Dr. Carlos Abril

Staff Physician, General Surgery

Carlos M. Abril Vega, MD, PhD is a Consultant Staff Physician at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in the Digestive Disease Institute, specializing in general and bariatric surgery. With a PhD from the University of Valladolid, Spain, Dr. Abril is also a Clinical Professor at Case Western Reserve University. He has extensive expertise in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, leading innovation in complex digestive procedures. A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Abril has contributed to numerous international publications and conferences in the field of digestive and bariatric surgery.

Dr. Daniel Guerron

Consultant general and bariatric surgeon

Consultant general and bariatric surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE.

He completed his medical school at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and his surgical training at Cleveland Clinic and a fellowship in MIS gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery at Duke University.

He is the director of the Hernia and Core Health Center at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

As international speaker, He has published several original scientific articles and texts on hernia, laparoscopic, robotic and bariatric surgery.

Dr. John H. Rodriguez

Chief of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Digestive Disease Institute

Dr. John H. Rodriguez, MD, is Interim Institute Chief of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Digestive Disease Institute.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Rodriguez spent 13 years at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus in Cleveland, Ohio, US. Here, his work experience included Section Head of Surgical Endoscopy and Foregut Surgery, Director of the Center for Advanced Skills Training, and Surgical Director of the Gastroparesis Center.

Dr. Rodriguez obtained his medical degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. He received his medical training in the US, including a Research Fellowship at Emory University, where he focused on studying transplant virology. He joined Cleveland Clinic for General Surgery residency training as well as a fellowship in Flexible Surgical Endoscopy and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery.

Dr. Sandy Van

Obesity Physician & Psychotherapist, Founder, Haven Weight Management

Dr. Sandy Van is a licensed Family Physician, Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and GP Psychotherapist. She is the founder and Medical Director of Haven Weight Management, a virtual medical clinic dedicated to comprehensive obesity care. She also serves as an Obesity Physician at MEDCAN, an executive health clinic in Toronto, Ontario.

Her practice blends medical management with psychotherapy tools, helping individuals achieve sustainable weight loss and long-term health. Dr. Van is recognized as a leading voice in behavioural and medical treatment for obesity, with a career that includes global speaking engagements, professional consultation for healthcare providers, and frequent appearances on national television and radio.

Her mission is to advance the field of obesity medicine by integrating evidence-based pharmacotherapy with psychological strategies—shaping a model of care that reduces stigma and creates lasting change for patients.