Dr. Rajat Mani Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Research in Systems and Computational Biomedicine...

Dr. Rajat Mani Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Research in Systems and Computational Biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar. With a PhD in computational astrophysics, his early research focused on modeling the early universe. Over time, his interests evolved toward neuroscience and artificial intelligence, leading to impactful work in clinical AI. He leads the Thomas Lab for AI in Healthcare, collaborating with hospitals in Qatar to develop translational AI solutions. Dr. Thomas has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications across astrophysics, neuroscience, and machine learning, including studies on depression, OCD, and autism using neuroimaging and deep learning. His interdisciplinary expertise spans from space sciences to psychiatric disorder modeling. Beyond academia, he co-founded an AI company in agriculture, showcasing his versatility. His work is widely cited, reflecting his influence across multiple scientific domains. Dr. Thomas continues to push boundaries in AI-driven healthcare innovation and multimodal data integration for precision medicine.

Dr. Ehsan Adeli is an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, by courtesy, of biomedical data science...

Dr. Ehsan Adeli is an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, by courtesy, of biomedical data science, and of computer science. He directs the Stanford Translational Artificial Intelligence (STAI) in Medicine and Mental Health Lab. Dr. Adeli also serves as co-director of both the Stanford AI for Mental Health Initiative and the Stanford AGILE Consortium (Advancing technology for frailty & longevity). His group focuses on identifying technological gaps in clinical settings and develops AI-driven solutions to bridge those gaps, with an emphasis on improving diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes. Prior to joining Stanford, he received his academic and research training at the University of North Carolina, Carnegie Mellon University, and Iran University of Science and Technology. With a Ph.D. in computer science & artificial intelligence and postgraduate training in computational neuroscience, he identifies and solves critical problems in mental health, healthcare, and neuroscience.

Mr. Umashankar Shivanand is a product innovation leader with over a decade of experience building AI-driven...

Mr. Umashankar Shivanand is a product innovation leader with over a decade of experience building AI-driven health solutions across startups and large enterprises. He has pioneered several award-winning solutions that integrate behavioral science, wearables, and evidence-based coaching to improve sleep and preventive health outcomes at scale. His work at Sleep.ai (SleepScore Labs) spans breakthrough initiatives like the world’s first science-backed Sleep APIs, first reimbursable D2C sleep program in Germany, and several AI-powered sleep solutions. Previously, as Director of Product at Philips, he was instrumental in launching several IoT-powered health products across 20+ countries and helped shape global digital health strategy through M&A and strategic partnerships. A recognized thought leader, Mr. Shivanand serves as a judge for CES Innovation Awards and HLTH’s Digital Health Awards, is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and the Sleep Research Society, is a regular contributor to Forbes and top-tier product and digital health platforms.

Dr. Guido Pieles is a sports and congenital cardiologist and is head of sports cardiology and screening...

Dr. Guido Pieles is a sports and congenital cardiologist and is head of sports cardiology and screening at Aspetar, Doha. After obtaining his medical degree at the Philipps University of Marburg, Germany, a Ph.D. in philosophy of medicine at Hanover Medical School, and a Cardiology DPhil at Oxford University, Prof. Guido trained in congenital, inherited and sports cardiology. He is passionate about all sports and activities but is particularly interested in football cardiology and has for many years served as consulting sports cardiologist at Manchester United FC. He is one of the leading international experts in assessing and monitoring cardiac risks in elite athletes and is a personal sports cardiologist to many high-profile athletes worldwide who suffer from a cardiac condition but wish to continue in professional sports. Prof. Guido has an executive MSc in cardiovascular health policy and economics from The London School of Economics. His passion for R&D in the health sector focuses on developing innovative methods to monitor cardiac performance and safety during exercise. He leads a Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council (QRDI)-funded international research project in this area.

Dr. Josh Leota is a sleep and circadian scientist with expertise in wearable technology...

