ABU DHABI // Fatima Al Dhaheri is at her happiest when she is around children, and has made it her life’s mission to improve health care for the next generation of Emiratis.
The doctor has become only the second UAE national to join an internship at Children’s National, a hospital in Washington DC that houses the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation.
She hopes that being mentored by some of the leaders in the field will help her to advance paediatric medicine in the UAE.
“There is never a dull moment with children and I feel the best lessons in medicine and life I learnt from my little patients,” said Dr Al Dhaheri, 25, who joined the three-year paediatric programme in June.
She was one of only five international medical graduates selected for 40 residency positions at the hospital.
“I still cannot believe I am here,” Dr Al Dhaheri said. “I feel beyond fortunate to be in such a stellar programme. It was overwhelmingly humbling to be one of the chosen few.”
The Sheikh Zayed Institute was established in 2009 through a Dh551 million gift from the Abu Dhabi Government, and a handful of bright, young doctors are chosen each year for its selective residency programme.
“I am only two months into my training but it has already been the most challenging experience I have ever had to go through,” said Dr Al Dhaheri, who last year graduated from the College Of Medicine and Health Sciences at UAE University, in Al Ain.
She was also a teaching assistant at the university’s paediatric department.
“I have learnt so much medicine, but I feel I even learnt more about myself and what I am capable of.
“Before starting my training I had never imagined I would be able to pull through half of the things I have experienced. It has definitely made me a stronger person.”
After her three-year course, she plans to pursue more specialised training in her field before returning to share her expertise in the UAE as a faculty teacher.
Dr Al Dhaheri’s interests are in medical education and child advocacy, infectious diseases, global health and paediatric mental health.
“I know it will contribute tremendously to my learning experience as a paediatrician in training but I also know it will help me become a better teacher and a better advocate for the paediatric patients back in the UAE.
“I hope to contribute to the advancement of medical education in both UAEU’s medical curriculum and the local residency training programmes affiliated with the university.”
Despite her relatively short time at Children’s National Dr Al Dhaheri, from Al Ain, said there had already been many highlights.
“The most recent would have to be receiving two hugs from two different patients’ mums when I was discharging their children to go back home,” she said.
“It made the long working hours and the stress of starting residency worth every second.”
Over the past two decades, hundreds of Emirati youngsters have been treated at the Washington hospital, one of the world’s premier paediatric care facilities, as UAE families sought the best possible care for their children.
The relationship between the UAE and the hospital has been strengthened through the establishment of the institute.
Researchers at the Sheikh Zayed Institute are working with Emirati colleagues in the UAE on innovations aimed at the needs of the country.
Being part of that burgeoning relationship is “absolutely humbling and very surreal”, said Dr Al Dhaheri.
“I also feel a kind of responsibility to represent the UAE as best as I can,” she said.
Mary Ottolini, chief of paediatric hospitalist medicine and vice chair for paediatric medical education at Children’s National, said Dr Al Dhaheri was a natural choice for one of the coveted spots.
“Dr Al Dhaheri’s strong academic background made her an excellent candidate for our 2014 class of residents,” Ms Ottolini said.
“We are proud that Dr Al Dhaheri chose Children’s National as the best place to further her medical education.”
Company%20Profile
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All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
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Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Barack Beach, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Way Of Wisdom, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Woodditton, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Secret Trade, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Mark Of Approval, Antonio Fresu, Mahmood Hussain.
9.25pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Tradesman, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
