Dubai Health Leadership Academy launched to build sustainable talent in healthcare - Dubai Health
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Care
Page sub titleDiscover Dubai’s first academic health system.
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Dubai Health launched the Dubai Health Leadership Academy, a unique transformative initiative dedicated to creating a sustainable pipeline of leadership talent in healthcare. The Academy aims to foster a collaborative culture of leadership at all levels in Dubai’s academic health system and promote efficient operations to deliver its ultimate goal of ensuring a high standard of care for patients and their families.
The Dubai Health Leadership Academy launch event, held at the Etihad Museum, was attended by a distinguished gathering of delegates and healthcare professionals, including His Excellency Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Director General of Dubai Health Authority; His Excellency Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al-Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department; Her Excellency Aisha Abdulla Miran, Director General of Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA); Adel Ahmad Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer of Emirates Airline; and Walid Saeed Al Awadhi, Board Member of Dubai Health.
Dubai Health Leadership Academy
The Academy reflects Dubai Health’s firm belief that investing in the professional growth of its staff is not only beneficial for individuals but also crucial for the overall strength of the organisation. This commitment to lifelong learning is one of four missions that form part of the academic health system’s innovative approach to elevate the standard of care and advance health for humanity.
Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health and President of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), commented on the importance of the Academy within Dubai’s first integrated academic health system: "The launch of the Dubai Health Leadership Academy reflects the vision and directives of the Dubai Health Board, led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and supported by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Board. This initiative is designed to cultivate a sustainable and adaptable leadership framework in healthcare, equipping it to tackle future challenges, while empowering national talents to assume impactful leadership roles."
“At Dubai Health, we recognize that the strength of our healthcare system lies in the capabilities of our people. We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Leadership Academy, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders in healthcare. At a time when our industry faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities, this academy represents our commitment to advancing both the quality of care and the caliber of leadership. As part of launching this academy, we are introducing its inaugural program, the Systems Leadership Program, in collaboration with Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. We are delighted to partner with Oxford Saïd, whose renowned expertise in leadership development is helping us advance health for humanity.”
The Systems Leadership Program, co-designed with Saïd Business School
In a significant step towards advancing healthcare leadership, Dubai Health signed an agreement with Oxford Saïd in April 2023 to launch the Systems Leadership Program (SLP), the Academy's inaugural program. Co-designed with Oxford Saïd, the SLP will equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to navigate complexity, foster innovation, and cultivate a culture of excellence and safety within Dubai Health.
Dr. Eleanor Murray, Academic Director and Senior Fellow in Management Practice at Oxford Saïd, emphasized the importance of the partnership between Dubai Health and Oxford Saïd in the creation of the SLP, stating: “As we inaugurate the Systems Leadership Program, we hope to create a cadre of leaders with the knowledge, skills and attitude to transform healthcare delivery for the benefit of patients and serve the mission of the integrated academic health system.”
Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Deputy CEO and Chief Academic Officer of Dubai Health and Provost of MBRU, highlighted the significance of the Systems Leadership Program, saying: “At Dubai Health, our mission to integrate Care, Learning, Discovery and Giving, aims to create an engine for innovation, connected for the patient and delivered through a culture of collaboration across our integrated academic health system. Grounded in our values, I believe that the Systems Leadership Program will create greater alignment across our four missions and be pivotal in uniting us as one in the advancement of health to new heights of patient centric excellence.
We are deeply appreciative of Oxford Saïd, for their invaluable partnership in bringing this vision to life. Their expertise has been instrumental in ensuring that our leaders receive a world-class learning experience tailored to the unique needs of our academic health system.”
The inaugural Systems Leadership Program is an intensive 14-month initiative focused on generative leadership and systemic change that aims to equip Dubai Health’s leaders with the skills to drive innovation, foster a culture of accountability, and lead transformative projects. Engaging 200 participants across five cohorts of 40, the program is delivered primarily through in-person sessions and includes four comprehensive modules covering strategic leadership, healthcare innovation, patient safety, and building a high-performance culture. Participants will receive personalized coaching sessions from seasoned executive coaches, alongside insights from leading experts at Oxford Saïd, ensuring both global perspectives and tailored guidance for Dubai’s healthcare needs.
Dr. Mark O’Brien, Program Director of the SLP and Associate Fellow at Oxford Saïd, remarked: “The entire team at Oxford Saïd is excited by the comprehensive leadership curriculum that will be delivered by our leading faculty members and expert global practitioners. We are committed to providing an exceptional learning experience for all participants—one that will equip and inspire them to lead excellence in healthcare delivery within Dubai Health for many decades to come.”
Dubai Academic Health Corporation (DAHC), Dubai’s first integrated academic health system, announced that it has earned the prestigious Gold Seal of Approval® by the Joint Commission International (JCI) across all its hospitals and primary care centers.
By maintaining its international accreditation, DAHC demonstrates a steadfast dedication to upholding healthcare excellence for patients and their families. The accreditation also reflects its commitment to becoming a global leader in providing exceptional patient care by maintaining the highest quality and safety standards.
The Joint Commission International, a leading accreditation body for hospitals and healthcare organizations worldwide, conducted a thorough evaluation process to award DAHC hospitals with the Gold Seal of Approval®. This evaluation concentrated on critical operational systems related to safety and encompassed various facets of patient care. JCI's comprehensive assessment examined the hospitals' adherence to rigorous global standards, with a particular emphasis on patient safety, clinical quality, and risk management protocols.
Dr. Muna Tahlak, Chief Medical Officer of DAHC and CEO of Latifa Hospital, said: “Receiving JCI accreditation across Dubai Academic Health Corporation hospitals and healthcare facilities is a tremendous accomplishment that speaks volumes about our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional patient care. This recognition validates the hard work and dedication of our teams and demonstrates our ongoing pursuit of excellence in healthcare in line with our ‘Patient First’ promise.”
