How the AUD-Penn Alliance is Building a Clinical Training Network for Dubai's Future Doctors
In support of Penn's collaborative project with the American University in Dubai (AUD) to launch a new medical school, a Penn faculty delegation conducted clinical site visits across Dubai and Abu Dhabi in November 2025.
In support of Penn's collaborative project with the American University in Dubai (AUD) to launch a new medical school, a Penn faculty delegation conducted clinical site visits across Dubai and Abu Dhabi in November 2025. The Penn team set out to better understand how UAE teaching hospitals deliver clinical education and to assess the integration of future AUD students at these locations.
The AUD-Penn team, Drs. Lisa Bellini, Glen Gaulton, Keith Hamilton, and AUD’s Ms. Tala Makhlouf visited Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi, Rashid Hospital, NMC Royal Hospital, Mediclinic City Hospital, along with several other locations. At each site, the team observed ward rounds, reviewed team structures, discussed student roles, and examined how electronic health records and simulation facilities impact the learning experience. The hands-on visit gave Penn crucial insight into understanding how Emirati students progress from observation to active participation within their clinical teams.
The sites showcased mature academic infrastructures, featuring structured undergraduate experiences, integrated research initiatives, hierarchical rounding structures, high-volume clinical exposure, advanced subspecialty services, and diverse patient populations. These are the key ingredients for well-rounded clinical training. Across the board, the sites expressed enthusiasm for AUD and Penn’s effort to pioneer educational models that bring the best of international medical education practice to Dubai.
Clinical education is built on layered systems. A student's ability to write notes, assist in procedures, and receive feedback depends on the thoughtful design of their clinical environment, committed supervisors, and policies that support graduated responsibility. By examining each site closely, the Penn team is positioning future AUD medical students to train in clinical environments where students can safely engage, grow, and build their clinical competence.
This visit laid the groundwork for a structured clinical training network for AUD, designed to leverage the distinct strengths of each hospital while maintaining a consistent, high-quality educational experience guided by Penn's approach to medical education. In early 2026, the Penn team will return to the UAE to formally invite clinical partners to join the growing AUD-Penn Alliance, marking the next step in building a rigorous clinical training network for Dubai's future doctors.