Prof. Abdel Fattah Saoud: A Distinguished Academic and Administrative Career

Prof. Abdel Fattah Saoud is considered one of the most prominent academic leaders at Ain Shams University, leaving a clear mark in higher education and scientific research both in Egypt and internationally, thanks to his extensive expertise in orthopedic and spinal surgery and his significant contributions to the academic and administrative development of the university.

Early Life and Education

Dr. Saoud was born on March 12, 1967, in Cairo. He earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, in December 1990 with excellent distinction and honors. He then obtained a Master’s degree in Orthopedic Surgery in November 1994 with very good distinction, followed by a PhD in Orthopedic Surgery in April 1999 from the same university.

Academic Career and Leadership Positions

- Dr. Saoud progressed in his academic career until becoming a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, starting in September 2009 to the present.

- He held several leadership positions within the college and university, including Advisor to the Dean for Planning and Follow-up (2015–2016), Vice Dean for Graduate Studies and Research (2016–2018), and Chair of the Permanent Committee for Graduate Studies and Research at the university (2017–2018).

- In addition to his university work, Dr. Saoud chaired the Global Spine Surgery Society from 2014 to 2016, after a distinguished trajectory within the society, serving as Executive Committee Member (2007–2009), Secretary General (2009–2011), Treasurer (2011–2012), and then Vice President (2012–2014).

- He was also a member of the Supreme Technical Committee of the Science and Technology Support Fund at the Ministry of Higher Education (2017–2018) and a member of the permanent scientific committee for the promotion of associate professors and professors in Orthopedic Surgery. He served as Vice President for Education and Student Affairs from December 2018 to 2022.

Scientific Expertise and International Training

Dr. Saoud gained extensive experience through numerous international training programs. He trained in spinal surgery at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris in 1993, joint replacement and pelvic surgeries in the United Kingdom in 1997 and specialized in tumor and prosthetic surgeries at the University of Münster in Germany the same year.

His training also included joint, hand, and pelvic fracture surgeries in Düsseldorf, Germany, spinal surgeries at Izmir University in Turkey under the supervision of Cleveland Clinic in 2003, advanced shoulder surgery in France in 2005, and participation in a research ethics training program at the University of Maryland, USA, in 2007.

Research Contributions and International Conferences

Dr. Saoud has participated as a lecturer and speaker in over 110 international conferences in orthopedic and spinal surgery and medical education, and published 26 scientific papers in prestigious international journals or as lectures and posters at global conferences.

International Academic Positions

He has been a member of several promotion committees at renowned international universities, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq, University of Sunway, Malaysia, and Columbia University, USA. He also served as a visiting professor at the University of Pittsburgh in 2006 and as faculty in spine courses at Cleveland Clinic since 2004.

He served as Chair of the Education Committee of the North American Spine Society in 2007–2008 and founded the EgyptSpine anatomical training courses in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic in 2004, 2007, 2009, and 2013. He was elected to the Board of Directors and as Egypt’s representative on the ISMISS Board in 2025.

Scientific Peer Review and Academic Supervision

Dr. Saoud serves as an international reviewer for leading journals, including the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, Bone & Joint Journal, and World Spinal Column Journal, as well as specialized pediatric and neurology journals.

He supervised over 50 Master’s theses and 15 PhD dissertations in Orthopedic and Spinal Surgery, and participated in defense and review committees at Cairo, Al-Azhar, and Suez Canal universities.

Leadership Achievements at Ain Shams University

Dr. Saoud oversaw the International Scientific Relations Office since its establishment in 2014 and played a key role in Ain Shams University achieving QS international accreditation in 2015 with three stars overall and five stars in teaching and employment, becoming the first Egyptian university to achieve this.

He received honors from the College Council, University Council, and the QS organization during its international conference in Qatar in 2015. Under his leadership, the office signed multiple international agreements, including a GHLO student and scientific exchange agreement with 50 universities worldwide, and cooperation agreements with universities in Russia, Germany, USA, and the UK. He also worked on obtaining US accreditation for deputy training programs at the Faculty of Medicine and supervised the establishment and training of international relations offices in all university faculties since 2015.

Awards and Recognition

- Dr. Saoud has received numerous international and local awards, including:

- UNESCO Outstanding Leadership Award, 2021

- QS Excellence in Education Award

- Global Spine Surgery Society Recognition Award, 2016

- University of Saarland Appreciation Award, 2018 & 2022

- University of Warwick Appreciation Award, 2018

- Best Research Award, 9th Global Spine Surgery Congress, October 2022

- University of Witwatersrand Appreciation Award, South Africa

- Aurok International First-Class Honor, 2023

- In 2023, he and his team at Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine received a special award from the jury at the International Greek Spine Surgery Congress in Porto Heli, Greece.

Locally, he received:

- Best Research Award at the Egyptian Orthopedic Association International Conference, 2008

- Appreciation Shield from the Faculty of Medicine Council for QS accreditation, 2015

- Appreciation Shields from Ain Shams University for QS accreditation, 2015–2018–2021

World Ranking and Administrative Development Achievements

Dr. Saoud led Ain Shams University’s ranking and accreditation efforts, successfully including it in the Shanghai Ranking for the first time in 2017. The university also advanced in the Times and QS rankings, achieving four stars in international accreditation in 2018, with the Faculty of Medicine receiving three stars.

He implemented comprehensive administrative and educational development for the Graduate Studies and Research sector during his tenure as Vice Dean.

Prof. Abdel Fattah Saoud exemplifies the model of an Egyptian academic and scientist who combines scientific excellence with leadership, significantly enhancing Ain Shams University’s academic and research standing internationally.

Through his long career, he has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the development of education, scientific research, and academic community service in Egypt and worldwide.