PGY-5s

Shafic Abdulkarim

Hometown: Aleppo, Syria

Degrees: MD, Aleppo University '18; MSc Experimental Surgery, McGill University '21 (candidate)

Hobbies: Basketball and Swimming (previously competed for the Syrian National team), Crossfit, playing Piano (I have a degree in piano from the Arab Institute of Music)

Favourite Vacation Spot: Paris, France

Rabab Alabdullah

Hometown: Kuwait City, Kuwait

Degrees: MD, University of Malta '17; Medical Internship & Surgical Assistant, Mubarak Alkabeer Hospital '17-'19

Hobbies: Basketball, violin, drawing

Pets: 2 cats. They are in Kuwait

Favourite Vacation Spot: Beach and sea, nature in general, traveling and discovering new cities. Japan is the dream trip

Sarah Al Ben Ali

Hometown: Kuwait

Degrees: BMSc, Kuwait University '14; MD, Kuwait University '17; Internship, Kuwait '17-'18; General Surgery Assistant Registrar, Kuwait '18-'20

Hobbies: Fitness, travelling, designing

Favourite Vacation Spot: Los Angeles

Salem Alramadhan

Hometown: Kuwait

Degrees: MBChb, University of Aberdeen ’17; Internship Year, Glasgow Royal Infirmary ‘17-’18; Assistant Registrar, MOH Kuwait ‘18-‘19

Hobbies: Football Skiing Photography Gaming

Favourite Vacation Spot: Lofoten - Norway

Abdullah Alshammari

Hometown: Kuwait City, Kuwait

Degrees: MB BCh, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland ‘17; Medical Internship, Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations ‘18

Hobbies: Fishing, Video Games, Soccer

Favourite Vacation Spot: Tokyo, Japan

Natasha Caminsky

Hometown: Montreal, Canada

Degrees: BSc Honours Genetics & Major Physiology, Western University '14; MSc Biochemistry, Western University '16; MDCM, McGill University '19

Hobbies: Cycling, yoga, hiking, cooking, traveling, crocheting, taking care of my fish and plants

Pets: Yes, three fish

Favourite Vacation Spot: Zanzibar

Élise Di Lena

Hometown: Montréal, Canada

Degrees: Medicine Preparatory year, McGill University '11; MDCM, McGill University '17

Hobbies: Running, playing soccer, baking, my cat, reading, writing, traveling

Pets: A cat named Momo, a fish tank, and too many plants

Favourite Vacation Spot: Italy, especially Tuscany and the South-East coast (Puglia, Molise, etc)

Araz Kouyoumdjian

Hometown: Montréal, Canada

Degrees: Preparatory year, McGill University '15; MDCM, McGill University '19

Hobbies: Horseback riding, Yoga, Hiking, Reading, Biking, Crochet

Pets: Not yet, but a dog is planned for the near future

Favourite Vacation Spot: New-Caledonia

Stephan Robitaille

Hometown: Montreal, Canada

Degrees: HBSc, University of Ottawa '15; MDCM, McGill University '19

Hobbies: Cycling, Soccer, Auto mechanics, Cooking, Food, Fitness

Pets: I wish

Favourite Vacation Spot: Anywhere with a beach

PGY-4s

Mohammad Abbas

Hometown: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Degrees: MD King Abdulaziz University ‘16; Resident General Surgery King Abdulaziz University ‘17-20; Demonstrator King Abdulaziz University ‘18

Hobbies: Soccer, baseball, video games, technology, fiction & fantasy novels, and travel

Favourite Vacation Spot: Spain

Alia AlHareb

Hometown: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Degrees: MD, United Arab Emirates university ‘18

Hobbies: Art and art history, Broadway and musicals and all things food.

Favourite Vacation Spot: New York

Huseen Alibrahim

Hometown: Kuwait City, Kuwait

Degrees: MD, University of Malta '18; Internship, Kuwait '18-'19; General Surgery assistant registrar, Mubarak Alkabeer Hospital Kuwait '19-'21

Hobbies: Reading, jogging, traveling and the martial art of Kendo

Favourite Vacation Spot: Paris, France

Luai AlMarzouki

Hometown: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Degrees: MBBS, King Abdulaziz University '15; MSc Experimental Surgery, McGill University '19

Hobbies: Football

Pets: Not yet, but working on getting a dog

Favourite Vacation Spot: Greece

Ahmad Almusaileem

Hometown: Kuwait

Degrees: BMSc, Kuwait University '15; MD, Kuwait University '18; Internship, Kuwait '18-'19; Assistant Registrar, General Surgery, MOH Kuwait '19-'21

