Dr. Soha Tashkandi is a consultant clinical cytogenetics with 28 years’ experience in clinical laboratory sciences. Dr. Soha graduated from King Saud University, Applied Medical Sciences, CLS in 1996, then worked as Medical technologist in KFSH&RC then Riyadh Military Hospital for 6 years before pursuing her postgraduate education. In 2003 Dr. Soha earned her M.Sc. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences with subspecialty in reproductive genetics, from University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. In 2008 Dr. Soha completed her PhD in Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (testing) from University College London, UK. She gained the European specialized certifications in Clinical Molecular Cytogenetics from university of Paris Descartes, France in 2016.
In 2009 Dr. Soha lead the Cytogenetics Laboratory in RMH for 2 years then moved to KFMC leading the Cytogenetics laboratory, establishing the molecular genetic laboratory there and then became the chairperson of clinical pathology for two successive terms (6 years).
In addition, Dr. Soha was one of the founders the now-days CLS practice assessment on the SCFHS as she was a member in the scientific board for applied medical sciences (BAMS) since 2011, then chaired the Clinical laboratory sciences scientific board in the following term, then participated in establishing the assessment of candidates and qualifications by surviving in different committees in SCFHS.
Dr. Soha is highly interested in Clinical laboratory governance, quality and strategy, and therefore she worked hard to earn the Transformative Executive Healthcare Leadership certification on 2019 and MBA with subspecialty in strategy & quality in 2020. She then joined the HSSC in collaboration with KFMC and founded the Policy & Regulatory Committee under the direction of the HSSC CEO, which later became part of the regulatory arm in the HSSC. She is also a CBAHI surveyor since 2014, College of American Pathologist Inspector since 2015.
Dr. Soha is passionate about teaching, she supervised 5 M.Sc. candidate in UK and in SA, all were awarded the degree and at least two of them with merit/distinction.
Dr. Soha has a number of publications some of them were key publications tackling rare cytogenetics syndromes, as well as CLS quality and healthcare transformation.