Harvard Medical School Dubai Center launch Diabetes Program with CME Conference

The Diabetes Conference emphasizes fight against diabetes a high priority in UAE

Dubai: 23 March 2009 - Harvard Medical School Dubai Center Institute for Postgraduate Education and Research (HMSDC), a member of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center, in collaboration with Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), a member of Tatweer, today launched the first initiative of their Diabetes 2009 campaign in the form of a national continuing medical education (CME) course "Diabetes Update 2009".

Approximately 25%, or about 1.75 million individuals in the UAE, are affected with diabetes. This is what experts from DHCC, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, United Arab Emirates University, Joslin Diabetes Center, and Moorfields Eye Center reminded us today in a CME course, which took place in Grand Hyatt, Dubai.

"UAE has the second highest prevalence of diabetes worldwide with 25% of the population being affected. Diabetes has been an increasingly difficult medical management issue in the Emirati population", warned Dr Ajay Singh, Chief Academic Officer of HMSDC. "Kidney failure, heart disease, high blood pressure, amputations and blindness are complications of diabetes. Increasing awareness of the relationship between Diabetes Mellitus, its risk factors and complications, remains at the forefront of HMSDC's medical education endeavors."

Dr Ayesha Abdullah, Vice President of DHCC, said: "By bringing together leading experts, we expect the course will influence policy makers and local health authorities to make the fight against diabetes a higher priority. We also hope that it will help healthcare professionals towards improving the quality of life of people with diabetes in the UAE".

The Congress also presented the opportunity to share, at a national level, the latest scientific advances and knowledge on more practical aspects such as education, treatment and raising awareness in the field of diabetes. The programme addressed a broad spectrum of diabetes-related issues such as Basic Science; Clinical Advances; Education and Care; Epidemiology and Public Health; Living with Diabetes, and Diabetes in UAE.

Platforms for discussion varied from state-of-the-art lectures to interact-with-expert sessions, including panel discussion and one-to-one communications. HMSDC designated this educational activity a maximum of 6.5 CME credit hours.

The objective of HMSDC's 2009 Diabetes initiative is to engage professionals and the public with this important health issue but also to help develop strategies that will serve to prevent diabetes and to offer optimum healthcare and education for people with the condition.

-Ends-

About The Harvard Medical School Dubai Center (HMSDC)
The Harvard Medical School Dubai Center (HMSDC) Institute for Postgraduate Education and Research, a member of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center, has been established to foster the professional development of healthcare professionals in the Gulf Region. Launched in 2004 through a joint effort by then-Harvard Medical International (now Partners Harvard Medical International) and Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), HMSDC, along with other members of the Academic Medical Center - the University Hospital, Al Maktoum Harvard Medical Library, Boston University and the Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research, is part of the Government of Dubai's mission to develop DHCC into a center of excellence for health care delivery, medical education, and research.

HMSDC provides an unprecedented link between the Gulf Region and the global medical community, and will help to bring the knowledge and expertise of world-class academic medical centers to bear on the area's most pressing health care challenges.

About DHCC:
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is envisioned to become the internationally recognized location of choice for quality healthcare and an integrated regional center of excellence for clinical and wellness services, medical education and life science research in the Middle East. DHCC is the world's first healthcare free zone planned to be built in phases. The first phase of 4.1 million square feet is now operational with a medical cluster comprised of day-care and outpatient clinics, diagnostic centers, rehabilitation centers, transplantation centers, hospitals and a sector for pharmaceutical and equipment suppliers.

DHCC is home to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center with its fully integrated five entities in Phase 1: University Hospital, Harvard Medical School Dubai Center- Institute for Postgraduate Education and Research (HMSDC), Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research (DHFMR), Al Maktoum Harvard Medical Library, and Boston University Institute for Research and Education.

Some other renowned partners of the medical cluster are - Dubai Bone & Joint Center (DBAJ), The City Hospital, Dubai Medical Suites (DMS), Mayo Clinic, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Center, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, Swiss Academy of Scientific Acupuncture, Dr. Nicolas & ASP and the German Heart Center, Wyeth, Sanofi Aventis, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Smith & Nephew, Fresenius Medical Care, Novo Nordisk, among others.

The second phase will feature a dedicated wellness cluster comprised of Wellness centers, Nutrition centers, Resorts, Spas, and Sports Medicine facilities.

About Tatweer
Tatweer is a member of Dubai Holding and one of the largest and fastest growing business conglomerates in the region. Tatweer's name is synonymous with some of the most ambitious developments in Dubai and an equally extensive portfolio of prestigious projects in the pipeline.

Launched in December 2005, Tatweer owns and manages a strategic group of entities across six diverse industry verticals: Leisure and Entertainment, Commodities, Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and Real Estate. The operations are strategically grouped under two distinct divisions - Tatweer Dubai and Tatweer Investments.

Tatweer Dubai will focus on project development within the UAE and advance strategic long term partnerships such as Partners-Harvard Medical International; the internationally renowned golfer Tiger Woods; IRCA Global, and Universal Studios. Tatweer Dubai's entities comprise Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), the region's hub for world-class quality healthcare services; Dubailand®, the world's most ambitious tourism, leisure and entertainment destination; The Tiger Woods Dubai, the exclusive golf community home to the world's first Tiger Woods designed golf course; Bawadi®, the largest hospitality, shopping and entertainment cluster in the world; Dubai Industrial City, a township to develop Dubai as a leading manufacturing hub; IRCA Middle East, a joint venture with International Risk Control Association IRCA Global, South Africa to provide comprehensive pure risk management solutions to a wide spectrum of industries in the MENA region; Global Village, bringing together 160 different countries showcasing myriad cultures; and the Parks & Resorts DUBAILAND® featuring Universal Studios DUBAILAND®, Dreamworks DUBAILAND®, Six Flags DUBAILAND®, LEGOLAND DUBAILAND®, Marvel DUBAILAND®, Freej DUBAILAND® and HIT Entertainment.

Tatweer Investments will drive Tatweer's foray into international markets, leveraging its synergy with leading global strategic partners. It will extend Tatweer's existing intellectual property portfolio and generate innovative IP driven investments and partnerships overseas. The entities under Tatweer Investment's portfolio include Mizin, pursuing a vision to become the real estate developer of choice in the UAE; Dubai Mercantile Exchange, the premier international commodity futures exchange in the Middle East; and new businesses in the food and beverage industry forged through alliances with leading international brands.

Agency:
Dr Sabah Al-Lawati
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Jiwin Public Relations
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Email: Sabah.AlLawati@jiwin.ae

Ghaith Nazzal
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Email: Ghaith.Nazzal@Jiwin.ae