Faculty
Dr. Nama Ahmad
Director, AEMIS course
Director, Emergency Medicine Department, Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel.
As a leading expert in Emergency Medicine, Dr Ahmad Nama completed his medical degree at the University of Szeged, Hungary, and a clinical fellowship in Emergency Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia. He is committed to fostering global healthcare collaborations, hosting international Fellowship doctors and students. In his humanitarian work, Dr Nama provided medical assistance to refugees at the Ukraine/Poland, organized in collaboration with Hadassah International. He has received several awards including a certification of appreciation for outstanding contribution to the development and promotion of NICEM. His special interests include emergency ultrasound, critical care, airway management, and peripheral nerve blocks.
Dr. Jim Connolly
Co-director, AEMIS course
MBBS FRCS (Ed) FRCS (Glas) FCEM PGCert (Emergency US) CFEU, Emergency Department
Great North Major Trauma Centre Newcastle-upon-Tyne UK
Has worked as a Consultant in the great North Trauma and Emergency Care department, Newcastle-upon-Tyne since 2002, one of the largest trauma centres and Emergency Departments in the UK
He was amongst the first ED Physicians in the UK to adopt Point of Care Ultrasound (PoCUS) recognising it’s potential to establish more rapid diagnoses in time critical patients, especially in the resuscitation room as well as its ability to improve clinical acumen and skill s
He developed one of the first UK PoCUS courses in 2001 and since then has taught on numerous UK courses as well as directing and teaching on over 60 International Courses and assisting overseas colleagues in the development of US courses in several countries.
He innovated a number of new courses and published a number of papers and co-authored books on Point of Care Ultrasound including a new book “Ultrasound in Emergency Care” He has been Chair of the European Society of Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Section and also chair of RCEM (UK) Ultrasound group and am on the IFEM Ultrasound Committees.
He has helped to develop procedural courses in Emergency care.
Some have sais I am a little obsessed with Ultrasound!! However from the outset I have truly believed it will fundamentally alter the course of medical practice.
Prof. PV van Heerden
Core Faculty, Aemis course
Director, General Intensive Care Unit, Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
Professor van Heerden completed his medical training with a MBBCh, MMed and PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Following which he completed specialist training in anesthesia and critical care in South Africa, the UK and Australia. He is the founding President of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, and is the author of approximately 200 scientific publications. In addition, he has been and instructor on the difficult airway, including surgical airway access, for more than 20 years.
Prof. Bala Miklosh
Core Faculty, Aemis course
Prof Miklosh Bala is a Director of Trauma and Acute care Surgery Unit of Department of General Surgery at Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. He completed his residency in General Surgery in Hadassah Medical Center, and a Fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care in Shock Trauma, in Baltimore, MD. Prof Bala is an active member of AAST, ESTES, and ISS. He runs multiple educational activities in Hadassah Medical Center as well as Nationally including: ATLS, DSTC, Disaster Management, Emergency Surgery. He is the past Chairman of Israeli Emergency Surgery and Trauma Society.
Dr. Tural Alekberli
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr. Tural Alekberli, MD, M.Sc., is an accomplished Anesthesiologist specializing in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, and Obstetric Anesthesia. He serves as a Staff Anesthesiologist at Edmundston Regional Hospital, Vitalité Health Network, affiliated with the University of Sherbrooke, Canada. Dr. Alekberli completed his medical education at Ondokuz Mayıs University, Turkey, and furthered his training with a residency at Hadassah Medical Center, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
He honed his expertise through Fellowships in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine and Obstetric Anesthesia at Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto. Known for his expertise in nerve block techniques with significant contributions to anesthesiology research, Dr. Alekberli is a recognized leader in perioperative patient care and medical education, with numerous awards and publications to his name.
Dr. Anja Kéry- Candela, MD MMEc
Our instructors, Aemis course
Senior Physician at the University Clinic for Emergency Medicine, Swiss Trauma Centre, University Hospital Inselspital Bern, Switzerland. With a comprehensive background as an orthopedic surgeon, traumatologist, interventional pain therapist, and emergency physician, she is committed to advancing trauma care and education.
