Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has celebrated the graduation of 23 interns, residents and fellows from its Graduate Medical Education programmes, including the institution’s first-ever cardiology fellow graduates. Of the total, 19 are UAE nationals, reflecting the hospital’s growing role in cultivating the next generation of world-class clinicians within the country.
Held at the hospital’s auditorium, the ceremony honoured the achievements of physicians who have completed rigorous training across specialities, including emergency medicine, internal medicine, anaesthesiology, otolaryngology, general surgery and cardiology.
Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, congratulated the graduates, saying: “These young professionals represent the future of healthcare in the UAE, driven by expertise, empathy and a deep sense of purpose. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is proudly supporting their growth as they take their place as leaders in medicine.”
The hospital’s academic programmes are recognised by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International (ACGME-I) and the Emirati Board.
With over 80% of graduates being UAE nationals, the latest milestone marks the largest Emirati cohort the institution has graduated so far, according to Ziyana AlKhusaibi, Manager of Graduate Medical Education.
“This reflects the UAE Vision 2031, which focuses on developing homegrown talent and training skilled physicians who can practise at world-class standards,” AlKhusaibi told Aletihad.
Dr. Sawsan Abdel-Razig, Chief Academic Officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said their Graduate Medical Education programmes have trained more than 289 physicians to date. “Many of them [are] UAE nationals, who are now advancing care, driving innovation and strengthening the UAE’s healthcare system for generations to come.”
A Patient-First ApproachIn honing the skills of the next physician leaders, the institution has designed its programme in a team-based model that places the patient at the centre of every interaction, Dr. Abdel-Razig told Aletihad.
Dr. Khaled Al Zaman, who completed an internship at the hospital, lauded the institution’s patient-first approach, combined with a strong research culture.
“Patient care is always the top priority here, and the focus on advanced technologies and research not only highlights the hospital but also raises Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s global profile,” said Dr. Al Zaman, who is now an internal medicine resident at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City.
Dr. Ahmed Al Zubaidi, one of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s first residents, said the hospital’s patient-centred philosophy instilled in him the drive to innovate and continuously improve his skills.
He now hopes to subspecialise in colorectal surgery, a rare field in the UAE, to ensure patients in the country no longer have to go abroad for the procedure.
While new programmes in critical care, oncology, and vascular surgery are in the pipeline, cardiology has been chosen for the first fellowship due to the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the region.
Fatemeh Mohammed, one of the first cardiology fellows, said the programme had been transformative.
“It has defined not only my clinical and procedural skills but also my ability to lead, communicate, and work under pressure,” she said.
Fatemeh hopes “to contribute to the UAE’s healthcare by providing the highest standard of care, mentoring future physicians, and helping build programmes that advance training and research”.
