Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) Summer Scholars Gain Clinical and Research Experience at Leading International Institutions

For medical students, the journey to becoming a physician extends far beyond the classroom. It is shaped by experiences that broaden their perspectives and deepen their understanding of healthcare in diverse settings. Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) is the heart of Dubai Health, enabling learning and discovery to advance health for humanity. Its Summer Scholars Program offers students placements in research laboratories, clinical observerships, and community service initiatives across leading medical and academic
institutions across the UAE and abroad. 

Professor Rasha Buhumaid, Dean of the College of Medicine and Graduate Medical Education at MBRU, said: “The Summer Scholars Program reflects MBRU's commitment to preparing graduates who are ready to contribute to healthcare in the UAE and internationally. Through these placements, our students gain early exposure to different health systems, research projects, and medical innovations. They return with new skills and professional networks that enrich their studies at MBRU and, ultimately, the care they will provide to patients."

This summer, MBRU students traveled to leading institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania[RB2.1] [RB3.1]in the United States, McGill University in Canada, and Université Paris Cité in France. Although each placement differed in setting and scope, every experience broadened students’ perspective on healthcare and research beyond the UAE.

Exploring Neurosurgery at an Ivy League

For Krish Bhatia, the opportunity to join the Department of Neurosurgery at Penn Medicine for four weeks offered experience across surgical, clinical, and research domains.

Bhatia said: "I visited the operating theater and observed multiple functional and structural neurosurgeries. A particular neurosurgery that comes to mind is the bilateral deep brain stimulation, where the surgeon precisely maneuvers through the complex anatomy of the brain and electrically stimulates a specific nucleus to control tremors in patients with Parkinson's and essential tremor. What was remarkable to see is that these patients are awake during the procedure, and in real time, there is an immediate effect."

Bhatia also shadowed physicians in patient history-taking, neurological and physical examinations, and the presentation of findings. He participated in a crash course in neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania’s Restore Lab, learning how to analyze neural signals across different frequency bands.

He added: "This was an unforgettable experience for me. I really want to pursue neurosurgery and become a compassionate, ambitious, and competent neurosurgeon.”

AI and Medicine in Paris

Abdullah Al Dhaheri, Maha Alramahi, and Hannah-Grace Hamouda were competitively selected to represent MBRU at the Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation in Medicine Summer School hosted by Université Paris Cité Medical School as part of the International Innovation Camp.

The two-week program brought together students from diverse disciplines to examine how AI is applied across multiple specialties, including radiology, pediatrics, and emergency medicine. Alongside an international cohort, the students explored how AI can support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. Hannah-Grace noted the significance of gaining exposure to AI and precision medicine early in her medical education. "We came back to Dubai not only with new knowledge but with a much broader understanding of the kind of doctors we hope to become," she said.

Reflecting on the experience, Abdullah Al Dhaheri noted that artificial intelligence helps support physicians and reduce time spent on administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on patient care. He emphasized the importance of human oversight in the use of AI in medical practice, verifying the accuracy of its outputs, and adhering to patient data protection and information privacy standards.

Clinical Care and Community Service in the U.S. Capital Region

Saud Mahmoud spent two weeks at Virginia University of Integrative Medicine in the United States as part of the program, where he was introduced to integrative approaches to patient care[RB4.1]. He also visited Georgetown University and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he observed how physicians and students work together to deliver healthcare.

While in the U.S. capital region, he volunteered with free community acupuncture clinics offered through Bread for the City, which supports low-income residents of Washington, D.C., and Inova Health System’s Life with Cancer program, which supports people affected by cancer.[RB5.1]

Mapping the Road to Residency in Canada

Moza Al Janahi spent her summer at McGill University in Canada, where she learned about the medical residency pathway in Canada, including what is expected of international medical graduates. The program enabled her to connect with graduates of MBRU. Reflecting on the program, Al Janahi said, “It was especially meaningful to connect with MBRU graduates thriving beyond the university and the UAE. Hearing firsthand about their experiences as residents at McGill, their daily lives in Montreal, and the steps that brought them there made the pathway feel much more tangible and achievable.”