Holding a Master of Medical Education, Dr. Kery-Candela is passionate about teaching and fostering skill development at all levels of medical training. Her expertise spans surgical airway management, trauma resuscitation and engaged in trauma ultrasound. While thoracotomy remained a core part of her training, she has shifted focus on REBOA.
With a strong focus on international, interdisciplinary, and interpersonal collaboration, she is dedicated to driving innovation in trauma care and mentoring the next generation of medical professionals.
Dr. Najib Nasrallah
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr. Najib Nasrallah is a distinguished figure in the field of emergency medicine, serving as the Director of the Emergency Department at Nazareth Hospital EMMS, one of the oldest and largest hospitals in the Middle East located in Nazareth, Israel. In addition to this pivotal role, he holds a senior position in the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Department at RAMBAM Health Care Campus.
Dr. Nasrallah’s passion for advancing medical technologies is evident in his dedicated work in the field of ultrasound. As a prominent member of the Ultrasound Faculty of the European Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM), he actively contributes to the integration of cutting-edge ultrasound techniques in emergency medical practices.
His commitment to education and knowledge-sharing is further exemplified by his role as the Director of the Regional Advanced Point-of-Care Ultrasound International Congress held in Nazareth. This congress, organized in collaboration with EUSEM, has become a prominent platform for national and international professionals in the emergency medicine field to exchange expertise and stay abreast of the latest developments in ultrasound technology.
Dr. Najib Nasrallah’s visionary leadership and dedication to advancing emergency medicine, particularly in the realm of ultrasound, make him a respected figure among peers and a driving force in the international medical community.
Dr. Ashley Matthies FRCEM MSc
Our instructors, Aemis course
Ashley is a consultant in Emergency Medicine working at the Homerton Hospital in East London, with specialist interests in resuscitation, trauma and point-of-care ultrasound. He has obtained an MSc degree in ultrasound and sits on the POCUS committees of the British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) and European Society of Emergency Medicine (EUSEM). He is one of the regional ultrasound leads for the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), and supervises ultrasound for trainees in emergency, acute and intensive care medicine.”
Dr. Mohan Koppuravuri MBBS, FRCEM
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr Mohan Koppuravuri
MBBS, FRCEM
Consultant in Emergency Medicine
American Hospital
Dubai
Dr Mohan Koppuravuri obtained his medical degree from the prestigious medical institute, Osmania Medical College, India. He later did his speciality training in UK in Emergency Medicine and obtained fellowship from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
He got more than 20 years of experience in Emergency Medicine, in various settings including major trauma centres. He is currently working as an ER physician in a state of art multi speciality private hospital in Dubai, UAE.
His passion is in teaching, sharing knowledge among various healthcare professionals and participating in collaborative projects aimed at improving clinical expertise.
Dr. Eleni Episkopou
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr. Eleni E. Episkopou is a highly skilled consultant anesthesiologist and interventional pain specialist with extensive training in emergency medicine and advanced pain management. She trained at the National Trauma Hospital of Athens, Innsbruck, and leading UK institutions, earning certifications in EFIC, CIPS, and FIPP. With over 2,500 videolaryngoscopies performed since 2009, she also has expertise in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and interventional radiology.
A dedicated educator and author, Dr. Episkopou has contributed to medical textbooks and lectures internationally, serving as faculty for pain management programs like the World Institute of Pain. She has also directed multiple life support courses, including ALS, ATLS, and PHTLS. For the past five years, she has practiced at Athens Metropolitan Hospital, pioneering advanced techniques such as Greece’s first cryoablation of the stellate ganglion block for an electric storm patient.
Dr. Elod Macsai
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr. Elod Macsai is a highly experienced anaesthetist with a notable career spanning multiple countries and specializations. He graduated from the University of Szeged in Hungary and currently serves as the Deputy Head of Cardiovascular Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the Hungarian Institute of Cardiology, Budapest.
