Uniting for Health: Healthcare Research & Innovation Working Group AI Literature Review

Date: Thursday, May 28th, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM CT | 5:30 PM Cairo

The Healthcare Research and Innovation working group will be sharing their initial findings into their research examining what the current literature reports on safe, independent AI use by patients and providers in each of their own countries —particularly regarding patient verification practices and provider attitudes, patient guidance, and workflow considerations when patients bring AI-generated information to clinical visits, as part of their efforts in the working group under the U4H initiative.

SESSION SPEAKERS:

Prof. Haleama Al Sabbah currently serves as a Full Professor of Public Health Nutrition at Abu Dhabi University, UAE, bringing over 20 years of expertise in academia, scientific research, and leadership in public health and health sciences programs. She holds a Ph.D. in Medical Sciences from Ghent University, Belgium, where her research focused on public health nutrition, lifestyle, and nutrition-related behaviors, supported by a prestigious Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) scholarship. She advanced her academic training by completing a post-doctoral fellowship as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Tufts University in Boston, USA.

Prof. Al Sabbah has extensive experience in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in public health and nutrition and has supervised numerous master’s and doctoral theses. Her research portfolio spans key public health challenges, including obesity, diabetes, maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, nutrition epidemiology, and refugee health. She has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications, including 61 indexed in SCOPUS. In addition to her academic contributions, Prof. Al Sabbah is an active mentor and a sought-after international keynote speaker. She has played a leading role in regional and global public health initiatives, serving as a consultant for prominent global health organizations, including UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). Her work reflects a strong commitment to advancing public health education, policy, and practice in the MENA region.

‍

Professor Mahmoud Elfiky is a Professor of General and Pediatric Surgery at Kasr Al Ainy School of Medicine, Cairo University, with a distinguished career in clinical practice, research, and academic leadership. His work focuses on pediatric surgery, surgical outcomes, and genomic medicine, particularly the genetic basis of congenital anomalies such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia and esophageal atresia.

He has contributed to major international collaborations including ASOS, GlobalSurg, and COVIDSurg, with publications in leading journals such as The Lancet and British Journal of Surgery. Professor Elfiky has also played a key role in building research capacity and international partnerships across Africa and globally. He serves as board member for the World Federation of Associations of Pediatric Surgeons (WOFAPS), International Pediatric Endosurgery Group (IPEG) and African Perioperative Research Group (APORG).

‍

Dr. Shuhong Luo earned her Bachelor of Medicine in Nursing from Peking University Health Science Center (formerly Beijing Medical University), one of China’s most prestigious medical institutions. She completed all of her advanced degrees in the United States, obtaining an MSN in Nursing Informatics from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, an MBA from SUNY Oswego, and an EdD in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She also holds a U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) license and a Quality Matters (QM) certification, underscoring her commitment to excellence in both practice and education.

Her research centers on advancing technology-enabled solutions in nursing and healthcare. She focuses on optimizing clinical workflows, leveraging AI to improve access and reduce information gaps between providers and patients, strengthening cross-sector coordination through technology, evaluating interface usability, managing cognitive load in digital learning environments, and applying mixed methods research to guide innovative, technology-enhanced teaching and practice. Dr. Luo’s work bridges nursing and technology, reflecting her commitment to advancing innovation in both practice and education. In addition to multiple peer-reviewed publications, she has developed and published two mobile educational apps for Android and iOS: one supporting the learning of mixed methods research design in collaboration with Dr. John W. Creswell, and another helping clinicians apply clinical guidelines in partnership with Dr. Ann Botash.

Dr. Naoual Oukkache is an internationally recognized expert in toxinology, with a focus on snake and scorpion envenomings. Her research spans venom characterization, antivenom development, and toxin-based translational medicine, including the discovery of therapeutic molecules derived from venoms with antiviral and anticancer potential, aiming to advance innovative therapeutics and public health strategies.

She actively contributes to global initiatives, providing training, research leadership, and policy guidance. Dr. Oukkache serves as a national member of Morocco’s program for the control of scorpion and snake envenomings, shaping public health responses and clinical management strategies.

A leader in scientific collaboration, she organized the 1st Workshop on Translational Venomics Medicine (2017) and the 2nd Workshop on Translational Venomics Medicine (2025), convening international experts to advance translational research in envenoming. Her work bridges basic research and applied public health, positioning her as a leading figure in the global fight against venomous animal envenomings.

‍

Dr. Eman Elsokary is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing at the Faculty of Nursing, Helwan University, Egypt. She is currently a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow at Vanderbilt Universityʼs Peabody College, specializing in Education Administration, Planning, and Policy. Dr. Elsokaryʼs work focuses on maternal health, nursing education innovation, and strengthening healthcare workforce capacity through evidence-based training approaches. She currently serves as a government stakeholder representative with International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), contributing to the development and review of international standards for continuing education and training. Dr. Elsokary is also a member of the Accreditation of Medical Education and Continuing Professional Development Committee at the Egyptian Health Council and contributes to international initiatives focused on higher education quality assurance and workforce development, including collaborations with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and the Texas International Education Consortium. Her work aims to bridge the gap between academic preparation and clinical practice while supporting scalable models for improving maternal and newborn healthcare education globally.