On November 17–18, 2025, the College of Pharmacy at Gulf Medical University participated in the 1st Emirates Pharmacy Society Conference, held at the Marriott Hotel, Al Jaddaf, Dubai. The GMU delegation was led by Professor Muhammad Al-Shorbagy, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, and included Professor Dixon Thomas, Associate Dean – Clinical; Associate Professor Muhammed Abdullatif, Assistant Dean of Assessment and Evaluation and Dr. Ruth Alex, Clinical Preceptor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, along with a vibrant group of PharmD students from multiple cohorts.
GMU students played an active role in the organization and execution of the conference, contributing to its smooth delivery and leaving a strong imprint on the event’s success.
Four poster presentations were delivered by students, including contributions from Professor Dixon Thomas and Dr. Diana Malaeb, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice. The posters featured research by Rawan Oss, Ola Ahmed, Fatemeh Fekri, Farah Helal, Shamsiya Fathima, Mohammad Hamarsheh, May Gamal, and Nikita Sunil Binu.
Professor Muhammad Al-Shorbagy delivered an insightful keynote in the Career Planning and Professional Development track, titled “From Graduation to Re-Graduation: Reinventing the University as a Lifelong Career Launchpad.” In his talk, he highlighted how universities can empower learners to take control of their careers and redefine success from graduation to continuous growth. He introduced the DNA model of the lifelong learner, emphasizing repetitive cycles of study, work, return, upskilling, and relaunching as a framework for lifelong professional development.
The conference offered an invaluable platform for networking and learning, with sessions covering clinical practice, educational workforce development, pharmacist-led clinics, career planning, unified procurement programs, innovation and digital health, health economics and outcomes research, and residency models.
