- ASIA EDUCATION REVIEW - AUGUST 202688GULF MEDICAL UNIVERSITY SETS NEW DENTAL EDUCATION STANDARD IN UAEPUREHEALTH & NMSS UPSKILL 1,300 UAE PROS IN ADVANCED MS CAREGulf Medical University's College of Dentistry has established itself as a regional leader in clinical dental education, combining one of the largest training infrastructures in the UAE with rare international recognition. At its core is Thumbay Dental Hospital in Ajman, the university's own accredited teaching hospital, which houses 120 clinical dental chairs. This capacity removes the common bottleneck that forces students at many institutions to wait for clinical time, allowing GMU students to progress steadily through graded case complexity under specialist supervision from early in their training.The scale of the facility means students treat real patients inside a functioning hospital rather than relying solely on limited clinic slots. Clinical depth, however, begins well before any patient contact. The College operates a dedicated preclinical clinical skills laboratory where every workstation features a phantom head supplied with running water and air.This setup closely replicates the conditions of a live dental chair. Second- and third-year students master procedures, ergonomics, four-handed dentistry, lighting and full infection-control protocols in this environment so the transition to patient care becomes a natural progression rather than an abrupt leap. ERPureHealth has joined forces with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) to strengthen awareness, support earlier diagnosis and improve care for people living with multiple sclerosis across the United Arab Emirates.The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi. It brings together PureHealth's extensive clinical network and system-wide capabilities with NMSS's expertise in advocacy, education and community support. The collaboration also supports global efforts to advance research toward a cure for MS and aligns with PureHealth's role as a founding member of the National Coalition for MS.Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It can cause a wide range of physical, cognitive and mobility challenges and often appears during early to mid-adulthood. While an estimated 2.9 million people live with MS worldwide, prevalence in the UAE has risen over the past decade. This trend highlights the need for greater public awareness and faster recognition of symptoms.Leya Aldamani, Chief Sustainability Officer at PureHealth, said the condition continues to require stronger efforts so patients can access timely diagnosis and the right care. ERChina has scrapped 12,200 undergraduate programmes and introduced 10,200 new AI-focused courses between 2021 and 2025, marking a major overhaul of its higher education system to align universities with the country's artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing goalsNEWS
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