverse teams in a variety of settings and countries: commercial operations for consumer goods in Latin America, partnerships in Japan, due diligence in China, government sales in the ex-Communist bloc, etc. He has led value-added negotiations of acquisitions (up to USD 1 billion), divestitures and alliances, as well as more than 16 post-merger integration projects in Canada, the USA, Brazil, Argentina, France, Poland, Hungary, etc.

He has served on an AFNOR/ISO standardization committee on Project Management and on the Board of AdvaMed Dx, the industry association for Advanced Medical Devices / Diagnostics.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from École Centrale de Paris, a diploma of the French Department of Defense and a TRIUM EMBA delivered jointly by New York University Stern School of Business (NYU), London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Hautes Études Commerciales Paris (HEC).

Dr. Roland Turck, MD (Managing Director , TurckBio)

Dr. Roland Turck, MD is Managing Director of TurckBio and an international Biotech-Pharma Executive and Medical Doctor experienced in both Big Pharma and Biotech. He has a proven P&L track record and the ability to translate science into commercial success. He has built businesses, expanded franchises, launched brands and has driven commercial performance at global, regional and country level in both mature and emerging markets.

Dr. Turck has driven profitable growth of portfolios ranging from 20 MM US$ to 4,000 MM US$. Throughout his career, he has led organizations through various challenges such as acquisitions, integration, rapid growth periods, scaling-up, restructuring, turnaround, and downsizing. These experiences have made him very versatile. Dr. Turck is truly a global player who understands both mature and emerging markets. He experienced the value of diversity working and living on all continents.

Dr. Turck is an expert in Specialty Medicine, a highly technology driven business characterized by low volume and high value. He has first-hand experience and deep understanding of clinical development, strategy and commercialization in Oncology, Neurology, Orphan Drugs, Radiopharmaceuticals, Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging.

He advises biotech boards and executive teams on development and commercialization strategies and investors on asset opportunities. He is also member of boards of directors.

Mr. Alexander Golding (CEO, HelpedHope)

Mr. Alexander Golding is one of the breakout voices in the social entrepreneurship and impact investing spaces. Sought after nationally, he routinely educates investors on impact investing and has held seminars at major universities and the United Nations. As a network partner at the Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development, he educates key influencers on the positive transformation blockchain is bringing to the world. In early 2017, Mr. Golding launched the Florida Impact Investing Initiative. Since then, over thirty three billion investor dollars ($33bn) have been present at his events to learn about impact opportunities.

Mr. Golding received his Bachelor’s of Science in Finance from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University and taught "Topics in Social Entrepreneurship" at Florida Atlantic University in the fall of 2017.

Mr. Omar Darwazah (General Partner, Arab Angel Fund)

Mr. Omar Darwazah has over 13 years of international experience in corporate finance, corporate communications, management consulting, strategy, investor relations and venture capital. He spent 10 years of his career with OCI N.V. in Cairo and New York focusing on investor relations, strategy and corporate finance where he worked on over $35 billion worth of corporate transactions. Previously, Omar was with Deloitte Tax LLP in Chicago and Deutsche Bank’s Leveraged Finance team in London.

At present, he is a Founder and General Partner at Arab Angel Fund, a $25M early stage venture fund focused on Seed and Series A technology investments in North America. Arab Angel Fund is backed by 65 prominent High Net Worth Individuals and family offices from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Since 2013, Mr. Darwazah has led investments in over 80 technology startups globally spanning a variety of different sectors. These startups have been backed by over 200 different global venture firms including tier 1 Silicon Valley VCs as well as notable incubators and accelerators. Mr. Darwazah also founded and successfully exited his own startup, Premier Foods SAE, which managed two gourmet fast food brands in Egypt.

He previously advised Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ corporate venture arm Hikma Ventures on its digital healthcare investments. Omar is also an angel investor in various startups including Andela, Blockstack, BitOasis, FiscalNote and Quarrio Corp. Omar also sits on the Board of various companies and associations including Gold Cleats Inc., Rutger University’s Big Data Certificate Program and the Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA).

Mr. Darwazah is an avid traveler and has visited close to 80 countries around the world. He also has an interest in film production and has been an Executive Producer on several short feature films including Baby Mine (2017) and Lab Rat (2018).

