Archives: Specialized Doctors

Dr. Heidi Kussman is a Canadian-trained, Board-certified Naturopathic Practitioner (FABNO) since 2010, re-certified in 2020, and has held a license in good standing to practice Naturopathic Medicine since 2002. With over 20 years of experience, she is recognized for her patient care and ethical approach in integrative oncology. Dr. Kussman is an excellent communicator with strong presentation skills, strategic problem-solving abilities, and a meticulous analytical mindset. She is dedicated to patient-centered integrative oncology care and has a positive impact on patient outcomes. She holds a Global Research Scholars Certificate from Harvard Medical School (2023-2024), a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (2002), and a Bachelor of Science from The University of Victoria (1997). Dr. Kussman has the DOH and DHA licenses to practise in the UAE and across her career she has excelled in various capacities in clinical leadership and patient care management. 

Doctor Dror Paley has performed 25,000+ surgeries. Patients come to see him from over 100 countries. He is the CEO, founder, and Medical Director of the Paley Orthopedic and Spine Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, 2009-present and the founder of the Paley European Institute in Warsaw, Poland, 2018 to present. He found the Paley Middle East Clinic on January 9th, 2023. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in limb lengthening and reconstruction. Dr. Paley trained under the guidance of Prof. Gavril Ilizarov during multiple visits to Kurgan, Soviet Union. He introduced the Ilizarov method to the US and Canada in 1987. He was the founder and first president of the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society in 1989 and the International Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society in 2015. He was an adjunct Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and consultant at the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 2010-2014. He holds an academic appointment as a Professor of Orthopedics at the University of Vermont and Florida Atlantic University. He sits on the Board of Governors of St. Mary’s Medical Center. He is fluent, writes, reads, and lectures in six languages. He runs the Paley and UnLIMBited Foundations and makes mission trips worldwide. His areas of expertise include,

• Limb Lengthening
• Limb Reconstruction
• Perthes Disease Since 1989, When He First Developed the Method of Articulated Hip Distraction for Perthes
• Femoral Head Reduction Osteotomy
• Multiplier Method of Prediction of Leg Length Discrepancy and Timing of Epiphysiodesis

Dr. Michael George Uglow has 33 years of experience in the field of orthopedics with various prestigious institutions. He’s an expert in pediatric foot deformities, limb length discrepancy, deformity correction, pediatric trauma and emergency services, foot and ankle disorders along with arthroplasty, sports injuries, orthopedic services, and lower limb abnormalities for patients of all ages. Prior to joining Paley Middle East Clinic, Abu Dhabi, he worked as a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi. He began his career as a Senior House Officer at Southampton General Hospital.

Dr. Abdulkader Hamad is a distinguished orthopedic spinal surgeon specializing in pediatric and adult spinal deformity, revisional spinal surgery, and complex major spinal trauma. He graduated with commendation from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland in 2006 and has trained at the renowned Stoke/ Oswestry Orthopedic training program. In 2017, he achieved the FRCS (orth) from the Royal College of Edinburgh, followed by the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).  Dr. Hamad’s fellowship training at Salford Royal Infirmary and Manchester Children’s Hospital, supplemented by additional experience from Bordeaux and Dublin, highlights his commitment to excellence in his field. He is an active member of the British Scoliosis Society (BSS) and the British Association of Spinal Surgeons (BASS). Dr Hamad has 18 years of NHS experience and worked as a consultant at the University Hospital North Midlands, a major trauma center for complex spinal emergencies as well as a tertiary center for spinal deformity and complex spine pathology. Dr. Hamad brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record in complex and revisional spinal surgeries, including minimally invasive surgery (MIS). His expertise extends to running and setting up multi-disciplinary team meetings and training future specialists, underscoring his capabilities and leadership in orthopedic surgery. Fluent in both Arabic and English, Dr. Hamad is dedicated to providing evidence-based complex spinal surgery and is committed to integrating training and teaching into his professional ethos. 

