Executive Committee

The ASPED Executive Committee for the term 2021-2024.

Prof. Asma Deeb
President, ASPED
United Arab Emirates

President's Biography

Asma Deeb, is the Chair of Paediatric Endocrinology and the Chair of the Research Ethics Committee at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, AbuDhabi, United Arab Emirates. She is a clinical professor of Paediatrics at Khalifa University, AbuDhabi and the Gulf University, Ajman, UAE.

Prof Deeb is the current president of the Arab Society of Paediatric Endocrinology, a former chair of communication at the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and a former advisory member at the International Society of Paediatric and Adolescents and diabetes (ISPAD). She is an executive member of the Global Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and the international society of paediatric and adolescent diabetes. She is an Associate Editor of Pediatric Diabetes and an editorial board member of Diabetes technology and treatment.

Prof Deeb is a keen researcher and has multiple peer reviewed publications in the field of paediatric endocrinology and diabetes. She has significant leadership skills that expands nationally and internationally and has received multiple distinguishing awards as a clinician, researcher and leader.

President's Statement

I lived through ASPED progress form its initial foundation. I have established the main founding strategies for ASPED and collaborated successfully with colleagues from the region and internationally to drive the society. I was successful in obtaining multiple educational grants to run various ASPED scientific and academic activities over the years. On behalf of ASPED, I lead the business relationship with Dubai association Center and more lately with Dubai economy and tourism.

I see myself well-suited for the position of ASPED president and I shall invest my leadership skills and experience to promote ASPED success and sustainability. My current and previous international positions at ESPE, ISPAD and international consortium of paediatric endocrinology set me best for a successful path in ASPED leadership.

Prof. Rasha T. Hamza
Vice President, ASPED
Egypt

Vice President's Biography

Prof Hamza is the Head of Pediatric Endocrinology and Obesity Unit, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. In addition to her usual commitments, she has various administrative roles at national, regional and international levels. She is an ASPED founding member and is currently the ASPED Vice President. She served as the director of ASPED membership Board, and the membership number grew nicely to nearly 600 members in the past three years. Rasha is also the current chair of ESPE Education and training Committee since 2019. She has been a faculty member in numerous ESPE Schools and organized two ESPE Winter Schools in Egypt which were the first in Africa. In addition, she raised fund for and hosted the ASPED-ESPE Endocrine Academy in Cairo in 2022 which was a great success. She is also a steering Committee member of ASPED-ESPE Endocrine Academy since 2015. Moreover, Rasha is an advisory Board member of American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE). She is an editorial board member of the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism (JPEM), Global Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (GPED) newsletter and Frontiers Clinical Diabetes and Health Care; and an academic editor in “Pediatric Diabetes” and African Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology (ASPAE) Journal. She has been a guest speaker in various national, regional, and international conferences. She has special interest in puberty, DSD and obesity with numerous international publications in the field of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes.

Vice President's Statement

The birth of ASPED was one of my proudest moments and being one of its founders is a bright spot in my career. Some might say that most international societies have no Vice President (VP) and that VP is only needed when President is on holiday! I would say ASPED is an exception. It is a highly demanding society with numerous activities thus, the presence of VP is essential to support the President and Secretary General for a better future of ASPED.

My administrative experience at national, ASPED, ESPE, AACE and ASPAE levels together with my communication skills, enthusiasm, versatility, fund-raising abilities, and my role in the growth of ASPED membership made me suitable for being the ASPED VP. Being the current VP, I know the ins and outs of ASPED which ensures a smooth continuity of work in the coming years. Moreover, I have collaborated with ASPED members and fitted-in nicely with most of them. ASPED is close to my heart, and I strongly feel that I have a lot to offer as an executive leader to push the ASPED forward at regional and international levels.

Dr. Abdelhadi Habeb
Secretary General, ASPED
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Vice President's Biography

Dr Habeb is Pediatric Endocrinologist at the National Guard Hospital, Madinah, KSA and the Secretary General for the Arab Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ASPED). He is a fellow and examiner for the UK Royal College of Pediatrics and Child health, an Academic Editor to Pediatric Diabetes Journal, an Associate Editor for Journal of Pediatric Genetics and a member of the ESPE education and training committee. His research focuses on monogenic diabetes and published in different aspects of Paediatric Endocrinology.

Secretary General's Statement

I have been honoured to be elected the ASPED secretary General (SG) in 2018 and, if re-elected, it will be my pleasure to continue serving the society for another term to complete some projects along with my colleagues.

Along with other council members, we did our best to overcome many challenges to move the society forward. I led the process of revising the bylaws and encouraged many young endocrinologists to engage in the ASPED activities and politics. Given the limited resources, what has been achieved is incredible. Perhaps the highlight of our success is publishing some ASPED studies and statements in respectable international journals and maintaining our academies, in collaboration with ESPE and ISPAD. These academies were conducted in different Arab countries expanding the number of ASPED members to above 500.

I understand the responsibilities and the challenges of the SG of a developing society and I believe that I have the time, vision and the required abilities for the position. Obviously there will be some obstacles; however, team work and self-motivation are the keys for success and these are some of my natural strengths.

Years Since Inception

Activities Organized

Attendees Turnout