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Meet Our Leadership Team

OUR PHILOSOPHY | LEADERSHIP TEAM
AboutTeam-1
DR. AZAD MOOPEN
Founder Chairman & Managing Director - Aster DM Healthcare
Dr. Azad Moopen is Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare. He is a gold medalist in Medicine and a post graduate in General Medicine from University of Calicut, Kerala, India and a diploma holder in Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases from Delhi University, Delhi, India.

Dr. Moopen is responsible for Aster DM Healthcare’s overall business operations and is responsible for setting forth the group strategy and vision. He also serves as Director of NORKA Roots and the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation. He has set up Dr. Moopen’s Foundation, a charitable foundation for extending healthcare charitable benefits to the less privileged. He has been Director of Aster DM Healthcare since its inception.

Dr. Moopen has been honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri Award in 2011 and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2010. He has also been conferred the Best Doctor Award by the Government of Kerala in 2009.

Dr. Moopen has also received the Arab Health Award from the Arab Health Forum in 2010, the Arabian Business Achievement Award from the ITP Publishing Group in 2010 and the Healthcare CEO of the Year Award at the CEO Middle East Awards 2015.
1987
Commenced operations as a single doctor clinic in Dubai - the first milestone in Aster DM’s inception
1995
Launched first specialty medical centre in Dubai
2006
Started the premium segment Medcare hospital in UAE
2010
Consolidation of the group’s medical facilities under the brand Aster
2011-2010
Awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and Padma Shri by the Government of India
2017
Dr. Moopen was ranked sixth ‘Top 100 Indian Leaders in UAE’ by Forbes
AboutTeam-2
ALISHA MOOPEN
Deputy Managing Director – Aster DM Healthcare
Alisha Moopen is Deputy Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare. Having joined the company as a Director in 2013, she is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and development of the organisation, and notably spearheading the expansion of the group into new markets.

In 2018, Alisha was elected by The World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader and was recognized as one of the Top 100 World’s Greatest Leaders in Asia and GCC. Forbes Middle East magazine has selected Alisha as one of the Top Next Generation Indian Leaders, and she has won Khaleej Times Emerging Leaders Award 2018 for Healthcare. She is a board member of YPO, Dubai.

A great champion of women empowerment and mental health, Alisha was instrumental in launching the Women in Leadership programme at Aster DM Healthcare which empowers talented female employees with training and growth opportunities, to shape them for leadership roles.

She is also an active philanthropist, being a trustee of Aster DM Foundation and involved in social welfare through Aster Volunteers programme which bridges the gap between people who would like to help with those in need.

She is a Chartered Accountant from the ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland) and worked earlier with Ernst & Young. She graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with distinction in Finance & Accounting.
AboutTeam-2
DR. SHANILA LAIJU
Chief Executive Officer - Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres
Dr. Shanila Laiju serves as Group Chief Executive Officer at Medcare Hospitals & Medical Centres in the UAE. Dr. Shanila’s career started in 1994 when she made her foray into dentistry. From there, she soon progressed into hospital administration. Her journey gradually saw her evolve into a Clinic Supervisor, Operations Manager, Group Chief Operating Officer, and now – Group Chief Executive Officer.

Backed by more than 18 years of success, Dr. Shanila has extensively contributed to the group’s internal culture by inspiring teams and boosting their performance through people-focused hospital administration.

She is also renowned for her hands-on approach to leadership, strategic decisions, and financial discipline. This approach has led to resilient employees, satisfied physicians, and resolute patient trust. Her expertise also brings great value to the medical community at large. She is an engaging communicator and relationship builder.

Dr. Shanila has spearheaded organizational planning, multimillion-dollar capital projects, contract negotiations, and team development while also increasing the brand’s visibility and growth.

Making a tangible impact continues to be Dr. Shanila’s core goal. One of the countless ways she does this is by serving as a mentor in the Women Leadership program at Aster DM Healthcare.

She is also a member of the Aster DM Group’s Senior Management Committee, which she has been involved in for six years. During her time on the committee, Dr. Shanila has significantly contributed to the rapidly expanding healthcare sector in the UAE.

One of her several career highlights includes carving out one of Medcare’s Centres of Excellence: the 65-bedded Medcare Orthopedics & Spine Hospital and the 88-bedded Medcare Women & Children Hospital. Part of what makes Dr. Shanila such an inspiring leader is her tireless commitment to sustainability - in all forms.

Just a few of the various green initiatives she has led at Medcare include a mindful approach to electricity and water consumption, recycling, responsible e-waste management, and the launch of electronic medical records for patient convenience, data accuracy, and as a strategic move towards paperless operations.

Dr. Shanila also facilitated a strategic partnership with Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) to provide free, timely medical treatment to injured children in conflict-affected countries in the Middle East.
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