BUGSDM Celebrates Dubai Opening

The Boston University Institute of Dental Research and Education Dubai (BUIDRE), and the Boston University Dental Health Center at Dubai Healthcare City were officially opened on February 26 at ceremonies held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Boston University (BU) Executive Vice President Joseph Mercurio and Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BUGDSM) Dean ad interim Jeffrey Hutter represented BU at the event, while Saeed Al Muntafiq, Executive Chairman of Tatweer, a subsidiary of Dubai Holding; Ahmad Sharaf, Senior Vice President Energy and Healthcare of Tatweer; and Dr. Muhadditha Al-Hashimi, Chief Executive Officer-Dubai Healthcare City, represented the emirate.

Mercurio extended congratulations on behalf of President Robert A. Brown adding, "Boston University is focused on the pursuit of excellence in its core mission of teaching, research and service. Under Dr. Brown’s leadership, the University has added a strategic goal: the creation of new opportunities for students from around the world to experience a BU education."

Under the direction of BUIDRE Dubai Chief Academic Officer Dr. Thomas Kilgore, the institute will focus on furthering dental research in the region and on training graduate dentists in the dental specialties. The training programs will be developed and overseen by BUGSDM faculty. The Dental Health Center will provide comprehensive and prevention-oriented dental services to residents of the region as well as to the many visitors to Dubai. The institute is in the process of submitting an application for accreditation from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE.

"The collaboration with such a renowned world-class American medical and academic institution will further consolidate our position as a regional healthcare hub," said Dr. Al Hashimi. "This strengthens our status as a center for quality and excellence in the Middle East, offering healthcare services and advanced health-related educational programs in addition to scientific research."

The Boston University Dental Health Center Dubai will begin seeing patients in March 2008 and the first class of residents will begin their postdoctoral education programs in July 2008.

“We take our responsibility as educators and researchers in the global community very seriously,” said Dean ad interim Hutter. “The Goldman School of Dental Medicine is very proud to be in partnership with Dubai Health Care City to provide world class oral health care and education in the region.”