Awards 2020

Healthcare Innovation Award

This award is open to all clinical facilities in DHCC. The award aims to recognize innovative practices and projects designed to improve safety in any aspect of patient care, education, and technology.

For this cycle, the award has been sub-categorized to acknowledge hospitals and outpatient clinics separately.

• Eligibility criteria
  • All clinical facilities within the free zone are eligible to enter:
  • Hospitals, outpatient clinics, laboratories, pharmacies, and clinical support services
  • Facilities must be operating in DHCC for more than one year
  • Entries must be for services, projects and/or programs, which are completed or substantially completed with quantifiable achievements/results/outcomes that can demonstrate innovation and/or excellence of the healthcare facility and/or healthcare operator as a whole.
  • All entry submission forms must indicate acceptance of the terms and conditions (see entry form).
  • Winning projects of the previous Excellence Award (2017 and 2018) do not qualify for this cycle.
• Evaluation/scoring criteria

  Originality (30 points)

  • State the rationale behind the initiative and how it demonstrates creativity, innovation or uniqueness.
  • Describe how the initiative drew from existing knowledge and current best practice; this can include learning from previous adverse events or near misses within the facility or beyond.

  Added value (20 points)

  • Clear evidence of added value to the facility and patients through the initiative and improved quality of care or experience. Where possible, this evidence should include financial savings to the facility and/or patients.
  • Quantitative evidence of added value such as surveys, statistics and/or health data must be supplied.

  Outcome (30 points)

  • Evidence that the initiative has directly contributed to the delivery of consistently high quality patient care; this should have a quantitative aspect and can include qualitative data such as patient feedback.
  • Evidence that the initiative has directly improved patient safety; this should be quantitative and can cover any aspect of safe delivery of care such as reductions in medication administration errors, faster and more accurate triage, and a drop in adverse events.

  Sustainability (20 points)

  • Evidence that the initiative is practical and can be replicated elsewhere or used in a wider context of similar settings.
  • Evidence of a multidisciplinary approach with all relevant parties - managers, medics, nurses, and patients – that demonstrate effective engagement.

Outpatient Clinics Award

The awards will recognize outpatient clinics that have demonstrated continuous high levels of compliance with the ‘Dubai Healthcare City Authority - Regulatory (DHCR) Dubai Outpatient Clinic Quality Standards’ (previously DHCR Outpatient Clinic Quality Standards), accredited by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua).

• Eligibility criteria
  • This award is open to all DHCC outpatient clinics.
  • Clinics that have been surveyed for compliance with the ISQua-accredited DHCR Outpatient Clinic Quality Standards from 2016 to 2018.
  • Outpatient clinics qualify if they have undergone two consecutive assessment surveys with a score of unconditional pass without requiring a follow up. Surveys must be of the type 18 months or comprehensive.
  • Winners of the previous Excellence Award (2018) do not qualify for this cycle.
• Evaluation/scoring criteria
  • The winners of the Outpatient Clinics Award category will be selected based on the highest score achieved among the qualified facilities.
  • No entry submissions required as eligible facilities participate automatically.

Distinguished Physician Award

This award gives physicians the recognition for doing things that made a difference in their specialty, and to honor and celebrate their outstanding achievements and contributions towards the improvement and innovation in healthcare in DHCC.

• Eligibility criteria
  • This award is open to all physicians holding a valid DHCC healthcare professional license for at least one year.
  • A majority of the physician’s accomplishments and contribution to the improvement of healthcare must be demonstrated within the DHCC community.
• Evaluation/scoring criteria

  Achievements and performance (45 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored based on the evidence of:

  • Prominent achievements during his/her career (including previous prizes/awards) that go beyond the scope and requirements of professional responsibilities.
  • Personal efforts by the professional towards these achievements and the extent of participation by others.
  • Overcoming obstacles and difficulties to achieve his/her goals.
  • Sustaining the highest standards in clinical aspects of service delivery and demonstration of sustained commitment to patient care.
  • Active participation in the design and/or implementation of public health programs.
  • Applying principles of evidence-based clinical practice.
  • Applying medical ethics in dealing with daily practice and acting with fairness and honesty.
  • Demonstrating commitment in their field and broader organization-wide activities that contributed towards improved patient outcomes, teamwork facilitation, and promotion of multi-disciplinary care.
  • Demonstrating exceptional service and commitment to patient care, including prevention and health promotion, and integration of services across the continuum of care.
  • Leading in collaborative, multi-disciplinary practice and promote working in partnership across all areas of professional practice.
  • Providing a service that demonstrates the benefits of working in collaboration and partnership across sectors and professions.

  Continuous education (20 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored on evidence of:

  • Strong commitment to self-development through acquiring expertise and skills related to their profession.
  • Development of additional skills such as specialized technical or managerial skills, communication and language skills that they can apply in their professional environment.
  • articipation in clinical/medical research (including peer review publications, clinical trials, meta-analysis, published books/chapters).
  • Presentation in a national/international conference or review-related work (editorial board membership of an international journal, reviewer of a publication/grant, etc).
  • Inspiring learning through modelling, development of training resources or actively engaging others in research.
  • Setting an example of evidence-based continuous improvement in the workplace through knowledge translation.

