Residency Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Earns International Accreditation

Program Aims to Transform Physician Education and Boost the Number of Emirati Physicians

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of Mubadala’s network of healthcare providers, has received institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International LLC (ACGME-I) for its residency program, joining a select number of elite academic medical centers in the region to earn this distinction.

Launched in 2018, the Residency Programs provide an opportunity for physicians to specialize in their chosen field of medicine under the supervision and guidance of a fully qualified physician. The hospital currently offers residencies in internal medicine, general surgery, and ophthalmology. 

ACGME-I’s institutional accreditation assesses key areas such as the leadership’s commitment to education, the hospital’s physical space and resources, dedicated teaching time for faculty, and the creation of policies and procedures as a framework for education.

By achieving this international recognition, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is demonstrating that its educational programs are aligned with some of the best programs in the world. ACGME-I accreditation ensures newly specializing doctors are well-trained and provided with necessary skills to excel in serving patients.

“Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi aims to become a pioneering academic medical center for the whole region, and we are committed to ensure the next generation of healthcare leaders gain the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver the highest level of care. We have set a highly established curriculum for medical education to ensure our residents are being equipped with the resources needed to develop the aptitude for excellent medical and patient care,” said Dr. Sawsan Abdel-Razig, Staff Physician, Hospital Medicine, and Director of Medical Education, Office of Education and Research at CCAD.

Designated as an advanced teaching facility by the Department of Health, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi welcomed its first batch of resident physicians in September of 2018, with eight UAE national doctors receiving training.

Under the ACGME-I structure, each doctor undergoes structured specialist training supervised by dedicated senior clinicians. The programs are strictly assessed for six general competencies, including medical knowledge, patient care, practice-based learning and improvement, systems-based practice, professionalism, and interpersonal and communication skills.

“The path to transforming medical practice and patient care in the region relies on a number of factors, including academic innovation that will support the development and training of doctors closer to home. Our team is relentlessly working toward enhancing the level of healthcare in the region through education programs and multiple research initiatives, as well as partnering with key organizations across the country,” said Dr. E. Murat Tuzcu, Chief Academic Officer & Chair, Heart and Vascular Institute.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is set to roll out a number of education and research initiatives over the next few years to further enhance the level of healthcare in the UAE. It is currently being assessed by ACGME-I for Program Accreditation, to analyze the curricula, assessments, clinical volumes, and other content of its Residency and Fellowship Programs.