Professor Dr Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor, Gulf Medical University, is the first recipient of the Health Worker Recognition Award. The Award was conferred to him by the Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (EMRO) of World Health Organisation (WHO). With this recognition, Professor Hamdy has been internationally acknowledged for his exceptional academic contributions towards the transformation of medical professional education in the Gulf region.

This year's award is particularly significant noting that 2021 has been designated by the WHO as the International Year of Health and Care Workers. To mark the occasion, the EMRO has recognised and hailed the continuous efforts and services of all health workers across the world during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Announcing the winners of the Health Worker Recognition Awards, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO General Director EMRO Dr Ahmed Al Mandahari, expressed the global health agency's commitment towards the need to invest in health workers and showcasing gratitude to their unwavering efforts.

"We are reinforcing that message by creating a new Eastern Mediterranean Health Workers Recognition Awards and it is my great pleasure to announce Professor Hossam Hamdy as the first recipient of this prestigious award in the category of Medical Education," Dr Tedros said.

A well-known researcher, active paediatric surgeon, and a catalyst in the field of medical education, Professor Hamdy has been working actively to strengthen professional health education in the region for the last 40 years. With a career spanning across multiple administrative and senior roles, he has made notably contributions to boost the development of the medical profession in several countries in the EMRO including Egypt, Bahrain and UAE. As of now, he is successfully leading the Gulf Medical University in Ajman, UAE as a chancellor. Along with this feat, he continuous to work towards improving the quality of medical education in the region.

Accepting the award, Professor Hamdy stated that he is honoured to receive the award. He added that he is accepting it on behalf of his students and fellow academicians.

"My work would not have been possible without a wide range of collaborators," he said.

He further hailed the WHO recognition of his work will help in advancing the field of medical education in the UAE and the region.

"Research and innovation will be integral to the students’ learning experience and next-generation physicians should be competent in treating patients while maintaining the health of the population and I will continue to actively contribute towards this transformation. This pandemic has made us realise that health professionals, medical students and teachers can have an important role in conquering the COVID-19 pandemic," Professor Hamdy added.