  Initiative and innovation (20 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored on evidence of:

  • Creativity in planning new models for various aspects of clinical service and/or modernizing current facilities and improving resources.
  • Extent of application of creative ideas/initiatives.
  • Results and impact of innovation and initiatives.
  • Demonstrating significant innovation in practice in providing clinical/medical health services.
  • Evidence of any value added project done in their work area within limits of available resources.

  Volunteerism (15 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored on evidence of:

  • Amount/level of volunteerism work carried out towards patients and the community through the work environment or personally through charity organizations.

Distinguished Nurse Award

The award honors and celebrates notable healthcare professionals in nursing for their outstanding achievements and contributions towards the improvement and innovation in healthcare in DHCC.

• Eligibility criteria
  • This award is open to all nursing healthcare professionals, holding a valid DHCC healthcare professional license for at least a continuous period of one year.
  • A majority of the nursing healthcare professional's accomplishments and contribution in the improvement of healthcare must be demonstrated within the DHCC community.
  • Made outstanding contributions to the nursing profession in any of the four domains — administration, clinical practice, education, or research.
• Evaluation/scoring criteria

  Achievements and performance (45 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored based on evidence of:

  • Prominent achievements during his/her career (including previous prizes/awards) that go beyond the scope and requirements of professional nursing responsibilities.
  • Personal effort by the professional towards these achievements and the extent of participation by others.
  • Overcoming obstacles and difficulties to achieve his/her goals.
  • Sustaining the highest standards in nursing aspects of service delivery and demonstration of sustained commitment to patient care.
  • Applying principles of evidence-based nursing practice.
  • Applying medical ethics in dealing with daily practice and acting with fairness and honesty.
  • Ensuring an improved patient experience and sustaining the initiative.
  • Having made a positive difference in the lives of their colleagues, patients and their families.

  Continuous education (20 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored based on evidence of:

  • Strong commitment to self-development through acquiring expertise and skills related to their profession.
  • Development of additional skills such as specialized technical or managerial skills, communication and language skills that they can apply in their professional environment.
  • Participation, promotion, and enhancement of the application of nursing research in the practice environment, (including peer review publications, clinical trials, etc).
  • Presentation in a national/international conference or review-related work (editorial board membership of an international journal, reviewer of a publication/grant, etc).
  • Inspiring learning through modelling, development of training resources or actively engaging others in research.
  • Setting an example of evidence-based continuous improvement in the workplace through knowledge translation.

  Initiative and innovation (20 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored based on evidence of:

  • Creativity in planning new models for various aspects of clinical service and/or modernizing current facilities and improving resources.
  • The extent of application of creative ideas/initiatives.
  • Results and impact of innovation and initiatives.
  • Demonstrating significant innovation in practice in providing health services.
  • Evidence of any value added project done in their work area within limits of available resources.

  Volunteerism (15 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored based on evidence of:

  • Amount/level of volunteerism work carried out towards patients and the community through the work environment or personally through charity organizations.

Distinguished Allied Healthcare Professional Award

This award gives allied health professionals the recognition for doing things that made a difference in their specialty, and to honor and celebrate their outstanding achievements and contributions towards the improvement and innovation in healthcare in DHCC.

• Eligibility criteria
  • This award is open to all but not limited to allied health professionals like Audiologist, Behavior Analyst Technician, Counselor, Dental Hygienists, Dental Assistants, Dialysis Technician, ECG Technician, Hair Transplant Technician, Laser Therapist, Nutritionist, Orthotic Technician, Prosthetists, Phlebotomists, Radiologic Technologists, Sterilization Technician, Ultra Sonographer etc. holding a valid DHCC healthcare professional license for at least one year.
  • A majority of the allied health professional's accomplishments and contribution in the improvement of healthcare must be demonstrated within the DHCC community.
• Evaluation/scoring criteria

  Achievements and performance (45 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored based on the evidence of:

  • Prominent achievements during his/her career (including previous prizes/awards) that go beyond the scope and requirements of allied health professional responsibilities.
  • Personal effort by the professional towards these achievements and the extent of participation by others.
  • Overcoming obstacles and difficulties to achieve his/her achievements.
  • Sustaining the highest standards in clinical aspects of service delivery and demonstration of sustained commitment to patient care.
  • Active participation in the design or/and implementation of public health programs.
  • Applying principles of evidence-based clinical practice.
  • Applying medical ethics in dealing with daily practice and acting with fairness and honesty.
  • Demonstrating commitment in their field and broader organization-wide activities that contributed towards improved patient outcomes, teamwork facilitation, and promotion of multi-disciplinary care.
  • Demonstrating exceptional service and commitment to patient care, including prevention and health promotion, and integration of services across the continuum of care.
  • Leading in collaborative, multi-disciplinary practice and promote working in partnership across all areas of professional practice.
  • Providing a service that demonstrates the benefits of working in collaboration and partnership across sectors and professions.

