Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi honours 600+ caregivers for decade of dedication
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Continuing its 10-year anniversary celebrations, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi hosted a special event to honour more than 600 founding caregivers who have completed over 10 years of service at the organisation.The recognition ceremony was held to honour their dedication and commitment, which helped bring the hospital's vision to life: being the best place to receive care and the best place to work in healthcare. Since opening its doors in 2015, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has grown into a thriving community of over 5,700 caregivers from over 80 nationalities. The hospital's team includes over 590 physicians, 1,700 nurses, and 590 allied health professionals.Over its first decade, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has recorded over 6.8 million patient encounters and performed more than 174,000 complex surgeries, redefining healthcare in the UAE and the wider region by delivering world-class expertise, advanced treatments, and compassionate care, all closer to home. Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: "Our caregivers have been central to our tripartite mission of providing compassionate, complex care, research for health, and educating those who serve. Together, they have helped build a hospital trusted by thousands of patients in Abu Dhabi, and beyond."As we celebrate our achievements over the years, we also celebrate the caregivers who have been with us from the very beginning. Their unwavering commitment to our patients and the community has pushed boundaries in innovation and shaped the care we deliver today. Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in delivering world-class care, expanding our impact, and setting new benchmarks in healthcare for Abu Dhabi and the world."By offering patients in the UAE access to the highest levels of specialised care, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has significantly reduced the need for outbound medical travel over the past decade. This remarkable transformation has raised the standard of care locally and firmly positioned Abu Dhabi as a global healthcare hub, welcoming more than 10,000 international patients, he added.Mariam Al Mujaini, manager of patient experience, at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and one of the celebrated caregivers, commented: "In 2014, I embarked on my journey at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and being part of this remarkable organization from the beginning has been an incredible, rewarding experience. As an Emirati woman, leading patient experience, I am proud to have contributed to creating a compassionate, world-class healthcare environment that not only enhances lives but also gives back to my country by raising healthcare standards across the UAE and beyond.'Zeina Kassem, nursing director for the Oncology and Organ Transplant programmes, said: "Working at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi for the past 10 years has been an incredible journey, both professionally and personally. This hospital truly stands out for its unwavering commitment to patient care and teamwork.As a leader, I witnessed the life-changing impact we've had on patients and their families.
"Transforming this place from just an idea into a fully functional hospital with all its centers of excellence, like the cancer center, transplant programme, and all the others, has been so rewarding. I am incredibly proud to be part of an institution that not only heals patients but nurtures its people. It's been a privilege to grow and contribute to this journey.''
Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Gulf Today
UAE hosted 17,600 Afghans before departure to their final destinations
In a move that embodies its humanitarian commitment and urgent response in times of crisis, the UAE has hosted 17,619 Afghans evacuated from their country since August 2021, before being resettled in third countries. This came as part of the UAE's co-operation with international partners to support the Afghan people amid the exceptional circumstances the country experienced. Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Humanitarian City (EHC) welcomed the Afghan citizens and provided them with high-quality facilities and services before they departed to 21 final destinations. The total cost of hosting the refugees amounted to Dhs1.348 billion ($367 million). An Afghan child gets treated at a health centre in UAE. The UAE also facilitated the evacuation of 41,000 Afghans and foreign citizens who were residing in Afghanistan, out of its belief in the need to assist friendly countries that had requested the UAE's assistance in evacuating their respective citizens from Afghanistan, prior to their repatriation to their home countries. During their stay, the UAE met all the needs of the Afghan citizens including healthcare, logistical and diplomatic services, communications, shelter and food, while ensuring their comfort, decent life and well-being and provided them with financial support to help families stabilize their lives in the destinations they were set to move to. To facilitate their departure to their final destinations, services related to departure procedures were provided within the EHC. As many as 17 offices were opened for the embassies of the concerned countries in addition to one office for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, another for the United Nations Migration Agency, another for US Customs and Border Protection, and 2 offices for international non-governmental organizations. As far as healthcare is concerned, the UAE exerted exceptional efforts to look after the Afghans and foreign citizens residing in the EHC, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Emirati officials give gifts to Afghan families at Emirates humanitarian city. This included providing 34,923 vaccines to all the residents, taking exemplary care of 303 newborns, performing 303 surgeries in various specialties, treating three cases outside the UAE and rendering 254,572 medical services to the residents, thereby ensuring comprehensive healthcare throughout their temporary stay. As for education and vocational training for Afghans residing in the city, the UAE provided school education for 3,764 Afghans and enrolled 800 children in nurseries, while providing school transportation and ongoing follow-up. The concerned authorities also organized 39 cultural and educational training courses for EHC's residents as well as professional training and development workshops, benefiting 2,589 Afghans. Emirati officials welcome Afghan families at a reception hall in Emirates humanitarian city. Thanks to its privacy-conscious design and compliance with the highest standards of security and safety, the EHC offered the best daily services. Its outdoor spaces included a number of playgrounds and entertainment facilities for children, women, and the elderly, a preventive health centre, and all necessary means of subsistence, including medicine, food and other essentials for a residence that reflected the values and traditions of Emirati society. The UAE spared no effort to assist the Afghan people and was at the forefront of countries taking the initiative to support Afghanistan, reflecting its humanitarian mission based on the values of giving, charitable work, spreading peace, and consolidating coexistence, tolerance, and the principles of human fraternity. Caring for people and preserving their dignity has been a constant approach of the UAE since it was founded. Taking no ethnic, religious or geographic backgrounds into consideration, the UAE has been consistent with its noble humanitarian principles until it has become a global symbol of humanitarian giving and sustainable goodness.
