Overview | Agenda | Speakers | Registration | Sponsors | Organizing Comm. | Gallery | Contact |
Dr. John Stapert
Clinical Psychologist
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
As a Clinical Psychologist with 30 years of clinical practice, Dr. John Charles Stapert specializes in anxiety and depression/ He is from Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
In addition to his private practice, Dr. Stapert has been a consultant in three Phoenix-area hospitals. Among his special interests are psychopharmacology and PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorders).
His career spans academia, church administration, and journalism, earning him the
William B. Lipphard Award in 2016. An influential figure in Arizona's psychology community, he was the President of the
Arizona Psychological Association, and also of the
Arizona Psychology Training Consortium. He has received its
Distinguished Mentor Award and the
Aaron and Mathilda Canter Award.
In 2015, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of American Mission Hospital in Bahrain; and is now its Board Member Emeritus since 2025, which brings him to Bahrain, for several weeks, each year.
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Jeanette Buckley
Principal
Britus International School – Special Education
Bahrain.
Ms. Jeanette Buckley is the Principal of Britus International School – Special Education in Bahrain.
She has worked in education for more than 25 years across Asia and the Middle East, with a particular focus on special education, inclusion and multidisciplinary support. Her experience includes leading specialist and inclusive education settings, working alongside teachers, therapists and families, and developing systems to support students with a wide range of learning and developmental needs.
She is a BPS-registered assessor, Certified Autism Specialist, specialist dyslexia practitioner and assessor, and a trauma-informed yoga instructor.
William Chan
Chief AI Officer
Waystar
USA
William Chan serves as a Member of the Board of American Mission Hospital.
He is the Chief AI Officer at Waystar, where he leads the company's product strategy and roadmap and drives an innovation agenda that combines industry-leading AI with unified clinical and financial data.
Waystar is a leading healthcare technology provider whose mission is to simplify healthcare payments and accelerate transformation across the revenue cycle.Previously, William was CEO and co-founder of Iodine Software, where he advanced clinical AI solutions that improved documentation accuracy, revenue integrity, and operational efficiency for health systems nationwide. He joined Waystar when it acquired Iodine.
Earlier in his career, William co-founded Crimson, where he served as Vice President of Product and helped the company deliver tools that improved healthcare provider quality and profitability. Crimson was acquired by The Advisory Board Company and is now part of UnitedHealth Group. William also co-founded WhisperWire, a leading developer of sales and marketing automation technologies used by major telecommunications companies.
William holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Cornell University and an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School. He holds multiple patents in healthcare technology.
Dr Komal Chawla
Programme Head and Associate Professor of Psychology
British University of Bahrain
Dr Komal Chawla is a Health Psychologist, Senior Fellow of Advance HE (SFHEA), and Programme Head of Psychology at the British University of Bahrain. She brings over 20 years of academic and leadership experience across India, the UAE, and Bahrain.
Her research interests include health psychology, diabetes-related psychological distress, perinatal mental health, and psychological wellbeing. She has been involved in collaborative research with the University of Oxford on perinatal mental health and has undertaken professional development at IIM Ahmedabad.
Passionate about bridging psychological research and everyday wellbeing, Dr Chawla advocates a holistic, person-centred approach to healthcare, emphasising the importance of empathy, emotional wellbeing, and understanding the individual beyond their medical diagnosis.
Dr Alfie Wiesner
Senior Lecturer
British University of Bahrain
Dr Alfie Wiesner holds a PhD in Social Psychology and Sociology from Ulster University, Northern Ireland, awarded in 2025, with research focused on theoretical social psychology. He also holds a Research Master's in Social Science from Queen's University Belfast and an undergraduate degree in Social Psychology from Ulster University.
Before joining the British University of Bahrain in September 2026, he worked in the Student Well-Being Department at Ulster University. His teaching interests include social psychology and the history and philosophy of psychology
His academic background and experience in student well-being bring a valuable social psychological perspective to discussions of human-centred care, particularly the importance of understanding individuals within their wider social contexts.
Dr Layal Husain
Assistant Professor of Psychology
British University of Bahrain
Dr Layal Husain is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the British University of Bahrain, in partnership with the University of Salford. She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of East London, supported by a prestigious ESRC scholarship, and an MSc in Developmental and Educational Psychology with Distinction from University College London.
Her research focuses on child development, identity, language, and cognitive and social development, with published work addressing neurodiversity and vulnerable populations, including refugees and asylum seekers. Her postdoctoral research included evaluating mindfulness-based interventions for at-risk adolescents in East London.
Alongside her research, Dr Husain teaches and supervises undergraduate projects exploring attachment, relationships, body image, and wellbeing. Her experience in developmental psychology, mindfulness research, and supporting vulnerable populations, and brings a valuable perspective to discussions of psychological wellbeing, empathy, and person-centred care.