  Continuous education (20 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored based on evidence of:

  • Strong commitment to self-development through acquiring expertise and skills related to their profession.
  • Development of additional skills such as specialized technical or managerial skills, communication and language skills that they can apply in their professional environment.
  • Participation in clinical/medical research (including peer review publications, clinical trials, meta-analysis, published books/chapters).
  • Presentation in a national/international conference or review-related work (editorial board membership of an international journal, reviewer of a publication/grant etc).
  • Inspiring learning through modelling, development of training resources or actively engaging others in research.
  • Setting an example of evidence-based continuous improvement in the workplace through knowledge translation.

  Initiative and innovation (20 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored based on evidence of:

  • Strong commitment to self-development through acquiring expertise and skills related to their profession.
  • Development of additional skills such as specialized technical or managerial skills, communication and language skills that they can apply in their professional environment.
  • Participation in clinical/medical research (including peer review publications, clinical trials, meta-analysis, published books/chapters).
  • Presentation in a national/international conference or review-related work (editorial board membership of an international journal, reviewer of a publication/grant etc).
  • Inspiring learning through modelling, development of training resources or actively engaging others in research.
  • Setting an example of evidence-based continuous improvement in the workplace through knowledge translation.

  Volunteerism (15 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored based on evidence of:

  • Amount/level of volunteerism work carried out towards patients and the community through the work environment or personally through charity organizations.

Excellence In Healthcare Research Award

This award recognizes outstanding healthcare research from UAE-based researchers and will serve as a catalyst to promote excellence in research in DHCC and the wider UAE scientific community.

• Eligibility criteria

  The award is open to:

  • Healthcare professionals licensed under a DHCA-approved research operator with a valid research permit and whose research study has obtained approval from the DHCR Research Ethics Committee; and/or
  • Al Jalila Foundation grant holders whose submitted paper is the result of a research project/study funded by Al Jalila Foundation (AJF) and obtained approval from the AJF Scientific Advisory Committee; and/or
  • Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) faculty and students whose submitted paper has obtained approval from the MBRU Internal Review Board
  • Applicants must be the principal investigator of the research and have been affiliated with DHCC, Al Jalila foundation, or MBRU during the conduct of the research
  • Entries must be for a research project or study, which is completed or substantially completed with results/outcomes that have been published in peer-reviewed journals either in print or online; or presented at a professional conference during the last five years (published on or after December 30, 2013)
  • All entry submission forms must indicate the acceptance of the terms and conditions on DHCA Excellence Awards web page.
  • There is no limit to the number of research papers submitted by the principle investigator.
• Evaluation/scoring criteria

  Contribution to novel scientific knowledge (80 points)

  • Description of how the outcomes of the submitted research study add new knowledge to the existing body of scientific knowledge on the subject.
  • Description of how the research study drew on existing knowledge and current standard of care.
  • Description of the impact on healthcare delivery and applications of the submitted research study outcomes in the clinical setting therefore adding value to UAE society by improving health and/or quality of care.

  Research paper impact and reach (10 points)

  • Submit proof of article being published in a journal that is indexed by MEDLINE/PUBMED database.
  • Submit impact statistics for the journal.

  Researcher’s overall body of research work (10 points)

  • Description of the applicant’s overall body of work contributing towards alleviating the suffering of patients and improving societal health standards through biomedical research. This should include:
    • A list of published articles,
    • Other research-related activities such as supervising student research, research posters, conference participations, book chapters, posters etc.

Volunteerism Award

The Volunteerism Award will recognize and honor valuable contributions of our DHCC business partners (clinical and non-clinical), healthcare professionals and other employees, in providing and promoting volunteerism/humanitarian services in society.

• Eligibility criteria
  • This award is intended for any individual or organization (clinical or non-clinical) in DHCC with demonstrable, strong commitment towards supporting humanitarian, environmental, and social issues.
• Evaluation/scoring criteria

  Originality (50 points)

  Volunteerism initiatives will be assessed and scored based on evidence of:

  • Exceptional service to a population to alleviate human suffering and improve the quality of life (evidence of significant services such as medical and educational support to communities in need and special needs population, etc).
  • Effective planning with clear goals and objectives to ensure maximum benefit to the target beneficiary/community and encouraging the wider community to contribute.
  • Implementation of the volunteerism initiative effectively and efficiently.
  • Challenges faced and the strategies used to overcome them to achieve positive results.

  Outcome and added value (50 points)

  • Initiative(s) delivered had a positive outcome and added value to the targeted population/community.
  • Quantitative data to support added value such as surveys and statistics.
  • Supporting materials (pictures, videos, news articles, etc).

Inspiring Woman In Healthcare Award

The Inspiring Woman in Healthcare Award will recognize and celebrate notable women in DHCC who have made a tangible contribution through innovative, creative and inspirational leadership, driving improvement and excellence in healthcare services in the free zone.

• Eligibility criteria
  • The Woman in Healthcare Award is open to women working in DHCC across the broad field of healthcare including clinical, management, education or research.
  • A majority of the applicant’s accomplishments must be demonstrated within the DHCC community.
• Evaluation/scoring criteria

  Performance and achievements (50 points)

  This criterion focuses on the achievements of women and their efforts to continuously develop themselves to improve their performance in a professional environment.

