Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) will be a bespoke extension of the Cleveland Clinic model of care to meet the healthcare needs of patients in Abu Dhabi and the region. In line with the Abu Dhabi Government mandate and the strategic goals of the Health Authority Abu Dhabi, CCAD is a key component of Mubadala Healthcare’s strategy to establish world-class healthcare facilities and reverse the trend of patients travelling abroad for treatment.

Located on Sowwah Island, this state-of-the-art, 364-bed (expandable to 490-bed), multi-specialty facility will be organized into the five institutes of Digestive Disease, Eye, Heart & Vascular, Neurological, and Respiratory & Critical Care, to offer an advanced range of tertiary/quaternary medical services.

Like its counterpart in the United States, it will be a physician-led medical facility served by western trained, North American board certified (or equivalent) physicians. The strong partnership with Cleveland Clinic, who will manage and operate the hospital, will also provide significant knowledge transfer opportunities for the country’s future healthcare professionals, stemming from the 90 year expertise of one of the world’s leading healthcare institutions.

Construction on track for completion in the second quarter of next year

Under the leadership of Development Manager, Aldar Properties PJSC (Aldar), construction on the hospital is progressing well.

Following the completion of the main structure in October 2011, the final phase of construction is due for completion and handover in Q2 2013. The hospital is scheduled for a full-service opening to patients in the fourth quarter of the same year.

Cleveland Clinic Leaders Assume Key Roles within Abu Dhabi hospital

Also in 2011, two senior members of the Cleveland Clinic faculty joined the CCAD executive leadership team: Dr. Marc Harrison as Chief Executive Officer and Dr Tomislav Mihaljevic as Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Heart and Vascular Institute. Dr. Harrison joined CCAD after a 12 year career with Cleveland Clinic, most recently serving as its Chief Medical Operations Officer.

Speaking at the time of his appointment, Dr Harrison said: “I am honored to have the opportunity to assist in bringing the strong collaboration and leadership that exists within Cleveland Clinic’s group practice model to the people of Abu Dhabi. My family and I are excited to become a part of a wonderful and emerging community, and we can’t wait to share in the continued success of the region.”

Cleveland Clinic’s heart program has been consistently recognized as the best in the United States, earning the No. 1 ranking in “U.S.News & World Report’s, Best Hospitals” for the past 17 years. CCAD is set to follow in the footsteps of the Ohio campus in this specialty with the appointment of world renowned Cleveland Clinic specialists at the Abu Dhabi facility.

Dr Mihaljevic, who will lead this team, comes to Abu Dhabi after eight years with the Cleveland Clinic as a staff surgeon in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Dr Mihaljevic plans to introduce minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery to the UAE.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has a staff of almost 170 on ground in Abu Dhabi, including a full leadership team and 75 percent of the physician institute chairs, 80 percent of whom come from the Cleveland Clinic Ohio campus. Together with the Mubadala Healthcare and Cleveland Clinic, Ohio campus project teams, they are working hard to deliver against the key pre-operational programs of HR, recruitment, IT, and business and clinical operations.

“Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi will be an outstanding medical facility that brings the very highest international standards of care to patients in Abu Dhabi and the wider region,” said Suhail Mahmood Al Ansari, Executive Director, Mubadala Healthcare. “It signifies a long-term investment in our healthcare system that will not only provide the very best care for patients closer to home but also the opportunity for our country’s best and brightest to work within Cleveland Clinic’s esteemed physician-led practice model. I am delighted with the progress to date and look forward to seeing the hard work and dedication of all the teams reflected in the tremendous impact that this facility will have.”