Interview with Dr Ubaid Shah - Consultant Pediatric Neurologist & Epileptologist at American Hospital Dubai

Interview with Dr Ubaid Shah - Consultant Pediatric Neurologist & Epileptologist,? Director of American Children’s Centre and American Centre for Epilepsy?at American Hospital Dubai

Dr. Ubaid Shah is an Australian Board Certified Consultant Pediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist. Dr. Shah is a leading expert in complex neurological conditions in children and has presented his research findings at national and international conferences. He is Director of the American Centre for Epilepsy where he leads a dedicated team in providing cutting-edge care and support to adult and paediatric patients with epilepsy, employing innovative approaches to improve outcomes and quality of life. He is also a Director of the American Children’s Centre, a specialist paediatric facility within American Hospital Dubai. As Program Director of Dubai Health Authority’s Pediatric Residency Program, Dr Shah is also dedicated to shaping the next generation of paediatric specialists.

In mid-2022, Dr. Shah relocated from Australia to American Hospital Dubai, where he is advancing paediatric neurology and state-of-the-art epilepsy care for the Gulf region.?

At Allocation Assist, we always enjoy catching up with our doctors and finding out about their experiences and achievements.?

Dr. Ubaid, thank you so much for making time in your busy schedule. Can you start by telling us about your specialist training and what drew you to Paediatric Neurology??

I completed my specialist training in Australia, mainly at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, and also Brisbane and Canberra. During my Paediatric training, Paediatric Neurology in particular always fascinated me. As I saw children with special needs and various neurological conditions, I realised the importance of a thorough clinical evaluation to investigate the underlying causes, and areas where there was scope to improve diagnosis and treatment for these children. This led me to sub specialise in Paediatric Neurology and to my special interest in refractory epilepsy.?

Why did you decide to relocate to Dubai and American Hospital in particular?

The COVID-19 pandemic made us all realise how important family connections are. Australia had a very strict lockdown and, when travel reopened, we felt that we wanted to be within easier reach of family. We have family in the UK and Dubai is very central and convenient for travel, with direct flights. For my family, we wanted our children to be in a multicultural environment, and Dubai offers a great quality of life with ease of living and safety.

From a professional perspective, I felt that I could contribute to building up new specialist services for paediatric neurology and epilepsy, for the UAE and the wider Gulf region. American Hospital Dubai is one of the highest rated and most advanced hospitals in the UAE. The hospital management has great vision and foresight. American Hospital Dubai supported me to establish the American Centre for Epilepsy as a dedicated centre of excellence for epilepsy. I was also given the opportunity to become a Director of the American Children’s Center, working with a dedicated team of paediatric specialists. In addition to offering care for a range of neurological conditions, we have established a specialist service offering advanced monitoring, diagnosis, and treatments for children with epilepsy. We are also the first in Dubai to offer home video EEG using remote monitoring, which can be especially useful for children with special needs who find it very challenging being in a hospital environment.?

What conditions do you see and treat?

I see children with diverse neurological problems, apart from epilepsy, for example neurodevelopmental disorders, autism spectrum, ADHD, learning difficulties, neurometabolic, neuro-immunological and neurogenetic conditions, recurring headaches, and brain tumours. I work closely with other specialists in neurosurgery, neurorehabilitation, paediatric psychiatry, developmental medicine etc. At American Hospital, as in other hospitals in the UAE, we have consultants from many different countries. Although we may have different ways of working and cultural backgrounds, I view this as beneficial as we can learn from each other and develop best international practice.?

Have you found any differences working here in Dubai?

The healthcare system in the UAE differs from the public health system in Australia. Patients have a lot of choice of providers and can go straight to see a specialist, rather than being referred through a general practitioner (GP). The benefit of this is that patients don’t have to wait, but they may not always know how to find a specialist who has the training and experience that they require. This made me realise the need to establish a dedicated centre of excellence for epilepsy. I also came to realise that there was a lack of awareness about epilepsy and so we did a lot of groundwork to address misconceptions and provide access to reliable information and support. We continue to reach out with community awareness events and talks in schools and other centres, as well as parent support groups.?

What new developments are there in the treatment of epilepsy?

The diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy is an advancing area. I am involved in research projects aimed at improving identification of the underlying causes of epilepsy and treatments to achieve the best long-term outcomes. Technologies such as multi-modal image processing, and invasive EEG monitoring can help us to identify the part of the brain that is causing seizures and evaluate potential treatments. Innovative therapies include ketogenic diet, vagal nerve stimulation, and advanced surgical interventions supported by robotic Stereo-EEG.

How are you training the next generation of paediatric specialists in the UAE?

I enjoy teaching and I am a Professor of Pediatric Neurology at the University of Sharjah Medical School and Gulf Medical University. In addition, I am the Regional Program Director for the Dubai Health Authority DCGME Pediatric Residency Programme, responsible for curriculum development. We train, mentor, and equip Paediatric residents to excel, fostering a culture of continuous learning throughout their medical careers. The number of residency programmes in different specialities is expanding, enabling graduates from medical schools in the UAE to continue their training within the country, reducing reliance on overseas training. Unified training programmes include rotations at American Hospital and other hospitals. This encourages more collaboration between the hospitals and provides residents with access to experts in a range of different subspecialties.?

Can you give any advice to consultants thinking of relocating?

Do your research and get advice to find out if Dubai or the Gulf region is the right place for you. If you are currently working in a public health system without private practice experience, you may find some differences in work culture which require some transition. It is necessary to be proactive, raise awareness of your skills and experience, and network to build up your patient base. You can’t just wait and expect people to come to you. You need to be flexible and willing to see patients outside your subspecialty, especially at the beginning. Good communication and cultural sensitivity are also important. Dubai is a vibrant, international city and a great place to live. Although working hours can be a bit longer, there is so much to do and enjoy in your free time. ?