Nancy Elbarbary
Chair of Diabetes research and Diabetes Clinical Practice Guidelines Nominee
Committee Chairs Elections
Chair of Diabetes research and Diabetes Clinical Practice Guidelines

Biography
Member of several professional societies, both national and international, such as International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), the Egyptian Society of Childhood Diabetes and Endocrinology (ESDEP), and Arab Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ASPED).
Has international links to both ISPAD and ESPE. Contributed to the ESPE e-learning program and participated in ISPAD Guidelines 2018 in two chapters and in the IDF-DAR Diabetes and Ramadan Practical Guidelines 2021“Management of Type 1 diabetes when fasting during Ramadan”. Also, participated in International Consortium of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Adolescence and updated chapter of ISPAD Guidelines 2022. Translated web site of Beyond type 1 diabetes supported by JDRF in Egyptian Arabic language.
Is a Steering Committee member of ASPED-ISPAD Diabetes Academy since 2016 and the head of diabetes committee and scientific research in ASPED. Invited speaker at regional meetings of professional specialty societies, international meetings and symposia.
Serves as invited reviewer in more than 30 international peer-reviewed journals. Member in the Editorial Board of more than ten international journals and a member of research and ethics committee at Ain Shams University hospital, Cairo.
Published over 50 papers in international and local periodicals and journals and supervised more than 60 thesis (both Master and MD), all were accepted. Supervised and helped in the writing of ” Protocol of management of DKA in Type 1 Diabetes” which is made specific for Egyptian doctors treating diabetic children. Helped in writing teaching materials in my native language [Arabic] that are distributed freely and available throughout the region.
Participated as a principal investigator in trials sponsored by Diabetes associations and is involved in many other international clinical and basic research projects as country representative of Egypt in TEENs registry study, FITTER and SWEET. Received several international professional prizes, awards, grants and special recognitions from different Egyptian Academic Societies and from the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology for distinguished international publications. Have been awarded in the name of Country’s president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi; the First-Class Medal of Honor Award for Medical Science and State Academic Recognition Achievement.
Biography
It is extremely important for the chair to promote a constant, reputable public face to ASPED community which I have. In the past years, I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of initiatives and international committees in the field of guidelines as ISPAD and ESPE.
I believe I have the experience and temperament to be a respected chair in our community that can successfully represent ASPED to other international organizations and continue to build relationships with other societies.
However, I feel the most important qualities of chair are supportive leadership, organizational skills, vision, and passion. ASPED is my primary commitment, and I am prepared to dedicate all of the necessary time to maintain and expand that committee with all the linking that it needs.
I would be honored to lead the diabetes research and guidelines programming, advocating, and developing our own guidelines specific for the region as Fasting in Ramadan that we worked vigorously on and published for the first time in Pediatric Diabetes Journal” ISPAD Clinical Practice Consensus Guidelines: Fasting during Ramadan by young people with diabetes”. Moreover, I was involved in several ASPED publications that needed to disseminate diabetes research proposals to key researchers in various ASPED countries in the planned multi-center projects; including continuous glucose monitoring, neonatal diabetes, a survey of physicians’ perceptions and practices during Ramadan fasting in children and adolescents all of which were published in high impact factor journals. Also, I was responsible for updating ASPED web site regarding diabetes which involves not only ASPED publications but also all currently updated international guidelines from different international Societies. Moreover, I served as a Steering Committee member of ASPED-ISPAD Diabetes Academy since 2016 and was involved in organization of this academy throughout years with huge success yearly. Fortunately, we managed to publish all conference proceedings for diabetes academy in the past years. In addition, as a part of ASPED research ethics committee, we approved several, projects performed under ASPED umbrella.
Moving from the scientific part into activity part, we performed several art competitions for children with diabetes that explored their perceptions of diabetes obtained through drawing in childhood and adolescence with great talent in drawings and was useful in detecting problems of psychosocial adaptation in children with diabetes and in improving communication with health professionals.
I want to provide ASPED opportunities for growth and leadership experiences in the field of diabetes research and update members with the latest regional and international diabetes practice guidelines. I hope to continue to help shape and develop ideas and discussions that promote strong publications in the region.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Nancy Elbarbary
Chair of Communication Committee

