Dubai Medical University successfully concluded the first internship of its kind in the UAE and the region, a four-week program titled "Herbal and Integrative Medicine Internship". The internship was led by Dr. Naglaa Saad, Associate Professor at the College of Pharmacy.
Designed to merge traditional healing systems with modern science, the internship offered students an immersive experience across four major themes:

• AI-Powered Complementary Medicine
• Herbal Medicine: From Lab to Market
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
• Foundations of Homeopathy

The program featured distinguished guest speakers who enriched the learning experience. Dr. Li Haufei, a Chinese UAE-licensed acupuncturist, introduced students to the history and principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture in the UAE. Dr. Mariam Al-Tharaawi, a UAE-licensed pharmacist and Hijama practitioner, offered in-depth sessions on the practice and therapeutic value of Hijama. Additionally, Dr. Shivani Sharma, a UAE-licensed homeopathy practitioner, provided students with valuable insights into the foundational principles and clinical applications of homeopathy.
A key highlight of the internship was the hands-on, project-based learning model. Students formed six interprofessional teams, composed of pharmacy and medicine students, and collaboratively developed AI-driven herbal product prototypes in DMU’s laboratories with the guidance of Dr. Yasmen Yasser. The students’ products targeted common health conditions such as H. pylori infection, constipation, diarrhea, eczema, hirsutism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

The program concluded with a Grande Finale presentation day, where each team pitched their product prototypes to a distinguished panel comprising Prof. Sherief Khalifa (Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs & Dean, College of Pharmacy), Engineer Hessa Lootah (Dubai Medical University AI & Innovation Lead) and Dr. Naglaa Saad (Internship Leader), and who all provided expert feedback on clinical value, formulation, and market readiness.
Six awards were presented to recognize outstanding achievements:

• Best Innovation Award
• Best Formulation Award
• Best Branding Award
• Best Clinical Relevance Award
• Most Market-Ready Product Award
• Best Use of Local Herbs Award

Prof. Sherief Khalifa remarked, “This initiative reflects our commitment to innovation in healthcare education. The students demonstrated an impressive blend of creativity, teamwork, and evidence-based thinking.”
This internship has set a new benchmark for integrative medicine education in the UAE and beyond, paving the way for future interdisciplinary collaborations and innovation-driven learning.