Aiming to provide present and future healthcare professionals with specialized skills to compete in the rapidly changing, highly competitive health industry, Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman, a leading medical University in the Middle East region, has entered into a partnership with Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, a leading University in Italy, for strategic collaboration in the areas of academic and clinical cooperation as well as research.  A MoU in this regard was signed between both the institutions on 28^th January 2019, at the Arab Health 2019 exhibition in Dubai. Prof. Enrico Gherlone, Dean of Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and Prof. Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor of GMU signed the MoU representing the respective institutions.

The collaboration will immediately be activated through the joint delivery of the Executive Master in Healthcare Management and Economics (EMHME), offered by GMU’s College of Healthcare Management & Economics. The MoU further seeks to facilitate cooperation in mutually beneficial areas including joint programs and conferences, in addition to promoting student and faculty exchange. It also envisions undertaking joint research projects and enabling mutual exchange of researchers. The agreement also seeks to promote clinical cooperation between the Academic Health System hospitals of Gulf Medical University, the Thumbay Hospital network and the Gruppo Ospedaliero San Donato network of hospitals.

Commenting on the MoU with GMU, Prof. Enrico Gherlone said, “Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and the Gulf Medical University follow a similar model where medical education, healthcare and research functions are integrated, with patient interest at the center. This is one of the primary reasons which made this collaboration a reality.” Recalling his visit to Thumbay Medicity the previous day, he said, “The standards are extremely high at Gulf Medical University; totally comparable to what we do in Italy, especially in the areas of training, clinical practice and research.”

Prof. Hossam Hamdy said, “As a leading University of health professions education, GMU is pleased to tie-up with Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, in line with our vision to be a leading international academic healthcare institution through the integration of quality health professions education, research, healthcare and social accountability for sustainable community development. Both the institutions share the same vision and high standards, which lends a lot of compatibility to our collaborative efforts. We look forward to a long-lasting partnership benefiting the UAE, Italy and beyond, in the long run.”

GMU’s College of Healthcare Management & Economics is the first full-fledged college of its kind in the Middle East region, offering bachelors and masters programs designed to cater to the constantly growing health industry.  The new college offers two programs: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and Economics (BSc. HME) – a four-year program and Executive Master in Healthcare Management and Economics (EMHME) – a 12-month program designed to benefit middle to senior level professionals in the healthcare industry. The college is a member of the European Healthcare Management Association, and enjoys strong ties with industry partners in the UAE and the GCC, as well as in India, US and Africa. Admissions are now open for the Master’s program starting March 2019 and the Bachelor’s program starting September 2019. These programs will support all aspects of the healthcare industry including finance, economics and insurance.

Dr. Michael Bitzer – CEO of National Health Insurance Company – Daman, visited Thumbay Medicity, the hub of state-of-the-art medical education, healthcare and research, on 23^rd January 2019. He was welcomed at Thumbay Medicity by Dr. Thumbay Moideen – Founder President of Thumbay Group, Prof. Hossam Hamdy – Chancellor of Gulf Medical University and Mr. Akbar Moideen Thumbay – Vice President of the Healthcare Division of Thumbay Group.

The vision and future strategic directions of Thumbay Medicity was presented before Dr. Michael Bitzer. He toured Thumbay Medicity’s state-of-the-art facilities for medical education, healthcare and research including Gulf Medical University, Thumbay Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Hospital, Thumbay Dental Hospital and the soon to open Thumbay University Hospital.

The highlight of the visit was the signing of a Letter of Intent between Daman and Gulf Medical University (GMU), aiming to jointly collaborate for organizing academic programs and workshops in the area of health workforce and population health studies, through GMU’s newly launched College of Healthcare Management and Economics. Prof. Hossam Hamdy signed the agreement representing GMU. The agreement also seeks to facilitate exchange of professional expertise between both institutions and to undertake joint research programs in healthcare and population health.

GMU’s newly launched College of Healthcare Management and Economics offers first-of-its-kind programs in the region, to meet the increased demand for expert professionals in healthcare management, economics, technology assessment, informatics, medical insurance and medical tourism. The college offers two programs:  Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and Economics (BSc. HME); a four-year program designed to graduate professionals with a deep understanding of the healthcare industry, its language and unique culture, and Executive Master in Healthcare Management and Economics (EMHME); a 12-month program designed to benefit middle to senior level professionals in the healthcare industry.

The college as well as its programs is accredited by the Ministry of Education, UAE. The programs are offered in collaboration with leading international universities, the University of Milan, University of Arizona, American University of Cairo, University of Central Florida, etc. The college is a member of the European Healthcare Management Association. The college also enjoys strong ties with industry partners in the UAE and the GCC, as well as in India, US and Africa. Admissions are now open for the Master’s program starting March 2019 and the Bachelor’s program starting September 2019. These programs will support all aspects of the healthcare industry including finance, economics and insurance.

