Mayo Clinic heart specialists begin seeing patients in Dubai as part of the strategic partnership with Dubai Healthcare City

This new service represents a joint project with Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC). The project will also consist of cardiovascular research and continuing cardiovascular educational activities.

As the first step towards the opening of the Mayo Clinic Middle East facility at Dubai Healthcare City in August 2004, and to meet the growing demand for the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases in the region, Mayo Clinic heart specialists have begun seeing patients in Dubai.

Saeed Al Muntafiq, Chairman of the Board, Dubai Healthcare City said, "This initiative is the result of the strategic partnership between Dubai Healthcare City and Mayo Clinic by which Mayo Clinic will establish its medical center at the DHCC. Through this center the Mayo physicians will provide world-class medical care within the Dubai Healthcare City."

Al Muntafiq added, "Due to the great demand for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, Mayo Clinic and DHCC will be offering this service from now, even before the Dubai Healthcare City facilities have been officially opened. When the first phase of the DHCC out-patient facilities open in August 2004, this service will move the site."

Al Muntafiq also said, "This is the first step in the delivery of our partnership with Mayo, with more to come in the future, such as continuous medical education events and research collaboration."

"This groundbreaking association with Dubai Healthcare City is a significant step for Mayo Clinic," said Hugh Smith, M.D., chair, Board of Governors at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "It marks the first time that Mayo Clinic physicians will provide ongoing patient care outside the United States."

A Mayo clinic heart specialist and team of support staff will evaluate patients with heart conditions seeking further evaluation, diagnosis and follow-up care. This new service also will allow Mayo Clinic's team of physicians an opportunity to work with local physicians who see patients in the region.

"Mayo Clinic is excited by the opportunity to provide more of our services here in the Middle East." said Jamil Tajik, M.D., a Mayo Clinic Heart specialist and director of the international component of the Mayo Clinic cardiology outreach program. "Our Cardiovascular Outreach Program has proven to be a successful means of working with patients with heart problems. The fact that we will be able to do initial screening and diagnosis without requiring the patients to travel to the United States will add to the success of the program.

Dr. Tajik added that the patients who need additional, more complex services and surgeries, will have access to the Mayo Clinic multi-disciplinary practice in the United States.