The brother of the country's leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, reportedly earned high regard as a medical practitioner in Voronezh

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has appointed his elder brother Maher al-Sharaa - a gynecologist who previously practiced in Russia - as his new chief of staff, according to media reports.

Maher al-Sharaa assumed the position of secretary-general to the Syrian presidency last Saturday. He had previously served as health minister under his brother, the former leader of the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Ahmed al-Sharaa seized power in Syria under the nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani in December.

On Monday, several outlets, including the tabloid Life, detailed Maher's Russian ties, noting that he graduated from Burdenko Medical University in Voronezh in 2000. He reportedly worked at Golan Hospital in Syria from 2004 to 2013 before returning to Russia amid escalating strife in his homeland.

The Damascus-born doctor held various positions in Voronezh from 2014 to 2021, including head of the gynecology department at a clinic owned by Russian railway monopoly RZhD, according to ProDoctorov, a Russian online platform that provides patient reviews of doctors and clinics.

His charisma apparently won over many female patients, Life noted. One declared him a "gift from God" on a medical review site, while another expressed gratitude for his help in dealing with her stress during treatment.

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Former Syrian President Bashar Assad - whom Ahmed al-Sharaa forced into exile in Russia - also has a medical background. Before being recalled in 1994 to follow in his father President Hafez Assad's footsteps, he practiced ophthalmology in London. His career shift came after the death of his elder brother Bassel in a car crash, which left Hafez without a clear heir.