He holds a BA in Economics and Political Science with Honors from the University of Chicago and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Fady Yacoub (Managing Partner, HOF Capital)

Mr. Fady Yacoub is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at HOF Capital, where he focuses on tech-driven companies across sectors. He has a particular interest in energy, education, media, and blockchain.

Prior to HOF Capital, Mr. Yacoub worked at Digital World Capital, a technology focused hedge fund, helping the firm expand its investment portfolio in Asia by overseeing the firm’s investment in Baidu and Qihoo 360. He also syndicated an SPV that invested into the Alibaba IPO. (NYSE:BABA) and prior to that was a Data Analyst at Switch (NYSE:SWCH).

Earlier in his career, Mr. Yacoub held multiple positions at El Tholathia Corp Egypt (ETC). He led ETC's industrial development team in deploying a new home appliances factory in the Sudan. Through ETC’s real estate development arm, he led the development team for 400,000 m2 on Egypt's North Coast. He earned both a BS and BA in Business Administration & Psychology from the University of Southern California.

Mr. Steve Lutes (Vice President, Middle East Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce)

Mr. Steve Lutes is Vice President of Middle East Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He is responsible for managing the U.S.-Egypt Business Council, U.S.-Iraq Business Initiative, the U.S.-GCC Business Initiative, and serves as executive director for each. In this capacity, Mr. Lutes is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs that promote U.S. business opportunities and investment in Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. He works closely with Chamber member companies and business and government leaders to deepen and expand commercial relationships.

Mr. Lutes came to the Chamber from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) where he was a senior legislative affairs specialist in the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. He focused on educating members of Congress on the benefits of trade and foreign direct investment and on advancing the Administration’s trade agenda on Capitol Hill, including securing passage of the United States-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Mr. Lutes also served as the congressional liaison to the President’s Export Council and the Manufacturing Council for the Department.

Previously, Mr. Lutes worked for the Republican Party in Columbus, Ohio, where he worked in conjunction with the Bush-Cheney reelection effort in Ohio through 2004, successfully directing political and grassroots strategy in central Ohio and helping turnout the largest county vote for former President George W. Bush in Ohio.

Earlier in his career, he worked on Capitol Hill and held a variety of positions, including press secretary, legislative director, and chief of staff.

Dr. Michael Morgan (President, St. Mark's World; Founder, American Pulse)

Dr. Michael Morgan is an Egyptian Coptic Christian doctor, born and raised in Egypt, and now based in New York. He is the founder and host of "American Pulse TV" a weekly program that airs on Saturday nights on Egypt's Al Kahera Wal Nas Network ("Cairo and Irs People"). This is one of the most popular TV channels in Egypt with a viewership of 40 million. It is also carried on satellite here and all over the Mideast. The mission of American Pulse is to provide a window for Egyptians to see Americans' views on current issues and hot topics as well as educate our viewers on the good works being done internationally. The format is interviews and field reports. Guests speakers have included a number of intenational figures such as Amb. Frank Wisner, Amb. Daniel Kurtzer, international economists Dr. Nabil Zaki, Mahmoud Abdallah and state politicians.

Dr. Morgan founded St. Mark's World, which is considered one of the most successful and largest healthcare staffing firms in New York State. He graduated from New York University on a doctoral program in 2005.

Dr. Sean T. Manion (CEO, Science Distributed)

Dr. Sean Manion is a neuroscientist and former federal research administrator. He is CEO of Science Distributed, a new platform bringing health researchers together with blockchain as a layer of trust for better science, cheaper research, and faster miracles. He is a co-founder of the newly established Blockchain in Healthcare Global, a 501 (c)(6) under the IEEE International Standards & Technology Organization. He serves as a member of the United Nations’ “Blockchain for Impact” Global Health & Emergency Relief delegation.

Dr. Manion earned degrees in Biochemistry at Temple University (BS, 1999) and Neuroscience at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences - USUHS (PhD, 2006). At USUHS he conducted post-traumatic stress disorder research. Wanting to move to a broader role in military medicine, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and later as Research Activities Chief for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC). He oversaw a research network of more than 100 clinical researchers conducting dozens of studies at multiple DoD and VA hospital sites across the country.

