On October 1st, 2025, Gulf Medical University hosted the annual celebration of World Pharmacists Day 2025 under the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) theme, “Think Health, Think Pharmacist.” This year’s event began with a proud moment, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Gulf Medical University (GMU) and the Emirates Pharmacy Society (EPS), marking the first collaboration of its kind between EPS and any academic institution in the UAE.
Following the MoU ceremony, the World Pharmacists Day program commenced with opening remarks from Professor Manda Venkatramana, Chancellor of Gulf Medical University. In his address, Professor Venkatramana commended pharmacists as indispensable members of the healthcare workforce and emphasized their crucial role in safeguarding patient care as the “safety valve” of the healthcare system.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Abdulla Khalfan Saeed Al Kindi, Head of Department at Emirates Health Services (EHS) and President of the Emirates Pharmacy Society. Dr. Abdulla highlighted how the profession has evolved beyond traditional boundaries. He shed light on the wide spectrum of career opportunities available to pharmacists, from hospital and community practice to the pharmaceutical industry, research, and even diplomacy, underscoring their expanding influence in shaping sustainable health systems in the UAE and worldwide.
The program continued with remarks by Professor Muhammad Al-Shorbagy, Dean of the College of Pharmacy at GMU. Professor Al-Shorbagy underscored that the true mission of pharmacists is not only dispensing medicines but rather, preventing disasters. He capitalized on the concept of pharmacists’ “superpowers”; the Power of Proximity, the Power of the Question, and the Power of Expanding Roles. He concluded his speech by reminding students that pharmacy is a legacy of trust, where professionals engage in daily acts of quiet heroism.
A recorded video message from Dr. Heba BaniHani, Founder of The Migraine Pharmacist in Canada and Visiting Lecturer at the University of Waterloo, further enriched the program. Dr. BaniHani discussed the growing scope of pharmacy practice in Canada, highlighting pharmacists’ authority to prescribe medications and their direct impact on patients’ lives.
The celebration concluded with a group photo, bringing together GMU faculty, students, and partners to honor the contributions of pharmacists.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
