Abu Dhabi, October 20, 2010: Corniche Hospital has been selected as the first facility outside the United Kingdom to be accredited to provide an Advanced Training Skills Module (ATSM) in maternal medicine by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). The 235-bed Corniche Hospital, the largest maternity healthcare facility in the UAE, is managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International and is part of the SEHA HealthSystem owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA).

The RCOG recognition for training allows Corniche Hospital to offer the Advanced Training Skills Module (ATSM) in maternal medicine to UAE physicians as part of a continuing medical education program.  The rigorous training modules have been designed to equip trainees with the increasingly advanced subspecialty skills required for independent practice.  Doctors undertaking postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the UK for instance, must complete a minimum of two ATSMs in order to obtain a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in obstetrics and gynaecology.

"SEHA and the Johns Hopkins Medicine International management team appreciate the importance of combining world-class patient care, research and education," says Ron Lavater, CEO of Corniche Hospital.  "We are committed to refocusing the Corniche Hospital strategy around medical education.  Accreditation from RCOG as a training site for an Advanced Training Skills Module (ATSM) is a major step in this direction."

The Obstetric Medicine Program at Corniche Hospital, headed by Bashir Salih, M.D., and Nageena Mahmoud, M.D., is unique for the UAE in that it offers extremely focused educational opportunities not found anywhere else.  According to Judy Lee, MD, chief medical officer of Corniche Hospital, the facility's obstetric medicine physicians are among the best in the world because many have had the chance to develop skills through courses like those with RCOG. 

"With the support of Prof. Michael de Swiet, Professor of Obstetric Medicine, who has many years of experience in training specialists in obstetric medicine, we have an opportunity to bring the wealth of RCOG's expertise to local health care providers," says Lee.  "We have had enormous support from various members of the Royal College, including Dr Margaret Blott and Dr Catherine Nelson-Piercy, for recognition as a training site for this module.  We remain committed to our common mission of quality care and the training of physicians who can deliver the highest standards of care."

Mariyam Noushad, M.D., has been selected to be the first trainee under this program. Dr. Noushad has been working at Corniche Hospital as an obstetrician and gynaecologist for the past 10 years. She graduated from the University of Calicut in MBBS in 1998, and obtained her Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG) in 2005 while practicing at Corniche Hospital.  She became qualified for the Medical Council of Canada in 2008 and for Medical Council of Australia in 2009.

"As the first trainee for the ATSM in maternal medicine outside the UK, I am honoured by this special opportunity," says Dr. Noushad.  "It is an important step in my career path, and I believe that the skills acquired during this program will help me to enhance my medical and clinical expertise."

Dr. Margaret Blott, former Vice President (Education) of the RCOG, adds, "The RCOG is committed to improving the care for women and their babies.  The provision of RCOG recognised training in units outside of the UK, delivered to the same standards as in the UK, will undoubtedly enhance clinical care and improve outcomes. The RCOG is delighted that the Corniche hospital has been approved to provide this training, which will improve care for women in the UAE. The next step is to extend the provision of this training to other units worldwide."

To learn more about the enrolment process for the ATSM program at Corniche, please call: 02-672-4900.

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About Corniche Hospital
Corniche Hospital is a Joint Commission International-accredited health care facility. The largest maternity hospital in the UAE, it provides facilities for more than 10,000 births and 216,000 outpatient visits a year. Under a management agreement with Johns Hopkins Medicine International and SEHA in September 2008, a Johns Hopkins management team has day-to-day oversight of the 235-bed hospital.

Corniche is one of the three hospitals in the UAE under the management of the Baltimore, Md.-based JHI. Tawam Hospital, a 477-bed tertiary care facility in Al Ain, and Al Rahba Hospital, a 135-bed community facility just outside Abu Dhabi City, also are managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International and are accredited by the Joint Commission International.

About the SEHA HealthSystem and the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA)
SEHA is health in Arabic.  The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC- whose marketing identity is SEHA - is an independent, public joint stock company created to develop the curative activities of the public healthcare system in Abu Dhabi. The company owns and operates all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi which together make up the SEHA HealthSystem.  SEHA is committed to continuous improvement of customer care to recognized international standards and providing our customers and communities world class healthcare.  SEHA has partnered with internationally recognized hospital managers to achieve these goals.  These include Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, VAMED, Vienna Medical University, Bumrungrad International and Fresenius Medical Care.  SEHA owns and operates 12 hospitals with 2,644 beds, 62 ambulatory care, family care and urgent care centers and 2 blood banks.  SEHA is one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the Middle East with 16,500 doctors, nurses, ancillary care and administrative personnel in its employ.  Visit our website at www.seha.ae.

About Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine unites physicians and scientists of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with the organizations, health professionals and facilities of the Johns Hopkins Health System. The mission of Johns Hopkins Medicine is to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care.

Diverse and inclusive, Johns Hopkins Medicine has provided international leadership in the education of physicians and medical scientists in biomedical research and in the application of medical knowledge to sustain health since The Johns Hopkins Hospital opened in 1889.

About Johns Hopkins Medicine International
Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) facilitates the global development of the Johns Hopkins Medicine mission: to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care. As the international access point to thousands of Johns Hopkins experts in medicine, nursing, public health and health care administration, JHI coordinates treatment for out-of-town patients who travel to Baltimore and for local patients with limited English proficiency. It also provides services in hospital management, health care consulting and clinical education through strategic alliances and affiliations in the Middle East, Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia.

About the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) was founded in 1929 and has around 12,000 members, half of whom work outside the UK.  It is a professional body and medical charity that develops clinical standards for the specialty and contributes to UK and international policy on women's health. 

As part of its remit to improve standards, the RCOG is also the custodian of the UK postgraduate medical curriculum.  It runs training programmes and qualifying exams for doctors wishing to specialise in O&G and a continuing professional development scheme for its members. 

For more information about the RCOG and its activities, please visit www.rcog.org.uk.    

© Press Release 2010