Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Welcomes First Resident Physicians

Abu Dhabi Hospital Expands Medical Education Opportunities in The Emirate

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has welcomed its first residents as part of its ongoing plans to transform physician education in the region and boost the number of Emirati physicians practicing in the country. 

Designated as an advanced teaching facility by the Department of Health, eight UAE national doctors began their residencies at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in September. They joined the hospital following a rigorous selection process, with close to 500 applications for just eight open positions across internal medicine, general surgery, and ophthalmology.  

“Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s residency program is a significant milestone in our mission to develop the next generation of UAE national caregivers. Over the next few years, we plan to significantly expand the number of residencies we offer, providing more opportunities for Emirati physicians. Patients will benefit from seeing practitioners from their own culture, who have deeper insights into the social and cultural contexts of medicine, something that furthers the quality of care delivered,” said Dr. Sawsan Abdel-Razig, Director of Medical Education at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Residencies provide an opportunity for physicians to specialize in their chosen field of medicine under the supervision and guidance of a fully qualified physician. Upon completing their residency, physicians are able to practice medicine independently. Current residency programs offered are between are four and five years long, depending on the specialty.

The onboarding of its initial cohort of residents is the first step in a larger plan to transform medical education in Abu Dhabi. The hospital has plans to expand its offering as well as begin offering fellowships in subspecialties of medicine and surgery. 

During their residencies, the doctors are continually assessed based on the six core competencies set by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International (ACGME-I), These competencies include medical knowledge, patient care, practice-based learning, professionalism, systems-based practice, interpersonal skills and communication. Through the programs, residents are gradually given increased levels of responsibility with the ultimate goal of producing competent, safe, and independently practicing clinicians.

“We strive to educate our residents about what it means to be a caregiver in a ‘Patients First’ organization. In addition to the evidence-based medical practice, our physician residents will be immersed in the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi way, with a strong commitment to patient experience, research, and patient safety,” said Dr. Murat Tuzcu, Chair of the Academic Office at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.