• As part of an MoU signing between the two entities, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City provided students an opportunity to apply their skills in a practical environment, under the guidance of SSMC’s engineering team

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: As part of a partnership agreement between Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) and Abu Dhabi University (ADU), ADU’s Interior Design students were given a firsthand educational experience to learn, apply their skills and express their creativity by applying their innovative design ideas in the Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation. In addition to empowering students and creating positive spaces for patients, this collaboration will support students in working and learning alongside SSMC’s engineering team and further applying new designs across its facilities.

The entire process included four phases. During the first phase, ADU students and faculty members provided significant input and ideas for designing the Pediatric Rehabilitation Department under the supervision of Dr. Ahmed Elshakhs, Assistant professor of interior and furniture design, Architecture and Design Department, at ADU. The renovation process includes plans for the entrance, corridors, reception, waiting areas, two treatment rooms, a gymnasium and a speech therapy room.

Following the success of the first installation, further design phases will follow as part of the collaboration. Currently, SSMC’s engineering team and ADU students are working together on the hospital’s Gynecology Emergency and Pre-natal Diagnostic Center, with plans to also include the Pediatric ward, Maternity Emergency Room

OROR area. In addition to the Parent Diagnostical Center, which is set to be completed by the end of 2022.

Dr. Hamdi Sheibani, Dean of the College of Engineering at Abu Dhabi University (ADU), said: “The collaboration between Abu Dhabi University (ADU) and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) is a valuable initiative in which both entities have reaped the benefits equally. It is a colossal opportunity for our students to enrich and develop their skills in a practical setting. Abu Dhabi University is constantly striving to build fruitful partnerships with local and international stakeholders that add value to its students. We look forward to seeing our student’s exemplary commitment to this initiative as we continue to support and prepare them to be future leaders in their careers.”

Dr. Ahmed Elshakhs, Assistant professor of Interior and Furniture Design, at Abu Dhabi University (ADU) and project supervisor, said: “It is an excellent opportunity for our students to engage in the field of design in a professional manner through a comprehensive design proposal, including full visual documentation, detailed working drawings, material selection, specifications and quantities. For the first time, the Architecture Department at Abu Dhabi University (ADU) provided consultation for a full project toward the implementation and construction phase. Students have demonstrated a strong skill and a solid knowledge base of the process that earned them the respect of the client and the contractor. The significant relationship between the child and mother has been raised and considered within the students’ proposal. This project exemplifies the department’s curriculum's strength.”

Dr. Abba Zubair, Dean of Education at SSMC, said: “At SSMC, education is a fundamental pillar of our mission and we are committed to provide a holistic healthcare experience for our patients. We are enthusiastic about working alongside Abu Dhabi University (ADU), in order to provide their talented students with a unique opportunity to utilize their skills with guidance from our world-class engineering team. By giving them a platform to apply their learnings in a practical environment, they succeeded in delivering an uplifting space for our Pediatric patients, which we are confident will make their stay at the hospital more positive.”

The Interior Design program at ADU combines aesthetics and technology, including Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and 3D computer modelling, to help students create remarkable indoor environments that are practical and elegant.

SSMC’s vision is to become the region’s preferred integrated health care destination for critical and complex patient care. Its strategy to achieve this is through SSMC’s Model of Care where care is delivered, one patient at a time, by a multi-disciplinary team of experts within a fully comprehensive, multi-specialty practice, supported by education and research. The integration of SSMC’s three shields: Practice, Education, and Research, is fundamental to its vision and to meeting the needs of all patients.

For more information about ADU's programs, visit: https://www.adu.ac.ae/home

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About Abu Dhabi University:

Established in 2003, with campuses across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra, the University has a total enrollment of 7,500 students from over 80 nationalities. Structured into Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering and Health Sciences, ADU offers over 50 undergraduate and graduate programs across a wide range of disciplines.

Abu Dhabi University is recognized as a world-class institution committed to excellence in teaching, research and student experience, as evidenced by its prestigious regional and international accreditations. The University was the first private higher education institution in the GCC to earn international accreditation from the Californian Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). ADU’s College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the prestigious EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). At a program level, the College of Engineering has received international accreditation from the world-renowned Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), and the Bachelor of Architecture has received Part 1 validation from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The College of Health Sciences has earned accreditation from the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA).

According to the 2021 QS World University rankings, Abu Dhabi University ranked among the top 750 universities in the world and placed among the world’s top 150 universities under 50 years of age. ADU also earned a top 3 spot globally for international faculty and maintained its long-held position as part of the top 11 universities worldwide recognized for student body diversity.

About Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City

Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), the UAE’s largest healthcare network, and Mayo Clinic, a non-profit global leader in medical care, education, and research headquartered in the United States of America. Established in 2019, SSMC is the largest tertiary hospital in the UAE and serves to elevate the provision of healthcare services in the nation under the mandate of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.

Supported by the latest diagnostic and treatment modalities available, SSMC offers care in 24 specialties. A team of locally and internationally trained physicians and allied health staff work seamlessly together, which promotes comprehensive interdisciplinary learning, allowing SSMC to become a leading hub for integrated patient-centric medical services in the region.

As the region’s leading tertiary facility, SSMC has 742 patient beds, 18 operating theatres and includes a hybrid operating room, 26 neonatal intensive care units and the UAE’s largest pathology lab.

For more information on Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City or to book an appointment, visit https://ssmc.ae/.

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Wael Al Kubbani:
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Email: Wael.AlKubbani@hkstrategies.com