Professor Fadia AlBuhairan

Prof AlBuhairan is the Interim Chief Medical Officer Chair, Department of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

Professor Fadia AlBuhairan leverages her clinical and population health expertise in establishing and overseeing the delivery of healthcare at AlDara. She is the Interim Chief Medical Officer as well as the Chairwoman of the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. She is also Adjunct Professor at AlFaisal University; Vice President of the Saudi Society for Adolescent Health; and Immediate Past President and founding member of the Arab Coalition for Adolescent Medicine.

Prof. AlBuhairan is the first specialized Adolescent Medicine physician in the Arab world and founded the first Adolescent Health Clinic in Saudi Arabia, at the Ministry of National Guard – Health Affairs (MNGHA) in Riyadh. She launched the Adolescent Health Research Program at the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) and pioneered the largest epidemiological study on adolescents in the Arab world to date. The study, called Jeeluna, resulted in identifying the needed changes and development to the country’s adolescent health policies, services, and programs to address adolescents’ health needs in Saudi Arabia. She also held prior appointments as Head of Population Health Research at KAIMRC, Head of the Center of Excellence at the National Family Safety Program in Saudi Arabia, Adjunct Associate Professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, in addition to her clinical appointments as Consultant in Adolescent Medicine and Pediatrics at the MNGHA.

Prof. AlBuhairan received her medical degree from King Saud University in Riyadh. After completing her post-graduate residency training in Pediatrics, she obtained both Saudi Board and Arab Board in Pediatrics. She then further completed a clinical fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at SickKids Hospital and University of Toronto, Canada and obtained a Masters of Public Health (MPH), as well as Certificate in Health Finance and Management from Johns Hopkins University, USA.

Prof. AlBuhairan is an active researcher and has published widely in her field. She has received numerous research grants and awards, has numerous publications in reputable international peer-reviewed journals, and has published book chapters and a book. Her research interests include adolescent health risk behaviours, protective factors, health policy, health services, bullying and adolescent nutrition.

Prof. AlBuhairan is often called upon as a subject matter expert in child and adolescent health, as well as population health. She serves on numerous advisory boards and committees, both national and international, to advise on and advocate for dedicated adolescent health services, resources, and approaches, as well as the overall cross-sectoral approach to health.