Procedural Experience

• Pediatric Scoliosis and Kyphosis Correction, Including Growing Rods.
• Complex Primary and Revisional Adult Reconstructive Surgery for Flatback Syndrome and Scoliosis.
• Microscopic Lumbar Discectomy and Decompression of the Lumbar Spine.
• Thoracic Decompression and Fusion.
• Interbody Fusions, Including TLIF and Minimally Invasive Anterior Surgery (DLIF, OLLIF, and ALIF).
• Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion (ACDF) and Cervical Disc Replacement (ACDR).
• Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion for Myelopathy and Trauma.
• Cranio-Cervical Fixations.
• Thoracolumbar and Spinopelvic Fracture Fixation.
• Fragility Fracture Surgery, Including Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty.
• Decompression and Fusion for Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression.
• Stabilization, Decompression, and Biopsy for Infections of the Spine.
• All Spinal Injections and Radiofrequency Ablation for Back Pain.

Dr. Ahmed Ismail Ahmed Hammouda is a distinguished orthopedic surgeon with a remarkable career in the medical field. He serves as a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Al-Azhar University Hospitals. Since March 2023, he has been the Director of the Limb Lengthening, Deformity Correction, and Reconstruction Unit for both adults and pediatrics at Al-Azhar University Hospitals. His specialties include functional and cosmetic limb lengthening, addressing limb length discrepancy, and correcting limb deformities related to congenital, developmental, post-traumatic, post-infectious, and neuromuscular conditions. He also manages congenital limb deficiencies. Dr. Hammouda utilizes a variety of limb lengthening and deformity correction techniques, including external fixation, internal devices, telescopic nails, fixator-assisted internal devices, and guided growth. He is skilled in using computer-assisted frames for complex deformity correction and lengthening. His expertise extends to treating conditions such as osteogenesis imperfecta, Blount disease, skeletal dysplasia, bone nonunion, and bone infections, as well as orthopedic trauma in both adults and pediatrics. In addition, he has served as the Director of the Medical Committee for Treating Faculty Members of Al-Azhar University since September 2019, where he is responsible for overseeing the medical care of over 20,000 faculty members. Dr. Hammouda’s innovative approach was demonstrated during his tenure as the Director of Outpatient Clinics at Al-Azhar University Specialized Hospital from February 2020 to August 2021. During this time, he successfully transitioned the clinics to a paperless system using the Zcare medical system.

Dr. Loay Saleh Basha is a Canadian physician with more than three decades of clinical experience spanning orthopedics, neurosurgery, emergency medicine, and offshore occupational healthcare. He graduated with an MD diploma from the Faculty of Medicine at Damascus University in 1992. Throughout his career, Dr. Basha has served in various prominent healthcare institutions in the UAE and beyond, combining his extensive clinical knowledge with practical expertise in trauma management, surgical assistance, and patient-centered care. He specializes in managing upper and lower limb fractures, including reductions under conscious sedation and cast applications. He is also involved in patient admissions and plays a critical role in improving the hospital’s electronic medical record systems, where he has been designated as a ‘Super User’.

From 2013 to 2019, Dr. Basha worked as a Medical Officer for ZADCO, an offshore oil company, where he provided frontline medical care to oil and gas personnel. He was responsible for pre-employment screenings and managed offshore clinic operations, while also contributing to the enhancement of electronic documentation practices. He was actively involved in the management of neurosurgical patients across inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings. Dr. Basha assisted in a wide range of surgical procedures, including treatment of head injuries, spinal trauma, and neurosurgical emergencies such as intracerebral hemorrhages, skull fractures, and subluxations. He has supported major elective surgeries including brain tumor resections, aneurysm repairs, spinal tumor excisions, and craniofacial reconstructions. Earlier in his career, he was deeply involved in both emergency and neurosurgical care. His responsibilities included handling a broad spectrum of emergency cases ranging from general medicine to psychiatry and police cases. He was also instrumental in mentoring and training new medical staff joining the department. His broad and interdisciplinary expertise, combined with a strong track record in emergency and surgical environments, underscores his commitment to patient care and healthcare excellence. 