Thumbay Group’s success stories in its core sectors of medical education, healthcare and research has given shape to a unique initiative, the ‘Thumbay Medicity’ in the UAE to serve 20,000+ people daily, with advanced facilities in education, healthcare, research, leisure, luxury, fitness, entertainment, etc., built with an investment of more than a billion Dirhams.

A regional hub of futuristic medical education, state-of-the-art healthcare and cutting-edge research, Thumbay Medicity is one of the latest additions to the UAE’s healthcare sector, the first such project in the private sector. Located in Ajman, Thumbay Medicity features the most modern technology and global expertise in teaching/training, healthcare delivery and research/innovation, attracting the best student and professional talent towards shaping the future of education, healthcare and research. The Medicity will be officially inaugurated in March 2019.

Thumbay Medicity houses the Gulf Medical University – the region’s leading private medical university, Thumbay University Hospital – the largest private academic hospital in the region, Thumbay Dental Hospital – the first private dental hospital in the country and the largest academic dental hospital in the Middle East region’s private sector, and Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital – the biggest state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital in the country. It also has outlets of Thumbay Pharmacy and Thumbay Labs, in addition to leisure and hospitality amenities such as Body & Soul Health Club and Spa, Thumbay Food Court, The Terrace Restaurant, Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe etc., as well as the Thumbay Housing Project to accommodate 2500 staff and students.

• Gulf Medical University – the biggest private medical University in the region with 6 colleges and 25 accredited programs: Advanced training/teaching facilities, international collaborations and recognitions, a full-fledged academic system and new launched programs and colleges have consolidated Gulf Medical University’s (GMU) reputation as one of the most sought-after destinations for cutting-edge medical education. GMU has been ranked among the top 50 medical universities in the Middle East, and won several local, regional and international awards for its academic excellence and innovation.
• Thumbay University Hospital – the biggest private academic hospital in the region: The hospital is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built 500-bed smart facility with quaternary care facilities. The hospital is equipped with modern infrastructure, with over 120 clinics. The hospital features a special robotic pharmacy, a first of its kind in the region, in addition to a full-fledged radiology department with PET-CT scan, a first of its kind in the UAE’s northern Emirates.
• Thumbay Dental Hospital – the biggest academic dental hospital in the region: Thumbay Dental Hospital is attached to the College of Dentistry, GMU and has a built-up area of 37,000 sq. ft. and 60 dental chairs spread across three floors. The hospital has a competent team of experienced and qualified dental specialists, delivering high quality dental services. The hospital offers services and treatments in General Dentistry, Endodontics, Paedodontics, Periodontics, Invisalign, Veneers & Lumineers, Dentures, Crowns and Bridges, Simple & Complicated Extractions and Hollywood Smile. It also features dedicated CSSD for Infection Control. The hospital also plans to introduce stem cell treatment for dental diseases. An advanced ‘Dental Stem Cell Bank’ for harvesting/banking dental stem cells is planned at the hospital.
• Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital – the biggest state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital in the country with 50 beds and a unique ‘Therapeutic Garden’: As the most cutting-edge physical therapy and rehabilitation facility in the region, the hospital features advanced technology such as Zero-gravity Treadmill, Wearable Technologies, Hydrotherapy Pool, Neuropsychology, Advanced Robotics, Hi-Performance Training Gym, Driving Simulation, Full Body Cryotherapy Chamber, Applied Virtual Reality, Speech Therapy, etc. It operates in collaboration with internationally renowned Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Valduce Hospital, Italy. It is attached to Thumbay University Hospital Complex, having 50 dedicated beds. One of the most remarkable components of the inpatient facilities at the hospital is its ‘Therapeutic Garden’, for faster, holistic recovery.
• Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine – leading research in cancer biology and immunology: Collaborating internationally with France, Poland and Korea, the institute has three ongoing medical research programs: cancer Immunology and experimental oncology; tumor genetic instability and immunogenicity; and biomarkers and functional genomics.
• Thumbay Labs – the largest network of CAP-accredited private diagnostic labs in the region with international presence: Thumbay Medicity houses the central reference lab of Thumbay Labs, with state-of-the-art facilities for Neonatal Screening, Next Generation Sequencing and Genomics.
• Thumbay Pharmacy – one of the fastest-growing retail pharmacy chains in the UAE with international presence: A full-fledged Thumbay Pharmacy outlet with a range of medicines, medical equipment and rehabilitation care products is operational at Thumbay Medicity. The pharmacy chain has tied up with GMU for training and employment of the students of the College of Pharmacy, GMU.

“Thumbay Medicity, with an investment of more than a billion UAE Dirhams, is the result of our continued efforts to bring the best of healthcare to the region, making it a hub of world class healthcare with state-of-the-art technology, experienced medical practitioners and superior facilities. As one of the most sophisticated medical cities in the region, Thumbay Medicity offers end-to-end tertiary and quaternary healthcare services to patients, with improved access by way of strategic location and affordability,” said Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group.

