Gulf Medical University’s White Coat Ceremony Welcomes New Students

Mangalore Today News Network

Thumbay , Oct 2, 2017: Graced by the presence of GMU’s International Partners from Ghana and Poland, the White Coat Ceremony also witnessed the growth of GMU’s student cohort to 80 nationalities. “GMU is not only using innovation, but we are creating new innovation,” says Chancellor.

Gulf Medical University (GMU), the leading private university in the region owned and operated by Thumbay Group, organized on Thursday, 28th September 2017, a White Coat Ceremony for new students enrolled in its different colleges, for medicine, preclinical sciences, biomedical sciences, physiotherapy, dentistry, pharmacy, laboratory sciences, imaging sciences, nursing and anesthesia and surgical technology. The ceremony, held at the main auditorium at GMU premises in Ajman, included the recital of the medical oath, and wearing the medical white coat for the first time by these students.

The chief guest of the ceremony was Mr. Thumbay Moideen - Founder and President of the GMU Board of Trustees. Also present were Prof. Hossam Hamdy – Chancellor of GMU,  Mr. Akbar Moideen Thumbay - Vice President of the Healthcare Division and Member of the Thumbay Group Board, Mr. Akram Moideen Thumbay - Director Operations of the Construction and Renovation Division, Director Thumbay Technologies and Member of the Thumbay Group Board, in addition to the other members of the Thumbay Group Board, Provost and Deans of GMU, and Professors from Ghana University, Ghana and Lublin University in Poland, in addition to the first year students and their families.

Mr. Thumbay Moideen thanked His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuami, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, for his continuous support for Gulf Medical University, which has become an academic beacon and home for pioneering research and innovation, and the place where UAE doctors and medical professionals are qualified to provide the best healthcare. He added that happiness and health of people is always a matter of importance for the wise leadership in the UAE.

In his speech at the ceremony, Prof. Hossam Hamdy welcomed the new class of students, saying: "This symbolic ceremony represents the beginning of your career as medical professionals and health care providers.  By accepting and wearing the White Coat, you are making a life commitment to always meet the expectations of patients and people in need of your services."

"Over the coming few years you will become part of a community of scholars and health care professionals.  The white coat you will receive today means that they are accepting you to be the junior member of this community.  You will learn from them and by them and above all learning from the patients. Three principles are core to the career you have chosen: professionalism, care and empathy, and trust," he added.

To shed light on the developments and changes expected in the future, the Chancellor gave a visual presentation of how the world will probably be like in 2030, with focus on the expectations related to the needs of patients and the community, the development of the ways of providing healthcare, and the role that the GMU will play in developing the graduates’ skills to keep up with the developments in healthcare. He also indicated that Gulf Medical University is internationally leading in education technology development. “We are not only using innovation but we are producing new innovation using artificial intelligence. Virtual Patient Learning (VPL) has been developed and implemented at GMU and is applied in different universities in the GCC countries, Europe and the US,” he said. He added that studies at the university will focus on the practical skills that the students will develop and how much trust they are given.

Prof. Hamdy went on to say, "In this University, we are all following the vision of our Founder, President of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Thumbay Moideen.  20 years ago there was no Gulf Medical University, but through his leadership we now have this magnificent campus and a strong reputation as a leading medical university in the region. We will soon have new hospitals where we can work together to improve the health of the nation."

At the end of the ceremony, students of all nationalities took the Hippocratic Oath to confirm their commitment to the moral practice of medicine throughout their careers and their devotion in providing medical care to those who need it at any time or place and under all conditions.

The ceremony, which the GMU organizes every year, included showcasing pictures of the new designs for the campus, the rehabilitation and training center, dental center, and the new Thumbay Hospital, all of which are new special projects being built according to the highest standards in design and construction, and which will be equipped with the latest medical equipment, providing a high level of treatment for patients in all medical fields, in addition to training students.

The GMU was established in 1998. It was the first university in the region to accept students of both genders and of all nationalities in all its departments which focus on three main fields: medical education, healthcare, and research. The GMU is a leader in medical academic establishments in the Gulf region, with advanced infrastructure and facilities. It has students from 80 nationalities and faculty/staff from over 25 countries. It organizes international and regional conferences and seminars in all medical fields.