  • Most prominent and significant professional achievements gained throughout one’s career and impact on society.
  • Amount and nature of personal achievements outside the scope of work environment. This may include awards, honorary degrees, publications, etc.
  • Use of innovative methods and skills to accomplish achievements.
  • Consistent development and advancement of one’s skills and capabilities through various methods such as attending training workshops, relevant conferences, seminars, and enrolling in certified courses.
  • Contributing to the improvement of healthcare through mentoring, knowledge sharing or membership of professional associations.

  Overcoming challenges (25 points)

  This criterion focuses on the challenges faced by women professionally and personally, such as family commitments and raising children and different strategies to overcome them.

  • Nature of professional and personal challenges faced and the strategies used to overcome these to achieve positive results.
  • The ability to demonstrate integrity and strike a balance between professional and personal focus and commitments.

  Volunteerism (25 points)

  This criterion focuses on the level of cooperation and efforts towards financial donations; contributions to community welfare; support towards women-specific causes; and relief and aid programs relating to education and medical support among others.

  • Amount/level of humanitarian and volunteerism work carried out by the woman (specially to help women causes/issues) through the work environment or personally through charity organizations.
  • Participation in sponsoring health-related community activities.
  • Engaging/involvement in social media activity to positively influence/encourage social/health issues important to women.

Young Healthcare Professional Award

To acknowledge young healthcare professionals who have contributed towards the improvement and enhancement of the healthcare system in DHCC. The awards recognize young professionals who are ambitious and committed to making a difference and who contribute to the DHCC community.

• Eligibility criteria
  • This award is open to all young healthcare professionals, i.e. physicians, dentists, nurses, allied healthcare professionals and CAM professionals holding a valid DHCC healthcare professional or trainee license for at least one year.
  • Age of the applicant must be between 20-30 years.
  • A majority of the young healthcare professional’s accomplishments and contribution towards the improvement of healthcare must be demonstrated within the DHCC community.
• Evaluation/scoring criteria

  Achievements and performance (40 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored based on evidence of:

  • Most prominent and significant professional achievements gained throughout their early career and its impact on society.
  • Personal achievements gained outside the scope of the work environment. This can include awards, honorary degrees, publications, etc.
  • Professional and personal challenges faced and the strategies used to overcome them to achieve positive results.
  • Visionary leadership skills that have a positive impact on the workplace.

  Self-development (40 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored based on evidence of:

  • Consistent development and advancement of one’s skills and capabilities through various methods such as attending training workshops, relevant conferences, seminars, and enrolling in certified courses.
  • Efforts by young professionals to further attain higher educational qualifications.
  • Use of innovative methods and skills to accomplish professional and personal goals including technology-based development.

  Volunteerism (20 points)

  Candidates will be assessed and scored on evidence of:

  • Amount/level of humanitarian and volunteerism work carried out (especially relating to healthcare issues) through their work, or personally through charity organizations.
  • Engagement/involvement in social media activity to positively influence/encourage social/health/professional issues of importance to society.

Healthcare Innovation Award

• First Place: Mediclinic City Hospital

  Project: Robotic-assisted Knee Replacement Surgery

  In line with the UAE strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Mediclinic City Hospital adopted a revolutionary handheld robotic system for partial and total knee replacements. This surgery is the first of its kind to be performed in the Middle East. Artificial intelligence through the robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery has resulted in reduced risk of injury to adjacent tissues, reduction in errors as well as decreased the patient recovery duration.

• Second Place: Bioscience Clinic Middle East

  Project: The Age of Bioscience – Innovation That Changes Lives

  Bioscience Clinic Middle East is the first and only stem cell factory in the UAE. Part of the Bioscience Institute Group in Italy, the center offers one of the most technologically-advanced cell-based (patented technology) therapies in the world. The clinic extracts stem cells from adipose tissues which is then used in regenerative medicine for multiple applications particularly skin and aesthetic uses. The clinic has trained several clinical facilities on the application of cell-based treatments in scar reduction. The clinic spends 15% of its profit towards research and development.

• Third Place: Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital

  Project: Smart and Digital Hospital

  Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital has developed and implemented best-in-class, cost-effective IT solutions to become a fully digitized and smart hospital, covering all segments of the hospital ‘VIDA’ to reduce human errors and interactions. The level of automation ensures that all stakeholders have access, including remote access, to real-time accurate information.

Distinguished Healthcare Professional Award

• Dr Vinod Gauba, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon and Medical Director - Imperial Healthcare Institute

  Dr Gauba is a well-respected healthcare professional with almost 20 years of experience. He serves on the editorial board of international journals and has published more than 25 peer-reviewed papers. He holds memberships in national and international committees. He is also a faculty member at the Dubai Medical College. In his professional practice, Dr Gauba was the first to introduce advanced vision correction through (SupraLASIK™) with a 5-year re-treatment rate of 0.1% vs 10% compared to traditional LASIK in the Middle East. He developed non-surgical blepharoplasty technique (SupraLIFT) and internal brow lift procedure. His volunteer efforts include collaboration with the World Health Organization to support its blindness prevention program. Towards public health, he introduced the optometric retinal screening program in the UAE by partnering with Al Jaber Optical. He is the recipient of several awards including the Mahatma Gandhi Gold Medal (2014) by Government of India, House of Lords, London, and the Arab Health Young Clinician/ Surgeon of the Year (2012 and 2013).

