Prof Naima Lahbabi-Amrani

Professor Naima Lahbabi-Amrani is currently Emeritus Professor of medicine at the University Mohammed V, Rabat – Morocco. She is the first woman to hold the prestigious position of WGO President and the first WGO President from Africa and Middle East (2019-2021).

She has been the first woman President of SMMAD, of AAFFHGE (Association d’Afrique Francophone de Formation Continue en Hépato-Gastroentérologie, of PAAG (Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology) and of AMSDO (African Middle Eastern Society of Digestive Oncology). Additionally, she is founder and council member of AMAGE (African-Middle Eastern Association of Gastroenterology).

In Europe, Naima Lahbabi-Amrani served as an Executive Member of ASNEMGE (Association of National European & Mediterranean Societies of Gastroenterology from 2001 to 2009) which has since become UEG.

Professor Naima Lahbabi-Amrani graduated from University Rene Descartes, Paris-France. She holds a master’s degree in Human Biology with a focus on Physiology, Motility and Functional Diseases, from Claude Bernard University - Lyon, France. Prof. Naima Lahbabi-Amrani has served as the Head of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department at Ibn Sina University Hospital-Rabat, and was appointed the Associate Dean of Research and cooperation at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat.

Her main interests are gastric acid-related disorders such as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), duodenal and gastric ulcer, dyspepsia, Helicobacter pylori infection and motility disorders. She contributed in several scientific papers, abstracts and lectures on topics ranging from gastroenterology and hepatology. She serves as member in Editorial Boards of several international peer review journals. She was a driving force for the introduction of new techniques in Morocco as soon as they were validated on an international scale, especially: pH-monitoring test and pH-Impedance monitoring, Anorectal manometry and pelvic floor training (biofeedback), esophageal manometry, Capsule endoscopy and Fibroscan.

As the Director of the WGO Training Center in Rabat (WGO-RTC) for more than 20 years, she made unique contributions in Training and Education. Over 1500 trainees from 30 countries, primarily from Africa, have trained in the WGO-RTC.

She received many distinctions and awards like the Honour Award of SMMAD in 2019, recognizing her contributions and the outstanding dedication to the mission of SMMAD, and achievements in such areas as scholarly research, teaching and service to SMMAD and the community at large, including the Endoscopy Award of DGVS (German Society of Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases) in 2024. She also received the Royal decoration from the throne to the order of the Knight.