RCSI–Dubai hosted its annual conferring ceremony at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center in Dubai Healthcare City on Wednesday, 30 November 2011.

This year’s ceremony was held under the patronage of Chairperson of Dubai Healthcare City Authority HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Attending the event on behalf of HRH Princess Haya was His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General, Dubai Health Authority.

As part of the ceremony, H.E. Al Murooshid conferred masters degrees on students graduating in Quality and Safety in Healthcare and in Healthcare Management.

Al Murooshid said, “Promoting higher education in all fields in is line with the vision of our rulers and an important aspect of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015. Gaining higher educational qualifications in the field of healthcare is of pertinent importance to ensure we further enhance the health sector in the Emirate and provide the highest level of quality healthcare to our population and visitors alike.”

These accredited, postgraduate degrees issued by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) – Institute of Leadership in Dubai puts the new graduates in a prime position to help shape the region’s healthcare sector.

In her address, RCSI President, Eilis McGovern said: "We are proud of the fact that many of our RCSI Alumni now hold senior positions within the healthcare systems of Dubai, the UAE and the wider Gulf region.

"Our graduates will have an important role to play in the context of a changing healthcare delivery system and contribute not only to improved patient outcomes but also reducing the risk of harm to patients. As a global provider of education, we are proud to provide the opportunity for our students to be exposed to differing cultures and new ways of thinking."

Professor Ciaran O’Boyle, Director of the RCSI Institute of Leadership, referred to a recent scientific survey of previous graduates of these programmes. “We are delighted that our programmes are contributing to improving healthcare in the region," he said. "80-90% of graduates from our previous Dubai programmes have achieved promotion in their jobs. Graduates reported significant increases in their leadership abilities, their capacity to work in a team, the effectiveness of their communication, and in their ability to solve problems, initiate change and introduce new ideas to solve complex healthcare problems.”

Other addresses at the graduation included those by President and CEO of RCSI, Professor Cathal Kelly, on the importance of leadership in healthcare and an opening by Dean of the RCSI Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Professor Hannah McGee.

This week’s earlier RCSI-Dubai Alumni event on 29 November, sponsored by ProVita International Medical Center Abu Dhabi, was held with the objective of further developing relationships with Alumni throughout the Middle East. RCSI–Dubai Alumni include, Dr Ahmad Bin Kalban (CEO, Primary Healthcare Service Sector, DHA), Dr Ali Obaidily (Chief Medical Officer, SEHA), Ibtesam Bastaki (Head of Health Section, Prime Minister’s Office), Hayder Mohammed Khalaf Al Zubaidy (CEO, Canadian Speciality Hospital), Magi Livadaris (General Manager, ProVita), Adele Smiddy (Chairperson, Irish Business Network Dubai) and Diana Grobler (Director of Nursing, Welcare Hospital).

RCSI-Dubai Alumni President, Dr Mohammad Al Redha, Head of eHealth and Acting Director of Health Data and Information Analysis Department at the DHA, commented: “This type of event is essential to furthering the regional dialogue about Medicine and Surgery, Healthcare Management and Quality and Safety practices. The RCSI Alumni have an opportunity to raise the bar for the UAE’s healthcare standards and such events provide a platform for information sharing and idea generation.”