Dr. Jacob Daniel of Fujairah Hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has completed a month-long observership at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the first physician to benefit from the establishment of the Harvard Medical School Dubai Center (HMSDC) postgraduate training program. The program, which was launched by Harvard Medical International and Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) earlier this year, is designed to provide opportunities for physicians and scientists in the Gulf Region to advance their careers in medicine and biomedical research and as a resource for faculty development for the Dubai Healthcare City project. The program’s underlying objective is to identify and nurture leaders in academic medicine in order to expand the professional workforce and institutional resources of Dubai Healthcare City, and ultimately the region.

Daniel, a neurologist, worked in the Department of Neurology at MGH under the tutelage of Dr. Walter Koroshetz and Dr. Philip Kistler. His main objectives were to increase his knowledge of the advances in the management of stroke and in the applications of technology for the critical care of neurological patients. His observership included participating in daily morning rounds in the intensive care unit with members of the neurology care team, and attending weekly Grand Rounds, as well as stroke and critical care conferences. He also participated in a weekly “brain cutting” neuropathology conference.

“My aim is to improve the management of stroke at Fujairah Hospital, and possibly develop a dedicated stroke unit,” said Daniel, who since 1994 has been engaged as an internist and neurologist by the Ministry of Health in Fajairah, one of the seven autonomous sheikdoms (emirates) comprising the United Arab Emirates.

To learn more about postgraduate education opportunities offered by the Harvard Medical School Dubai Center, please visit the DHCC website and download the program brochure.

(Originally published in HMI World: (www.hmiworld.org) July/August 2004)

Click here to learn more about the HMSDC Fellowship and Observership and to download a brochure and application.