Hobbies: Football and travelling

Favourite Vacation Spot: Italy

Hamad Alsuwaidi

Hometown: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Degrees: MB BCh BAO Royal College of Surgeons Ireland '17

Hobbies: Fishing, travelling, going to the beach

Favourite Vacation Spot: Italy, Spain, France

Neyla Boukhili

Hometown: Montreal, Canada

Degrees: Medicine preparatory year, McGill University '16; MDCM, McGill University '20

Hobbies: Travelling, arts & literature, cinematography, dogs

Pets: I’m the cool aunt to my roommates’ chihuahua and bichon frisé

Favourite Vacation Spot: Istanbul

Tiffany Paradis

Hometown: Montreal, Canada

Degrees: BSc, McGill University '15; MDCM, McGill University '20

Hobbies: Spending time with my puppy, reading (non-medical stuff)

Pets: Dog

Favourite Vacation Spot: Greece

PGY-3s

Hamda Almarzooqi

Hometown: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Degrees: University of Sharjah MBBS 2019

Hobbies: Sports, travel, trying new food

Favorite vacation spot: Maldives and Japan

Nouf AlMarzooqi

Marya Alsuhaibani

Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Degrees: MD Qassim University, Saudi Arabia ‘18 ; Resident General Surgery Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Saudi Arabia ‘19-21; Demonstrator Princess Nourah University ‘19-22

Hobbies: Traveling, interior design

Favorite vacation spot: Maldives

Josie Cipolla

Hometown: Montreal, Canada

Degrees: B.Sc. Psychology major, Education minor, McGill University '13; B.Sc. (Nutr.) Dietetics, McGill University '16; M.D.,C.M., McGill University '21

Hobbies: Time with family and friends, cooking and trying new restaurants, travelling and planning the perfect itinerary, reading, interior design

Favourite Vacation Spot: Italy has it all: food, beaches, historic cities, countryside, mountains and (in my case), extended family!

Olivia Ganescu

Hometown: Montreal, Canada

Degrees: BSc Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University '17; MDCM McGill University '21

Hobbies: Long distance running, volleyball, paint-by-numbers, making Spotify playlists

Favourite Vacation Spot: Greece vs. Ireland vs. (next stop Hawaii)

Dylan Grisell

Hometown: Toronto, Canada

Degrees: BSc Honours Biology, Florida State University '17; MD, University of Calgary '22

Hobbies: Diving, skiing, hiking, good food, houseplants

Favortie vacation spot: Greece vs. Italy

Pets: Cudi, a four year-old tabby

Frederic Grou-Boileau

Hometown: Montreal

Degrees: Medicine Preparatory year, McGill University ‘17; MDCM, McGill University ‘21

Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, cross-country skiing, running, cycling, classical piano

Favourite Vacation Spot: Gaspésie

Talal Hijji

Talal Hijji

Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Degrees: MBBS, Alfaisal University ‘20

Hobbies: Cooking, Hiking, Video games

Favorite vacation spot: Greece

David Levi

Hometown : Montreal, Canada

Degrees : B.Sc. Neuroscience, McGill University ’16; M.Sc. Neuroscience, McGill University ’18; M.D., Université de Montréal ’22

Hobbies : Supporting the Habs and Liverpool FC, Fantasy Premier League, cycling, reading.

Pets: Skye, a five-year-old Cockapoo

Favorite vacation spot: cruising the Aegean Sea

Shuaib Nasser Aldalal

Hometown: Kuwait

Degrees : MBBS, Jordan University of Science and Technology, 2018

Hobbies: Calligraphy

Favorite vacation spot: Mashhad

Gaida Noman

Hometown: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Degrees: MBBS, King Abdulaziz University '18; Internship, King Abdulaziz University '19

Hobbies: Snorkeling, meditation and traveling

Vacation spot: Italy and Vienna

Anna Wang

Hometown: Moved around! (China, Toronto, New York, Montreal)

Degrees: BSc Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University '17; MDCM McGill University '22

Hobbies: Volleyball, weight-training, puzzling, travel, all animals

Pets: Nala (labradoodle)

Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere where I can explore food and culture (but Japan has my heart)

PGY-2s

Husain Alabdalrahman

Dr. Alabdalrahman graduated from Kuwait University with a BSc in Medical Sciences in 2018 and an MD in 2021. He worked at Farwaniyah Hospital as an assistant registrar.

Away from work, he is an athlete, and used to compete in Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit competitions, and he likes watching criminal documentaries.

Saud AlButhi

Dr. Al Buthi was born and raised in Riyadh. He completed his medical degree at KSAU-HS, Saudi Arabia before joining McGill General Surgery.

Saud interests outside of medicine include traveling, watching movies and soccer.

Hashem Busalha

Dr. Busalha graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and worked as an assistant registrar in General Surgery Farwaniya in Jaber Hospital in Kuwait.

In his free time he likes to watch and play football (soccer) and he likes exploring new places he has not visited before.

Alex Chen

Dr. Chen did his BSc in Biomedical Sciences & Computer Science in his hometown of Ottawa and his medical degree at McGill.

Outside of the hospital, Alex enjoys playing board games, rock climbing, playing guitar and piano.

Victoria Hayman

Dr. Haman is from Montreal and completed a BSc in Physiology and graduated medical school from McGill University.

Outside of medicine Victoria’s hobbies include hiking, spinning, baking, keeping her balcony plants alive and hanging out with her cate, Evie.

Fatemah Husain

Dr. Husain is from Kuwait. She graduated from Kuwait University.

Away from work, she enjoys skydiving, travelling and watching movies.

Abdulaziz Kabli

Dr. Kabli graduated from Kuwait University with a BSc of Medical Sciences and an MD after which he completed an internship in Mubarak Hospital.

Outside of medicine, he enjoys traveling, exploring new places, reading, watching movies and playing video games.

Andrew Meng

Dr. Meng completed his BSc in Pharmacology and his MD at McGill University.

Andrew enjoys playing sports (soccer, tennis and volleyball) climbing, cooking and listening to 2000sway from music.

Ahmed Safar

Dr. Safar graduated from Kuwait University with a degree in Medical Sciences in 2018and an MD in 2021.

Ahmad, in his free time enjoys spending time with his family, playing soccer, squash, padel and of course traveling.

PGY-1s

Faris AlFarsi

• I was born in Sultanate of Oman
• I obtained my MD at Sultan Qaboos University
• I have previously I completed an Internship in SQUH, Oman
• I choose Surgery because the combination of intellectual challenge, hands-on experience, and the ability to make an immediate impact on patients' lives is deeply rewarding.
• My short term goal is to complete residency and fellowship training - Achieve board certification. Engage in research and publications - Build a professional network,. Long term: Contribute to medical innovations Mentor and educate future surgeons Achieve leadership positions Enhance global health through medical missions
• Hobbies: Hiking, playing padel tennis

Eliana Al Haddad

• I was born in Lebanon, and raised in Kuwait, and have always had an interest in life science. I attended pre-med and medical school in Lebanon and graduated with a specific interest in paediatric cardiothoracic surgery. My research career began soon afterward, working as a principal investigator in general and bariatric surgery, as well as a research fellow at Columbia University Medical Centre in paediatric CT surgery.
• I choose Surgery as I’ve always enjoyed using my hands. I’ve also always gravitated towards helping people, becoming active in any emergency that presented itself. I honestly can’t see myself doing anything else!
• My goal: Short-term: to try to make the most of the residency program at McGill, being surrounded by some of the most talented surgeons in the world, and try to adapt the skill set from each doctor to add them to my portfolio of knowledge. Long-term: I hope to be able to work with MSF one day, it’s always been my dream.
• In my free time, I enjoy water colouring, baking treats, pole sports and going for jogs that sometimes turn into hikes. I have an unseemly attachment to animals and like playing board games. I love playing the piano, sketching and painting, putting together furniture, sewing, cooking and baking. I’m a proud Lebanese chef, any and all recipes with a flair of the levant, that’s my mraba (jam). I’m a dedicated painter and pole sports enthusiast with a small asthmatic cat I need to inhalate twice daily

Lenah Alhazmi

• I was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I obtained my MBBS, King Abdulaziz University
• I choose General Surgery has always been my passion because it provides diverse opportunities to make a meaningful difference in patient's lives and presents new challenges every day. There's no such thing as a routine in surgery - each case is unique, with different settings, emergencies, and opportunities to save lives.
• Personal Journey: There's this incredible staff member who I truly admire. She's an exceptional surgeon who is deeply loved by her patients, students, and residents. I aspire to be like her in the future.
• My goal is to become a skilled and compassionate surgeon, who can help to others and continuously strive for self-improvement.
• Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, travelling and trying new restaurants

