Most veterinary graduates around the world leave university skilled in diagnosis and treatment. Far fewer leave equipped to rehabilitate animals after injury, surgery or the slow decline of age. Gulf Medical University is closing that gap.
Through its Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine, GMU has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Physio Evolution Animal Physiotherapy LLC (PEAP), the region’s leading specialist in animal rehabilitation based in Meydan, Dubai. The partnership embeds structured physiotherapy training and electives directly into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum.
The agreement was signed by the college dean in the presence of Dr Thumbay Moideen, founder and president of Thumbay Group, and Kirsten Christiansen, founder and managing director of PEAP. Under the arrangement, DVM students will complete their pre-clinical studies on the GMU campus in Ajman before moving to PEAP’s specialist facility. There they will work with real patients recovering from orthopaedic surgery, soft-tissue injury and age-related mobility issues. PEAP clinicians will serve as adjunct faculty, ensuring students learn from practitioners who treat animals every day.
Demand for these skills is rising fast across the UAE. Pet owners increasingly expect structured post-operative recovery programmes, mobility support for ageing companions, and performance rehabilitation for dogs and horses. Graduates who enter the profession with hands-on physiotherapy experience will carry a clear clinical advantage from their first day in practice.
The collaboration reaches beyond student placements. Faculty from both institutions will work together on teaching, research and healthcare management. Joint research will be channelled through the Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine. PEAP clinicians will gain access to Gulf Medical University’s library resources and publications, while GMU will offer short-term veterinary education programmes and workshops. The partners will also design joint continuing medical education and continuing professional development programmes, workshops and conferences. A joint coordination committee will review shared activities every six months.
Prof. Mohammad S. Khalifeh, dean of Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine, said the partnership reflects the full scope of modern veterinary medicine. “Veterinary medicine is a profession of remarkable breadth, and our job is to prepare students for all of it. Rehabilitation is now a core part of modern animal care, yet it is rarely taught at this stage. Training alongside Physio Evolution’s specialists gives our DVM students real clinical exposure and a skill set that will distinguish them from the day they graduate.”
Kirsten Christiansen emphasised the shortage of trained professionals. “The demand for skilled animal rehabilitation in the UAE is far ahead of the talent available. Training vets early, while they are still forming their clinical instincts, is the best way to change that. We are proud to open our doors to GMU’s students.”
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The PEAP partnership forms part of a wider clinical ecosystem supporting the Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine. The DVM programme received initial accreditation from the Commission for Academic Accreditation under the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in September 2025. Students already train across Thumbay Veterinary Clinics, the Thumbay Veterinary Clinical Skills Lab, and external partners including the Royal Veterinary College London, Sharjah Equine Hospital, Sharjah Falcon Hospital and the Umm Al Quwain Camel Hospital. Thumbay Group has broken ground in Ajman on the UAE’s first private veterinary teaching hospital, scheduled to open at Thumbay Medicity in 2027.
The five-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine programme is grounded in the World Health Organization’s One Health approach, which links human, animal and environmental health. Applicants who have completed Grade 12 with biology and chemistry are eligible.
By integrating specialist physiotherapy training into the core curriculum, Gulf Medical University and Physio Evolution Animal Physiotherapy are equipping the next generation of veterinarians with the practical skills demanded by today’s pet owners and equine clients. The partnership strengthens both institutions and raises the standard of animal care available across the region.
