Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, today hostedthe highly-anticipated second edition ofDestination Medicine, astudent conference aimed at inspiringEmirati studentsto pursue careers in medicine.

Sponsored by Total, and in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the event was held at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre, in Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), and attended by 330 Emirati students aged 11-13 from 21 schools across the UAE.Catering for the event was provided by Abela& Co.

The children participated in a number of workshops and medical experience activities across a range of specialties including first aid, sports medicine, nursing, and medical robotics, provided by experts includingSANID(the National Emergency Response Volunteer Programme in Abu Dhabi), Dubai Ambulance, Amana Healthcare, Tamkeen and the Ministry of Health.

The children also had the opportunity to interact first-hand with medical students from UAE University to learn more about the challenges and rewards of studying medicine, and heard about healthcare in the army from the UAE Army Medic Station.

Al Jalila Foundation awardedtwo Emirati students who have enrolled in medical studies since attending the inaugural Destination Medicine event in 2014: Nouf Alia Al Marzouqi is pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the University of Sharjah,and Amna Nasseris studying Biomedical Engineering atKhalifa University of Science, Technology and Research.

Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation, said:

“Destination Medicine enables children to experience first-hand the rewards of working in medicine. Our visionary leadership continues to pave the way for young Emiratis to study medicine at world-leading organisations and benefit from state-of-the-art infrastructure. We hope that today has provided the inspiration neededfor them to become doctors, save lives and give back to their community.”

Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer of Al Jalila Foundation stated:

“The wellbeing of UAE residents depends on the quality of the healthcare sector, in particular the calibre of people that work in it. Al Jalila Foundation aims to develop a generation of home-grown medical professionals and Destination Medicine is the perfect platform to bring together aspiring young minds to connect with leaders in healthcare. We have been impressed by the students’ enthusiasm – their appetite for knowledge is inspiring and will have a positive impact on the future of healthcare in the UAE.”

Al Jalila Foundation has started receiving applications for its post-graduate medical scholarships programme for the 2015/2016 academic year. The application deadline is 31 July 2015, and scholarships will be announced in September 2015. For more information visit www.aljalilafoundation.ae or e-mail scholarships@aljalilafoundation.ae.

Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, has today signed an agreement with Brest Friends, the only breast cancer support group in Dubai. The agreement aims to tackle the issues of breast cancer in the UAE through raising awareness, fund research and support treatment of patients.

A study by Dr David Spiegel, Willson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioural SciencesMedical Director at the Stanford University School of Medicine, reported that group therapy helped women with breast cancer as well as their surroundings to cope with battling the diseaseand prolonging theirlives. Through educating, providing comfort, teaching coping skills, and financial backing, support groups have proven to help reduce anxiety and depression in turn,enhancing the quality of life of the patients.

Together, Al Jalila Foundation and Brest Friends aim to raise funds for breast cancer treatment and research in the UAE and to further increase awareness on the disease. Al Jalila Foundation will allocate 70 percent of the funds raised towards treatmentthrough the A’awen (support in Arabic) programme, which provides financial aid to UAE-based patients suffering from various illnesses, including breast cancer. The remaining 30 percent will be invested in building medical research capacity in the UAEnecessary for tackling the disease; funds will be channelled through the UAE’s first independent multi-disciplinary medical research centre, Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre. Expected to open in 2016, the Centre will conduct biomedical research, with a focus on prevention and education on the health issuesprevalent in the UAE, including breast cancer.

Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, commented:

“In line with Brest Friend’s like-minded vision, we are fully committed to transforming lives through medical education, treatment and research. Studies have shown that women living in the UAE are significantly more susceptible to breast cancer than in the west and at a younger age; having said that, very little research on this issue is done locally – instead, we are obliged to rely on resourcing from abroad, a considerably more costly option. With Al Jalila Foundation’s mission to encourage home-grown talent and research in the UAE, this partnership will serve as a catalyst to our mission of saving lives.”

Through seminars and workshops, Al Jalila Foundation and Brest friends will provide a platform for raising awareness on breast cancer and women’s need for support and friendship during treatment. Patients and families will participate in education workshops on provision of emotional guidance, early detection of the

disease through teaching self-examination techniques, and how to cope with the treatment process.

Dr Houriya Kazim, President and Founder of Brest Friends, commented:

“Dealing with cancer is one of the hardest challenges that patients and their families could face; it is a human need to be nurtured, especially when faced with significant life challenges. Brest Friends aims to be that nurturing support to minimise the psychological side effects of coping with the disease. Whether the stress roots from the lack of awareness on the disease, emotional strain of the treatment or financial struggle, working with Al Jalila Foundation will help us support these patients in having a brighter outlook on their futures and ultimately saving lives.”

Brest Friends was established 10 years ago by Emirati Dr Houriya Kazim, the UAE’s first female surgeon and most recognized authority on breast cancer in the country. The breast cancer support group was initially aimed at raising money for education and awareness and has today grown to also provide financial support to patients in need.

According to the World Health Organisation 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. In the UAE, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with the number of cases having increased by around 20 percent since 2009. The chances of survival are between 95-100 percent if detected early, however this reduces to 86 percent if detected at stage 2, and becomes 57 percent only at stage 3.

Al Jalila Foundation today announced that Ta’alouf (harmony in Arabic), its flagship programme designed to support carers of children with special needs, aims to expand its programme across the Emirates, addressing the needs of the country. Today’s graduation for parents marks a milestone for Ta’alouf reaching a total of almost 200 participants, setting the programmewell on itsway to reaching agoal of training 800 carersover the coming five years.

Today, 70 parents graduated from thelatesttwo cohorts of the parents training. Aceremonywas held for the families at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre which wasinaugurated by Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Member of the Board of Trustees and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Al Jalila Foundation. Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation and Professor Abdullah Alshamsi, Vice Chancellor of The British University in Dubai (BUiD)and Professor Eman Gaad, Dean of Faculty of Education and the Head of the Doctoral Programme at BUiD also joined the proceedings.

Her Excellency Dr Raja Al Gurg commented on the programme:

“All of us here at Al Jalila Foundation are committed to setting up the most effective educational and training programme for children with special needs. I am humbled to see just how many parents and children are benefiting from the programme and just how diverse the programme has become. The numbers of parents who we have been able to reach out to has quadrupled since the programme started in 2013. One major difference we have witnessed is more and more fathers are joining the programme andfamilies are also realising the benefits of attending the workshops together, reaffirming the programme’s mantra of inclusiveness. We are particularly proud to have had the opportunity to empower these families by providing them with the life-changing skills to use at home, and look forward to playing an active role in shaping their children’s future.”

This third and fourth cohort of the Ta’alouf parents training programme that graduated today was aimed atsupporting children with Autism and Down Syndrome. According to the UAE Down Syndrome Association, as of December 2014, one out of 319 babies in the UAE has Down Syndrome. Statistics from the UAE Ministry of Social Affairs, as of July 2014, indicate that more than 800 children with autism are enrolled at special centres in the UAE. The training included 52 mothers and 13 fathers joining from across all seven Emirates of the UAE. The next course, starting in Marchwill be delivered outside of Dubai to make it more accessible to the wider community.
Dr Abdulkareem added:

“Looking to the future, we are committed to rolling out Ta’alouf throughout all the Emirates to bring a full rounded support system to all children in the UAE. To echo UAE Vision 2021 oneducation, we too believe in equal opportunities for all students; the harmony of both components of the Ta’alouf programme with parents and teachers will result in the development of a strong, supportive network geared towards helping these children excel in the wider society.”

In partnership with The British University in Dubai (BUiD) Al Jalila Foundation’s Ta’alouf parents training programme spans 6 weeks. It is led by Professor Eman Gaad, Dean of Faculty of Education and the Head of the Doctoral Programme at BUiD. The training provided through this collaboration enables parents to complement the efforts of educators and caregivers for a continuum of care between the child’s home and school.

Professor Eman Gaad said:

“What is unique about this group is that it was divided into training session according to the disability in order to maximise the benefits of the training. This was shown in the post training questionnaire filled by the parents where they have expressed their satisfaction of the programme. For the second year in a row, the partnership between The British University in Dubai and Al Jalila Foundation achieves a unique social benefit which helps in the empowering and inclusion of people with disabilities.”

The 7EmiratesRun team successfully completed its 575km charity run across the seven emirates in time for National Day celebrations at Dubai Festival City, raising more than AED1 million for Al Jalila Foundation. 7EmiratesRun is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. It was endorsed by Dubai Sports Council as an official event on Dubai’s sports calendar, with Buimerc Corporation as the title sponsor.

The UAE’s only cross-country charity run, which commenced from Abu Dhabi on 21 November, drew support from fellow runners, parents, children and students from across the UAE and raised ten times more in donations than last year, far exceeding its original target. The AED1 million raised will go to Al Jalila Foundation’s A’awen fund, which helps patients in the UAE with critical health conditions who cannot afford medical treatment.

Last year Dubai-based runners traversed the seven emirates to raise funds so Mohammed Ayoub, a Sharjah toddler suffering from limb deformities, could get back on his feet. A total of AED 100,000 was raised to fund his surgeries and post-operative care. Today, he is able to walk with prosthetic support. Mohammed and his parents joined the 7EmiratesRun team today at the start line of the last leg from Sharjah to Dubai, in which more than 55 runners participated including male and female Emiratis.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said:

“We congratulate the 7EmiratesRun team on the great success this year’s run has achieved. The level of support from communities and donors across the country was beyond expectation. The money raised for our A’awen fund will be fully dedicated to supporting children with walking disabilities, for a chance to live better and more productive lives. We thank all the sponsors and supporting organisations, donors, volunteers and the 7EmiratesRun team for a unique event celebrating health and philanthropy.”

“As a local foundation entrusted with the development of the UAE’s healthcare sector through medical education and research, Al Jalila Foundation takes this opportunity to extend its warmest wishes on the occasion of the UAE’s 43rd National Day to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, their brothers, Their Highnesses members of the UAE Federal Supreme Council, and to the whole UAE community.”

Race Director, Wendelin Lauxen, who is also Managing Director of DHCC-based German Limbtech, said:

“We ran further than the distance between Paris and London, we traversed desert, mountains, passed camels and dhows and we finished! Luckily for us, we have chosen to live in a very beautiful country with a diverse landscape and this epic run is a tribute to the land we each call home.

“I am so proud of our team and all of the UAE for spurring us on – without them I am not sure we would have achieved this for a second time. This year we were joined by an all-ladies relay team and scores of students across the country. At every stage, people around the UAE cheered us on and we are grateful. Thank you and here’s to next year – bigger, better and healthier.”

Major sponsors of the 7EmiratesRun include Dubai Healthcare City, German Limbtech, Damas, Total and Paris Gallery.

Dubai, UAE, 24 April 2014 – Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, today hosted Destination Medicine, an interactive student conference to inspire 400 Emirati students to pursue a career in medicine.

• Student conference welcomes keynote speaker, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, leading international heart surgeon
• Destination Medicine brings together students from 20 private and government schools; 15 medical facilities across DHCC specialities welcome students

Emirati students from grade nine to 12 from both private and government schools had the opportunity to meet keynote speaker and award-winning international heart surgeon, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub. Sir Magdi, who has established the largest heart and lung transplantation programme in the world where more than 2,500 transplant operations have been performed, shared his inspirational journey with the students.

The conference took place at the Mohamed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre, in Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), a health and wellness destination that brings together a wealth of services in healthcare, medical education and research, and was attended by representatives of UAE schools and universities, as well as DHCC business partners and officials from Al Jalila Foundation and DHCC.

As part of the mentoring programme, students toured 15 DHCC medical facilities covering a range of specialities; students interacted with healthcare professionals – through workshops and activities – to gain insight into the demands of the medical profession.

Her Excellency Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation, said:

“Our visionary leadership continues to pave the way for young Emiratis, not only to study medicine at world-leading organisations, but also to thrive in the sector with the support of local guidance and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Destination Medicine has helped expose the students first-hand to the world of medicine. We hope that it has inspired them to become doctors and have the chance to save lives and give back to their community.”

Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub commented:

“With ambition and determination, the UAE is on the path to be a leader in medical innovation. The opportunities that the UAE has provided its youth are impressive, and I hope that this experience will instil in them a spirit of discovery in medicine. I commend Al Jalila Foundation’s efforts in supporting the local medical talent though grants and scholarships; enabling young minds to transform the future of healthcare in the UAE.”

Addressing Emirati students at the event, Sir Magdi added:

“You are the future of healthcare!”

Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer of Al Jalila Foundation stated:

“Al Jalila Foundation aims to inspire the UAE’s future doctors. Through our post-graduate medical scholarships, the development of the Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre and our fellowship and research grants, we hope to develop a generation of home-grown medical professionals who will lead the nation’s healthcare sector for years to come.”

Marwan Abedin, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Healthcare City, and member of the Board of Directors of Al Jalila Foundation, said,

“To build a sustainable healthcare industry, we require a national workforce – one that is aligned with the regional healthcare challenges and works to address these. In context, welcoming students to an environment like Dubai Healthcare City, which represents healthcare, medical education and research, is an opportunity to encourage young minds to think about a wide choice of career options in medicine.”

Al Jalila Foundation has started receiving applications for its post-graduate medical scholarships programme for the 2014/2015 academic year. The application deadline is 15 August 2014. For more information visit www.aljalilafoundation.ae or e-mail scholarships@aljalilafoundation.ae.

HE Raja Al Gurg:

“The UAE community is mindful of the importance of developing advanced medical research capabilities and the impact of that on the UAE 2021 Vision”

Al Jalila Foundation’s “United in Health” campaign has attracted more than 70,000community supporters over a period of six days, demonstrating an outstanding level of awareness amongst the UAE community of the importance of medical research to the UAE’s sustainable future. The unique “I Love UAE” structure in the Bloomingdale’s Atrium atThe Dubai Mall was covered with thousands of tokens pledging support to the nation’s health and prosperityand supporting medical research.

Her Excellency Raja EasaSaleh Al Gurg, Member of the Board of Trustees and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Al Jalila Foundation, said:

“We are delighted to see this great community support, from locals and residents alike, to the UAE on its 42nd National Day, which has taken on more meaning now with the announcement of the Expo 2020 win, a victory for our visionary leadership and this country. As the world now turns to our nation’s achievements for inspiration, we are proud to be playing a role in building a healthier and more prosperous nation in line with UAE Vision 2021. A significant part of what we do is educating youngsters to instil a culture of medical research at a grass roots level, which is in line with Al Jalila Foundation’s long-term vision.”

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said:

“The support was overwhelming and we were extremely excited to see children and adults from all over descend on our I Love UAE atrium. The campaign has raised over AED2 million to support our medical research projects. The level of support we received from individuals, corporates and educational institutions is an indication of how much the community believes in the ability of advanced medical research to build a healthier and more sustainable nation.We extend our gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the campaign, and special thanks to GEMS Education, and Amity University Dubai for their generous support in raising awareness among the youth and extending the reach of our message to over 100,000 students.”

The Varkey GEMS Foundation engaged more than 7000 students from 13 GEMS Education schools in the campaign with a number of them visiting the stand throughout the week. The GEMS schools that went to the stall to tie their messages include The Kindergarten Starters, which sent a delegation of students to pledge on behalf of 5,500 students, GEMS New Millennium School – Al Khail, Our Own English High School – Al Warqa’a and Cambridge International School.

Students from Amity University Dubaivolunteered their timeto sell tokens in the university as well as on the stand.

The ‘United in Health’ campaign was organisedin association with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, and sponsored by Dubai Healthcare City and Paris Gallery. Support sponsors include The Dubai Mall, Watani, Ahmed Seddiqi& Sons and Hills Advertising.

The Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, today officially launched Al Jalila Foundation, a non-profit organisation whose mandate is to promote the UAE as a centre of excellence for medical research and education. Sheikh Mohammed was escorted during the ceremony by his daughter, Sheikha Al Jalila.

The opening ceremony, which took place at Dubai Health Care City, was attended by H.H. Sheikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Mariam bint Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State, and a number of senior officials, medical researchers, donors and philanthropists.

Al Jalila Foundation aims to promote the UAE as a centre of excellence in the field of medical education and research and position Dubai at the forefront of medical innovation. The Foundation will facilitate medical treatment; provide academic scholarships; fund groundbreaking research; champion healthcare awareness programs; foster strategic partnerships with local and global entities and advocate for progressive policies to ensure a sustainable future for Dubai, enhancing its global position as a medical hub.

The Chairperson of the Board of the Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees, Raja Al Gurg, addressed the audience, saying : “Al Jalila Foundation will provide a new catalyst for complementing efforts aimed at building a health society.” With Al Jalila Foundation in action, she added, many doors will open to many medical achievements that could not previously become a tangible reality.

She called for all stakeholders to pool their resources for shaping future of the present and future generations.

”The tremendous efforts we are making today will have far-reaching, positive impact on the health being of children in the region, generation after generation.”

Speaking also at the event, Dr Abdul Kareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of the Foundation, said: ”We have high hopes the Foundation will be instrumental in addressing current health challenges as part of the UAE quest for a better healthy future.” While delivering its mission through an integrated medical system, he added, the Foundation will focus on treatment, education and research.

He said the Foundation will play a vital role in advancing the UAE’s standing as a global premier centre of health care excellence. It will focus mainly on healthcare challenges across the Emirates to support Vision 2021 by developing pioneering ways to combat locally prevalent illnesses through cutting-edge medical research.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, issued a law setting up the Al Jalila Foundation for supporting medical education and research in the emirate.

Law No 10 of 2012 was issued by Shaikh Mohammad on Sunday. The law stipulates that the foundation will be a non-profitable entity that serves as a corporate body enjoying financial and administrative independence with the aim of improving healthcare services by encouraging scientific research in all medical specialisations.

He also issued decree No 23 for 2012, forming the board of trustees of the newly established foundation under the chairmanship of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. The five member board includes Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Abdul Hamid Ahmad Seddiqi, Abdul Gaffar Ghuloum Hussain, Raja Eisa Saleh Al Gurg, and Hussain Abdul Rahman Khan Sahib.

The foundation, headquartered in the Dubai Healthcare City, will help achieve the UAE’s pioneering in the field of medical science by granting scholarships and financing medical research, as well as enhancing excellence in the medical academic and research field in the UAE and abroad.

It will encourage researchers to create and excel in specialised medical fields, guide them towards research of benefit for the society, and contribute to the scientific progress in order to achieve sustainable development for local, regional and international communities.

The foundation will provide financial support for scientific researches in medical areas for educational and research institutions in the UAE and abroad, grant scholarships for Emirati citizens and encourage researchers and research institutions to conduct excellent scientific research by granting them appreciation awards and cash prizes. It will also contribute to financing scientific research, programs and projects dedicated to utilising science, knowledge and technology to tackle problems facing research institutions, as well as providing curative assistance to the needy from various nationalities in the country and abroad.

The foundation will support publishing of scientific magazines and publications, sponsoring scientific conferences organised by education institutions and scientific research institutions in collaboration with Arab, regional and international educational organisations.

To achieve the foundation’s goals, a donation fund will be set up in the newly established foundation with the aim of collecting donations from public and private organisations, as well as individuals inside and outside the emirate, to finance the foundation’s project aiming at supporting education and medical scientific research.

The foundation’s board will set up a fund management committee to oversee the fund’s functions and operations for a renewable term of three years.