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Around Harvard

Robert L. Thurer, MD

Chief Academic Officer
Harvard Medical School Dubai Center Institute for Postgraduate Education & Research
Executive Director
Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School

Q: In the past year HMSDC has delivered more than 10 continuing medical education programs, organized a major nursing conference, and begun construction on its new home, among other activities. What can we look forward to in the coming year?

Thurer: On the CME front, we already have courses scheduled dealing with preventive health, mental health, and pediatrics. Others, including a second nursing conference, are in the planning stages. We’re also busy completing the plans for the Maktoum Harvard Medical Library and our Medical Simulation Center. In addition, we are finalizing the regulatory infrastructure for education and research for Dubai Healthcare City and working to attract educational providers to DHCC.

Q: How would you describe the regional reception to the activities of HMSDC?

Thurer: Our CME programs have been well attended and rated very highly by the participants. We hope to capitalize on this success by presenting more innovative programming in the future. For example, we are trying to organize courses that will run in an integrated fashion throughout the year and will provide extended learning experiences for the participants.

Q: In January the Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research gathered more than 75 faculty, scientists, and regional leaders to discuss the development of research infrastructure in the Gulf Region. What can you tell us about how the Foundation’s efforts are progressing?

Thurer: So far, the foundation has been quite successful. We’ve raised almost half of our $100 million target and we will make the first research awards to collaborative research programs between labs at Harvard Medical School and those in the Gulf Region in November.

Q: What would you say to faculty at Harvard Medical School and other U.S. institutions who may be interested in working and teaching abroad?

Thurer: The incredible richness and depth of the intellectual resources at HMS and other leading U.S. institutions can cause an individual faculty member to narrow his or her individual area of expertise. While there are excellent resources internationally as well, they are typically not as extensive as those we are used to at home. The individual can therefore have a much broader impact and use more of their own skills than they might when working and teaching at home.

Q: As a member of the HMI team who spends a great deal of time now in Dubai, what have you enjoyed most about living and working there?

Thurer: By far, the most enjoyable part of working in Dubai for me is the opportunity to interact with outstanding people from all over the world on a daily basis. In Dubai Healthcare City, we have people from over 40 countries. Dubai also attracts leading international companies and the chance to work collaboratively with them is also quite exciting.