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Al Etihad
7,000 steps a day may be enough for major health gains: Lancet study
24 July 2025 08:00 A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)For years, the widely held belief has been that taking 10,000 steps a day is essential to reap the full health benefits of walking. But a new study offers encouraging news for those who find that goal out of reach: walking around 7,000 steps a day may be enough to significantly lower the risk of chronic diseases, cognitive decline, and premature in The Lancet Public Health journal, the comprehensive study analysed data from over 160,000 adults across 57 studies, with 31 included in meta-analyses. It provides the most robust evidence to date linking daily step counts to a wide range of health findings reveal that walking approximately 7,000 steps per day is associated with a 47% reduction in all-cause mortality. It also corresponds to a 25% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, a 6% drop in cancer risk, and a 14% reduction in the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, it found a 38% decrease in dementia risk, a 22% reduction in depression, and a 28% fall in the risk of physical earlier studies that primarily focused on heart disease or death rates, this research examined the impact of walking on multiple serious health conditions. While benefits continued to rise beyond 7,000 steps for some outcomes, such as heart disease, most health gains levelled off around that authors suggest that 7,000 steps a day may be a more realistic and attainable goal than the popular but unofficial 10,000-step target, especially for people who are less active. Even relatively low levels of walking—such as 4,000 steps per day—were found to offer better health outcomes compared to sedentary lifestyles, typically defined as fewer than 2,000 steps a day. Aletihad spoke to UAE-based doctors to gather their views on the findings. 'Walking is one of the simplest yet most powerful tools we have to protect our health,' said Dr. Shahzad Moorkkan Ubaidulla, Specialist Family Medicine at Aster Clinic, Al Nahda, cautioned against treating step goals as a one-size-fits-all metric. 'A young, active adult might aim for 8,000 to 10,000 steps daily, while older adults, individuals with joint issues, or those with heart or lung conditions may benefit more from starting at 3,000 to 5,000 steps and building up gradually,' he said. Such personalised targets, he added, help prevent injury, avoid discouragement, and ensure the activity is safe and Ubaidulla noted that many people accumulate steps incidentally throughout the day. 'Standing up every 30 to 60 minutes during work, taking the stairs, parking farther away, or pacing during phone calls are practical ways to increase step count. These small changes also reduce joint stiffness,' he said.'Even modest increases in daily activity can significantly improve energy levels, reduce fatigue, and support joint health over time,' he Virendra Kumar Misra, Head of the Department of Cardiology at Burjeel Day Surgery Centre, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, echoed the study's emphasis on achievable goals.'Any kind of physical activity is protective when compared to no activity. However, the question has always been: how much is enough?' he said.'Guidelines from the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association (AHA), and the European Society of Cardiology recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity as protective.'Dr. Misra affirmed the relevance of the 7,000-step target. 'The risk of heart attack and stroke is reduced. Blood pressure and blood sugar levels are better controlled, and there is significant improvement in stress, anxiety, and cognitive function,' he Khuloud Al Zubaidi, Specialist Family Medicine at Burjeel Day Surgery Centre, also welcomed the findings. 'At a time when fitness can often feel complicated or inaccessible, it's encouraging to see that a basic daily habit can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, cognitive decline, and even premature death,' she said. 'It serves as a powerful reminder that prevention doesn't have to be complex — small steps can lead to big health gains.'While the UK's National Health Service (NHS) does not recommend step targets based on age, it generally advises aiming for around 10,000 steps daily. 'However, recent studies suggest a 'sweet spot' between 6,000 and 10,000 steps to improve longevity and reduce health risks,' Dr. Zubaidi said'For older adults over the age of 65, especially those with mobility limitations, 6,000 to 8,000 steps may be a more realistic and beneficial target,' she Sreeram Gopalakrishnan, Specialist Cardiologist at Aster Clinic, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, stressed the importance of consistency.'Regular physical activity that elevates the heart rate, when performed consistently throughout the day, has been shown to reduce the incidence of heart attacks and strokes,' he also warned about the dangers of sedentary lifestyles. 