SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
In hospital corridors, operating rooms and emergency wards, doctors see not a job or duty but a pledge: to care for patients, protect their wellbeing, and stand with them through some of life's most difficult moments.
On World Doctors Day, marked on March 30, physicians in the UAE renewed that commitment as they reflected on what their profession means to them.
Doctors are protectors of life, said Dr Abdulla Al Rahoomi, Consultant of Sports Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Healthpoint Hospital.
As an Emirati, he said it is through his practice that he commits to his homeland with pride and honour. "In times of challenge, doctors rise to the occasion, serving as the first line of defence in patient care," Dr Al Rahoomi told Aletihad.
Within the science and precision of routines and procedures, doctors ensure they don't lose sight of the human side of care. Dr Toufic Ata said that every time he puts on his white coat, he reminds himself why he chose this path.
"I am there for someone on their hardest day, giving every patient a part of my heart along with my care," said Dr Ata, Medical Director and Consultant for Laparoscopic Bariatric and General Surgery at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
Being a doctor is not just about identifying illness and providing treatment, he said. "It is about listening to fears and holding onto hope."
In medicine, not every day brings answers - but every day calls for presence, said Dr Alia Asghar, General Practitioner at Medeor Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
"Being a doctor means showing up with honesty and compassion," she said. "It also means walking alongside someone, no matter how difficult their journey may be."
Dr Abdul Rasak, Consultant of General Surgery at LLH Hospital in Musaffah, noted that every patient comes with a story - and doctors become part of that journey. "The trust they place in us is something we carry forward every day," Dr Rasak said.