Thumbay Medicity will serve more than 20,000 daily, as it caters to general public with a medical university campus, housing facilities for staff, faculty and students, as well as specialized hospitals. It has a total area of 1 million sq.ft. and built-up area of 1.2 million sq.ft. “Thumbay Medicity is a comprehensive healthcare destination serving patients from across the Middle East region and beyond. We hope that the world-class amenities here would set new standards of quality and innovation in healthcare,” said Mr. Akbar Moideen Thumbay, Vice President of Thumbay Group’s Healthcare Division.

A unique, specialized college of healthcare management and economics is starting to admit students from the Spring semester 2019. Its main goal is to prepare the graduates to pursue careers in healthcare management, health economics, policy-making and administration in the region and international.

The healthcare sector today is much more advanced and sophisticated than yesteryear, thanks to its continuous innovation and technical advancements, as well as the rising focus on specialized care and patient satisfaction. Present and future healthcare managers and policymakers need specialized education and skills which will help them fulfill their roles in the rapidly changing, highly competitive health industry. It is with this fact in mind that GMU has launched its new College.

The first full-fledged college of its kind in the Middle East region, the college offers bachelors and masters programs designed to respond to the constantly growing health industry.  The college has been established in view of the huge expansion of the healthcare industry, in the region and worldwide. According to a 2018 GCC Healthcare Industry Report by Alpen Capital, the current healthcare expenditure in the GCC is projected to reach US$ 104.6 billion in 2022 from an estimated US$ 76.1 billion in 2017. Furthermore, the GCC may require a collective bed capacity of 118,295 by 2022, indicating a demand for 12,358 new beds. To mitigate this demand, 700 new healthcare projects worth US$ 60.9 billion are under various stages of development throughout the GCC. All these signify an increased demand for expert professionals in healthcare management, economics, technology assessment, informatics, medical insurance and medical tourism.

The new college offers two programs:

The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and Economics (BSc. HME) a four-year program designed to graduate professionals with a deep understanding of the healthcare industry, its language and unique culture.

The Executive Master in Healthcare Management and Economics (EMHME) is a 12-month program designed to benefit middle to senior level professionals in the healthcare industry. The program would be highly beneficial for working professionals to improve their career prospects and widen their professional networks.

Why study at GMU?

GMU is a specialized medical University offering the full spectrum of health professions education, including Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy etc. and the only University owning a network of teaching hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and diagnostic labs.  The students learn in a truly inter-professional atmosphere, experiencing multifaceted interactions within various healthcare systems.

Accreditation & International Collaborations

The college as well as its programs is accredited by the Ministry of Education, UAE. The programs are offered in collaboration with leading international universities, the University of Milan, University of Arizona, American University of Cairo, University of Central Florida, etc. The college is a member of the European Healthcare Management Association, giving it seamless access to the network of faculty and collaborating universities. The faculty for the executive master’s program are top academicians and practitioners from renowned international institutions in the US, UK, France and Italy.

Scope & Career Prospects

The College of Healthcare Management & Economics enjoys strong ties with industry partners in the UAE and the GCC, as well as in India, US and Africa. One of the biggest advantages of the programs offered by the college is that the graduates have broad knowledge and skills in management, policy, economics, and in-depth experience in healthcare industry, innovation and informatics. These types of graduates will be highly needed for the healthcare sector and all related future businesses and services.

The University has received 5-star ratings for Teaching, Employability, Facilities and Inclusiveness according to the latest ratings published by QS World University Rankings

Gulf Medical University (GMU) – Ajman, a leading medical university in the Gulf region has been awarded five-star ratings for four key categories by QS, the top international university ranking agency. The University has achieved five-star ratings in the categories of teaching, employability, facilities and inclusiveness, according to the latest data published in 2019 by the agency.

GMU has evolved as one of the most popular medical universities in the region, drawing students from more than 80 countries and faculty/researchers staff from over 25 countries. Located in Thumbay Medicity, the hub of cutting-edge healthcare technology and services, GMU has always been at the forefront of innovation in medical education, healthcare and research.

Prof. Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor of GMU said that the high QS ratings has consolidated GMU’s position in quality of medical education in the region. “We are happy that Gulf Medical University’s relentless pursuit of quality in medical education has once again been recognized at the global level, underlining our commitment to producing the medical professionals of tomorrow. The fact that we have secured the highest ratings in the key categories of teaching, employability, facilities and inclusiveness is a testimony to our all-round excellence in Health Professions Education’.