Joel Indrupati
Director - Corporate Communications
American Mission Hospital
Joel Indrupati has been in the field of education, training, marketing and management, for 32 years.
He was a general manager for two training companies, and a lecturer in three universities. He was a corporate professional for 14 years, and an academician for 18 years.
He taught Management, Marketing, Corporate Communications, Business Law, at the University of Bahrain for 13 years. But earlier, had also lectured at the Osmania University and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, in India, as well.
He published and presented research papers and has spoken in several international conferences.
He had served as an elected board member of Indian School, the largest school in Bahrain, for 3 years during 2005-2008.
He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK, and has an MBA in Marketing and another Post Graduate qualification in HR. He is also a Microsoft Certified Educator, and a certified Digital Marketing Professional from DMI, UK.
Leo Leslin,
MBA, CHCIO, CDHL, PMP®, ITIL, PSM
Director - Information Technology
American Mission Hospital
Leo Leslin is the Director of IT in American Mission Hospital overseeing the entire operation starting from IT procurement, HIS, Security and Infrastructure and managing 5
Branches including King Hamad American Mission Hospital in A’ali. He is an MBA graduate in Information Systems and holding CHCIO, PMP and other IT related certificates. He is a member of CHIME (College of Healthcare Information Management Executives) from 2018 and a PMI member from 2020.
He is also a certified Electronic Medical Records specialist. He has over 20 years of vast experience in healthcare domain, worked in many healthcare institutions and having hands-on experience in development and implementation of healthcare systems with complete SDLC knowledge.
He was instrumental in designing IT infrastructure and Security along with the networking team in the recently opened state-of-the-art futuristic hospital King Hamad American Mission Hospital (KHAMH) in A’ali and setup the new Data Centre. It is 775,000 sq. ft. and has 125 inpatient beds, 20 dialysis bays, 8 ICU beds, 18 NICU (Level 1 and 2) beds, 65 outpatient suites, 25 ER beds, 6 labor & delivery and recovery beds and 5 Operating Rooms (one hybrid and one with advanced imaging). This finest High Tech High Touch hospital is the 5th addition to AMH.
Nivedita Dadphale
Lecturer
British University of Bahrain
Ms Nivedita Dadphale is a Lecturer and Student Wellbeing Counsellor at the British University of Bahrain. She holds an MSc in Psychology from the University of Strathclyde and brings extensive professional experience across education, corporate training, strategic communications, and community engagement.
She is also the founder of Bahrain for All (BHR4All), an initiative promoting social inclusion, diversity, and support for vulnerable communities, including individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Her multidisciplinary experience has shaped her understanding of how people think, communicate, and make decisions within their social and cultural contexts. She brings this perspective to human-centred healthcare, emphasising trust, empathy, dignity, and meaningful communication to ensure individuals feel heard, understood, and involved in decisions about their care.
SPEAKERS FROM
PREVIOUS YEARS'
(2024 - 2026)
SUMMITS
Following were the speakers in the previous
Mindful Summit events held by the hospital
Dr. Sudipta Sen
Consultant - Pediatric Neurodevelopment
London, UK
Dr. Sudipta Sen is a Consultant in Pediatric Neurodevelopment with 28 years of experience as a Pediatrician.
She currently works in the NHS as the Clinical Lead in the Richmond Community Pediatric Medical Team. Passionate about nurturing neurodiversity, she believes that the needs of the child or young person and their family should be at the heart of any assessment and management plan, aiming to create a positive impact on health and educational outcomes.
Her qualifications include MBBS, DCH, and FRCPCH, with specialized training in ADOS, ADI-R, DISCO, ADHD, Sleep, and Pediatric Development.
Her areas of expertise include autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, DCD/Dyspraxia, and sleep disorders.
Dr. Fatema Habbash
Consultant - Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine
American Mission Hospital, Bahrain
Dr. Fatema Habbash is a Senior Consultant and Assistant Professor in Family & Community Medicine, dedicated to holistic, personalized, patient-centered care that improves quality of life. She holds a Master’s in Nutrition & Dietetics, is a Diplomate of the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine, a Blue Zones Certified Physician, and a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
She integrates lifestyle medicine, nutrition, mental wellness, positive health, and positive psychology to empower individuals and communities, with a strong focus on behavioral change for lasting wellness. Her work emphasizes prevention, chronic disease management, and mental and emotional well-being as key components of health.
She is also an active researcher with publications in distinguished peer-reviewed journals in lifestyle and preventive medicine
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Dr. Sagar Adkar
Consultant Gastroenterologist
Bahrain Defence Force Hospital
Dr. Sagar Adkar is a highly experienced and qualified Medical Gastroenterologist with over 13 years of dedicated clinical practice.
