Experience in United Arab Emirates (28/07/2003 – 31/07/2018)

Home / Experience in United Arab Emirates (28/07/2003 – 31/07/2018)

Experience in United Arab Emirates: 28-07-2003 till 31-07-2018

Since 28-07-2003 have been working in the Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) (Found in 1986, www.fmhs.uaeu.ac.ae) United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE.

My duties and responsibilities are as follow:

  • Clinical Duties
  • Research
  • Teaching
  • Other Specific Activities
  • Administrative

Clinical Duties: 

  1. Running a weekly Cardiology Consultation Clinic
  2. Running a weekly non-invasive investigation clinic (Echo & Stress test).
  3. Giving advice, consultation, in cardiology within the FMHS and national level
  4. Presenting FMHS in issues related to clinical cardiology in UAE

Community Services and Public Alert: 

  1. Heart Attack How to Protect Yourself 2006, Al Ain-UAE
  2. Women and Cardiovascular Disease 2006, Al Ain, UAE
  3. Helping Justice Cause by taking part (one of four Expertise Committee) in a very controversial Medico-legal Case in Abu Dhabi High Court 2006
  4. Risk factors for Cardiovascular Disease and Women 2009, Lecture delivered in the World Heart Day, Females Compass, UAE University, Al-Ain (30-09-2009)
  5. Founder of the Thalassemia Research and Working Group which bring together clinicians, scientists, researchers and patients as well as their families.

Teaching Duties: 

(A)       Junior Medical Clerkship (Semi-Final Medical Students) 

28.07.2003 – 30.06.2009

I am the Director and Principal tutor for the whole Junior Clerkship Rotation in Internal Medicine including cardiology; this is the most important course in Internal Medicine according to the Faculty Curriculum. My responsibilities were:

Planning and construction of the course:

  1. Morning Reports, 08:00 t0 09:45 AM (by the Faculty Teachers)
  2. Wards Rounds 09:00 t0 10:30 AM (Ministry of Health Doctors)
  3. State of the Art Teaching Sessions 11:00 to 12:30 PM (clinically oriented) (by the Faculty Teachers)
  4. Afternoon Rounds (bedside teaching) Faculty Rounds 15:00 t0 16:30 PM (by the Faculty Teachers)
  5. Planning and supervising students on call duties (1 weekend+6 nights per rotation for each student)
  6. Cardiology teaching in this module, bedside medicine, morning report presented by the on call students in the previous night, afternoon faculty rounds and lectures in clinical pharmacology (Treatment of Heart failure and Angina Pectoris)
  7. Introduced, Planned organised and supervised the first teaching sessions (Mafraq Hospital-Abu Dhabi) mechanical revascularization of patients with ischaemic heart disease (PTCA-CABG) for the first time in the history of the UAE Medical Faculty. These are clinically and bedside oriented teaching session in an interactive format. Each session include 13 students. The session consists of reviewing the history, clinical examination, laboratory investigation 12-leads resting ECG (including ECG interpretation), echocardiography, stress test and myocardial scintigraphy. This also includes discussion about the ideal pharmacological management of these patients in lines with the international guidelines. Then the students follow the patient to the catheterization lab to see angiography procedure. They also follow those candidates for PTCA or CABG. Special emphasis on secondary prevention and follow protocol are also discussed in details.
  8. Preparing and supervising the final examination: bedside clinical sessions (15 long cases, 9 OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination- stations) cases, the viva exam and the written exam (multiple choice questions, matching and problem based learning (PBL) questions)
  9. Correction, evaluation of the final examination and authorization of the final result, this include presentation of the results to the Promotion Committee.
  10. Advising and facilitating Junior Medical Clerkship students to do their elective summer training (3 months) usually in Canada, USA or Europe
  11. Organise and supervise the cooperation between the teachers from the ministry of health and our department in the junior medical clerkship. I also nominate the best teachers for the appreciation and awards prizes which usually presented in the presence of the Dean, Head Departments and concerned administrative people
  12. Introduced for the first time a prize of excellence in medicine for the best student performance in the Internal Medicine Courser (Junior Medical Clerkship).
  13. Introduced for the first time “State of the Art Sessions” These are clinically oriented sessions (History-Clinical Examination and how to approach clinical problems).
  14. In cooperation with Al-Ain Hospital Administration I am the only course director in the FMHS who is able to secure a teaching room for the JMC. I equipped this teaching facility with internet, computer, overhead presentation facility, projector, printer and fax. These tools help the students to search and update their knowledge as well as improve the case presentation and in particular in the morning reports.
  15. In cooperation with Al-Ain Hospital Administration I am the only course director in the FMHS who is able to secure a room for the JMC for overnight during their on call duties.
  16. Introduce and create an objective evolution in the JMC for the course content and component, teachers as well as Residents.
  17. For the first time in the FMHS curriculum, I intergraded residents in the teaching of the JMC students.
  18. First course director in FMHS to organize an appreciation event for Al-Ain Hospitals clinicians for their contribution in the JMC teaching and assessments. The Hospital and in particular the Department of Internal Medicine wee also recognized as a teaching facility for the JMC.