Dr. Josh Leota is a sleep and circadian scientist with expertise in wearable technology, behavioural science, and human performance. He is currently a senior research scientist at WHOOP, Inc. and holds research appointments at Monash University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, leading international projects that investigate how sleep, circadian rhythms, and physical activity influence recovery, mental and physical health, and elite performance. His work combines large-scale wearable datasets with advanced statistical methods to deliver actionable, real-world insights, with recent publications in Nature Communications and PNAS. Dr. Leota has directed multidisciplinary collaborations with WHOOP Inc., Harvard Medical School, and professional sports organisations, spearheading research programs that bridge physiology, data science, and human performance. He is recognised for his leadership in sleep and circadian science and is committed to translating cutting-edge research into real-world strategies for health optimisation and performance advancement.

Dr. Sai Krupa Das is a senior scientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging...

Dr. Sai Krupa Das is a senior scientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, and professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, at Tufts University, Boston, USA. Dr. Das is internationally recognized for her work in precision nutrition, aging, and the role of diet in reducing chronic disease risk and obesity. Dr. Das is the principal investigator of the New England Clinical Center, which is part of the NIH Common Fund Initiative’s Nutrition for Precision Health (NPH).Dr. Das is a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Standing Committee for the Review of the Dietary Reference Intake Framework, and a co-executive director of the International Weight Control Registry. Dr. Das holds a Ph.D. in human nutrition from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Dr. Iman Hajirasouliha is associate professor of computational genomics at the Institute for Computational...

Dr. Iman Hajirasouliha is an associate professor of computational genomics at the Institute for Computational Biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University and a member of the Englander Institute for Precision Medicine and the Meyer Cancer Center in New York. He is also the co-director of the Tri-I Computational Biology and Medicine Ph.D. program. He completed a postdoctoral scholarship at Stanford University’s Computer Science Department and a Simons Research Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his B.Sc. in computer engineering from Sharif University, an M.Sc. in computing science from Simon Fraser University (SFU), and a Ph.D. with exceptional recognition from SFU, followed by a postdoctoral appointment at Brown University. Dr. Hajirasouliha is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Simons-Berkeley Research Fellowship, an NIGMS Maximizing Investigators' Research Award, and an Irma T. Hirschl Career Scientist Award. Website: www.imanh.org.

Dr. Rawan AlSaad is a research associate in population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar...

Dr. Rawan AlSaad is a research associate in population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar (WCM-Q), with more than 16 years of experience at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. She specializes in developing AI-driven solutions and wearable technologies for clinical applications, with a current research focus on women’s mental health, maternal health, and reproductive health. Dr. AlSaad’s work centers on creating predictive models, integrating wearable health data, and deploying intelligent, data-driven tools to support personalized clinical decision-making. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, serving as lead author on many, and is actively involved in collaborative, translational research initiatives. In addition to her research, Dr. AlSaad contributes to academic and professional education—designing AI curricula for healthcare professionals and delivering workshops aimed at building AI fluency in clinical settings. She holds a Ph.D. in computer science with a specialization in artificial intelligence for healthcare.

Dr. Johnny T. Awwad, MD, FACS, HCLD(ABB), is a distinguished leader in reproductive medicine...

Dr. Johnny T. Awwad, MD, FACS, HCLD(ABB), is a distinguished leader in reproductive medicine. He currently serves as executive chair of women’s services, division chief of reproductive medicine, and director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship Program at Sidra Medicine in Qatar. He is also the chief scientific officer of the Middle East Fertility Society and its former president. Dr. Awwad completed his clinical fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital – Harvard Medical School, where he now serves as a consultant, and is an alumnus of the Harvard Macy Institute. He is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the American University of Beirut and has received numerous honors, including the Alpha Omega Alpha and Sigma Xi memberships, as well as the STAR Award from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. A prolific researcher, Dr. Awwad has authored more than 110 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.

Dr. Teodora Popa, PhD, is chief science & innovation officer at Avenues Life in London, the world’s most technologically...

Dr. Teodora Popa, PhD, is chief science & innovation officer at Avenues Life in London, the world’s most technologically advanced fertility clinic, where artificial intelligence is embedded across every stage of the patient journey. Her work focuses on leveraging data, advanced imaging, and AI to personalise and improve outcomes in IVF and women’s health. She is also a lecturer in reproductive health and director of the MSc in reproductive science and women’s health at UCL, where she educates the next generation of clinicians and scientists on the role of innovation and technology in reproductive medicine. Dr. Popa’s research explores embryo genetics, AI-driven decision-making in IVF, and the future of personalised reproductive care. Her work has contributed to international best practices, and she has also played a key role in the government’s women’s health strategy for England.

