The first Middle East Healthcare Social Media Summit, focused on discussing the impact of social media in healthcare, is set to kick off tomorrow. The two-day summit, organized by Mayo Clinic in collaboration with The Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) and American Hospital Dubai, will be held from 9-10 December.

Decision makers and senior professionals from across the healthcare sector will come together at the MBRU campus at Dubai Healthcare City to analyze the role of social media in enhancing healthcare and exchanging best practices. The Summit aims to provide invaluable insights into the impact of social media on healthcare institutions and patients.

Highlighting his organization’s support for the event, Dr. Amer Sharif, Vice Chancellor of MBRU said: “We look forward to generating new insights on how to maximize the benefits gained from the use of social media in healthcare,” he said. As Dubai aims to be a leader in both fields, it is the ideal venue for the event, he noted.

Sharif further said that speakers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United States will address a range of topics including how to engage populations and improve health outcomes, common pitfalls to avoid when using the medium in healthcare, and identifying the right strategies to create and consolidate academic reputation on social media.

The event will also feature discussions on public health and legal regulatory issues, the role of social media and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in empowering public health initiatives, and the use of social media in promoting health and influencing public opinion.

In addition to educating healthcare professionals on the best use of social media, the Summit will connect healthcare providers with decision makers across industries.

The Summit, co-sponsored by MBRU and the American Hospital Dubai, a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, includes a two-day conference held from 9-10 December, as well as an optional pre-conference workshop on 8 December called Social Media Residency, which provides training and consultation for those interested in practical knowledge of using social media tools in their health-related work.