Asma Alhubail

• I completed medical school in AlAhsa, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
• I was enrolled in a surgical residency program before starting at McGill.
• My hometown where I grew up is considered the largest Oasis in the world.
• What drew me to general surgery is the variety, there is no dull moment in sight, and things are always changing and developing inside and outside the OR.
• There is a large culture of fear and stigma attached to surgery back home, I want to be part of changing that culture and empowering people to seek help, and take charge of their health, and change the perspective people have toward surgery and surgeons.
• Hobbies: Being a couch potato, occasionally watching/playing video games, reading, and I love big family and friends get togethers

Abdulmuhsen AlMutairi

• I did my medical school in Kuwait University and graduated in 2021 and finished my internship in Farwaniyah Hospital, then I worked for another year as an assistant registrar in general surgery in Jaber Al-Ahmed Hospital.
• I choose Surgery to provide the definitive treatment to the patient and see how they improve shortly after the surgery
• What motivated me to become a surgeon is the relief on patients faces that I noticed after a surgical intervention and having the opportunity to encounter a large spectrum of patients. My career goals are to be a safe surgeon who can make the right decision.
• In short term I would love to take all the opportunities to learn and improve my knowledge, as well as my skills. For the future I want to be a safe surgeon who makes the right decisions and to guide my juniors to pursue their dreams.
• I enjoy playing and watching soccer, as well as brewing coffee.
• Hobbies: I do the best cold brew coffee in Kuwait. I do brew the best coffee in Kuwait

Abdulla Alshehhi

• I am from the United Arab Emirates, I was born and raised in Abu Dhabi in a family of 7.
• Studied in American school until I left to Ireland for Med school.
• I choose General Surgery- out of the other specialities, surgery to me provided most logic, teamwork and straightforwardness in patient are. I am more skill-oriented compared to theory. Anatomy was my favourite topic in college and navigating the body always enticed me.
• As part of my military training, I was exposed to military medicine which included preventative medicine, trauma management and medical security.
• The technicality of surgery and the team effort involved is what fits my personality the most. My main focus is to provide better surgical care in war-zones in an efficient matter.
• I enjoy reading fantasy books, attending theatres and musicals. As well as running sprints and thai boxing. Storytelling. In all its forms whether its a book, a show, a movie or a play. Additionally I enjoy challenging myself physically. I always look for new was to build a healthier ways, whether its martial arts, yoga, callisthenics or simply working out.

Carla Apostolova

• I was born and raised in Montreal and grew up with many different interests and hobbies, which is probably why I gravitated towards such a broad and holistic specialty such as general surgery.
• As a general surgeon, you are equipped with vast medical knowledge and diverse surgical expertise which allows you to care for even the sickest patients who come through the hospital doors. I loved the variety of pathologies you are exposed to in General Surgery which help you become extremely competent medically, procedurally and surgically as well as one of the most well-rounded physicians in the hospital. Above all, I found that participating in patients’ surgical journeys, from acknowledging their suffering on presentation to participating in their surgery in the operating room and rejoicing in their progress together on the wards were always my most rewarding experiences in medical school.
• I joined medical school at McGill through the Med-P program and discovered my passion for surgery at the end of my first year when I stepped foot in an OR for the first time. Because I really enjoy working and getting to know different types of people.
• Short-term goal, I hope to continue gaining competence and confidence as a researcher by pursuing a graduate degree in epidemiology or public health through the Surgical Scientist Program. For now, my long-term aspirations involve establishing an academic practice, combining my interests for providing specialized care with research and teaching. While passionate about surgical oncology, I remain open to many fulfilling careers in General Surgery. My ultimate goal, however, is to emulate my McGill mentors who are valued professors and global leaders in General Surgery, consistently contributing to the advancement of patient care.
• Among my hobbies, tennis is the one that has stuck with me the longest. I played competitive tennis as a teenager and even coached for a few years in my early adulthood. Moderate heavy weights and in the winter, love to hit the slopes skiing and love to explore the Montreal good scene.

Devangi Patel

• I was born and raised in Montreal. I completed a pharmacy degree at Université de Montréal prior to pursuing my medical degree at McGill.
• I previously worked as a pharmacist prior to starting my medical degree.
• I choose Surgery: I love the hands-on, tangible dimensions of surgery. I like general surgery specifically because we combine a lot of medical and surgical aspects of medical treatment plans.
• I think surgeons make a huge difference in their patients' lives. I hope to work in a practice where I can continuously improve care for my patients and my community.
• Short-term goal is to survive first year of residency! Long-term: find my niche in general surgery, decide what kid of future practice I would like.
• Hobbies: I enjoy boxing and kickboxing recreationally!