Dr. Mariam Buti Al Mazrouei

Chief Executive Officer of Sheikh Khalifa Medical City 

Graduation from United Arab Emirates University was only the very first step of a journey full of significant achievements.

Dr. Mariam Buti Al Mazrouei is an Emirati healthcare leader with a distinguished career of 16 years as healthcare executive.

Dr. Mariam has been working in Abu Dhabi Health Services Company – SEHA since 2008 and held several leading positions in its Healthcare Facilities such as Corniche hospital where she was appointed the COO then Deputy CEO, she also served as the CEO of Ambulatory Healthcare Services and the CEO of Al Rahba hospital consecutively. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), the flagship tertiary hospital in the UAE and the largest teaching medical center in Abu Dhabi. Prior to joining SEHA, Dr. Mariam was the Medical Director of Dubai Healthcare City.

However, it all started from here, The Faculty of Medicine at UAE University. The first medical school in UAE, where Dr. Mariam was among the very early groups of doctors who graduated from UAE University.

“It was my strong belief that no profession brings humanity closer than the medical field. It embodied compassion, mercy, humility, empathy and patience”. She explains, “My fasciation towards the medical field began at an early stage of my life. UAE University has incubated my passion and nurtured my dream.”

Although she graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in 1995, yet memories of the university are still vivid.

“A walk down the memory lane brings happy thoughts mixed with nostalgia. With every passing year university started to become an essential and indeed the most beautiful phase of my life. From the moment I stepped in surrounded by total strangers to the graduation cap toss with a huge group of close friends.” she says, “Sometimes we never really realize the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

“I still remember my first day, walking through the long corridors, who could’ve imagined that this place is going to change me forever. It was my first time away from home in a place that soon became my “other” home. I still remember the face of each and every professor, every sleepless night due to a tight deadline, countless hours in the library and the last-minute revision before the exam.”

Dr. Mariam Al Mazrouei affirms that college life molds a person in various ways.

“I spent six years’ worth of memories that have passed by in the blink of an eye. It is not only science and anatomy that UAE University taught me, but everything that unfolds around me in the world. I still carry those life lessons with me all the way.”

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! The ability to acquire a new piece of knowledge, or skill or talent certainly enhances the opportunity to step up in your career. Dr. Mariam always knew that her “calling” was never restricted to just being a medical practitioner.

“I knew I had to reach beyond. I believed a hospital was as good as its doctors and the hospital’s services were as good as the hospital’s administrative vision. With this dogma in my mind, I wanted to make a difference in the healthcare services with my innumerable innovative approaches. I had a very deep interest in medical management. I looked into the Patient Care beyond just their medical needs and tried to care of the person as a whole.”

Dr. