WASHINGTON // After finishing medical school in Al Ain in 2010, Noura Al Dhaheri took an internship at Children’s National in Washington, still not sure what exact field she wanted to specialise in.
But she soon realised that her natural ability in treating the hospital’s little patients, combined with her own country’s need for paediatric care, made the decision clear.
“I felt that this is what I want to do for life, I want to be taking care of young children,” Ms Al Dhaheri said. “It’s not easy to deal with young children, they are not able to verbalise and you have to spend time with their families … but I really enjoyed it, and I was good at it.”
In 2012, Dr Al Dhaheri became the first Emirati resident physician at Children’s National, and she hopes to pave the way for Emiratis to pursue a career in children’s health care.
“I’ve been away from home now almost two years, and every time I go back I find out who at United Arab Emirates University is interested in paediatrics and encourage them to come spend time, at least as a research elective or intern,” she said.
In her second year of the three-year residency, the native of Al Ain said she now plans to narrow her focus on the study of genetics, and has applied for a post-residency fellowship with the hospital’s genetics department.
“It’s an evolving, exciting field, but the motivating factor is the need back home,” she said. “We have very few geneticists given the number of genetic disorders in the UAE and we need more … and I hope that I will be a part of establishing excellent genetics care” in the UAE.
The Abu Dhabi government is hoping more young Emiratis like Dr Al Dhaheri will begin to pursue careers in medicine, so that Emiratis will be able to provide world-class care to their fellow citizens, rather than families having to travel abroad.
But for the dozens of Emirati families who come to Children’s National each year seeking specialist care for some of the most rare and complex conditions, Dr Al Dhaheri helps them feel at home during a scary, stressful time far away from the support of extended families.
“I have patients from my hometown, so that makes them feel comfortable,” she said. “Even if I wasn’t involved in their care, just stopping by, saying hello in their own language, checking on them … I think they appreciate it a lot.”
tkhan@thenational.ae
