Ahmad Teebi

• Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics at University of Toronto since 1998 when he moved to Toronto from McGill University .¹ He is a curbstone consultant in dysmorphology at the American Society of Human Genetic Meetings. • Has published more than 180 peer reviewed articles that include the delineation and characterizations of more than 35 new disorders and syndromes, the majority of which were described among the Arabs and Middle Eastern populations – some of these disorders carry his name (e.g. He has at least 80 entries in the Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man created by McKusick . He was/is a member of editorial boards of several specialized journals including Clinical Dysmorphology and American Journal of Medical Genetics • Has authored and edited more than 20 book chapters and books that include his famous textbook “Genetic Disorders among Arab Populations” published in 1997 by Oxford University Press . • The founder of the first neonatal screening program in the Arab world in Kuwait in the year 1985 . Also he was a co-founder of Kuwait Medical Genetic center in 1981 . Through his frequent invitations as well as own initiatives he instrumental in promoting genetic knowledge and actively participated in the establishment of genetic services in several Middle - Eastern countries including Gulf countries, Palestinian territories and Jordan , Tunisia , Egypt , and Saudi Arabia . Lately he spent 8 months in Saudi Arabia to develop medical genetics services including the foundation of clinical genetics training program and genetic counseling program-the first of its kind in the Middle East . His active collaboration with researchers within and outside Canada is a part of his continued efforts to acquire and promote genetic knowledge. • The founder of MEGA – “Middle East Genetic Association of North America ” - which held a number of conferences in the Middle East . The mandate of MEGA was to bring together geneticists and scientists from the Middle - East regardless of their political or religious affiliations. • Has received many awards that include: 1. Kuwait Prize in 1989 given for outstanding contribution in clinical and human genetics in the Arab world, 2. Rammal Euroscience award 2001 , given for recognition of both scientific achievements and commitment to the cause of Mediterranean cooperation 3. And recently ( 2002 ) he was elected as a member of European Academy of Science .²