Family Medicine Department

Overview

Teaching

Clinical & Community Services

Research

Faculty & Staff

General Enquiries

Overview

Welcome to the Family Medicine Department, where we teach and provide patient-centered care for individuals and families across the lifespan. As a cornerstone of primary care, our department is committed to training compassionate and competent physicians, conducting impactful research, and promoting health and wellness in our communities. Our mission is to educate and train future generations of family physicians, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care to individuals and families within diverse communities. We strive to promote a holistic approach to healthcare that emphasizes compassion, holistic care, continuity of care, reflective mindfulness, and lifelong learning.

Teaching

The Department of Family Medicine plays a vital role, especially in the Pre-Clinical (Year 3 and 4) and Clinical Phase (Year 6) of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program. In Year 3 and Year 4, the Department is involved in clinical skills training, problem-based learning, and clinical lectures throughout the curriculum. Family Medicine faculty take a leading role in clinical skills training. Patient-centered communication skills are emphasized. Advanced communication skills such as empathizing and eliciting patients’ preferences are taught using simulated patients.

During the final year of the medical college MD program (Year 6), all medical students experience the four-week Family Medicine Clerkship. Students are immersed in the principles of Family Medicine and their application in everyday clinical practice. They gain invaluable firsthand experience in diagnosis and management of common conditions and preventive care. Our students practice and enhance their skills by engaging with patients at various primary healthcare clinics in Al Ain. Students are actively supervised in direct patient care by college faculty and experienced family physicians in the clinics. We foster a culture of self-directed learning, encouraging students to build upon their existing knowledge and clinical competencies. This involves addressing patient scenarios commonly encountered in these clinics and facilitating case discussions to hone their clinical reasoning skills.

In addition to undergraduate teaching, the Department actively engages in postgraduate education. Faculty members supervise PhD candidates, mentor master’s students, and are involved in Family Medicine residency activities such as clinical assessment.

Clinical & Community Services

Faculty members of the Family Medicine Department provide clinical care at various clinical sites in Al Ain city, including at Seha Ambulatory Health Services (AHS) and Kanad Hospital. These clinics offer a comprehensive spectrum of healthcare services encompassing adult and paediatric care, chronic disease management, vaccinations, and more. Most clinics are equipped with ultrasound and x-ray facilities, including mammography, while all cater to minor emergencies.

Utilizing these clinics, the Family Medicine Department facilitates experiential learning opportunities for medical students and family medicine residents within authentic clinical settings. This immersive approach allows students to observe and actively participate in patient care under the direct supervision of experienced professionals. Students are involved in tasks such as obtaining medical histories, conducting physical examinations, and performing minor procedures such as vaccinations, pap smears, and wound dressings. Furthermore, they gain practical exposure to electronic health record systems, enhancing their clinical competency and preparedness for future practice. The Family Medicine Clerkship is consistently rated among the best by medical students.

Research

The research areas of Family Medicine encompass a wide range of topics aimed at enhancing primary care delivery, improving patient outcomes, and addressing healthcare disparities. Some of the key research areas in Family Medicine include:

Chronic Disease Management: Research in this area focuses on developing effective strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and asthma. A new diabetes self-management tool, the Diabetes Score, has been developed and tested in clinical settings. This brief 10-item questionnaire enables patients to achieve lifestyle change and behavior modification in collaboration with their physicians.

Health and Wellness Research: Research in this area examines all dimensions of wellness, including spirituality and religiosity, alongside physical, mental, and social health. This holistic approach aims to integrate these aspects into healthcare practices to enhance patient well-being and outcomes. The department's research focuses on understanding how these dimensions influence health behaviors and outcomes, promoting comprehensive care.

Preventive Medicine and Health Promotion: This research area explores methods to promote healthy behaviors, prevent disease, and improve population health through initiatives such as immunizations, cancer screenings, smoking cessation programs, and lifestyle interventions.

Patient-Centered Care and Shared Decision Making: Research in this domain focuses on understanding patient preferences, values, and experiences, as well as enhancing communication and decision-making processes between patients and healthcare providers. Family Medicine faculty have published several highly cited articles on patient-centered communication skills, including a clinical framework.

Community Health and Social Determinants of Health: This research area examines the influence of social, economic, and environmental factors on health outcomes, health disparities, and healthcare utilization within communities.

Technology and Innovation in Primary Care: Research in this area explores the integration of technology, Artificial intelligence, telemedicine, electronic health records, and other innovations into primary care practice to improve access, efficiency, and quality of care.

Research collaborations

Family Medicine faculty members at UAEU are among the top 2% of most cited researchers worldwide. Research collaborations are ongoing with leading universities and hospitals internationally. These research areas reflect the multifaceted nature of Family Medicine and its role in addressing the complex healthcare needs of individuals, families, and communities across the lifespan. To access the research profiles of individual faculty members, kindly use the following link:.Department of Family Medicine — United Arab Emirates University (uaeu.ac.ae)

Faculty

Note: If calling from outside the UAEU organization, dial (+971 3 713) before the extension.

Name	Position	Email	Extension
Dr. Nadirah Ghenimi	Assistant Professor and Chair	nghenimi@uaeu.ac.ae	7664
Dr. Moienudeen Khan	Associate Professor	moien.khan@uaeu.ac.ae	7544
Prof. Muhammad J. Hashim	Professor	jhashim@uaeu.ac.ae	7655
Dr. Alexander Kieu	Assistant Professor	akieu@uaeu.ac.ae	7425
Dr Falah Al Marzooqi	Assistant Professor	almarzooqi.doc@uaeu.ac.ae	7543