Dr. Macsai has extensive international experience, having worked in the UK as a Consultant Anaesthetist for 13 years. During this time, he honed his skills in regional anaesthesia, becoming particularly passionate about this field as well as pain management. His expertise also extends to trauma anaesthesia, where he spent a significant portion of his career.
Specializing in cardiac anaesthesia and pain management, Dr. Macsai has been instrumental in advancing anaesthetic techniques. He introduced Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) and Serratus Anterior Plane Block (SAPB) for minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedures, contributing to the development of fast-track anaesthesia protocols.
Dr. Debra Gershov West
Our instructors, Aemis course
Director of the emergency department, Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, Ashdod, Israel.
Dr. Debra Gershov West is a dedicated emergency medicine specialist with a strong commitment to advancing the field of emergency medicine in Israel.
Dr. Gershov West is the director of the Emergency Department in Assuta Ashdod, the founder of the National Israel Graduate Course in Medical Education, and the founder and director of the Frontline Emergency Medicine nonprofit organization. She chaired the Israeli Medical Association Initiative to assess and redefine the role of the Emergency Medicine Physician in Israel.
Currently, Dr. Gershov West is engaged in cutting-edge research focusing on Emergency Department preparedness and response to mass casualty events, with particular emphasis on the October 7th mega terrorist attack. This work aims to deepen understanding and improve response strategies for large-scale emergencies, contributing valuable insights to both national and international emergency preparedness and response protocols.
Dr. Venkat Kotamraju,
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr. Venkat Kotamraju, MBBS, MRCSEd, PGdipMedTox, MAcadMed, CEDE, FEBEM, FRCEM, is a distinguished Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Royal Derby Hospital, UK. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Kotamraju is instrumental in shaping the future of Emergency Medicine as the CESR Programme Director and Teaching Lead.
Dr. Kotamraju holds prestigious fellowships from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (UK) and the European Board of Emergency Medicine, underscoring his global recognition. His commitment to education is clear through his role as Training Program Director (TPD) for Exams at Health Education East Midlands (HEEM), United Kingdom.
He is an ATLS Course Director and dedicates significant time to teaching Membership and Fellowship Exam preparatory courses of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, UK, across the UK, UAE, and India.
A sought-after speaker, Dr. Kotamraju has directed many advanced training courses and has been invited to speak at national and international conferences in the UK, USA, India, UAE, and Kuwait. His extensive contributions to Emergency Medicine and medical education underscore his unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in healthcare.
Dr. Marije Bakker
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr. Marije Bakker, MD, M.Sc., is a staff Anesthesiologist at Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands. She completed her medical education and Anesthesia residency at Leiden Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, the Netherlands. Dr Bakker did advance training in pediatric anesthesia at the Sophia Kinderziekenhuis in Rotterdam. She furthered her training with a fellowship Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management at Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada. She therefore has a wide expertise in nerve blocks techniques. Also, she established a training program for Emergency Department physicians regarding peripheral nerve blocks.
Dr. Chris Yap
Our instructors, Aemis course
Originally from the sunny island of Singapore, Chris now lives and works in the outdoor city, Sheffield, as a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Northern General Hospital. The hospital is a Major Trauma Centre for the South Yorkshire region.
As part of his POCUS (point of care ultrasound) journey, he obtained a Diploma in Medical Ultrasound from Teesside University.
He has a passion for making POCUS learning simple and loves demonstrating that shades of grey are not all bad. He has organised POCUS courses locally and nationally. He has spoken at a number of International conferences and been faculty at some of their POCUS courses.
He is the Chair of the POCUS Subcommittee for the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and is joint Medical Quality Lead at his local ED.
Outside of medicine, he has splitboarded in the Alps, Pyrenees, the Arctic Circle and New Zealand.
He is still waiting for the day when a snowboarding company will spot his talent.
He also loves a bike ride in either road or mountain form. His greatest achievement is not drowning whilst learning to surf.
Dr. Joel Symons
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr. Joel Symons is an Associate Professor in the Department of Critical Care at the University of Melbourne, renowned locally and internationally for his contributions to perioperative medicine education. He serves as a staff specialist at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and has extensive expertise in teaching fibreoptic intubation and managing difficult airways.