Currently serving as a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Bahrain Defence Force Hospital since August 2020, he specializes in managing a wide range of Gastroenterology and Hepatology conditions, including outpatient and inpatient care, ICU interventions, diagnostic and therapeutic GI endoscopy, and ERCP procedures.
Throughout his career, Dr. Adkar has demonstrated expertise in handling complex emergencies related to gastrointestinal and liver diseases, adhering to the latest protocols and treatment techniques. He holds advanced qualifications including D.N.B. in Gastroenterology and General Medicine, and a European Speciality Exam in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
With a rich background in research, academic contributions, and numerous presentations and publications, he is also actively involved in medical education and professional associations. His proficient communication skills and collaborative approach make him a trusted specialist in his field.
Dr. Charlotte Awad Kamel
Consultant Psychiatrist
KHAMH, Bahrain
Dr Charlotte began her training in 1980 at University Hospitals of Liverpool and Guys & St Thomas' in London, earning a diploma in psychiatry in 1982, membership in the
Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1984, and fellowship in 1996. She also received a Diploma in Health Care Management from the R
oyal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 2000.
In 1989, she moved to Bahrain as a Consultant Psychiatrist with the
Ministry of Health, where she helped develop mental health services based on the British system. From 1990 to 2008, she worked at the
Arabian Gulf University and since 2009 have been an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain.
She coordinated the Diploma in Psychological Medicine program from 1994 to 2000, training primary care doctors in Bahrain to improve early psychiatric detection. And she also chaired several psychiatry conferences in Bahrain, in collaboration with the
Royal College of Psychiatrists, the
World Psychiatric Association, and the
Arabian Gulf Psychiatric Association.
Dr. John Stapert
Clinical Psychologist
Phoenix, Arizona
Dr. John Charles Stapert is a Clinical Psychologist with 30 years of practice in Phoenix, Arizona.
He holds a B.A. from Hope College and an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, along with an M.A. and Ph.D. from the
University of Illinois.
His career spans academia, church administration, and journalism, earning him the
William B. Lipphard Award in 2016. An influential figure in Arizona's psychology community, he has held leadership roles in the
Arizona Psychological Association, receiving its
Distinguished Mentor Award and the
Aaron and Mathilda Canter Award.
In 2015, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of American Mission Hospital in Bahrain; and will become Board Member Emeritus in 2025.
Dr. Huda Mossa Omran
Molecular Genetics Specialist
Al Aljenan Medical Centre
Dr. Huda Mossa Omran, a Molecular Genetics Specialist in Bahrain, specializes in genetic counseling, chromosomal disorders, and reproductive genetics. She holds an MB ChB from the
University of Basra, and a PhD in Molecular Medicine from
Arabian Gulf University.
A published researcher, she focuses on reproductive and longevity genetics. She has held leadership roles at
Arabian Gulf University and
Pulse Health Training Center and is currently at
Al Aljenan Medical Center. She is also a member of the
Genetic Society of America and the
Global Andrology Forum.
Dr. Frans Cronje
Specialist Aviation and Aerospace Medicine
KHAMH, Bahrain
Dr. Cronje is a pioneer of modern hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Southern Africa, dedicated to its advancement since 1994. He founded the first clinical hyperbaric facilities in both the South African Military and private sectors and developed the region’s first multidisciplinary training program in Hyperbaric Medicine.
As Founder and Past President of Divers Alert Network Southern Africa, he has championed diver safety. He has held key roles at
Stellenbosch University, the International Congress of Hyperbaric Medicine, SAUHMA, and WHASA, shaping research, training, and clinical practice in the field.
Dr Vivek Mathew
Psychiatrist (Adult)
AMH, Bahrain
Dr. Vivek Mathew is a psychiatrist with over thirteen years of clinical experience dealing with adult, adolescent, and child mental health issues.
He has been a specialist at the American Mission Hospital for the last 11 years. Dr. Mathew has also been a Clinical Tutor at RCSI since 2017. He completed his residency in Psychiatry from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, and worked for the Christian Medical College, Vellore, and at the St. John's Medical College, Bangalore before moving to Bahrain in 2014.
His areas of interest include personality pathology, schizophrenia and mood disorders.
Dr. Feba Percy Paul
Clinical Psychologist
Head, Child Development Unit
AMH, Bahrain
Dr. Feba Percy Paul, lovingly called the Doctor of the Mind, is leading the Child Development Unit at American Mission Hospital.
With 18 years of expertise, she’s a trailblazer in
Advanced Trauma Therapy and a Gold Medalist in Clinical Psychology. As a passionate advocate, she empowers children and families while pioneering research in psychological trauma. Discovering pathways to healing, Dr. Feba transforms lives with compassion and innovation.