The six colleges of GMU, College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, College of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, College of Nursing and College of Healthcare Management and Economics offers 25 programs fully accredited nationally and internationally.  The university collaborates with many leading International Universities worldwide offering training opportunity to our students in US, Europe, Asia and Middle East such as the University of Arizona, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee – USA, University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy in Connecticut, German Heidelberg University, American University in Cairo, University of Ghana, Medical University of Lublin, Tokyo Medical & Dental University, etc., as well as research institutes such as the Gustave Rossi Cancer Research Institute – France.

An important aspect that differentiates GMU is its use of the latest technologies in teaching and training students across all its programs, to ensure their workplace readiness once they graduate.

The Gulf Medical University Academic Health System (GMUAHS) – the first of its kind in the region’s private sector – links the healthcare, medical education and research functions into an Academic Healthcare System.  This was one of the important factors contributing to the 5 Stars recognition of GMU.

GMU has considered Research as an important strategic direction. The Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine leads research in the field of cancer biology and immunology, with international collaboration with France, Poland and Korea.

In 2017, GMU was ranked among the top 50 medical universities in the Middle East according to the US News & World Report. It bagged the Gold Award at the prestigious Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Awards, 2018. The University also received the prestigious Dubai Quality Appreciation Award for the 2017 assessment cycle.

One of the largest construction companies of the Northern Emirates, Thumbay Builders will construct the expanded facilities of the hospital including the OPD, inpatient rooms, VIP amenities and state-of-the-art healthcare amenities including ICUs/CCUs/NICUs

Thumbay Hospital – Dubai, the leading academic hospital under Thumbay Group’s Healthcare Division has signed an expansion project with Thumbay Builders, for a substantial expansion of its facilities. The agreement was signed at Thumbay Medicity recently, by Mr. Akbar Moideen Thumbay – Vice President of the Healthcare Division of Thumbay Group and Mr. Akram Moideen Thumbay  – Director Operations of Construction & Renovation Division and Director of Thumbay Technologies, in the presence of Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group.

The expansion includes the addition of over 13,000 square meters of built-up area by expanding the existing ground and first floor areas, as well as the addition of a new 4-storey building (ground + three floors) with advanced facilities. New inpatient rooms, OPD clinics, treatment rooms and dental clinics would be added to the existing building. A new Cath Lab, VIP patient room, ICUs and CCUs would also be added.

The new building would house a crèche, mortuary, pharmacy, restaurant, VIP lounge, day care beds, Standard/Deluxe/VIP patient rooms, women’s consultation rooms, LDRs, NICU, Well Baby Nursery and isolation rooms. The project also involves expansion of the hospital’s parking facility and addition of service areas and children’s play area. The project will be completed in phases.

Dr. Thumbay Moideen said that the expansion project of Thumbay Hospital Dubai is part of the Group’s strategic plans which includes having a total of 1000 beds in the UAE, 1500 beds in India and 750 beds elsewhere in the Gulf and Africa by 2023. Mr. Akbar Moideen Thumbay said that the expansion would enable Thumbay Hospital Dubai to provide more and better services, considering its growing number of patients and the rising demand for high-quality specialized treatments.

Speaking about the project, Mr. Akram Moideen Thumbay said that Thumbay Builders is keen to consolidate its reputation as specialized builders of world-class healthcare facilities. “We always focus on integrating the latest technology with the efficient use of resources, delivering unmatched customer satisfaction. With our team of expert professionals and latest technology, we are confident of completing the project on time, within the budget,” he added.

The Thumbay network of academic hospitals is the largest network of private academic hospitals in the Middle East, treating patients from around 175 nationalities. It is also one of the biggest JCI-accredited private academic hospital networks in the region. Thumbay Group’s healthcare division also operates a chain of family clinics (Thumbay Clinic) and multispecialty day care hospitals (Thumbay Hospital Day Care) in the UAE as well as diagnostic labs (Thumbay Labs) and pharmacies (Thumbay Pharmacy) in the UAE and India. The hospitals and clinics are presently located at Dubai, Ajman, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain in the U.A.E. and in Hyderabad—India. Thumbay Medical Tourism, which promotes Thumbay Group’s ultra-modern healthcare services to international patients, is tied-up with 87 countries through representative offices.

Thumbay Medicity established by Thumbay Group is a hub of medical education, healthcare and research, and  houses the Gulf Medical University, Thumbay Labs, Thumbay Pharmacy, Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe, Body & Soul Health Club and Spa, Thumbay Food Court, Thumbay Housing Project, Theatre, Center for Advanced Simulation in Healthcare (CASH), Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine (TRIPM), Central Library, Research Center, Free Parking, Public Bus Station, Supermarket, in addition to Thumbay Dental Hospital and Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital. A 500-bed academic hospital – Thumbay University Hospital – the largest private academic hospital in the region is at the final stages of completion at Thumbay Medicity, slated to open shortly. The specialized hospitals of Thumbay Medicity are Academic Health Centers of the Gulf Medical University Academic Health System (GMUAHS).