He is a Board Member of the Chapter of Perioperative Medicine and Chair of the Perioperative Medicine Content and Assessment Committee at the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA). Additionally, he is the co-founder of the Monash Short Course and Master of Perioperative Medicine and has co-edited the book Perioperative Medicine for the Junior Clinician (Wiley).
Dr. Rachel Liu
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr. Rachel Liu, MBBChBAO FACEP is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Fellowship Director of Emergency Ultrasound, and Director of Point of Care Ultrasound Education for the Yale School of Medicine. Her focus has been developing longitudinal ultrasound curricula for undergraduate medical students through use of innovative techniques and technology. She obtained her medical degree from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and pursued Emergency Medicine residency training through New York Medical College. She subsequently completed fellowship training in Emergency Ultrasound at Yale School of Medicine. She has been the chair of the Ultrasound Sections of several prominent American societies including the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (where she has been on the creation team of SonoGames© for over a decade) and the Society of Clinical Ultrasound Fellowships. She has also served on the Board of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Most recently, she was appointed to the American Board of Emergency Medicine’s inaugural examination committees for advanced emergency ultrasonography, creating initial and continuing certification examinations for fellowship graduates. She has authored numerous studies and this past year, been a senior editor for the Ultrasound Program Management book, 2nd edition.
Dr. Stephane Ledot
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr Stephane Ledot graduated from the School of Medicine in Paris and completed his residency in Anesthesia and critical care in Marseille. He completed a subspecialty in critical care in Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem in 2011. He moved to London in 2013 where he joined the Royal Brompton and Harefield foundation trust for a Fellowship in ECMO, cardiac thoracic anesthesia and critical care. He obtained his European certification in perioperative transesophageal echocardiography from EACVI/EACTAIC. Dr Ledot worked in London as a senior anesthetist and intensivist and became the Director of the Commissioned ECMO Program and the adult critical care at the Royal Brompton Hospital. He has wide experience in post graduate education. In 2022, he came back to Israel to lead the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain at Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center’s Ein Kerem Campus in Jerusalem. Since 2024, he serves as an elected member of the Audit Committee for the Israeli Society of Anesthesia.
Dr. Mark Rezk
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr. Mark Rezk is a highly trained anaesthetist specializing in trauma and regional anaesthesia. Currently in his 7th year of Specialty Training, Dr. Rezk is furthering his expertise through a fellowship in Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia at the reputable Royal Brompton Hospital in London, UK.
Dr. Rezk’s educational background includes an MBBS and BSc, and he has achieved the distinction of Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA). His dedication to teaching anaesthetic trainees across the UK has been recognised by the Royal College of Anaesthetists and he has been awarded with the prestigious presidential commendation. His commitment to comprehensive, specialized training is evident in his recent completion of fellowships in trauma at King’s College Hospital and regional anaesthesia at St George’s Hospital, both in London.
With a diverse range of experiences in high-pressure medical environments, Dr. Rezk brings a wealth of knowledge to his practice. His expertise spans critical areas of anaesthesiology, including trauma management, advanced regional anaesthesia techniques and now extending into cardiothoracic anaesthesiology.
Dr. Rezk’s ongoing pursuit of specialized training reflects his dedication to providing the highest standard of care in anaesthesiology, particularly in complex trauma cases and management of complex acute pain with advanced regional anaesthesia. His multifaceted experience makes him a valuable asset in both routine and critical care scenarios.
Dr. Jehad Edrees, MD
Our instructors, Aemis course
Dr. Jehad Edrees is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow at Hadassah Medical Center, where she also serves as a Clinical Instructor and Tutor for medical students and interns. Her medical training began at the Technion Faculty of Medicine, Israel Institute of Technology, where she earned her medical degree and developed a strong foundation in clinical skills. Dr. Edrees has extensive experience in advanced emergency interventional procedures and is dedicated to improving patient care and mentoring the next generation of medical professionals.