Sarah Ehtisham
Chair of Communication Committee Nominee
Biography
Dr Ehtisham has been a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at Mediclinic City Hospital in Dubai since May 2016 and is Adjunct Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at Mohammed Bin Rashid University Medical School in Dubai. Prior to joining Mediclinic City Hospital, she was a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist and Clinical Lead for diabetes at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, UK and she was also an honorary senior lecturer in Endocrinology at the University of Manchester. She has also worked as a Paediatric Endocrinologist in Melbourne, Australia.
Dr Ehtisham received her PhD in Childhood Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in 2006 and her CCST in Paediatric Endocrinology in 2007.
Biography
Communications encompasses many different modalities – emails, newsletters, printed materials, website, social media etc and I have experience in all of these areas through my work with ESPE. I served on the ESPE Website editorial board from 2011-2014 and since 2014 I have been a member of the ESPE Communications Committee. I have been the ESPE Newsletter editor since 2017. I am also an active member of ISPAD and have just been elected to the ISPAD Advisory Council.
I use Twitter and Instagram and regularly post about Diabetes and Endocrine topics.
I hope to be able to use my previous experience and links to assemble a great team and forge a strong communications strategy for ASPED.
Chair of Education Committee

Salwa Musa
Chair of Education Committee Nominee
Biography
- Pediatric Endocrinologist at Gaafar Ibn Auf (GIA) Tertiary Pediatric Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan and Assistant professor of Pediatrics at AL-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan.
- General secretory of Sudan Society for pediatric Endocrinology and DM (SSPED).
- General secretary, academic office in pediatric residency program at Sudan Medical Specialization Board (SMSB).
- Active member in Sudan Childhood DM Association (SCDA) & SCDA Clinics’ supervisor responsible for 25 pediatric diabetes clinics all over the country.
- A Life for A child (LFAC) program coordinator in Sudan.
- Executive member and head of academic and training committee of Sudan Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship Program (SPEFP).
- Member of ASPED, ASPAE & ESPE
- Representative of SUDAN in ASPED
- Active member in ASPAE CAH group.
- Has special interest in pediatric Adrenal disorders and enhancing diabetes care in resource limited countries with many researches and active contribution in this field.
Biography

Rasha Odeh
Chair of Education Committee Nominee
Biography
Dr. Odeh Has co-founded the service of pediatric endocrinology at Jordan University Hospital. She is Jordan’s representative in the Arab Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes and served as deputy chair of Diabetes Research and Diabetes Guidelines Committee since 2018.
Dr Odeh has several publications and served as an invited reviewer for several peer reviewed journals. She is currently a member of the first Arab Board Committee for pediatric endocrinology.
Biography
I chose the education committee because it fulfills my passion for continuous medical education and promoting the field of pediatric endocrinology. Since joining the University of Jordan, four of our residents pursued pediatric endocrinology subspeciality abroad and we trained several pediatricians from other institutions in the country. I am also interested in delivering education to allied health professionals such as nurses and dieticians.
I recently joined the first Arab Board Committee for Pediatric Endocrinology. I see this as a great opportunity to translate the efforts of education into a structured training program in all ASPED countries that ends with a recognized certification.
Chair of Endocrine Research and Endocrine Clinical Practice Guidelines

