Zainab Al Balushi, MD, FRCS, FRC, is a Senior Consultant Pediatric Surgeon and the Head of Pediatric Surgery Unit at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (University Medical City), Muscat, Oman, and the president and founder of the Women Surgeons of Oman. She has over 16 years of experience in pediatric surgery and is actively involved in clinical leadership, surgical education, and international collaborative research. She also serves as the National Lead for global child health research initiatives and play a key role in advancing surgical training and women’s leadership in surgery in Oman and the region.
Her research interests focus on pediatric surgery outcomes, global child health, and improving surgical care delivery in low- and middle-income settings. She is particularly interested in health systems strengthening, quality improvement, and the integration of innovation, including minimally invasive and AI-assisted surgery, to enhance pediatric surgical outcomes. Al Balushi’s work also explores collaborative international research aimed at reducing disparities in access to safe surgical care for children.
Al Balushi joins the Master of Science in Global Child Health program in the St. Jude Graduate School to strengthen her research skills and contribute to advancing pediatric healthcare systems locally and globally. Her goal is to bridge clinical practice with impactful research to improve surgical outcomes and equity in child health, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Hometown: Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Education:
2009 Fellow, Pediatric Surgery, University of Montreal
2007 FRCSC, General Surgery, McGill University
1998 General Surgery, Oman Medical Specialty Board
1996 Doctor of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University
1994 Bachelor of Science, Sultan Qaboos University
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2020 Omani Women’s Day Award (Awarded by Her Majesty Al Sayyedah Al Jalilah Ahad Al Busaidi)
2017 Best Trainer Award, Oman Medical Specialty Board
2015 Best Staff Award, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital
2013 Best Doctor Award, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital
2009 Dr. Guttman Award, McGill University
2007 Best Chief Resident, McGill University
2007 Best Teaching Award, McGill University
Publications:
Menon, Revathy & Rathod, Kirtikumar & Sinha, Arvind & Minocha, Ashish & Hernandez, Carlos & Jiang, Dapeng & Raboei, Enaam & Cai, Jiaoyang & Gallo, Lily & Chitnis, Milind & Gera, Purushottam & Pandya, Samir & al balushi, Zainab. (2024). An International Consensus Survey among Pediatric Surgeons on the Role of Appendectomy in Malrotation. Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons. 29. 256-260. 10.4103/jiaps.jiaps_258_23.
Al Barhi, Tamadher & Wali, Yasser & Al Sibai, Sareyah & al balushi, Zainab. (2022). Extensive porto-splenic venous thrombosis postsplenectomy in a sickle cell disease: a rare complication. BMJ Case Reports. 15. e245085. 10.1136/bcr-2021-245085.
Al Sharqi, Ali & Mouaffak, Sareyah & Rahbi, Fathiya & Bawain, Saleh & Fatema, Noor & Al Rahbi, Najwa & al balushi, Zainab. (2023). Primary Immature Renal Teratoma in a Neonate. Oman Medical Journal. 38. e558-e558. 10.5001/omj.2023.49.
Awfi, Mahmood & al balushi, Zainab & Al Jahdhami, Suad & Sherif, Mahmoud & Al Sibai, Sareyah. (2021). A retroperitoneal supra-adrenal non-communicating gastric duplication cyst: a case report and comprehensive literature review. Annals of Pediatric Surgery. 17. 10.1186/s43159-021-00078-8.
Alfouzan, Wadha & al balushi, Zainab & Al-Maslamani, Muna & Al Rashed, Asmaa & Salman, Jameela & Baguneid, Mohamed & Khamis, Faryal & Ha, Nervana & Kurdi, Ayman & Eckmann, Christian. (2021). Antimicrobial Management of Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in an Era of Emerging Multi-Drug Resistance: Perspectives from 5 Gulf Countries. Journal of Acute Care Surgery. 11. 89-101. 10.17479/jacs.2021.11.3.89.