His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, appointed Dr. Amer Ahmad Sharif as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dubai Academic Health Corporation.
Dr. Sharif will assume the new position in addition to his role as President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU). The appointment was confirmed by The Executive Council Decision No. (30) of 2022.
Commenting on the appointment, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Academic Health Corporation’s Board of Directors, said: “I am delighted that Dr. Amer Sharif has been appointed as the first CEO of the Dubai Academic Health Corporation in addition to his role as the President of MBRU. Dr. Sharif is a highly competent UAE National in the fields of healthcare and medical education. He brings a wealth of experience to this role, which requires an innovative and visionary leader to drive unprecedented reform of our healthcare system, to align Dubai with leading academic health systems worldwide.
His leadership roles in the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), and his research on the challenges and reforms within the UAE health system, have given him unique insights into the current healthcare environment. I know that, with his track record, he will be an inspirational leader, and I wish him every success in the realisation of the vision of the Corporation ‘Together We Advance Health for Humanity’.”
His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Academic Health Corporation’s Board of Directors and Chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, said: “I have worked closely with Dr. Sharif in his role as Chair of the Dubai COVID-19 Command and Control Center. I witnessed first-hand the quality of his leadership, when he was able to lead the team through a coordinated and evidence-based approach, which placed Dubai at the forefront of the global response to the pandemic. I am confident that his competence and commitment to serve will enable us to realise our ambition to ensure the highest global standards in patient care in Dubai.”
Speaking about his appointment, Dr. Sharif said: “I feel both humbled and privileged to have been selected as the CEO of the Dubai Academic Health Corporation, and I would like to express my sincere appreciation to HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed for entrusting me with this responsibility. I look forward to working with the team on such an unprecedented opportunity to improve population health and wellbeing and enhance Dubai’s reputation globally as a healthcare destination. Our primary value of ‘patient first’ will be a guiding principle in everything we do as we embark on this new journey where healthcare, research and education integrate under one umbrella to deliver enhanced patient experiences and outcomes. The creation of an ecosystem of innovation and discovery is fundamental to realising this ambition and effective partnerships will be developed to accelerate the advancement of health.”
Dr. Sharif has extensive experience in the UAE healthcare system. In the past he has held multiple leadership roles in Dubai Health Authority. He led MBRU since inception and is the Chair of the Dubai COVID-19 Command and Control Center. He is also a Member of the UAE Genome Council, the Emirates Research and Development Council and the Advisory Board of the 4th Industrial Revolution Center in the UAE.
He was the first graduate and UAE national to receive the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland’s (RCSI) Alumni Award for 'Positive Global Impact’. Dr. Sharif is a Visiting Scholar at the Thomas Jefferson University – Sidney Kimmel Medical College – Asano-Gonnella Center for Research in Medical Education & Health Care.
Dr. Sharif has completed his medical training (MBBS) and holds a PhD in Public Health from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University. He also obtained his MSc in Healthcare Management from RCSI. His research has focused on challenges and reforms in the UAE health system and future strategic opportunities.