Prime Highlights:
- Dr. Mariam Salem Al Khatri is the first Emirati doctor to specialize in laparoscopic bariatric surgery, performing around 800 procedures and setting a milestone in UAE healthcare.
- She emphasizes that obesity treatment is not just about surgery, but requires long-term lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, and patient commitment.
Key Facts:
- Ibrahim Obaidullah Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah is the first government hospital under Emirates Health Services to offer laparoscopic bariatric procedures.
- Surgical options include gastric plication, gastric sleeve, and intragastric balloon, with treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs and health condition.
Key Background:
Dr. Mariam Salem Al Khatri is the first Emirati doctor to specialize in laparoscopic bariatric surgery, a significant achievement in the UAE. She has performed around 800 procedures and has strong experience in minimally invasive weight-loss surgery.
She studied medicine at Dubai Medical College, earning a degree in Internal Medicine and Surgery. She then did postgraduate studies in gastroenterology in the UK and trained in ERCP at the Catholic University of Rome. Dr. Al Khatri now heads the Endoscopy and Gastroenterology Department at Ibrahim Obaidullah Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, the first government hospital under Emirates Health Services to offer laparoscopic bariatric procedures.
Initially drawn to liver surgery, Dr. Al Khatri eventually focused on gastrointestinal endoscopy and laparoscopic bariatric surgery. She says that surgery is just one part of treating obesity. Patients need to follow a weight-loss plan before surgery and continue it afterward for lasting results.
The type of surgery is chosen for each patient and can include gastric plication, gastric sleeve, or an intragastric balloon. For high-risk patients or those not ready for major surgery, laparoscopic interventions can serve as a transitional step toward more invasive procedures.
She also emphasized the value of approaching it as a team, such as making preoperative checks and postoperative step-by-step nutrition plans. Most patients can lose 20–25% of their weight in a year and improve conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Dr. Al Khatri believes that combining international training with local experience gives Emirati patients access to top-quality care, showing how Arab women are advancing healthcare in the UAE.
Read Alsp : Bahraini Designer Fatima Dito Puts Slow Fashion on the Global Map
