The Union of International Hospital Federation honoured the pioneers in medicine from the United Arab Emirates, Prof. Najib Al Khaja, Director, Cardiology and Cardio thoracic Surgery Centre, Dubai Hospital, DOHMS & Secretary General of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences and Dr.Mahmoud Taleb Al Ali, Director, Genetics Centre, Al Wasl Hospital, Dubai and Director of the Executive Board, Centre for Arab Genomic Studies (A division of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences) on 11th September,2005 at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai, UAE along with other personalities from the field of medicine, Dr.Sharaban Abdullah, Dr. Awatif Al Bahr and Dr. Ameena Al Marzouqi for their contributions in health care.

On Saturday, 10th September 2005 the federation has already honoured and awarded H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Industry UAE for his contributions in health, education and sports in their inaugural functions of the IMD Conferences 2005.



Presently, Professor Najib Al Khaja is the Director of the Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery Centre, Dubai Hospital, Professor & Head of Academic Department of Surgery & Vice-Dean of the Dubai Medical College for Girls and the Member of the Board of Trustees & Secretary General of the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences. Dr. Al Khaja is also a visiting consultant to the Cardio thoracic Centre in Monaco. If we look into his contributions to the healthcare, his first assignment was to establish the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in Dubai Hospital after joining with the Department of Health and Medical Services. Prof. Al Khaja is the member of Scandinavian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, International College of Angiology, Saudi Heart Association, UAE Medical Association, European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Asian Annals of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, Emirates Medical Journal - Editorial Board and the Arab Board for Postgraduate Studies. Prof. Al Khaja's research interest is topics related to cardiothoracic diseases. Prof. Al Khaja is the member of TWAS (Third World Academy of Science) Prof.Al Khaja has been awarded in the year 1999 the Best Employee of the year from DOHMS and also awarded a Special Award for establishment of Cardiac Surgery Department and his distinguished role in the field in Dubai Hospital under DOHMS.

Dr. Mahmoud Taleb Ali is a consultant geneticist and head of Genetics Centre, Al Wasl Hospital Dubai and the Director of Centre for Arab Genomic Studies. He is also an adjacent Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, UAE University. Dr. Al Ali graduated in Laboratory Medicine from University of Kentucky, USA and did PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Endocrinology from University of London Medical School. At the present he is involved in the laboratory diagnosis and research in inherited metabolic diseases. He has developed a department of metabolic genetics that serves the region.

For their remarkable achievements contribute in healthcare Prof. Najib Al Khaja & Dr. Mahmoud Taleb Al Ali truly deserve the above honour.