Dr. Ali Nizar Latif Chief of Strategic Planning and Performance - HMC​

Ali is the Chief of Strategic Planning and Performance at Hamad Medical Corporation leading numerous strategy, planning and performance initiatives across the organization. He has helped plan the establishment of several new hospital facilities and fund key investments addressing national and organizational priorities. Being committed to data-driven decision-making, he continues to lead on enhancing the quality and availability of data and intelligence to ensure patients get the best care possible.

A public health physician by background, he has previously worked across a range of different healthcare organizations in the United Kingdom including hospitals, primary care trusts and the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE). He is a keen advocate of universal healthcare, exploring ways to ensure policy and care delivery mechanisms facilitate the safest and most equitable care for all.

Dr. Mitchell Stotland Division Chief & Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery - Sidra Medicine

Dr. Mitchell Stotland is Vice Chair, Department of Surgery, Division Chief, Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery, and Medical Director, Perioperative Services at Sidra Medicine in Doha, Qatar. Completed medical school and plastic surgery residency at McGill School of Medicine, Montreal, Canada (1989), and craniofacial surgery fellowship at University of California, Los Angeles (1997). Practiced at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (1997-2014); founded the “Face of a Child” multidisciplinary craniofacial anomalies program (2000). Obtained MS degree (Health Service Research) from the renowned Dartmouth Institute (2007). Founded and chaired the Tanzer Plastic Surgery Symposium (2005-2013).

Founding division chief, Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery at Sidra Medicine; Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery Weill Cornell Medical College – Qatar (2014-); Medical Director, Perioperative Services (2019-); Vice Chair, Department of Surgery, Sidra Medicine (2021-). Introduced several new and complex plastic surgical procedures – and a multidisciplinary approach to craniofacial care – to Qatar. Founded and chaired “Artificial Intelligence and Medicine – Bringing Digital Breakthroughs to the Bedside” symposium at Sidra Medicine (May 2023, April 2025).

Dr. Stotland’s clinical expertise is in the treatment of cleft lip/cleft palate, craniofacial anomalies, facial trauma, and total ear reconstruction. His research focuses on the assessment and measurement of facial deformity through development of novel machine learning models. He completed the MIT Professional Education course “No Code AI and Machine Learning. Building Data Science Systems” (June-September 2023) and serves as Associate Editor for the Nature portfolio journal Digital Medicine.

Dr. Mohamad Saad Senior Scientist- Hamad Bin Khalifa University

Dr. Mohamad Saad is a Research Scientist in the Data Analytics group at Qatar Computing Research Institute. He joined QCRI in February 2017 and works on topics in Statistical Genetics, Biostatistics, and Bioinformatics. Dr. Saad has a background in applied mathematics and statistics. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Applied Mathematics (Majoring in Statistics) at the Lebanese University in 2006, before he moved to France where he obtained his master's degree in Statistics/Biostatistics from the University of Montpellier II, Monpellier in 2007, and his PhD in Statistical Genetics/Biostatistics/Bioinformatics from the University of Paul Sabatier III, Toulouse, in 2012. In Summer 2012, he moved to the United States for a Postdoctoral Senior Fellow position at the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Washington, Seattle, as a Postdoctoral Senior Fellow and stayed until Fall 2016. Dr. Saad has many peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals including Nature Genetics, The Lancet, and Genome Research.

Prof. Feras Al Ali Director of Research and Graduate Studies at Qatar University Health Sector

Professor Feras Alali is the director of research and graduate studies at Qatar University Health sector. He holds a Bsc in Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology - Jordan and PhD in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, Indiana. He is a distinguished academic leader and scholar whose career has been defined by advancing excellence in pharmacy education, research, and healthcare innovation. He has held senior leadership roles (dean, director, associate vice president) at Qatar University and internationally, where he has spearheaded transformative initiatives that strengthened research capacity, elevated graduate programs, and positioned institutions on the global academic stage.

A recognized authority in drug discovery and development, Professor Alali has made significant contributions to natural product–based therapeutics and is widely published and highly cited in his field. His leadership has resulted in the establishment of pioneering research units and centers, enhanced international rankings, and the cultivation of a vibrant environment for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Throughout his career, Professor Alali has demonstrated a consistent commitment to quality, innovation, and impact—mentoring future scientists, shaping policy, and promoting excellence in education and research. His influence extends globally, earning him recognition among the world’s top cited scientists and prestigious awards for scientific achievement and academic leadership.