“When I founded DLS Clinic, I was driven by one simple belief: women deserve more than just treatment—they deserve to be seen, heard, and understood. Healthcare should be a partnership, not just a prescription pad.”
Dr. Leila Soudah, CEO of DLS Clinic speaks with quiet strength as she reflects on her clinic’s humble beginnings, which were born from her relentless desire to create a space where women could truly receive holistic care. What began as a vision to offer more personalized, patient-centered healthcare for women in the Middle East has since become a beacon of empowerment—a clinic that has transformed the lives of countless women who walk through its doors seeking not just answers but understanding.
But the story of DLS Clinic is about more than just medicine. It’s about a life’s journey that has spanned continents, defied odds, and seen countless hardships—each setback turning into a steppingstone for the boldest of new starts.
Dr. Leila’s journey into medicine was not a straightforward one. It was a restart—one that happened repeatedly, against all odds. Growing up in a world shaped by war, displacement, and loss, she knew from an early age what it meant to rebuild. Watching her mother endure the pain of multiple displacements while tirelessly caring for her family, Dr. Leila found not only the strength to survive, but the fuel to transform her life’s mission. DLS Clinic, which she founded in 1998, was the embodiment of that vision—a space where women could reclaim their health, their agency, and ultimately, their lives.
“Every challenge I faced, every hardship I overcame, was simply an opportunity to reset. And with DLS Clinic, I wanted to create a place where women could do the same—not just for themselves but for their health,” she explains. “We help women rebuild from the inside out, starting with the fundamental belief that health is not just about treating symptoms but understanding the whole person.”
It is this deep-rooted belief that continues to drive the success of DLS Clinic, where Dr. Leila’s philosophy of patient-centered care has flourished. From a simple idea to an institution of care, Dr. Leila’s clinic is a testament to the power of reinvention—of starting over, no matter the circumstances, to create something truly transformative for others.
Let’s read on further to know how Dr. Leila and DLS Clinic are empowering women to take control of their health and well-being!
A Life Defined by Resilience and Purpose
Dr. Leila’s story is one of resilience, determination, and a commitment to healing that began long before she ever opened the doors to DLS Clinic. Born into a Palestinian family displaced by war, she grew up with a profound understanding of hardship and displacement. Witnessing her mother’s struggle to provide for her family while enduring the loss of their homeland, Dr. Leila learned early on the strength required to survive and rebuild from the ground up. “My mother never had the chance to go to school, but she made sure I did,” she recalls. “Her sacrifice became my motivation to excel.”
Her family’s displacement from Palestine shaped her childhood, creating the foundation of her life’s mission. The constant upheaval made Dr. Leila keenly aware of the fragility of life and the importance of resilience. This early experience in a Palestinian refugee context drove her to excel and helped her develop a sense of purpose—to create something lasting in the face of adversity.
At just 13 years old, Dr. Leila was admitted to an elite school in Jordan, where she received the support she needed to break through the limitations of her circumstances. “I was always on a scholarship because my family couldn’t afford school fees,” she says, describing how she overcame the odds stacked against her. “I was driven by a desire to help those who had no voice, especially women who bore the brunt of society’s neglect.”
Dr. Leila’s path to medicine was a long and arduous one. She relocated to Germany in search of opportunities for a better life, where she faced the challenges of adapting to a new language and culture. “When I arrived in Germany, I didn’t speak German, only English. I had to work several jobs to support myself while studying. I started as a cleaner, then worked as a server, until I could finally enter medical school,” she recalls. Despite the racial challenges she faced, Dr. Leila persevered, studying medicine while working long hours. “I graduated in seven and a half years instead of six because I had to support myself financially,” she says with quiet pride.
Her hard work paid off, and Dr. Leila became a respected OB-GYN specialist, earning recognition for her dedication to the field. When she moved to Dubai in 1992, she realized that there was a significant opportunity to make a lasting difference in women’s healthcare. While she recognized that the healthcare system in the region was evolving, she saw the potential to contribute her expertise and help improve awareness and care for women’s health. “I knew I could offer valuable support, and I was determined to do it in a way that would truly make a difference,” she shares.
A Clinic Built on Empowerment
DLS Clinic was born from Dr. Leila’s desire to provide the kind of personalized, patient-centered care that was sorely missing in the region. From the beginning, she was determined to create a clinic where women would not just receive medical treatment but would be empowered to take control of their own health. “I wanted to create a space where women felt they were more than just patients,” she explains. “They were partners in their own healing journey.”