Joel Roos, Vice President, International Accreditation, Quality Improvement and Safety, Joint Commission International, said: “The accreditation offered by JCI equips hospitals with processes that foster improvements across multiple areas, such as staff education advancements and the implementation of leading practices within the hospital environment. We commend Dubai Academic Health Corporation for its dedication to becoming a quality improvement organization and reaching this prestigious milestone, which showcases a strong commitment to patient safety and quality.
By successfully securing JCI's accreditation, patients and their families can have even greater confidence in the care they receive at DAHC hospitals, affirming the organization's pledge to place its patients first.
Dubai Health, Dubai’s first integrated academic health system, and Emirates Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) underscoring a commitment to enhance the patient experience and embed a culture of compassionate hospitality within healthcare.
In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Health Board of Directors, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; and His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Health Board of Directors, the MoU was signed by Adel Al Redha, Chief Operating Officer of Emirates, and Dr Amer Al Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health and President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU).
The MoU is testament to Dubai’s constant efforts to improve public healthcare systems as it strives to transform itself into a global hub for medical and life sciences and a destination for health and medical services while boosting medical education, research and scientific innovation.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed said: "Emirates is renowned for its world-class hospitality, and this partnership between Dubai Health and Emirates Group further supports Dubai Health's transformative journey towards becoming a leader in patient-centricity. This strategic partnership represents a significant step forward in fostering excellence, innovation, and synergy between the two organisations."
His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed said: “The Emirates Group and Dubai Health partnership is grounded in reciprocity, with Dubai Health as Dubai’s first integrated academic health system uniquely placed to support Emirates’ mission through research and development.
"The partnership spans multi-disciplinary functions, underpinning a commitment to knowledge exchange and shared best practices. It also emphasises joint efforts in advancing the career development and training of UAE nationals, underscoring a commitment to local talent."
HE Al Redhasaid: “With a shared commitment to excellence, Emirates and Dubai Health joined forces to foster a culture of hospitality in healthcare. With our partnership, we strive to bring the essence of Emirates’ signature customer service to every interaction, creating an environment where an elevated patient journey flourishes alongside medical excellence.”
HE Dr Sharifsaid: “As the first integrated academic health system in Dubai, we believe in enriching the healthcare experience by prioritising patient-centric care, ensuring that compassion and medical excellence are at the core of the patients’ journey. Through our partnership with one of the world leaders in hospitality, we aim to create an ecosystem where patients feel valued, supported, and confident in their healthcare choices, ultimately elevating the standard of care in Dubai in line with our ‘Patient First’ promise.”
Dubai Health is Dubai’s first integrated academic health system where care, learning, discovery and giving come together to advance health for humanity.
The Academic Guidance for Physicians Program helped applicants meet the requirements to enroll in medical residency programs in Canada and the US.
Dubai Health, the first integrated academic health system in Dubai has announced that 100% of its Emirati scholars from the Graduate Medical Education at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) have successfully secured training opportunities for medical residency programs in Canada and the US. This notable achievement was facilitated by the Academic Mentorship Program for Physicians, a flagship initiative under the Deanship of Graduate Medical Education at MBRU designed to support trainees in pursuing medical residency training programs in North America.
Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Deputy CEO and Chief Academic Officer of Dubai Health, and Provost of MBRU, said: “This is a very special moment for Dubai Health, celebrating the success of our young scholars who are pushing the envelope and getting outside of their comfort zones to pursue their graduate medical education abroad, which is a testament to the caliber of medical education, mentorship, and clinical training that is distinctively offered at MBRU, the University within Dubai's first integrated academic health system. This success not only reflects the individual achievements of our young doctors but also underscores Dubai Health's commitment to empowering local medical talent, ensuring that they receive opportunities to excel on the global stage. I'm very proud of these young doctors and very proud of the graduate medical education team that is supporting them.”
Professor Sulaiman AlEmran, Dean of Graduate Medical Education at MBRU, said: “We are honored by the accomplishments of our Emirati scholars and MBRU’s new Academic Mentorship Program for Physicians. These achievements reflect MBRU’s commitment to supporting trainees in their learning journey, aligning with Dubai Health’s goal to cultivate local medical talent in various medical fields,”
“The Deanship of Graduate Medical Education at MBRU implemented a standardized program for academic mentorship, offering comprehensive support to medical trainees aspiring to enroll in medical residency programs in Canada and the US. The initiative included meticulous review and optimization of trainees' academic performances and resumes, coupled with informative workshops addressing application requirements and refining personal interview skills. The program facilitated communication between trainees and prominent Canadian and American institutions, introducing them to Dubai Health, and provided diligent follow-up throughout all application stages and requirements,” he added.
A total of 11 trainees who participated in the academic mentorship program, successfully meeting all admission requirements and criteria for prestigious Canadian and American institutions, including the successful completion of medical licensing exams. The Deanship of Graduate Medical Education oversaw the review process of all documents, submitting them to numerous universities in Canada and the US in collaboration with UAE attachés.
Each applicant excelled in meeting the admission requirements, including personal interviews. Successful candidates have been accepted into several medical residency programs, such as internal medicine, emergency medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, and diagnostic radiology. Notable institutions welcoming MBRU trainees include the University of Texas in the US, as well as Canadian universities such as McGill University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta, the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and Queen's University.
This unprecedented accomplishment of securing 11 training opportunities across Canadian and American institutions is a pinnacle achievement in the UAE's healthcare landscape. Moreover, this success aligns seamlessly with Dubai Health's commitment to investing in developing national healthcare talents, fostering excellence in healthcare services, and championing learning and discovery to impact lives.
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