Recognizing the value of blockchain/distributed ledger technology for healthcare and research, Sean began championing its study and application in the DoD in late 2016. He moved to the private sector in 2017 and co-founded Science Distributed. He speaks to government, academia, and industry audiences on applying blockchain to healthcare and research. He serves as Vice President of the non-profit American College of Military Public Health and serves on the editorial review board for the peer-reviewed blockchain journals Ledger and the Journal of the British Blockchain Association.

Dr. Mohamed El Ammary, MD, PhD (Head of Health Affairs Committee, Parliament, Arab Republic of Egypt)

Dr. Mohammed El Ammary, MD, PHD, is Ranking Member and Head of the Health Affairs Committee at the Parliament of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Besides his Parliamentary duties, he is a current Professor of general surgery and was a former Vice President of Egypt’s South Valley University for research and higher education. Under his parliamentary leadership, two significant legislations were reviewed, voted upon and approved including the the health insurance law and the clinical trials regulatory law. Both markedly reshaped the health, research and pharmaceutical fields in Egypt, the most populous country in the Middle East.

Mr. Isaac Blech (Founder & Director, Cerecor Inc; Renowned Biotechnology Entrepreneur)

Mr. Isaac Blech (Renowned Biotechnology Entrepreneur)

Mr. Isaac Blech is a renowned biotechnology entrepreneur who, over the past 35 years, has founded companies which have produced major advances in a broad array of diseases, including the diagnosis of chlamydia, herpes, syphilis and HIV, and the treatment of cystic fibrosis, sexual dysfunction, multiple myeloma and many forms of cancer and hematological disease. The companies he established include Celgene Corporation, the world’s leading company in cancer and hematology, ICOS Corporation which developed the drug Cialis and was purchased by Eli Lilly, Nova Pharmaceutical Corporation which developed a new treatment for brain cancer, Gliadel, and was purchased by Johnson and Johnson, Pathogenesis Corporation which developed the leading drug for cystic fibrosis, added 30 years of life to children with that debilitating disease, and was purchased by Chiron, and Genetics Systems Corporation which developed the first rapid accurate diagnostic for chlamydia which enabled millions of babies to be born around the world who could not have been born without wide spread chlamydia testing which Genetics Systems introduced. The company also developed the first accurate test to safe guard the world’s blood supply from the AIDS virus and was purchased by Bristol Myers. The value of companies founded by Mr. Blech exceed $100 billion. Mr. Blech continues to be involved in some of the leading biotechnology companies today.

The trademark of Mr. Blech’s companies is the quality of the people. These companies have been run by the former Chairman of UBS; the former Chairman of Monsanto; the former Chairman of Merck; the former Chairman and CEO of Pfizer; the former President of Shire; the former Present of Baxter International; the Founder and CEO of Acadia; and the founding Chairman of Amgen. On the scientific side there have been seven Nobel laureates and twenty members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences associated with these companies. Their Boards of Directors have included Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft; Don Kendall who built Pepsi Co.; Walter Wriston, who built the modern Citigroup; Frank Cary who led IBM when it was the leading company in the world; twenty past and present Chairmen and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies; two former U.S. Senators; four former U.S. Cabinet Officers; one former Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; one former Supreme Commander of NATO; and, one former President of the United States. Collectively, these companies have helped change the face of medicine.

Dr. Eugene Lipov (Anesthesiology, Advanced Pain Centers, S.C.)

Dr. Eugene G. Lipov specializes in Pain Management, and is part of AMITA Health’s network of more than 3,000 physicians currently accepting appointments. The AMITA Health system serves communities throughout the western, northwestern and southwestern suburbs of Chicago, integrating nine hospitals, more than 80 clinics and outpatient facilities and a full range of services for you and your family. From acute care and obstetrics to cardiac and emergency care, we're committed to providing quality care that is open, inclusive and compassionate, delivered with dignity and empathy for all. In sickness and in health.

Mr. Ransel N. Potter (Founder, Managing Partner, C3 Summit, LLC)

Mr. Ransel Potter has been a guest speaker at financial and healthcare events in the Arab region and the United States. His contacts throughout the Arab world and the United States are with the top global financial institutions; high net worth families; and, government representatives, including several Sovereign Wealth Funds and Foreign Ministries; U.S. Department of State; United Nations; U.S. Department of Commerce; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; foreign diplomats; current and past Congressmen and Senators.

