Dubai Health Scientists placed on the World’s Top 2% of Scientists list by Stanford University

Dubai Health Dental Hospital Pediatric Dentistry Clinic has achieved the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), becoming the first healthcare facility in Dubai to do so. The CAC designation recognizes facilities and organizations committed to providing inclusive and accessible services to autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals by equipping their patient-facing workforce with specialized autism and sensory awareness training and certification. As part of this achievement, 80% of the clinic's patient-facing staff have completed the training, adding the facility to the growing number of CACs in Dubai. This milestone supports Dubai's mission to become the first Certified Autism Destination™ (CAD) in the Eastern Hemisphere—a city-wide initiative led by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). This designation recognizes communities that have gone above and beyond to ensure autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals feel welcome and supported through certified lodging, recreation, and healthcare facilities. Dr. Anas AlSalami, Program Director of Pediatric Dentistry at Dubai Health Dental Hospital, said, “We are honored that the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at Dubai Health Dental Hospital is the first healthcare facility in Dubai to achieve the Certified Autism Center™ designation by IBCCES. This milestone upholds our ‘Patient First’ promise and reinforces our dedication to serving every member of our community with empathy and excellence. By equipping our team with specialized knowledge and skills, we aim to ensure every child receives the best possible oral care tailored to their needs. I am truly grateful to the Dubai Health leadership and our dedicated teams for their unwavering support and teamwork, which made this achievement possible.” With autistic individuals being more prone to hospitalization due to co-occurring medical conditions, sensory sensitivities, and challenges in communication, families often struggle to find healthcare facilities equipped to meet their unique needs. Visits to hospitals can be especially stressful due to untrained staff, overstimulating environments, and a lack of accommodations for sensory sensitivities. To address this growing concern, IBCCES provides specialized training and certification programs for healthcare facilities, ensuring medical professionals are prepared to deliver compassionate, inclusive, and effective care tailored to autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals. The Dubai Health Dental Hospital Pediatric Dentistry Clinic offers specialized services designed to meet the unique needs of autistic patients, ensuring a comfortable and supportive experience. These clinics feature sensory-friendly environments with calming lighting, soothing music, and designated quiet areas to help minimize sensory overload. Their dental professionals are extensively trained in working with children on the autism spectrum, using gentle techniques and clear, straightforward communication to ease anxiety. Individualized treatment plans are tailored to each child’s needs, incorporating gradual desensitization to dental procedures and extended appointment durations with regular breaks. To enhance comfort and engagement, we employ visual aids, social stories, and effective behavior management strategies. These comprehensive services reflect our commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care while addressing the distinctive needs of autistic patients. “We are proud to recognize Dubai Health Dental Hospital Pediatric Dentistry Clinic as the first healthcare facility to achieve the Certified Autism Center™ designation in the city of Dubai,” says Myron Pincomb, CEO and board chairman of IBCCES. “Their dedication to inclusivity and accessibility aligns perfectly with the city-wide initiative to make Dubai a more welcoming place to visit, work, and live. We couldn’t be more honored to support this mission. We hope this accomplishment inspires more healthcare facilities to follow their lead.” IBCCES has been an industry leader for over 20 years in cognitive disorder training and certification for education, health care, and corporate professionals around the globe. The organization provides evidence-based training and certification programs created in conjunction with clinical experts and the perspectives of autistic individuals, alongside other resources, ongoing support, and renewal requirements to ensure there is continued learning and a lasting impact. IBCCES also created CertifiedAutismCenter.com, as a free online resource for families that lists certified locations and professionals. Each organization listed on the site has met the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) requirements.

Nine scientists from Dubai Health have been recognized in Stanford University’s 2024 list of the top 2% of scientists worldwide. This recognition marks the third straight year that faculty members from Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), which leads the Learning and Discovery missions of Dubai Health, have been honored for their continued contribution to international research.  

This year’s honorees include: Professor Nandu Goswami, Professor of Physiology at the College of Medicine; Professor Momen Atieh, Chair of Oral Diagnostics and Surgical Sciences at Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine; Professor Keyvan Moharamzadeh, Associate Dean of Education at Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine; Professor Samuel Ho, Professor of Medicine at the College of Medicine; Professor Thomas Adrian, Professor of Physiology at the College of Medicine; Professor Jeyaseelan Lakshmanan, Professor of Biostatistics at the College of Medicine; Dr. Ahmad Abou Tayoun, Associate Professor of Genetics; Dr. Mohammed Uddin, Associate Professor of Human Genetics; and Professor Stefan Du Plessis, Dean of Research and Graduate Studies. 

Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Provost of MBRU and Chief Academic Officer of Dubai Health, said: “This recognition is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of our scientists and Dubai Health's commitment to advancing medical research. At MBRU, our faculty members are not only educators but also innovators who continue to push the boundaries of knowledge in service of better health outcomes. We are honored by this acknowledgment and remain dedicated to aligning our academic efforts directly with the needs of our patients and the community.” 

The recognition reinforces Dubai Health's commitment to advancing research excellence in healthcare and academia, positioning its faculty as leaders in their respective fields. 

Data-driven insights 

The World’s Top 2% Scientist Rankings by Stanford University is a prestigious annual list that recognizes the most cited researchers across various scientific disciplines globally. Based on data from ‘Scopus’, the rankings reflect scientific impact through citation metrics, highlighting individuals who have made significant contributions to their fields. The researchers are categorized based on the specific disciplines they helped enrich, and the rankings also serve as a measure of influence within the academic and scientific community worldwide.