Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman and managing director, VPS Healthcare, has been nominated to the 14-member executive advisory council of Khalifa University of Science and Technology’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), Abu Dhabi’s first medical school.

The inaugural meeting of the advisory panel, comprising industry professionals from the UAE healthcare sector, was held recently at the University’s Main Campus. Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, executive vice-president, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, welcomed the panel members gathered for the meeting that was headed by Dr John Rock, Founding Dean, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University. The panel aims to support and advice CMHS on its strategies to develop the institution as a centre for academic excellence in medical education.

Khalifa University’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences commenced classes in September 2019. The first medical school in Abu Dhabi offers a four-year post graduate Doctor of Medicine (MD) program, closely styled along the lines of similar programs in the US.

The meeting analyzed the integrated curriculum and discussed on the prospects, challenges and opportunities of the program. Panel members also deliberated on shaping and driving the strategies to improve the academic performance of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences.




The advisory panel include prominent professionals such as Dr. Khaled Aidha Al Jaberi, director, Healthcare Licensing & Medical Education Division, Abu Dhabi Department of Health, Brigidier Aysha Aldhaheri, Commander Medical Services Corp., Dr. Gareth Goodier, Group chief executive officer, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA); and Dr. Daryl A. Cornish, director, Fatima College of Health Sciences (FCHS), NMC Royal Hospital.

Dr Vayalil will be representing the private sector on the council. Speaking on being selected to the council, he said that it is always an honour and privilege to be working with a group of such extensively experienced and learned men.

“VPS Healthcare has always supported and encouraged initiatives to improve and qualify medical education in UAE. We have always been a part of novel schemes and programs helping students doing medical courses get better knowledge and exposure to the sector. I am extremely happy to work with Khalifa University and will be doing to the best of my abilities to contribute to the betterment of the academic programme,” he added.

Dr Vayalil elaborated that VPS Healthcare is willing to collaborate with the University in academic research. “Our upcoming facility, Burjeel Medical City, will be having an extensive cancer research centre. We would like to provide opportunities for the bright minds of the country to take up research in Oncology at our facility,” he said. – TradeArabia News Service