The founder and Managing Partner of C3 Summit International, he continues to build a rewarding career spanning three decades, and multiple industries, including many noteworthy achievements. His abilities to lead, strategize, develop business and maintain relationships have all contributed to his success.

In 2011, Mr. Potter founded Copara International which marketed financial research from Value Line to the Arab region. Copara provided technical research versus fundamental data as marketing instruments for quantifying selected public companies for client and institutional trades and investments. He personally negotiated with Value Line the international distribution rights regarding both terms and conditions. In less than 11 months, Mr. Potter established several funds in the Middle East using ValueLine research. One fund was capitalized and managed by the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (the 50th strongest bank in the world). He also was successful in marketing a high yield fund for Thomson Reuters with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi and The National Investor, a top boutique investment banking house located in Dubai. He was also responsible for engaging with the Abu Dhabi Investment Company (Invest AD) an assignment to incorporate a quantitative ranking system, with a $30 million GCC/MENA fund, managed by Invest AD.

In 2012, Mr. Potter founded C3 Summit LLC. Some of the more notable global dignitaries who have key noted past C3 Summits and received the prestigious C3 Lifetime Achievement Award have included: President Bill Clinton; Dr. Henry Kissinger; His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa; HRH Prince Faisal Bun Bandar Al Saud; Khalad Ahmed Al Habtoor; General Wesley Clark and General David Petraeus.

The mission of C3 Summit, as noted on its website http://www.c3summit2018.com is to ensure that both US and Arab businesses grow and prosper by providing unique and valuable commerce opportunities. By creating a global forum for both the US and the Arab world to explore private and public sector growth and employment generation, C3 Summit encourages each region to open new opportunities on the commercial front to enhance "knowledge transfer" and the welfare of freer trade. Since its founding, C3 Summit has partnered with XS conferences in Saudi Arabia to develop the highly successful Saudi-American Healthcare Forum, held annually at the Riyadh Ritz Carlton since 2014. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, both of whom were engaged by Mr. Potter, the Saudi-American Healthcare Forum, with the leadership of Mr. Potter, has attracted leading healthcare professionals and institutions including, among others: Johns Hopkins, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, Cleveland Clinic. Sponsors recruited by Mr.Potter have included, to name a few, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Google, Microsoft, all of whom continue to support the C3 Summits.

Most recently, Mr. Potter, in partnership with XS Conferences &Exhibitions, led a reverse trade mission to the 2018 Jeddah Economic Forum comprised of CEO's from the private and public healthcare and business sectors.

Prior to founding Copara and C3 Summit, Mr. Potter was in Private Wealth Management with Morgan Stanley and licensed with a Series 7, Series 66 and Series 3. Morgan Stanley recognized the value of Mr. Potter's experience and relationships and, in 2007, they invited him to join the firm. Until December of 2010, Mr. Potter served as a Senior Partner on their Private Wealth Management team responsible for identifying viable business opportunities among high net worth clients, families, hedge funds and foundations. His introductions had been a cornerstone of the team's success producing more than $250 million of net new assets in 36 months.

In 1992, Mr. Potter founded Kinloch Marketing and occupied the role of CEO until 2007. Kinloch designed and brought to market sales lead generation and management systems for the Insurance, Banking and Energy industries. Kinloch's success was a direct result of Mr. Potter's leadership and a network he established with senior executives of Fortune 1000 companies.

In 1990, his previous achievements were recognized by Flair Communications and he was asked to run their NY office. He merged R.N. Potter Associates with Flair's New York office and built that regional office in to the largest of their five domestic offices, leaving in 1992 to establish Kinloch Marketing. He formed R.N. Potter Associates in 1984, a marketing and sales organization, which he headed until 1989. During that time, Mr. Potter personally initiated, negotiated and developed one of the largest independent contracts for advertising billboards with the Penn Central Corporation.

In 1980, Mr. Potter, together with a partner, started On Line Media, an innovative supermarket ad company. Within three years, they took On Line Media public, raising capital and watching the stock soar. Upon selling his shares of On Line Media in 1984, he formed R.N. Potter Associates. Mr. Potter, a graduate of Syracuse University, has six children and, with his wife, lives in Sag Harbor, NY.