On April 29, Dubai Medical University (DMU) hosted a dynamic and forward-thinking meeting with Prof. Sherief Khalifa, Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs and Dean, College of Pharmacy at DMU, along with Prof. Mirza R. Baig, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs, in collaboration with the pharmacy team at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD), including Dr. Saad Sultan – Executive Director of Pharmacy, CCAD, Dr. Rania El-Lababidi – Senior Manager, Pharmacy Education and Training, Dr. Mohammed Siddique, Dr. Shuaib Mahomed, Dr. Antoine Cherfan, Dr. Hisham, Dr. Layla Yousify, and other distinguished pharmacists.

The meeting focused on strengthening institutional partnerships to elevate the pharmacy profession in the UAE through advanced training and international collaboration. A key highlight was the in-depth discussion on the evolving soft skills required for pharmacists to thrive in the UAE’s healthcare environment, as well as the substantive updates to the national pharmacy curriculum. Prof. Sherief also shared insights into the enhanced clinical training model being introduced at DMU, particularly the newly designed four-month clinical rotations tailored for BPharm graduates.

We are pleased to share that CCAD has agreed to host undergraduate pharmacy students from DMU for clinical rotations—marking a significant step forward in bridging academic excellence with clinical practice. This meeting underscored a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of pharmacy professionals through quality education, collaborative training, and a patient-centered approach.