Dr. Mia Chorney is a distinguished leader in the field of cardiovascular genetics and women’s heart health, blending...

Dr. Mia Chorney is a distinguished leader in the field of cardiovascular genetics and women’s heart health, blending thirty years of comprehensive healthcare experience with an impressive depth of knowledge in cardiovascular care, genetics, menopause and artificial intelligence (AI). Motivated by a passion for precision medicine and women’s health, her strategic vision and problem-solving acumen have crystallized in her role as co-founder and chief medical officer of ThePause™ Technologies, where she spearheads innovations in AIto tackle the challenges of perimenopause and menopause, and as a driving force behind equity and data in women’s health. Dr. Chorney employs AI to pioneer personalized health strategies for women navigating health, creating a supportive, evidence-based digital health environment to lead new frontiers in patient-centered solutions. ThePause ™ is a proud participant of the MAYO ASU MedTech Accelerator working on collaborative projects; further ThePause™ was awarded the national HITLAB Innovation Challenge Award, and created business partnerships with City of Phoenix, Samsung, Hewlett Packard, and Microsoft. Her dedication is exemplified in her leadership roles within prestigious healthcare organizations and initiatives, such as director hormone health and precision medicine, Artificial Intelligence member, American Heart Association board member, Isagenix Scientific Advisory Board, and ZOLL national speaker. Her work extends to community education, where she elevates public understanding and advocates for change, cementing her status as an influential healthcare provider and a pioneer in the nexus of AI, cardiology, genetics, menopause and women’s health.

Dr. Sazgar Hamad, MBChB, MSc (psychiatry research, UCL), MRCPsych, CCT, is a consultant psychiatrist...

Dr. Sazgar Hamad, MBChB, MSc (psychiatry research, UCL), MRCPsych, CCT, is a consultant psychiatrist specializing in perinatal and general adult psychiatry. She serves as the clinical lead for women’s mental health and the Women’s Wellness Centre at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), where she also directs both the psychiatry residency and women’s mental health fellowship programs. Since joining HMC in 2019, Dr. Hamad has played a key role in advancing mental health services for women in Qatar. She founded the region’s first women’s psychiatry fellowship program and leads various initiatives including the World Maternal Mental Health Day project, which offers educational webinars in Arabic and English. She also collaborates with academic and public health institutions to promote awareness and training in maternal mental health. An active speaker and educator, Dr. Hamad continues to shape clinical services, policy, and education in women’s mental health across the Middle East.

Yiye Zhang PhD, MS is an associate professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences and...

Yiye Zhang PhD, MS is an associate professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences and Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM), graduate faculty member at Cornell Systems Engineering, and informatics director of clinical decision support at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Her expertise lies in the development, evaluation, and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) for clinical decision support (CDS). She has been involved as principal investigator roles in multiple US federally funded AI implementation and evaluation studies at WCM. Dr. Zhang’s work is particularly focused on maternal mental health. She has successfully translated a predictive model of postpartum depression from research to electronic health record (EHR) workflow at WCM, winning the 2024 American Medical Informatics Associations’ FHIR application competition. Her current research is actively working on developing an AI-driven personalized lifestyle and wellness tool for pregnancy health. Dr. Zhang is the Editor in Chief of Nature Portfolio Journal (NPJ) Health Systems.

Dr. Elizabeth Grill is director of psychological services at the Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center...

Dr. Elizabeth Grill is director of psychological services at the Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine and associate professor of clinical psychology at Weill Cornell Medicine. She also serves as assistant attending psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. A nationally recognized expert in reproductive and sexual mental health, Dr. Grill is chair of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, past chair of the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and past president of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research. Her clinical and research expertise includes infertility, IVF, third-party reproduction, oncofertility, and sexual dysfunction. She is co-owner of FertiCalm and FertiStrong, digital apps designed to reduce distress during infertility. Dr. Grill is a frequent lecturer, author of numerous publications, and editorial reviewer for a number of leading journals. She has also participated in media interviews related to the emotional aspects of reproductive medicine.