The Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, MBRU, announced the participation of its first and second cohorts of medical students in its Summer Studentship Placement Program. This unique program, now in its second year, is a collaboration between MBRU, local and international research centers, academic institutions and healthcare facilities.

Starting from June until the end of August 2018, a total of 71 first and second year medical students, will be taking up placement opportunities in the UAE and abroad.

Locally, the students will undertake research at MBRU, Harvard Medical School Center for Global Health Delivery, Johnson and Johnson and Aljalila Children’s Hospital in Dubai as well as in Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi. Others will participate in clinical observerships at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Cleveland Clinic and Corniche Hospital in Abu Dhabi,  as well as volunteer at the Comprehensive Cancer Center in Mediclinic City Hospital Dubai. Internationally, students will undertake research and clinical observership placements at prestigious institutions including Mayo Clinic, USA, St. Louis University, USA, Joslin Diabetes Center, USA, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry Canada, University of Rekyjavik Iceland, the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia,  Kings College London, UK, King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan, Cairo International Summer School at Kasr Al Ainy School of Medicine, Egypt, as well as in Queens University Belfast, UK, MBRU’s academic partner, to name a few.

The Program provides valuable work and learning experience by immersing the students in real

-life research, medical and volunteering environments the students will get the opportunity to interact with leading clinicians and research scientists as well as engage with patients. This will help them observe medical conditions firsthand, learn about different treatment approaches, develop research and scientific reasoning skills and develop communication skills. The students will also be given the opportunity to focus on specific medical cases, and to help solve medical issues under the guidance of medical experts. This experience will give students an edge over the competition in the workforce in the future.

Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Dean of the College of Medicine at MBRU said: “The Summer Studentship Placement Program is in its second-round now, last year it was very successful. Our students were able to see and apply what they have learned during the course of the year first-hand. As a first or second year medical student, shadowing a physician locally or abroad really sets you apart. It allows students to develop a global perspective on healthcare, and learn what it means to be a working medical professional. We strongly believe that such programs are key when it comes to transformative learning experiences.”

Professor Alsheikh-Ali further added that such programs illustrate MBRU’s value of connectivity, and it reflects MBRU’s philosophy that learning is not limited to the classroom. He also expressed his gratitude to the institutions who made it possible for students to have such an opportunity.

Moreover, second year student Maryam Essa Alobeidli will conduct her Summer Studentship at the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan, she stated, “This is my first time partaking in the Summer Studentship Placement Program, I am very excited to go to the King Hussein Cancer Center this summer. I think this is a great opportunity which will allow me to delve into the world of oncology, it will teach me about building bonds with patients, and in this specific case cancer patients. Also, I think that this program is a window into our future, it gives us insight to how are working lives in the hospital may be. In addition to the great learning experience, this will be my first time in Jordan, so I am excited to discover the country.”

The objectives of this program are:

1. To provide placements for hands on experience in research laboratories, observerships in the clinical setting and volunteering in providing humanitarian services within the community
2. To provide opportunities for students to acquire new skills and experiences in research, clinical and volunteering arenas
3. To foster a sense of responsibility as global citizens
4. To provide students with opportunities for cross-cultural experiences and engagement in team work

MBRU also provided 42 students with funding to support them during their placements. The students will be going to 6 local and 11 international centers.

The Summer Studentship Program compliments MBRU’s mission and vision, through enriching the students’ experiences with the objective of building a generation of innovators, researchers, and healthcare leaders in the UAE who will be at the service of humanity.