Her commitment to offering holistic care led her to establish an in-house lab in 2000. By 2005, the lab was fully certified, enabling her to offer highly specialized treatments and minimize the errors that often occur when relying on outside facilities. “Having my own lab was a game-changer. It allowed me to take full control of my patients’ care,” she says. The lab serves as a cornerstone of the clinic’s success, enabling precise diagnostics and personalized treatment plans, ensuring the best outcomes for every patient who walks through the door.
One of the core values of DLS Clinic is its focus on personalized medicine. Unlike traditional hospitals where treatment often follows a one-size-fits-all model, Dr. Leila insists on digging deeper into the root causes of each patient’s symptoms. “I don’t just prescribe contraceptives for every issue. I ask why these symptoms are happening in the first place. What is the root cause?” she explains. “Understanding the patient as a whole is key to providing the best possible care.”
Dr. Leila’s pursuit of knowledge doesn’t stop at clinical practice. Her interest in anti-aging and regenerative medicine led her to study hormonal health in the U.S. for eight years. “I wanted to be able to offer the best possible solutions for women suffering from hormonal imbalances, menopause, or aging-related issues,” she says. “For me, it’s not just about treating symptoms, it’s about giving women the tools to live better, healthier lives.”
She also believes in an integrated approach to healthcare that addresses emotional health and well-being. “Stress, trauma, and emotional pain can deeply impact a woman’s physical health. I make it a priority to ensure we address the whole person—not just the medical symptoms, but the mental and emotional challenges as well,” she shares. This comprehensive care model has set the clinic apart, making it a sanctuary where women not only heal physically but regain their sense of agency and empowerment.
Breaking Barriers in Women’s Health
DLS Clinic is more than just a medical facility; it is a community that stands at the forefront of change in women’s healthcare. Dr. Leila’s passion for addressing issues that have long been ignored by the mainstream medical community has set her clinic apart. “My team and I are dedicated to offering a more compassionate, individualized approach to care,” she says. “We believe in treating the whole person, not just the condition. If a woman walks into our clinic with unexplained symptoms, we don’t just give her a prescription. We work with her to understand what’s going on in her body, her mind, and her life.”
This approach is central to DLS Clinic’s success. Women who have long struggled with issues such as hormone imbalances, infertility, and pregnancy complications find answers here. Dr. Leila’s clinic offers comprehensive treatments, ranging from hormone replacement therapy to advanced fertility solutions, each tailored to the unique needs of the individual.
In addition to reproductive health, DLS Clinic has become a leader in addressing the often-ignored concerns of women’s mental health and well-being. “Many women go through life with their concerns dismissed—whether it’s emotional stress, relationship issues, or the societal pressures they face,” she explains. “We believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. We provide a safe space where women can talk openly and receive care that nurtures both mind and body.”
The Future of Women’s Healthcare
Dr. Leila is not content with the status quo. She is constantly looking for ways to innovate and improve women’s healthcare. One of her next goals is to establish a specialized clinic for fibromyalgia, a condition that often goes misdiagnosed or dismissed. “I want to help women who suffer from fibromyalgia get the care they deserve,” she says. “Their pain is real, and it’s often ignored by the medical community. At DLS, we want to offer them solutions, not just words of comfort.”
She is also passionate about education, regularly conducting international training sessions for doctors and corporate teams on stress management, hormone therapy, and holistic healthcare. She firmly believes that the future of healthcare lies in a more personalized and compassionate approach. “The medical community is slowly realizing that one-size-fits-all treatments do not work for everyone. We need to embrace individualized, holistic care for true healing,” she says.
“There’s so much more to health than just treating symptoms,” she adds. “It’s about addressing the root causes, understanding the patient’s unique circumstances, and walking with them every step of the way.”
A Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Health
The story of DLS Clinic is the story of a woman who refused to be defined by the challenges life threw at her. Dr. Leila’s unwavering dedication to women’s health has shaped a clinic that stands as a beacon of hope for women across the region. In her hands, healthcare is not just about prescriptions and treatments—it’s about nurturing a woman’s entire well-being, from her emotional health to her physical health.
“Healthcare should be about treating the whole person,” she says. “It should be about listening, understanding, and empowering patients to take control of their health.”
As DLS Clinic continues to redefine women’s healthcare in the Arab world, it remains a place where hope, healing, and empowerment converge—a place where women are not just treated but celebrated.
