Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Fatima bint Mubarak Center on Wednesday celebrated its second anniversary with a series of achievements. Since its opening in 2023, the centre has conducted over 25,000 cancer treatments and welcomed nearly 70,000 patients.
To mark the occasion, the Fatima bint Mubarak Center hosted a media roundtable to discuss its breakthroughs in cancer diagnosis, treatment, education, and research. Led by by Dr. Stephen Grobmyer, Institute Chair of the Oncology Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, the event brought together top experts in their fields, including Dr. Fady Geara, the Chair of Radiation Oncology at the Cancer Institute; Dr. Usman Ahmad, Division Chair – Thoracic Surgery, Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute; and Dr. Fawad Khan, Staff Physician – Longevity Medicine, Cancer Institute.
In only two years following its inauguration, the Fatima bint Mubarak Center has delivered over 25,000 cancer treatments, ranging from chemotherapy infusions to radiation therapy and surgeries. Cementing its status as a regional leader in advanced, compassionate oncology care, the centre's doctors have assisted 69,892 patients across 24 specialised departments.
Patient-centred Approach
The Fatima bint Mubarak Center's pioneering innovation tranformed the lives of patients not only in the UAE but throughout the entire region. Among these are the UAE's first robotic mastectomy and the Middle East's first heavy-ion therapy facility.
Speaking to Aletihad during the event, Dr. Grobmyer shared how the centre is revolutionising cancer care by combining cutting-edge technology with patient-focused service.
"What makes treatment here unique is a combination of a world-class facility with world-class technology," he said. "But technology alone cannot do the care that is needed. It enables world-class physicians and teams to work together to provide the best care."
One of the centre's most remarkable advancements is its AI-driven adaptive radiation therapy, designed to provide personalised care for patients."With AI-guided radiation, the computer re-images the patient every day and adjusts the radiation - even if it is a few millimetres. That can make a big difference," he explained.
"Our doctors are seeing less toxicity from radiation, especially in prostate cancer, because it is so precisely targeted."
He also cited AI-assisted colonoscopy and mammography as key breakthroughs.
"AI acts as an extra set of eyes, helping doctors detect more pre-cancerous polyps and subtle changes in imaging that might otherwise be missed," he said.
"The computer is making doctors smarter."
Regarding women's cancer care, Dr. Grobmyer noted that the centre has developed targeted programmes.
"We have a dedicated team for breast cancer - from screening and prevention to treatment and post-care. We even performed the first robotic mastectomy in the Middle East," he shared.
Dr. Grobmyer said the next frontier is leadership in research, genomics, and innovation.
"The vision is to not just participate but lead in global oncology. Genomics is at the centre of everything we do. The UAE's investment in genome sequencing through M42 and the Emerging Genome Project will transform cancer care by helping us personalise treatment."
"Innovation, clinical trials, and new technologies - like the Heavy Ion Programme - are on the horizon. But it all comes back to making cancer less common and making treatment safer and more effective when it is needed," he added.
Longevity Medicine Programme
Also speaking to Aletihad, Dr. Khan explained how the centre's distinctive approach is transforming lives by focusing on both cancer prevention and survivorship through a specialised Longevity Medicine Programme.
"This programme is one of its kind globally," Dr. Khan said.
He noted that it focuses on two populations: those who are at high risk of developing cancer, and those already diagnosed.
Dr. Khan stressed that early identification of high-risk individuals through family history and genetic testing enables doctors to develop comprehensive prevention plans.
"We put them on prevention programmes ranging from enhanced screening and lifestyle changes to preventive medication or even surgery. For this, we work closely with the Emirati Genome Programme."
The second group includes current cancer patients.
"After diagnosis, we introduce them to our longevity medicine pathway. It's about managing side effects, planning surveillance, assessing hereditary risks, and supporting their journey toward healthy longevity."
He highlighted how both groups gain valuable support from the centre's multidisciplinary longevity clinics, where a team of specialists provides holistic care tailored to their needs.
"Typically, patients are seen every 6 to 12 months by their oncologist. Here, they receive continuous support from longevity specialists between those visits. We do not just treat the disease - we help patients and their families live well after cancer."
The Value of Robotics
During the media roundtable, Dr. Ahmad stressed the value of robotics in elevating surgical precision and outcomes.
"Robotic-assisted surgery is transforming the landscape of cancer treatment, in thoracic oncology and across multiple tumour types," he said, adding that the technology is making surgery safer, more precise, and less invasive.
"Lung cancer is an area where robotic surgery has shown great promise, enabling us to remove tumours with greater accuracy while minimising damage to healthy tissues. We've also applied robotic approaches to other complex procedures - HIPEC for abdominal cancers, as well as kidney, prostate, colorectal and breast cancers - further expanding the boundaries of what's possible in surgical oncology."
Dr. Geara highlighted the institution's leadership in radiotherapy advancements.
"One major milestone was the launch of Abu Dhabi's first interstitial brachytherapy programme, which allowed us to treat patients with gynaecologic cancers that previously had suboptimal options and outcomes."
"We are proud to be pushing the boundaries of radiation therapy in the Middle East," he said.
