Media Release
Ajman, Sep 14: Welcoming the 2023 cohort of students across its six colleges, the Gulf Medical University (GMU) conducted the time-honored tradition of the ‘White Coat Ceremony’ at the Al Jurf (Ajman) Campus on September 13. The event featured students publicly pledging their commitment to patient care, taking their oath in the presence of their families, esteemed leaders, and fellow peers.
The ceremony's chief guest was Dr. Thumbay Moideen, the founder president of Thumbay Group, together with vice chancellors, deans, and Prof Hossam Hamdy, the university's chancellor. Addressing the incoming students during the ceremony, Dr Moideen said, “I extend my congratulations to the incoming batch of health professions students. Your journey to becoming healthcare leaders begins here, and Gulf Medical University will support in all your career aspirations."
The incoming batch of 666 students joins the international community of Gulf Medical University comprising of students from 102 nationalities, pursuing various medical and healthcare courses across six colleges. This academic year marks a significant milestone, as it will be the first time the course on AI in healthcare will be introduced for all programs. Alongside their respective academic programmes, students will now have the chance to delve into the cutting-edge world of artificial intelligence and its profound implications for the healthcare industry.
Those receiving their white coats were students in the first year of various programs: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBMS), Associate Degree in Pre-Clinical Sciences (ADPCS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT), Bachelor of Science – Medical Laboratory Sciences (BSc MLS), Bachelor of Science – Medical Imaging Sciences (BSc MIS), Bachelor of Science - Anesthesia Technology (BSc AT), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and Economics (BSc HME). Apart from 666 new admissions, the university has also admitted 81 students for different internship programs.
Meanwhile, Prof Hamdy reminded the new students that they were making history as the class of 2023. "The communication between individuals is a vital skill that will remain constant throughout your years in the Gulf Medical University. Patients, students, healthcare providers, and medical educators all share a common humanity. The ability to effectively communicate, establish connections, interact, and empathize will continue to be a fundamental aspect of educating healthcare professionals," Prof Hossam Hamdy explained.
Highlighting the significance of collaboration and teamwork, Prof Hossam Hamdy added, "Medical practice has evolved beyond the realm of an individual doctor solely tending to their patients. You are an integral component of a collective team that leverages the combined expertise of various professionals within the healthcare system. Developing teamwork skills is a crucial competency that you must cultivate both during your academic journey and throughout your professional career."
Gulf Medical University has collaboration agreements with around 68 top international universities in Europe, United States, Japan and Far East, giving the students opportunities for training abroad. Graduate programs are now being offered jointly and in collaboration with the University of Arizona, United States, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States, Medical College of Wisconsin, United States, FAIMER, United States, CenMedic, United Kingdom and Tokyo Medical and Dental College, Japan. Gulf Medical University also provides merit-based scholarships to students.
“Providing a comprehensive range of 32 accredited programs across its six colleges, the university has consistently been a leader in achieving international acclaim. Gulf Medical University was recently honored with the prestigious ‘Excellence in Research’ award by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHP) of the UAE. Additionally, it has been ranked as one of the top 10 institutions in the country for its contributions to health research, affirming its academic excellence and innovations in healthcare,” said Dr Manda, vice chancellor of academics and dean of College of Medicine during his address at the Ceremony.
In the last 24 years, more than 3000 students have graduated from the university. These graduates have advanced their careers and landed successful positions, such as CEOs, COOs, medical directors, and heads of departments in the healthcare and research sectors across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia. Additionally, Gulf Medical University’s graduates are recognized internationally and have access to employment thanks to the university's partnerships with more than 70 foreign universities and research institutions.
Gulf Medical University uses cutting-edge technology in classrooms to enrich the learning experience of students. The Virtual Patient Learning (VPL) developed by the university and the recently launched 3D classroom uses Artifical Intelligence and Virtual Reality to give Gulf Medical University students an interactive learning experience.
Gulf Medical University also has the distinction of being the only private Academic Health System (AHS) in the region, linking healthcare, education and research functions. Among some of the most recent notable achievements is the operations of the state-of-the-art Thumbay Medicity, which includes Thumbay Dental Hospital, Thumbay Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Hospital and Thumbay University Hospital.
The University’s advanced research facility, the Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine (TRIPM) drives its transformation into a research-based university. The institute is focused on conducting real time cancer and diabetes research with a focus on postgraduate studies and incorporating the research findings in their curriculum.