Dr. Al-Salem received his medical degree (MBBS) from King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia in 1981 and was top of his class. He was awarded a certificate as one of the best graduates of the Colleges of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 1985, he was awarded a prize by the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland as the best candidate in the Primary FRCSI Examination. He continued his training in general surgery and pediatric surgery and in 1987 he received his fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. He is also a fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the International College of Surgeons. Dr. Al-Salem has served as a member of the Scientific Committee of the Saudi Board of Pediatric Surgery and chairman of the Training and Hospital Recognition Committee. He is also a member of the Arab Association of Pediatric Surgeons, the Asian Association of Pediatric Surgeons, the British Association of Pediatric Surgeons, the Examination Committee of the Saudi Board of Pediatric Surgery, and the Saudi Scientific Pediatric Surgery Association. He is on the editorial board of several journals and also a reviewer for several journals.