Ramzi Khamis is a physician and researcher who specializes in interventional cardiology. He was educated at the Collège des Frères in Bethlehem and Jerusalem before leaving his hometown of Beit Jala at the age of 16 to study in the United Kingdom. After studying medicine at Bristol University he specialized in internal medicine, cardiology, and interventional cardiology in leading UK institutions. Dr. Khamis earned a PhD from Imperial College London where he is now a consultant cardiologist. He is an internationally renowned opinion-leader in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular science. He and his team discovered a new link between the immune system and its role in the body’s endogenous protection from heart attacks. Furthermore, they successfully developed a new imaging technique to target the dangerous fatty deposits within arteries of the heart. They are now working tirelessly to discover new ways to use the immune system in combating heart disease, the world’s biggest killer.

Dr. Khamis has won a number of awards, among them the British Cardiovascular Investigator of the Year Award (2014). When recently selected as Young Leader by the American Cardiovascular Research Technologies organization in 2017, Ramzi was asked about his drive in balancing a difficult medical specialty with cutting-edge science. His response? “My inspiration comes from having a loving and supportive family. My father, a true inspiration, dedicated his life to others. My mother, wonderful seven sisters, wife, and two children are absolute rocks in this mission to battle heart disease and provide hope to millions of families affected by it.”

Working with institutions in Palestine, Dr. Khamis believes strongly that Palestinians deserve the best medical care that can be provided; like the care available to Israelis who live only a few miles away but are separated by an unnecessary wall.