Outpatient Clinics Award

• Single Specialty Clinics category
  • First Place: Dr Najat Hazimeh Clinic
  • Second Place: Serenity Clinic Fetal Maternal Care
  • Third Place: Clinic for Cosmetic Dentistry
• Multi-Specialty Clinics category
  • First Place: Sakura Medical and Dental Clinic
  • Second Place: Dr Helena Taylor Clinic
  • Third Place: American Medical and Dental Center
• Outpatient Surgical Clinics category

  London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery Gulf

Year of Zayed Volunteerism Award

• Individual category - Wendelin Lauxen, Managing Director and Medical Director, Philanthropist

  German Limbtech Orthopedic Technology

  Lauxen is the founder and director the 7EmiratesRun, a charity run. He organized annual marathons from 2010-2017 and raised around 1.5 million dirhams for Al Jalila Foundation to support individuals with amputations. He overcame several challenges to ensure the success of the run including recruiting international runners as well as runners with prostheses. Over the years, he has motivated more than 400 students and 700 runners, including those with prostheses. He holds the Guinness World Record for the 'Fastest time to complete a marathon on each of the 7 continents’.

• Organization category - American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital

  American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital has demonstrated effective volunteerism as an organization, supported by a highly-motivated and goal-oriented team. Led by Dr Mohan Rangaswamy, the team works on pro bono cases to improve the quality of life for war victims and/or individuals affected by congenital anomalies. The hospital initiated the Giant Nevus Club, which is one of the three centers worldwide. The platform is a hub for all relevant stakeholders to be able to treat cases that require highly skilled surgeons and extended treatment durations with one case lasting more than seven years. It also requires a high degree of planning and costs to be able to treat patients from different countries. Four cases of young children suffering from congenital giant nevus were treated. The hospital also supports children through the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, proving life-changing care for patients with trauma and scars/deformities.

Inspiring Woman in Healthcare Award

• Dr Hibah Shata, Managing Director, Co-Founder - Child Early Intervention Medical Center

  Dr Hibah Shata has driven awareness towards autism within Dubai Healthcare City and beyond. She launched the Child Early Intervention and Medical Center in 2008 with the vision to highlight autism and other learning challenges. A few of her accolades include:

  • 2018: GESS Education Award (2018); DHA Distinguished Leader; and Global 100 Women Leadership Award in Healthcare
  • 2017: Winner of the MEED Award for Health Care Company of the Year and finalist in the ‘Female Leader of the Year’ category; and 100 Most Sustainable CEOs award at the World Sustainability Conference
  • 2010: Princess Haya Award for the best special needs center website

  Dr Shata’s volunteerism efforts include programs for children and parents as well as:
  • Annual Autism Around the World Conference – organizer of the conference on new developments in the field of autism
  • Annual Walk for Autism – organizer of the public health event
  • Listen to the Autism Beat – an event to reward and recognize community supporters.
  • Recovery Beyond Autism – fun day

Young Healthcare Professional Award

• Dr Anas Ali Salami, Lecturer & Specialist – Pediatric Dentistry - Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences(MBRU)

  Dr Anas Ali Salami has demonstrated consistent contribution to the healthcare system in DHCC. Academically, he holds the distinction of the highest score in the Tri-Collegiate Membership in Pediatric Dentistry Examination (Edinburgh 2017) and the highest rank in MSc Pediatric Dentistry Program, MBRU (2017). He has focused on his learning journey to be Lecturer & Specialist – Pediatric Dentistry in MBRU. Dr Salami’s achievements include:

  • Lead author of ‘Oral Health of pre-school Children of Incarcerated mothers at UAE Jail Nurseries’ (2017)
  • Winner of the Unilever Hutton Award from UAE section of International Association of Dental Research (2018)
  • Awarded ‘Volunteer Doctor of the Year’ by UAE Red Crescent, UAE (2016)

  Dr Salami’s volunteer efforts include treating patients requiring general anesthesia or inhalation sedation at Dubai Dental Clinic. He provided oral health protocol to the Ministry of Interior for all jail nurseries in the UAE. His volunteerism extends to initiatives like the Oral Health Camp, GCC Unified Week for oral care, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Oral Hygiene Initiative for Workers and Smile for Life Campaign. Dr Salami works on furthering education and knowledge in pediatric emergency and management of medically-compromised children. He also trains post-graduate residents using modern techniques in a simulation setting.