'Prolonged sitting is associated with increased risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even mortality,' he said.'The AHA therefore recommends reducing sedentary time and incorporating more physical activity into daily routines to mitigate these risks.''Walking 7,000 steps a day, although not ideal, can be considered a minimum benchmark, as the study shows it correlates with a 70% lower risk of mortality compared to 4,000 steps,' he added.'Importantly, 7,000 steps is a sustainable goal for many people with sedentary jobs or older adults. While 10,000 steps may offer additional benefits, it is often harder to maintain. Individuals with arthritis, heart conditions, or those recovering from illness will need customised plans that include short bursts of walking spread throughout the day,' Dr. Gopalakrishnan on the origins of the 10,000-step goal, Dr. Yasir Shafi, Homeopathy Practitioner at Wellth, Dubai, said the figure was not scientifically grounded. 'The idea that 10,000 steps a day is the gold standard was never rooted in clinical science — it originated from a Japanese marketing campaign in the 1960s. This new research challenges that cultural myth and presents a more nuanced, evidence-based benchmark,' he said.'What the data consistently shows is that you don't need to be an athlete to benefit from physical activity. Even modest daily movement — in this case, 6,000 to 8,000 steps — can be beneficial,' he Shafi emphasised that the shift from 10,000 to 7,000 steps is not just a numbers game but a move towards realistic, sustainable behaviour change. 'For many individuals — especially older adults, people recovering from illness, or those with sedentary jobs — achieving 10,000 steps a day can feel discouragingly out of reach,' he said. 'Rather than promoting a universal target, step goals should be seen as adaptive frameworks that evolve according to a person's health status, motivation, and physical capacity.' 'This study is not about lowering the bar — it's about redefining success in a way that aligns with human behaviour, clinical science, and long-term adherence,' Dr. Shafi concluded.
Al Etihad
5 days ago
- Al Etihad
'Forever Chemicals' linked to higher risk of Type 2 diabetes
23 July 2025 13:36 NEW YORK (ALETIHAD) Exposure to a class of synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—often called 'forever chemicals'—may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study led by Mount Sinai researchers. The findings were published on Tuesday in eBioMedicine. The team conducted a nested case-control study - an observational study that is conducted within a larger cohort study - within BioMe, a large, electronic health record-linked research database comprising records of more than 70,000 study participants who have sought care at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City since 2007. Based on available data, the study analysed 180 people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and compared them to 180 similar individuals without diabetes. Researchers used blood samples to analyse PFAS levels—a group of chemicals used in everything from nonstick cookware to stain-resistant furniture to waterproof clothing—and found that higher levels of PFAS were associated with a significantly greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the each increase in range of PFAS exposure was linked to a 31 percent increase in risk. The team also found that these associations could be due to metabolic irregularities in amino acid biosynthesis and drug metabolism, which may help explain how PFAS affect the body's ability to regulate blood sugar.'PFAS are synthetic chemicals that resist heat, oil, water, and stains, and are found in countless everyday consumer products,' said Vishal Midya, PhD, MStat, corresponding author and Assistant Professor, Environmental Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.'Because they don't break down easily, PFAS accumulate in the environment—and in human bodies. Our study is one of the first to examine how these chemicals may disrupt the body's metabolism in ways that increase diabetes risk—particularly in diverse US populations.' Findings from this study underscore the importance of preventing PFAS exposures to promote public health and of advancing knowledge about potential mechanisms underlying the PFAS impacts on human metabolism. The researchers called for further research studies, integrating environmental with genetic data to better understand how environmental exposures interact with human metabolism and contribute to chronic disease. They also call for larger study populations, expanding over the life course, from preconception to elderly, to understand environmental health impacts across the lifespan and at vulnerable life periods. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
