Sheikha Alia Humaid Al Qassimi is an Emirati surgeon with a specialism in

gynaecology Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined a ...

plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptab ...

and

reconstructive surgery Reconstructive surgery is surgery performed to restore normal appearance and function to body parts malformed by a disease or medical condition. Description Reconstructive surgery is a term with training, clinical, and reimbursement implica ...

. She was the first Emirati to become a senior member of the European Society of Aesthetic Surgery, and has since sat on its scientific committee. Qassimi has worked internationally to bring developments in her field to the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia ( The Middle East). It is located at ...

, and was named Inspirational Woman of the Year at the Arab Woman Awards in 2016.

Career

As a child, Alia Humaid Al Qassimi suffered from

asthma Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, c ...

, and was inspired by her doctors to pursue a career in as a medical professional. She pursued a specialism in

, becoming the first Emirati surgeon to gain senior membership in the European Society of Aesthetic Surgery. She said that part of her role was the travel in Europe to learn new techniques, and then bring them back to the

to teach others there. As part of this overseas collaborative work, she attended the

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is a medical professional and educational institution, which is also known as RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ireland's first private university. It was established in 1784 ...

at its

Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics ...

campus, graduating in 2008 with a

Master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in Healthcare Management. Qassimi was also part of the Women Leadership Exchange Programme, an effort between the UAE government and

Lund University , motto = Ad utrumque , mottoeng = Prepared for both , established = , type = Public research university , budget = SEK 9 billion Qassimi sits on the board of the non-government organisation, Women for Sustainable Growth, which seeks to expand the sharing of knowledge between the Middle East and Scandinavia for the benefit of women. She is employed as the Chief Executive of the Social Care and Development sector of the Dubai Government, and leads two taskforces in the Dubai disability strategy for 2020 as part of her role as a subject matter expert for the Community Development Authority. In 2017, she was appointed to the scientific committee for the European Society of Aesthetic Surgery's world conference in

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), an ...

, Spain.

Awards

In 2016, she was named the Inspirational Woman of the Year at the Arab Woman Awards. She said that the awards would inspire her to further her work, adding "The UAE provided us with help and support and that increases our determination to be its ambassadors and inspire generations in the future." The following year, she won the Woman Leader Award at the Global Women's Leaders Conference in the Community Development Excellence category, on the 19th occasion of the conference as it was held in Dubai.

Personal life

Qassimi is married and has five children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Qassimi, Alia Humaid Living people Alumni of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Emirati Muslims Women gynaecologists Emirati plastic surgeons Lund University alumni Emirati women Alia Humaid Year of birth missing (living people)