(B)       Cardiovascular Module (10 Weeks):

In this module the students in Organ System 1 (OSC1, 3rd year) start their cardiovascular course, which includes both pre-clinical (Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Histology, Biochemistry) and clinical topics (Medical History taking and clinical examination, Heart Failure, Coronary Heart Disease, Arrhythmias, Valvular Disease, Pericardial Disease, Congenital Heart Disease and Vascular Disease).

I am a co-ordinator in this Module. I am the main responsible tutor regarding clinical aspect of the module including selection of the clinical cardiologists’ lecturers. In this course I am particularly responsible for teaching of coronary heart disease and arrhythmias. I have also a full responsibility in clinical, written, mid-and final exams

(C)       Senior Medical Clerkship (Final Medical Students):

  1. Bedside teaching in the Coronary Care Unit for all senior groups (2 sessions /group, a total of 8 sessions).
  2. Senior student’s seminars in heart failure, acute coronary heart disease and arrhythmias. Two of the students prepare the seminar and perform oral presentation to the rest of the students under my supervision, usually include patient case presentation.
  3. Case Discussion Seminar
  4. Bedside teaching in general Medicine and Cardiology

(D)       Clinical Skill Module (Year 2): 

Teaching of Bedside clinical skills, in particular examination of cardiovascular System

(E)       Clinical Skill Module (Year 1): 

Teaching of Bedside clinical skills, in particular examination of cardiovascular System

(F)        Pre-Clinical Basic Science (Unit 5): 

Clinical Correlation of Cardiovascular Physiology

(G)       Residents Teaching: 

Postgraduate Training for Residents (those who passed or will sit for the final exam in general medicine, e.g. MRCP and Arab Board)

  1. Teaching the state of the art bedside session in Clinical Cardiology
  2. Organizer of the Residents Teaching Training Program within their residency training in Internal Medicine. Each Resident doctor teaches 4 sessions/group a total of 4-5 hours)
  3. Guidelines for Residents to teach specific topics within the JMC training and
  4. Training of residents in techniques of examination for Junior Medical students (OSCE).

Faculty Specific Activities:

  1. Member of the Faculty of Medicine interview panels for appointments of 4 professors (Paediatrics Cardiology 2x, Statistics and Family Medicine) and The Director of the Medical Library.
  2. Member of the Faculty of Medicine interview panels for student’s admission
  3. Represented the Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine in 4-6 Faculty Council Meetings.
  4. Chair of the Chairs for the interview and appointment of a professor and chair of Anatomy
  5. Chair of the Chairs for the interview and appointment of a professor and chair of Immunology Department
  6. Assist Medical Education Department in Peer-Evaluations of teachers applying for promotion to Associate/Full Professor (more than 15 members)

Contribution to CME and Training Courses:

  1. Organizer of ECG workshop during the 2nd Scientific Conference for Medical Students in the Gulf Countries 25th-28th January 2004. This was a 2 days workshop attended by 80 female and male medical students from different countries (e.g. UAE, Sweden, Canada, UK, South Africa, Australia, and Pakistan). It was an interactive clinically orientated teaching sessions with modern audio-visual and live animations tools.
  2. One of two organizers of Update in Cardiology CME Course 2004-04-29, FMHS, Al-Ain, UAE. 500 delegates who came from different hospitals and medical institutions in United Arab Emirates attended this course. Speakers were senior consultants and lecturers in cardiology. Topics included recent advances in all cardiology titles. My role was selection of topics and speakers, chairman in one session, a principal speaker Diastolic Heart Failure, presentation of closing remarks and issuing of the CME certificates,
  3. One of 2 organizers of a full day Workshop, Focused Assessment Sonography for Trauma (FAST) 25th May 2004. Surgeons, Technicians and Nurses dealing with Acute Trauma in the Emergency Department attended this workshop. My contribution was about chest and cardiac trauma and consisted of sessions: (1) a 30 minutes lecture about cardiac trauma with special emphasis on the role of echocardiography (2) a 60 minutes echocardiography practical session with focus on how to detect pericardial fluid.
  4. One of 3 speakers in the Diabetic and Cardiovascular Research Group Symposium in Cardiology 16th September 2004. The title of my lecture was: Acute Coronary Syndrome: When and Where and How to Treat. The other 2 speakers were (Professor George Carruthers, Dean of the Medical Faculty about guidelines in treatment of Hypertension and Professor Gary Nicholls, chairman department of Internal Medicine about BNP and Heart Failure).
  5. One of 2 organizers of a ½ day Workshop, Focused Assessment Sonography for Trauma (FAST) 27th November 2004. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al-Ain, UAE. Held as a Pre-Conference Workshop, prior to the 4th Gulf Countries Medical Education Conference. See above
  6. One of the main speakers in Emergency Medicine CME, organised by the Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, 14th April-2005. My lecture was about Management of Chest Pain.
  7. One of the main speakers in Update in Cardiology CME, Dubai Rashid Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 13th -May-2005. I was a chairman in one session and I also gave two lectures entitled (1) Diastolic Heart Failure (2) Current Treatment of Unstable Angina Pectoris.
  8. One of the main speakers and one of 2 organizers of a one day Workshop, Focused Assessment Sonography for Trauma (FAST) 21st May 2005, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al-Ain, UAE.
  9. One of the main speakers in Family Update, CME, Al-Ain, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 15th -June-2005. My lectures titles were entitled (1) Heart Failure Treatment to Prolong Life (2) Acute Coronary Syndrome: When and Where to Treat.
  10. CME Course, Tawam Hospital, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, 25th September 2005. Cardiac Arrhythmia: Clinical Approach.
  11. Invited Speaker in Women International Day, UAE University Club, Al-Ain, 9th March 2006 the title of my lecture: Heart Disease and Women
  12. Invited Speaker: Cardiac Arrhythmias Update, International Conference on Medical Update 2006. Abu Dhabi 19th-20th May 2006.
  13. Invited Speaker: Unstable Angina Pectoris Update, International Conference on Medical Update 2006. Abu Dhabi 19th-20th May 2006.
  14. Invited Speaker Acute Coronary Syndrome: Old Tract or Fast Tract with Special Emphasis on the Swedish Experience, Al-Ain Heart Group. Hilton, Al-Ain 13th November 2006.
  15. Invited Speaker Zayed Library Staff Heart Attack How to protect yourself, 19th November 2006, Jabal Hafeet, Al-Ain.
  16. Invited Speaker The Right Ventricle the “Forgotten Neighbor” Clinical and Research Overview. Emirates Cardiac Society, Al-Ain, Jabal Hafeet, 03-03-2007.
  17. One of the main speakers and one of 2 organizers of a one day Workshop, Focused Assessment Sonography for Trauma (FAST) 28st November 2007, Kuwait.
  18. One of the main speakers and one of 2 organizers of a one day Workshop, Focused Assessment Sonography for Trauma (FAST) 4st February 2008, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al-Ain, UAE.
  19. Organiser of the First world Herat Failure Congress in Al-Ain, UAE 12th-14th February 2008.
  20. One of the main speakers and one of 2 organizers of a one day Workshop, Focused Assessment Sonography for Trauma (FAST) 14st April 2008, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al-Ain, UAE.
  21. One of the main speakers and one of 2 organizers of a one day Workshop, Focused Assessment of Trauma: Sonographic Evaluation (FAST) 10th February 2009, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al-Ain, UAE.
  22. One of the main speakers and one of 3 organizers of a one day Workshop, Emergency Medicine: Role of Echocardiography (FAST) 3rd  April  2009, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al-Ain, UAE. My lecture title: Pericardial fluid,  Pulmonary embolism, global cardiac function and   cardiac arrest)
  23. One of the main speakers and one of 2 organizers of a one day Workshop, Focused Assessment of Trauma: Sonographic Evaluation (FAST) 10th May 2009, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al-Ain, UAE.
  24. One of the main speakers and one of 3 organizers of a one day Workshop, Emergency Medicine: Role of Echocardiography (FAST) 10th  November  2008, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al-Ain, UAE. My lecture title: Pericardial fluid, Pulmonary embolism, global cardiac function and   cardiac arrest)
  25. Mini Crash Course (3 hours) for the Senior Medical Clerkship Students. ECG and Cardiac Arrhythmias with special emphasis on treatment of Atrial fibrillation and ventricular lethal arrhythmias, 11-01-2010, FMHS-Al-Ain-UAE.