Distinguished Physician Award

• Dr. Ali Al Dameh, Consultant General Surgeon, Emirates Specialty Hospital

  Dr. Ali Al Dameh trained in New Zealand and Australia, and at Harvard Medical School, US. He successfully performed the first totally laparoscopic and thoracoscopic esophageal resection on a patient with esophageal cancer at Emirates Specialty Hospital in Dubai Healthcare City, and has been recognized as the best clinical surgery tutor at the University of Auckland, and the best clinical tutor for medical students at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in Al Ain. Dr. Dameh has received a number of awards such as:

  • The Medical Assurance Society Scholarships, National Kidney Foundation of New Zealand
  • Bailey Summer Award
  • Bachelor of Medical Science Thesis – Distinction in Molecular Pathology
  • Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust Award in Medical Sciences
  • Health and Research Council (HRC), Junior Award in Health Research
  • Otago Medical Research Foundation grant for Medical Research

  In the UAE, Dr. Dameh actively promotes health in the community, and is a regular speaker in national meetings including the UAE Oncology Conference, UAE Gastrointestinal (GI) Symposium, Emirates Oncology Annual Meeting, and Gulf Thoracic Society Meeting. He has partnered with more than 15 charity organizations to help with funding for some of his patients.

Distinguished Nurse Award

• Rim Kassem Youssef, Emirates Specialty Hospital

  Saving lives and giving back to the community is Rim’s passion, who has been working for more than a decade with extensive experience in the emergency department. She is a certified emergency nurse and has also trained as an advanced trauma life support coordinator. Now 34, she has assisted in 3,500 major operations in her career, and was promoted at the age of 23, making her the youngest nursing supervisor.

  In the past, Rim has volunteered with several organizations including the Norwegian Refugee Council during the war in 2006, and as a surgical/emergency nurse for the Global Smile Foundation for underprivileged children suffering from lip and cleft palate deformities, among others.

  In Dubai, she set up an orthopedic clinic and several emergency departments, and was involved in the process from building the structure and implementing the strategies, to creating policies while maintaining quality standards based on Magnet accreditations and the Joint Commission International (JCIA). In parallel, Youssef started her educational career as an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor, as well as teaching first aid courses to non-medical personnel in schools and offices.

  Youssef currently volunteers for the ESEFNI (‘help me’ in Arabic during an emergency) Program for the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services as a First Responder, and is a member of the American Emergency Nurse Association.

Distinguished Allied Healthcare Professional Award

• Dana Al Hamwi, Clinical Dietitian, Dr Dana Diet Center

  Saving lives and giving back to the community is Rim’s passion, who has been working for more than a decade with extensive experience in the emergency department. She is a certified emergency nurse and has also trained as an advanced trauma life support coordinator. Now 34, she has assisted in 3,500 major operations in her career, and was promoted at the age of 23, making her the youngest nursing supervisor.

  In the past, Rim has volunteered with several organizations including the Norwegian Refugee Council during the war in 2006, and as a surgical/emergency nurse for the Global Smile Foundation for underprivileged children suffering from lip and cleft palate deformities, among others.

  In Dubai, she set up an orthopedic clinic and several emergency departments, and was involved in the process from building the structure and implementing the strategies, to creating policies while maintaining quality standards based on Magnet accreditations and the Joint Commission International (JCIA). In parallel, Youssef started her educational career as an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor, as well as teaching first aid courses to non-medical personnel in schools and offices.

  Youssef currently volunteers for the ESEFNI (‘help me’ in Arabic during an emergency) Program for the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services as a First Responder, and is a member of the American Emergency Nurse Association.

Inspiring Woman in Healthcare Award

• Dr. Reem Al Gurg, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU)

  Dr. Reem Al Gurg, a PhD Graduate has two Master’s Degrees: One from King’s College London, UK in ‘Human Nutrition Project: Nutrigenomics’, and the second from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI), Dubai in ‘Healthcare Management and Leadership’.

  She has been assigned several positions that helped in formulating insights into the educational and healthcare systems in Dubai. Her career path began in 2006 when she was Senior Executive, Medical Affairs, Dubai Healthcare City. In 2008, she was appointed as an Adjunct Faculty of the Health Science Department at Zayed University, and in 2017, she joined the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) as assistant professor for Health Policy, which included a number of roles at committees nationally as well as collaborations internationally. She has achieved several milestones in her professional life, such as:

  • Associate Professor in Health Policy as part of the faculty of medicine at MBRU
  • Director of Strategy and Institutional Excellence
  • Outstanding Scientific Research
  • Advisor for eight medical students at MBRU
  • RCSI Leadership Program Award In the field of volunteer work, she has been credited with:
    • Being on the festival friends list of the Emirates Literature Festival in the UAE
    • Being part of the ‘Hunna Group’ - Women of the UAE who contribute to children’s literature, where she goes for regular gathering in schools, as well as internationally to the Red Crescent refugee camps where she reads to children
    • Donating books for children of determination (Braille books)
    • Participant in Race for a Cause
    • Member of the social hub, ‘Ramem’, helping to renovate homes for the unprivileged

  Dr. Al Gurg has a passion for writing children’s books that encapsulate the local region and the Emirati culture with a scientific background. She has published 12 books, with four more in the pipeline.

