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BMC WELLNEX Forum 2026

Research and Innovation for Health, Wellness, and Medical Tourism

Date: 14 May 2026, BMC Jeddah Campus.

About

The BMC WELLNEX Forum 2026 is an interdisciplinary platform hosted by Batterjee Medical College, dedicated to advancing health, wellness, and medical tourism through research excellence, innovation, and high-quality care delivery. The Forum brings together academics, healthcare professionals, innovators, policymakers, and destination stakeholders to explore how integrated health systems translate knowledge into trusted, destination-ready health and wellness services.

Adopting a health and wellness ecosystem approach, the Forum views health as a connected continuum that begins with education and research, progresses through clinical excellence and patient experience, expands into wellness and prevention, and culminates in sustainable health and wellness tourism. Tourism is positioned not as a standalone activity, but as an outcome of excellence grounded in evidence-based practice, measurable outcomes, culturally responsive care, and robust governance.

The Forum supports cross-sector alignment between healthcare excellence, destination development, and cultural experience, contributing to Saudi Arabia's strategic ambitions in quality of life, healthcare transformation, and sustainable tourism.

Vision & Mission

Vision

To be a leading forum that advances integrated health and wellness ecosystems, where research and innovation enable trusted and sustainable health and wellness tourism.

Mission

To connect research, education, innovation, and healthcare practice through interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting effective, scalable, and globally credible models that enhance health outcomes, wellbeing, and destination readiness.

Forum Objectives

Promote research-driven and innovation-enabled approaches across health, wellness, and medical tourism domains

Strengthen translation of education and research into high-quality clinical, wellness, and destination services

Advance patient safety, measurable outcomes, and experience-centered care as foundations of destination trust

Integrate prevention, rehabilitation, and wellbeing into comprehensive health and wellness models

Support health system leadership, governance, digital transformation, and accreditation readiness

Position health and wellness tourism as a result of integrated excellence across the health ecosystem

Enable cross-sector dialogue and collaboration among healthcare, tourism, culture, and academic stakeholders

Forum Themes

Research and Education for Health and Medical Tourism Excellence

Education and research underpin workforce capability, scientific credibility, and international trust required for competitive health and wellness tourism.

Research presentations across health and medical disciplines relevant to destination health services

Evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning supporting international standards of care

Interprofessional education enabling coordinated care for medical travelers

Research skills development, mentorship, and dissemination aligned with health tourism needs

International research standing and academic credibility supporting destination trust

Clinical Quality, Diagnostics, and Outcomes for Destination Trust

Clinical quality and diagnostics drive safe, effective, and measurable outcomes that define healthcare excellence for local and international patients.

Clinical effectiveness and outcome-based care with transparent reporting

Diagnostics, imaging, and decision support for accurate and timely care

Patient safety, risk management, and quality assurance

Standardized, evidence-informed pathways for elective and cross-border care

International benchmarks and outcomes reporting as medical tourism quality signals

Patient Experience and Recovery Pathways in Health Tourism

Patient experience is shaped by compassionate care, coordinated recovery, and continuity across the full care journey.

Patient-centered nursing models and care coordination

Allied health and respiratory support services enhancing safety and comfort

Rehabilitation and recovery planning for optimal functional outcomes

Continuity of care, discharge planning, and cross-border follow-up

Experience standards and cultural competence in international patient care

Wellness Tourism, Prevention, and Quality of Life

Wellness extends healthcare beyond treatment to prevention, resilience, and sustainable wellbeing—key drivers of wellness tourism.

Preventive health strategies and risk reduction models

Lifestyle medicine and structured wellness programs

Functional recovery, independence, and healthy aging pathways

Mental health and community wellbeing initiatives

Evidence-based wellness programs suitable for destination wellbeing services

Health Systems, Governance, and Innovation for Tourism Readiness

Strong health systems, governance, and innovation capacity enable safe scaling and sustainability of health and wellness tourism services.

Health administration, service design, and operational excellence

Governance, quality management, and accreditation alignment

Digital health, data-enabled care, and innovation adoption

Workforce development and sustainable education models

Health and Wellness Tourism Pathways and Destination Readiness

Health and wellness tourism becomes sustainable when education, care quality, wellness models, experience standards, and system readiness align.

Cross-border patient journey design and navigation

Integrated multidisciplinary care pathways for international patients

Global engagement, partnerships, and trust-building mechanisms

Destination readiness including service packaging, communication, and logistics

End-to-end assurance of the international patient journey

Panel Discussion

Panel 1: Conceptualizing Medical and Health Tourism: Distinctions Between Medical, Health, and Wellness-Therapeutic Travel

This panel establishes conceptual clarity across medical tourism, health tourism, and wellness-therapeutic travel by examining definitions, boundaries, overlaps, and system implications. The discussion highlights clinical, regulatory, and service design considerations influencing quality, safety, and destination trust.