Dr. Kaveh Asadi is a board-certified adult and pediatric neurosurgeon. He specializes in pediatric neurosurgery and brings extensive experience in minimally invasive surgery and neuroendoscopy. His unique skill set includes: foramen magnum decompression, tethered cord releases, selective dorsal rhizotomy, intra dural tumor and syringomyelia treatment and craniofacial surgery for congenital anomalies. These neurosurgical services complement and expand the orthopedic treatment of patients with dysplasia, neuromuscular disorders, arthrogryposis and other conditions treated at the Paley Institute. Dr. Asadi was previously the Director of Pediatric Skull Base Surgery and Neurosurgical Oncology and Co-Director of the Craniofacial Surgery and Neurofibromatosis Center, at AdventHealth for Children Hospital in Orlando. He completed his residency in Neurosurgery at Ohio State University, followed by a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in 2012. He graduated from the Julius-Maximilian-University Würzburg School of Medicine and received his Ph.D. from the Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf in Germany, in 2004.

Dr. Matthew Dobbs, MD, FACS is a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Paley Middle East Clinic in Burjeel Medical City and Director of the Dobbs Clubfoot Center at the Paley Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida.  He is specialized in foot and ankle surgery. Before joining Paley Institute, he was the Dr. Asa C. and Mrs. Dorothy W. Jones Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and the Director of Strategic Planning at Washington University School of Medicine.  He also Co-Directed an NIH-funded musculoskeletal genetics research laboratory and was the Founder (2001) and Director of the Clubfoot Clinic at Saint Louis Children’s from 2001-2020.  He has been named a Top Orthopedic Surgeon by US News & World Report, Top Doctors, Castle Connelly, Consumers’ Research Council, Orthopedics This Week, the International Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, and St. Louis Magazine. He has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and the LA Times. He is internationally recognized for his expertise and innovation in the field of pediatric foot and lower limb deformities as well as in the management of patients with cerebral palsy spasticity.

Dr. Dobbs trained under the guidance of Professor Ignacio Ponseti (Ponseti method). Since that time, he has introduced the Ponseti method for clubfoot management to surgeons in more than 50 countries. He has established a “train the trainers” program for clubfoot management where key thought leaders from different countries are identified and brought to him for intense training in the method so that they are then empowered to return home and train other surgeons in their own country.  Patients travel to see Dr. Dobbs from all 50 states and from more than 65 countries over six continents (North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia). Dr. Dobbs has lectured and taught in more than 60 countries and has run an international fellows training program for more than 15 years.  He is the current President of the United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI), President of the International Federation of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons (IFPOS), President of the SICOT Foundation, Director of the International Clubfoot Congress, Secretary of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons (ABJS), and Senior Editor for Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research (CORR).  He served as the inaugural Research Academy Chair of SICOT and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America (POSNA). He has presented over 300 talks at major national and international scientific conferences, published over 160 scientific peer-reviewed medical journal articles including publications in the New England Journal of Medicine and Nature Methods, written over 30 book chapters, and authored a textbook. He has been a visiting professor at institutions in over 60 countries. He is actively involved in the teaching of medical students, residents, and fellows, and visiting national and international orthopedic surgeons.

Dr. Dobbs has received numerous research awards including the Nicolas Andry Award, Hunterian Gold Medal for his work isolating the gene responsible for the triphalangeal thumb, and the Kappa Delta Award (orthopedic surgery’s Nobel Prize). He has received the Best Paper Award at AAOS, SRS, POSNA, SICOT, and the European Federation of National Association of Orthopedics and Traumatology (EFORT). His humanitarian work at home and abroad has been recognized with the Humanitarian Award—Shujaa Award For Compassionate and Exceptional Care to The Immigrant Community in St. Louis and the Guardians of Childhood Award. He has published over 160 peer-reviewed articles, authored over 30 book chapters, and authored a textbook. He was the Dr. Asa C. and Mrs. Dorothy W. Jones Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and the Director of Strategic Planning at Washington University School of Medicine. He also co-directed an NIH-funded musculoskeletal genetics research laboratory and was the Founder (2001) and Director of the clubfoot clinic at Saint Louis Children’s from 2001-2020. He received subspecialty training in pediatric orthopedics and pediatric spinal deformity at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Saint Louis in 2001. He was also awarded the SRS Traveling Fellowship.