Young Healthcare Professional Award

• Zahir Zouheir Kaouche, Trainee – Orthodontics, Dubai Dental Hospital

  Zahir Zouheir Kaouche has made a big effort to acquire continuous knowledge to develop his career, and has gained experience as a dentist, while working in Al Ain for three years. Kaouche has already achieved remarkable certifications and diplomas, based only on his personal effort and dedication. These include:

  • Bachelor with “Excellence” from Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University with a GPA of 3.92
  • Chancellor’s Gold Medal; ranked first, class of 2013
  • Diploma in Implant Dentistry by the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI)
  • Fellowship in Alexandria Oral Implantology Association

  Kaouche is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He has participated as a lecturer at Ras Al Khaimah College of Dental Sciences (RAKCOD) Dental Conference in 2018. He also participates in many courses, workshops and seminars, and has performed studies and is gaining experience in both, implantology and orthodontics.

Volunteerism Award, Individual Category

• Dr. Yasmin Kottait, Specialist Pediatric Dentist, My Pedia Clinic

  Dr. Yasmin Kottait has studied and researched the situation of children with special needs, creating a new way of engaging with them through her initiative ‘Big Smiles on Special Faces’.

  Her training allows her to help a child through treatment at the dentist, and also the way children of determination are treated. The initiative is unique, and uses programming community interventions, school interventions, and clinical interventions. Interventions in the clinic reach 20% of children with special health care needs.

  Dr. Kottait is also active in volunteerism abroad where more help is needed. She has participated in several volunteerism initiatives in places like Sri Lanka (560 children treated) and Malawi (200 children treated). Dr. Kottait is also aware of the importance of having an impact on the community. She has spoken to 200+ parents who have children with special needs; educated more than 75 teachers and caregivers; and spread awareness to more than 1,000 dentists. A total of 1,342 children have been screened through this initiative.

• Dr. Emmanuelle Christian Lerat, General Dentist, BR Medical Suites

  Dr. Emmanuelle Christian Lerat is a General Dentist with more than 20 years of experience. She is very active in the volunteer community, having done volunteer work in countries like Togo, Ethiopia, and Vietnam.

  Her focus during these missions is training, educating and treating children with dental needs, along with training the local people, so her knowledge remains in the place for a longer period. Dr. Lerat strongly promotes dental health awareness programs.

  In Dubai, she provides training to several schools, including Lycée Francais International George Pompidou, teaching the students about dental hygiene and good food habits. Her charity missions so far have treated 2,000+ children in Togo.

Volunteerism Award, Organization Category

• Johnson & Johnson (Middle East)

  Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is a healthcare company with over 130 years of history in helping communities and individuals in the healthcare industry by trying to keep people well at every age and at every stage of life. Their main aim is to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere.

  With more than 130,000 employees across the world, J&J galvanizes partners, connecting communities by leveraging their employees and extensive local reach to help activate resources and resolve the world’s most pressing health challenges. J&J’s approach includes:

  • Strengthening the healthcare workforce
  • Empowering healthcare advocates and leaders
  • Mobilizing regional voices and ingenuity
  • Transforming delivery of care through technology J&J has accomplished a lot as a socially responsible company through volunteer work. For example, in empowering healthcare advocates and leaders, they implemented two programs to achieve their goals:
    • Partnership with INSEAD to deliver world-class programs through the Middle East Health Leadership Program (MEHLP)
    • Strategic Innovation for Community Health (STICH)

Healthcare Research Award, Basic Sciences Research Category

• Professor Taleb H. Al-Tel, University of Sharjah, College of Pharmacy

  Research Title - Targeting Breast and Prostate Cancer: Design and Synthesis of Novel and Privileged polycyclic pyrido [1,2-a] Quinolinones, Benzopyranes and Benzoxepines Motifs

  Professor Taleb H. Al-Tel and his team present drug discoveries in the fields of breast and prostate cancer, hyperlipidemia and multidrug resistant pathogens (MRSA). The work by this team is novel in drug development. The team will soon begin clinical trials on a new drug against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), where laboratory and animal studies have already demonstrated superior therapeutic effects and less adverse effects. If successful, the new medication will be a remarkable discovery in the field of antimicrobial drugs, and will save the lives of people whose MRSA infections are incurable with the currently available antibiotics. Their work has been published in five highly reputable journals.

Healthcare Research Award, Clinical Research Category

• Professor Leontios Hadjileontiadis, Khalifa University of Science and Technology

  Research Title – Type of Mood: A Novel Mental Health State Recognition of Young Adults in the UAE

  Professor Leontios Hadjileontiadis holds two PhDs and has a remarkable record of research in highly reputable journals. He presents an excellent and innovative method to detect depressive disorders subconsciously by a smart phone application that records four parameters related to keystroke dynamics while a person uses the phone’s keyboard. This application comes as a solution to the inaccuracies known to be associated with the questionnaires designed to diagnose depression. It is promising for the future, and can have wider applicability in the field of early diagnosis.

Healthcare Innovation Award, Outpatient Clinics Category

• Igenomix, First Place

  Title – ‘Endometrial Receptivity Analysis (ERA®), a New Hope for recurrent IVF failures

  Igenomix is the world’s leading genetic company focused on the reproductive segment. The Genetic Diagnostic Test, Endometrial Receptivity Analysis (ERA®) patented by Igenomix helps to evaluate the woman’s endometrial receptivity from a molecular perspective, helping in vitro fertilization (IVF) specialists to transfer the right embryo at exactly the right moment, achieving a successful pregnancy for their patients. Igenomix UAE is the first private laboratory to be accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and after 10 years of research and development, ERA is now the unique patented genetic test for IVF worldwide.

