Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) has joined forces with Mayo Clinic and American Hospital Dubai to host the first Middle East Healthcare Social Media Summit which will bring together healthcare providers and decision makers spanning various sectors to analyze the impact of social media on healthcare and chart the best way forward.

The three-day event will take place at the MBRU campus at Dubai Healthcare City from 8-10 December and will offer attendees invaluable insight into the current trends of social media in healthcare and the impact of social media on healthcare institutions and patients.

MBRU and the American Hospital Dubai, a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, are cosponsors of the event, which includes: A two-day conference Dec. 9-10 featuring several speakers from the UAE as well as representatives from Saudi Arabia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United States; as well as an optional pre-conference workshop on Dec. 8 called Social Media Residency, which provides advanced training and consultation for those interested in practical assistance in applying social media tools in their health-related work.

“Mayo Clinic is the number one hospital in the United States and a global leader among hospitals encouraging physicians and other health professionals to use social media,” says Dr. Amer Sharif, Vice Chancellor of MBRU. “We are honored to host this Summit, and to help shape an agenda that reflects social media use in our region as well as best practices from Mayo Clinic’s global network of social media advocates.”

“We’re gratified to have such strong cosponsors who have helped us develop an outstanding program for the Summit,” says Farris Timimi, M.D., medical director for Mayo Clinic Social Media Network (MCSMN). “They have identified speakers and panelists from the UAE, and with our international MCSMN members as well as Mayo Clinic staff and faculty our course will include diverse perspectives and a thought-provoking curriculum.”

Aligning with MBRU’s vision to be a global hub for innovative and integrated healthcare education and research, and its value of connectivity, the Summit will feature key topics such as how social media interventions can be optimized to engage populations and improve health outcomes, identify common pitfalls to avoid when using the medium in healthcare, and identify the right strategies to create and consolidate academic reputation on social media.

In addition to educating healthcare professionals of the best use of social media, the Summit will connect healthcare providers with key decision makers spanning a range of industries.

The Summit is accredited by the Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development and participants may receive continuing education credit. Registration includes a one-year Premium membership in MCSMN.