Dr. Houriya Kazim - BSc, MPH, MB BCh, LRCP&SI, BAO, FRCSI, FRCS (Eng)

Medical Director and Consultant Breast Surgeon

After attending medical school in Ireland, Dr. Houriya returned to the UAE to intern at a government hospital in Dubai. There, she began treating women with the most advanced breast tumors she had ever seen - not even in medical textbooks. She learned that superstition, fear, lack of knowledge and mainly modesty, prevented many Emirati women from seeking treatment from the country's predominantly male medical establishment. In fact, at the time, there were no female surgeons in the UAE. She resolved to change that!

Dr. Houriya pursued further training in General Surgery and Surgical Oncology at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London and the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas and returned to the UAE as its first female surgeon. Motivated by what she’d seen during her internship, she created an ambitious outreach program to educate women about breast cancer, taught them about breast (and body) awareness, and offered treatment advice and options.

In 2006, she opened the country’s first Well Woman Clinic staffed exclusively by women for all women's healthcare needs. She also established Brest Friends, a charity organization which includes the first breast cancer support group in Dubai. In 2015, Brest Friends partnered with Al Jalila Foundation, a non-governmental organization established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The joint mission is to promote early detection of breast cancer, expedite support with medical treatment and research into the epidemiology of breast cancer in the UAE and the region.

Dr. Janeta Atanassova, MD
Specialist Gynecologist

Originally from Sofia, Bulgaria, Dr. Janeta started her career there as an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University Hospital in Sofia, and then went on to pursue postgraduate medical training in the UK, the Netherlands and in the USA. She has brought to the Well Woman Clinic, a rigorous standard of practice in gynecological and obstetric healthcare, compassionate caregiving and superior diagnostic and treatment abilities. Her commitment to her patients’ well-being has built her a long-standing list of  (deleted) patients that rely on her for all their gynecological health needs.

Dr. Janeta is an expert in gynecological and obstetric ultrasound. She uses the modality to screen for potentially fatal abnormalities and to diagnose uterine and ovarian pathology. She also performs colposcopy examinations and treatments. In line with modern surgical trends, Dr. Janeta uses minimally invasive surgical techniques such as laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, as required.

Dr. Janeta’s specialty areas of gynecology and obstetrics are: management of the menopause, screening and management of cervical disease, diagnosis and management of menstrual disorders, laser vaginal rejuvenation (LVR), and cosmetic gynecology procedures.

Dr. Annalisa Perego, MD
Specialist Breast Surgeon

Dr. Annalisa Perego obtained her medical degree from the prestigious University of Milan-Bicocca, Italy, as well as her postgraduate diploma in General Surgery, sub-specializing in Breast Surgery. She has more than 15 years of combined regional and international medical experience in several countries including Italy and UAE.

In her career she has practiced in leading medical institutions such as the Breast Unit in Monza, Lecco and the National Cancer Institute of Milan, Italy, before moving to Dubai in 2016. She manages breast diseases -both benign and malignant- from diagnosis to surgical treatment, constantly focused on patient wellbeing. She has presented various papers in national and international congresses and journals, and organised educational courses for physicians and people.She has a special interest in high risk patients who carry a genetic mutation or those who have strong family history of breast cancer.

She is a member of A.N.I.S.C (Associazione Nazionale Italiana Senologi Chirurghi) and she worked for non-profit breast cancer organizations like LILT (Lega italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori). In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Annalisa volunteers in various charitable surgical campaigns around the world to treat many patients, who otherwise have difficulty to medical access.

Dr. Barbara Karin Vela - MRCGP (Int) BScMScHons (Underwater Medicine)
Specialist Family Medicine

Dr. Barbara Karin Vela is a well-rounded family physician with expertise in a multitude of medical fields, including diving medicine and Pediatrics. She graduated from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Medicine in 2000 and began working as a General
Practitioner, initially in Croatia and then in the UAE since 2004.

She has worked as a GP at busy multi-specialty hospitals in Dubai, and as a part-time school doctor from 2014 to 2021. After becoming a certified recreational diver herself, Dr Karin Vela pursued and obtained a diploma in diving medicine in 2012. She is qualified to perform assessments of working and recreational divers, or compressed air workers, and can manage diving accidents and advise diving contractors.

Dr Vela aims to build lasting and trusted relationships with her patients and their families. Every patient’s personal situation is different, and Dr Vela believes that the best family doctors will work with each individual, and their families, to find the best health solutions possible. Her approach is holistic, patient-centered and evidence-based. Using her training and experience, as well as the latest scientific data, Dr Vela helps her patients prevent, understand and manage their health conditions, prioritize and set health goals, and navigate the healthcare system in the UAE. She will always take time to listen and address the concerns of her patients and their families.

Dr. Shereen Habib - MBBS  BSc  DRCOG  PGCertMedEd
Women’s Health and General Practitioner

Dr Shereen Habib is an experienced clinician and women’s health expert. Since qualifying from the University of London in 1997, she has had a broad and diverse career. She trained as  general practitioner, and took a special interest in women’s health. Since then she has worked both in the National Health Service in the UK and in the private sector at Well Woman Clinic in Dubai.

Having grown up between the UAE and the UK, she speaks both English and Arabic fluently and is culturally aware of the diverse range of health beliefs and expectations in the region.

She is experienced in dealing with breast symptoms and disease, menstrual problems, menopause, investigating fertility issues, sexual health and women’s health screening.

As a remote lecturer at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Shereen is a knowledgeable educator, and she is passionate about empowering women about their health through education and awareness. She is a founding member and president of a women’s health NGO for refugees and migrants and regularly volunteers in Greece at a safe space for women and girls from a nearby refugee camp.

She is also the chief medical officer for Formula One Abu Dhabi – a role she is very proud of as one of only a few women in leadership positions in motorsports. In her spare time she enjoys reading, travelling, ice baths, and socialising with friends and family.