  Igenomix has performed 36,000 ERA tests worldwide, showing growth each year. The chances of pregnancy are known to have gone up to 85% when an ERA test is involved.

• Doris Duan Young Autism Center, Second Place

  Title: Purpose-Built Facility for Children of Determination

  The Doris Duan Young Autism Center is a multidisciplinary treatment facility that was established in 2014. The observation room was built to give access to parents to observe the session from a separate room without distracting the child, assuring their involvement, proper training and also to maximize Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) supervision. It gives them ideas on how, why and when problem behaviors occur, as well as how to handle the child when at home or in public places. The room maintains parent’s privacy, and also includes high-tech accessories that allow parents to join and observe the session remotely when they can’t be physically present.

  The 3D Immersive Technology, called the Magic Carpet is an interactive projection system, which has been customized to be applicable across different settings such as education, calming sensory application, rehabilitation, mainstream learning, social skills, group responding, speed and dexterity, visual performance, and concentration.

  It has addressed the issue of finding the balance between fulfilment of sensory needs as well as the creation of a motivating environment to increase the opportunities of learning and progress.

  This app-based product creates motivation for the learners and gets them to actively be involved individually or within a group setting to acquire social skills and listener responses, which are pre-requisite skills for school inclusion.

• Revitalife Compounding Pharmacy, Third Place

  Title - Contributions of Compounding Pharmacy in the UAE Healthcare System

  Revitalife Compounding Pharmacy (RCP), is a unique company providing pharmacy compounding in the UAE since 2012. Pharmacy compounding personalizes medicines to make improvements in the clinical practice for doctors/consultants/specialists from Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Multivitamin and Mineral IV Therapy, to personalized and flexible dosing of compounded medications. It also acts as an outsourced pharmacy for compounded products for more than 150 active clinics in the UAE.

  RCP is the first active compounding pharmacy in the UAE that provides quality and safe medicines tailored to individual requirements of each patient. A qualified team consisting of eight licensed pharmacists in DHCC, and seven Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)-licensed pharmacists, ensure that the operations are compliant to United States Pharmacopeia (USP) regulations.

Healthcare Innovation Award, Intpatient Category

• Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, First Place

  Title: The Hearing Restoration Program

  The Hearing Restoration Program is the first and only complete standalone pediatric hearing restoration program in the UAE and the region. The program is unique, and provides the full spectrum of care for patients with suspected or proven hearing disorders. The program is dedicated to children and includes a complete range of services, all under one roof (ear clinic, audiology unit, hearing assistance services, etc). Specialized services have been developed, such as specialized hearing for children with special needs (Down syndrome clinic), and the hearing loss clinic that takes care of patients with permanent hearing loss (including genetic testing which is unique in the country). A highly specialized unit, run by talented healthcare professionals, The Hearing Restoration Program includes:

  • Audiology unit: Child-friendly (involving parents) with state-of-the-art infrastructure
  • Protocols for specific illnesses related to interaction with specialties such as oncology, mental health, etc
  • Surgical solutions
  • Parent education

  The program is also building strong relationships with charity funding bodies, especially Al Jalila Foundation to enable access to quality healthcare to underprivileged children.

• Emirates Specialty Hospital, Second Place

  Title: ‘Internal Stabilization of the Lumbo-Sacral Spine Junction using the Minimally Invasive, Percutaneous, Axial-Anterior Intervertebral Stabilization-AxiaLIF Method

  Dr. Zbigniew Brodzinski has developed a new method of surgical treatment called the internal stabilization of the lumbo-sacral spine junction. It is a surgical treatment that relieves severe spinal disc pain by fusing two back bones together using a minimally invasive technique. Currently, Emirates Specialty Hospital is the only hospital in the GCC and Middle East using this method. The technique has shown better outcomes in terms of quality and patient safety, and has the highest efficacy rate of excellent post-op results. In addition, more than 95 articles have been published, and more than 10,000 surgeries have been performed around the world.

Outpatient Clinics Award category

• Outpatient Clinics Award category

  Sub-categories	Place	Name of facilities
  Single Specialty Clinics	First	Primavera Medical Center
  	Second	Dr. Abeer Al Kobaisi Cosmplastic Center
  	Third	Dr. Elsa New Concept Clinic
  Clinical Support Facility	(One winner)	The Family Therapy Clinic
  Multi-Speciality Clinics	First	Royal Aesthetic & Medical Clinic
  	Second	Diversified and Integrated Sports Clinic
  	Third	German Clinic
  Outpatient Surgical Center	First	Magrabi Eye Hospital
  	Second	BR Medical Suites
  	Third	Eye Consultants
  Rehabilitation Centers	First	Child Early Intervention Medical Center
  	Second	Advanced Behavioral Learning Environment
  	Third	Camali Clinic Child & Adult Mental Health
  Fertility Clinics	One winner	Dubai Gynecology and Fertility Center
  Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center	One winner	Digestive Health and Endoscopy Consultants