Panel 2: Advancing Health and Wellness Tourism in Saudi Arabia: Strategic Priorities, System Readiness, and Policy Directions

This panel explores strategic pathways for developing a competitive, trusted, and sustainable health and wellness tourism sector in Saudi Arabia. The discussion focuses on governance, healthcare quality, regulatory frameworks, workforce capabilities, innovation, and destination readiness aligned with national transformation and quality-of-life objectives.

Scientific Committee

Dr. Ikhlas Abdulaziz Sindi

Executive Director of Student Engagement, Batterjee Medical College

Prof. Sabrin Ibrahim

Vice Head of BMC Research Unit

Prof. Enas Mashaly

Tamkeen Institute

Prof. Mohamed Ashour

Professor, PharmD

Dr. Mohammad Jaffar

Associate Professor – PharmD

Speakers

Dr. Ikhlas Sindi

Executive Director of Student Engagement, Batterjee Medical College

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Omer Yousef

Professor & Consultant of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology; Academic and Research Coordinator Radiologic Sciences Program, Batterjee Medical College

Dr. Safaa Mohammed Alsanosi

Associate Professor, General Medicine Practice, Batterjee Medical College; Physiscian/Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Therapeutics, Umm Al-Qura University; Visiting Researcher at the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health Center, University of Glasgow

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Lotfy Morsi Ashour

Professor, PharmD, Batterjee Medical College

Dr. Ramia Abdou

Healthcare Accreditation and Medical Tourism Consultant; Surveyor (TEMOS) Quality Lead, Batterjee Medical College

Dr. Lujain Samarkandi

Assistant Professor, Head of Healthcare Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Nehmat Ghaboura

Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Head of Pharmacy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Saudi Arabia

Saud Emam

Health & Wellness Tourism Education Specialist, Hospitality Industry Expert, Red Sea Global, Batterjee Medical College, Saudi Arabia

Prof. Ahmed Al-Oraij

Chairman – Saudi Health Tourism Association | Vice President – Global Healthcare Travel Council | CEO – BLSM-Professor of Practice in Health Tourism at the School of Medicine – West University

Prof. Mohamed Ahmed Ali

Professor of Hotel Management, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University

Dr. Faisal Saleh Alshomrani

Assistant Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Shaimaa Elatwey

Country Director, Temos International, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Marwah Mustafa Albakri

Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University

Dr. Abdullah Al-Mansour

Executive Consultant, Innovation360 Institute – Middle East & North Africa (MENA)

Dr. Sarah S. Monshi

Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Health Services Research, Department of Health Administration & Hospitals, Umm Al-Qura University

Ahmed A. Abdelkaway

Patient Experience & Planetree Accreditation Expert, PCC Consultant, PX SME, Reviewer; Temos; Member of Beryl Institute MENA Advisory Council

Mr. Sami Mohammed Khiary

Chairman, Tour Guides Cooperative | Certified National Tourist Guide Trainer, WFTG

Dr. Ibrahim A. Al-Radwan

Assistant Research Professor, Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute (ADTI), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)

Dr. Walid Ali El-Hennawy

Assistant Secretary General, Arab Tourism Organization, Arab Leg

Dr. Ahmed AbouAmer

Head of Arabian Program Department, Arab Academy for Science and Technology; President Advisor, Arab Tourism Organization, KSA

Target Audience & Partnership

Target Audience

Researchers, academics, and healthcare educators

Healthcare professionals across medical, nursing, and allied health disciplines

Health system leaders, administrators, and accreditation and quality specialists

Innovators, digital health developers, entrepreneurs, and solution providers

Policymakers and stakeholders in health, wellness, tourism, and destination development

Organizations engaged in healthcare delivery, wellness services, hospitality, and destination management

The Forum Welcomes Strategic Partnerships With

Universities, research centers, and healthcare institutions

Hospitals, clinics, and healthcare networks

Digital health, med-tech, and innovation companies

Wellness providers and rehabilitation organizations

Tourism, hospitality, and destination development entities

Regulatory, quality, and accreditation stakeholders

International academic and industry networks

Partnership pathways may include speaking roles, scientific collaboration, innovation showcases, sponsored tracks, joint initiatives, and MoU development aligned with ecosystem readiness and impact.

Exhibition and Innovation Showcase

The BMC WELLNEX Forum 2026 includes an Exhibition and Innovation Showcase to present practical solutions and models that advance health, wellness, and medical tourism.

The exhibition connects academia, healthcare providers, innovators, and destination stakeholders, highlighting how research and innovation translate into improved outcomes, patient experience, and destination readiness.

Exhibition Focus Areas

Research and academic innovation

Clinical technologies, diagnostics, and therapeutic solutions

Digital health, AI, and health informatics

Wellness, prevention, and quality-of-life programs

Rehabilitation and assistive technologies

Health and wellness tourism service models and destination solutions

Important Times

30th of April 2026

Abstract submission

5th of May 2026

Abstract Acceptance

10th of May 2026

Poster Submission

Registration

The registration is available using the link below.

For inquiries about the forum, please contact:

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Emailresearch.unit@bmc.edu.sa