Abdulsalam Abu-Libdeh
Chair of Endocrine Research and Endocrine Clinical Practice Guidelines
Biography
- Consultant Pediatrician & Pediatric endocrinologist.
- Head of Pediatric Endocrinology unit at the Department of Pediatrics, Makassed Hospital, Jerusalem, Palestine.
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics & Pediatric Endocrinology at the School of Medicine, Al-Quds University.
- Palestinian Board in Pediatrics on 2001
- Jordanian Board in Pediatrics on 2004
- Palestinian Board in Pediatric Endocrinology on 2010
- Master’s in Public Health on 2021
- Licensed to practice medicine in Palestine on 1995
- President of Pediatric Society – Palestine.
- Member of the Pediatric Scientific Committee of the Palestine Medical Council (PMC). Participated in preparing and conducting Part I and Part II exams of the PMC.
- President of Palestinian society of Endocrinology & Diabetes.
- Palestine representative of ASPED (Arab Society for Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes).
- Secretary General of Union of Arab Pediatric Societies (UAPS).
- Head of Scientific committee for the Medical Association of Palestine.
- Member of the E-Learning Committee of the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE).
- Member of the Standing Committee of International Pediatric Association (IPA).
- Assistant Editor-in-Chief of the IPA Newsletter 2021-2023.
- Member of Scientific Research Council (2021).
- 28 publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- Participated in studies for the use of GLP-1 in pediatric diabetic patients and currently participating in ongoing study for the use of DPP4 inhibitors in pediatric diabetic patients.
Biography
To advance ASPED endocrine research and clinical practice and to promote members to participate in clinical study and research groups.
Major initial projects:
- Assemble leaders from the different countries and form study groups in the different sub fields of Pediatric Endocrinology such as growth, puberty, obesity, DSD, thyroid, Adrenal and Calcium homeostasis and Others.
- The task of each group would be to identify 3 clinical and 3 research projects to be implemented by members from at least 5 ASPED countries. The time line for this mission should be 6-9 months and it will include the definitions of the subjects for research and identification of the endocrinologists that will lead and participate in each group.
- Acquire funding for both clinical and basic research by approaching both ministries of health and national research funds as well as the Pharma industry when research is related to their products (GH, Decapeptyl, GLP-1, )
- Establishing an annual meeting with an organizing committee that will include primarily 5 members and the local team from the hosting country.
- Establishing competitive grants to be distributed following a scientific review and scoring.
- Strengthening the ASPED schools for Pediatric Endocrinology by recruiting the health ministry in the hosting country to support the teaching staff and facility.
Being involved in both clinical and basic research studies, my personal scientific enthusiasm that starts in clinic with the single patient and goes on into basic translational research is a model; for that I will try to promote and further establish in ASPED.
As chair of the Palestinian Pediatric Society for the last 6 years raising funds for both meetings schools and research, and the Secretary general of the Union of Arab Pediatric Societies and a member of the Standing committee in the International Pediatric Association (IPA), I believe that I could contribute to further develop the scientific skeleton of ASPED.

Ibrahim Al Alwan
Chair of Endocrine Research and Endocrine Clinical Practice Guidelines
Biography
Prof. Al Alwan joined the College of Medicine, Riyadh (COM-R), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in September 2004, and promoted to Full Professor in December 2012. Prof. Al Alwan was appointed Dean, COM-R, KSAU-
HS in December 2010 to November 2014.
Has served the Medical Education field locally as previous member in Pediatric Saudi Board, initiated and Chaired the Saudi Board for Pediatric Endocrinology from year 2002-2010. Initiated and Chaired the Pediatric Endocrine chapter of the Saudi Pediatric Association from Dec. 2004 to present. Internationally, as President of Association for Medical Education in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (AMEEMR) from year 2011-2020.
At present, he holds the position of Vice-President, Postgraduate Education KSAU-HS. He is a member of various committees in KAMC-R, KSAU-HS, Arab Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ASPED) as member and Chairman of Endocrine research. A member of the Board of Trustees – Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS).
Biography
Initially, I graduated from King Saud University in 1988. I obtained my MRCP UK in 1995, American Board of Pediatrics in 1996, and FRCPC in 1997. Was eventually appointed as Consultant Pediatrician and Pediatric Endocrinologist in 1999. I became the founder of the Saudi Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship Program in 2004 and served as Chairman until 2012.
I joined the College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences as an Assistant Professor in 2004 and was later on promoted to Professor in 2012. I became the Dean of COM in 2010 for 4 years. Internationally, I held a position as President of the Association for Medical Education in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (AMEEMR) from 2011 for 9 years. An active member and Chairman of Arab Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ASPED) for 4 years. At present, I hold the position of Vice President, Postgraduate Education KSAU-HS.
I am a researcher in the field of Pediatric Endocrinology and my research interests include Type II diabetes mellitus in children, puberty, growth disorder, adrenal disorder;.and congenital hypothyroidism. The range of my research and publications are case reports, field clinical studies, and international clinical trials. Had several funded research projects reaching up to SR 2 Million per project.