Research Activities and Projects:

  1. Cardiac remodelling and ventricular interaction in patients with Thalassemia Major: Detailed Echocardiographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation in relation to Neurohormonal and Collagen markers
  2. The Safety and Efficacy of Early Ambulation after Coronary Angioplasty in Zayed Military Hospital: Randomized Controlled Clinical Study
  3. Effect of Aging on cardiac Function
  4. Cardiac Involvement in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis.
  5. Heart ate variability in health and disease.
  6. A National Survey of Diabetes and its Complications in the United Arab Emirates.
  7. Effects of Volume-Depletion and Volume-Repletion on Neurohormones in the Camel
  8. Sleeping disorders and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome
  9. Cardiovascular Mobility and Mortality Sequences of Air Pollution
  10. Cardiovascular Risk Factors among School Children, Al-Ain, UAE

My Research Cooperation in Sweden:

  • Umeå University, Sweden
  • Uppsala University, Sweden
  • Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch Hospital Christchurch, New Zealand.

Worked as a Research Advisor for Zayed Military Hospital, Department of Cardiology

I proposed 5 potential projects. The first one is recently accepted by their local ethical committee and will start very soon.

(The Safety and Efficacy of Early Ambulation after Coronary Angioplasty in Zayed Military Hospital: Randomized Controlled Clinical Study)

Supervision of Postgraduate Research Students:

  1. Head of CCU, Zayed Military Hospital Project: The Safety and Efficacy of Early Ambulation after Coronary Angioplasty in Zayed Military Hospital: Randomized Controlled Clinical Study
  2. A medical Doctor, MRCP (1) the project: Assessment of Long axis function in Health and Disease: M-Mode and Doppler Tissue Imaging.
  3. A master Student, Faculty of Science and Environment: Cardiopulmonary Exercise in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Administrative Duties:

Being the main tutor in the Junior Medical Clerkship I am leading a team of 21 colleagues (9 Faculty Staff, 3 Professors, 4 Associate Professors, 2 Assistant Professors and 8 Senior Consultants from the Ministry of Health) who take part in teaching patients care. I am responsible for planning and coordination of their teaching and participation in mid and final exams. I am also responsible for the selection and involvement of colleagues from the Ministry of Health in teaching including their payment and their promotion.

Other Faculty Responsibilities:

  1. Member of the Faculty of Medicine Postgraduate Committee
  2. Member of the Faculty of Medicine Library and Learning Resources Committee
  3. Member of the Faculty of Medicine Undergraduate and Curriculum Committee
  4. Chairman of the Subcommittee On Faculty Resources and Support of the internal evaluation of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
  5. Representative of the Faculty of Medicine in an expertise committee set up by the Ministry of Health for the needs and importance of a Clinical Cardiology Centre of excellencies, which should provide the best care for cardiac ill patients at the highest international standard with very advanced and sophisticated technology. The committee also include the most national and international senior cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. The Main negotiator is an American Company specialised in building and establishing centres of cardiology services.
  6. I was requested to visit (2004-07-10) the cardiology centre in Zaid Military Hospital (Abu Dhabi) for the assessment and evaluation of the clinical setup. My visit had resulted in suggesting a detailed plan for the development and establishment of a cardiology centre of Excellency’s including research activities.
  7. Member of the Research Grant Committee
  8. Member of the Students Evaluation Committee
  9. Chair of the Students behaviour and professionalism Committee
  10. Chairman of Subcommittee, Faculty Resource Assessment for Accreditation of the FMHS.