Dubai Health has announced a new cohort of seven Emirati doctors who will travel to North America to join specialised residency programmes in the United States and Canada for 2026-2027, as part of its ongoing efforts to develop qualified national medical talent across a range of disciplines and strengthen the future readiness of the healthcare sector.
The move falls under the academic mentorship programme run by the Deanship of Graduate Medical Education at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, which reflects Dubai Health’s vision to advance human health through medical education and scientific research. The programme is designed to support Emirati doctors and enable them to pursue leading international training and specialisation opportunities.
Since the programme was launched three years ago, more than 30 male and female students have benefited from it, training at a number of world-leading universities in different specialities. Dubai Health aims to sponsor around 100 Emirati students over 10 years from the programme’s launch to help meet Dubai’s healthcare needs.
Specialties in the third cohort
The third group includes specialities in neurology, urology and internal medicine, as well as fellowships in behavioural neurology and paediatric emergency medicine. The duration of the programme ranges from three to five years, depending on each speciality.
Dr Hanan Al Suwaidi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Academic Officer at Dubai Health, and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, said: “Qualifying and preparing national medical talent is a fundamental pillar of our integrated academic health system. Through the mentorship programme, which Dubai Health launched three years ago and extends over 10 years, we aim to provide high-quality opportunities for training and specialisation in leading academic and medical institutions worldwide, enabling doctors to gain advanced knowledge and expertise that contribute to the development of their professional careers, and support the health sector with national talent that combines clinical, academic and research excellence in priority specialities.”
She added: “We congratulate the sponsored doctors on their acceptance into these specialisation programmes, which reflects their academic excellence and professional competence, and we look forward to the successes they will achieve throughout their educational and training journey, and their future contributions to the development of the healthcare system.”
Selection based on comprehensive assessment
Dr Rasha Buhmaid, Dean of the College of Medicine and Dean of Graduate Medical Education at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, said the sponsored doctors are selected through a comprehensive evaluation process based on a set of criteria, including academic performance, research achievements and training courses, in addition to how closely the applicant’s experience aligns with the speciality they wish to join. The programme also places particular emphasis on specialities that meet the health sector’s needs at the national level.
She added: “The programme focuses on preparing doctors at the graduate medical education stage by providing them with the academic support and professional guidance they need throughout their educational journey, and preparing them to apply for international speciality training programmes and obtain board certifications in the United States and Canada, thereby enhancing their scientific and practical readiness and supporting their professional careers.”