Dr. Dobbs is an innovator in minimally invasive surgery for congenital and developmental foot and lower extremity deformities as well as torticollis. (e.g. congenital vertical talus, congenital knee dislocation, nail-patella syndrome, congenital muscular torticollis, and lower extremity tendon lengthening in patients with cerebral palsy spasticity).  His technique to treat congenital vertical talus, a severe rigid flatfoot deformity present at birth, for example, has revolutionized the treatment of vertical talus and is now being utilized successfully across the world.  Much like the Ponseti method for clubfoot treatment, the Dobbs method for vertical talus correction relies on gentle manipulation of the foot followed by serial casting, a small surgical procedure, and bracing to provide full correction and avoid more extensive surgery.  By avoiding more extensive surgery, the child’s foot flexibility is maintained while the child grows.  This leads to excellent correction and maintenance of foot flexibility long-term. His multi-disciplinary approach to congenital muscular torticollis relies on careful and accurate diagnosis, followed by specific physical therapy, bracing, and botulinum toxin injections.  The technique allows the avoidance of surgery in most young patients. He developed a serial casting technique for congenital knee dislocation which provides excellent correction without the complications of major surgical intervention.

He has partnered with a neurosurgeon to provide a unique approach to patients with cerebral palsy spasticity.  After spasticity is removed through a neurological procedure called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), Dr. Dobbs performs percutaneous tendon lengthening for lower extremity contractures. This management strategy allows an early return to ambulation and improved gait and function long-term. Dr. Dobbs also developed a brace to maintain clubfoot correction. The brace, which bears his name, is utilized in over 50 countries and has helped thousands of clubfoot patients avoid relapse and the need for further intervention.

Dr. Claire Shannon is a distinguished orthopedic surgeon specializing in pediatric orthopedics, with a remarkable dedication to the field of deformity correction and limb lengthening. Her journey in medicine began at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, where she earned her medical degree from 2006 to 2011. Following her passion for orthopedics, Dr. Shannon completed her residency in Orthopedic Surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, affiliated with Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, from 2011 to 2015, where she also served as Chief Resident during her final year.

Eager to further her expertise, Dr. Shannon pursued a Clinical Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics at the prestigious Hospital for Sick Children at the University of Toronto in 2016-2017. This experience deepened her understanding and skills in pediatric orthopedic care, laying the groundwork for her future contributions to the field. In 2017, Dr. Shannon joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where she held the position of Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine until 2019. During her tenure, she also served as the Director of the Pediatric Limb Reconstruction Program, a testament to her leadership and expertise in complex pediatric orthopedic procedures. In 2019, Dr. Shannon brought her talents to the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute, where she continues to make significant strides in pediatric orthopedics. Her commitment to the advancement of her field is evident through her active involvement in the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America and the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society. Dr. Shannon is not only a committee member but also plays a pivotal role in numerous multicenter research projects and the education of physicians in pediatric orthopedics and limb reconstruction techniques.

David S. Feldman, MD is a world-renowned, American Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with expertise in treating complex pediatric and adult orthopedic procedures and treatments. He has over 25 years of expertise in pediatric orthopedics, spinal deformity, and joint preservation. He is the Paley Institute’s, Associate Director. Dr. Feldman is a visiting Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Paley Middle East Clinic.
Dr. Feldman is an expert in treating spine abnormalities such as scoliosis and kyphosis and complicated disorders such as arthrogryposis, achondroplasia, MHE, hip dysplasia, and Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease.
Dr. Feldman introduced the use of a computer-assisted device to create and implement surgical procedures for repairing limb deformity, using hip distraction to treat Legg Calves Perthes Disease, and avoiding infections following spine surgery. He is actively working on several clinical research projects to treat arthrogryposis, scoliosis, multiple-hereditary exostoses, hip dysplasia, and limb lengthening. His areas of expertise include,

• Spine Deformity Correction
• Treatment of  Hip Disorders
• Pediatric Orthopedics

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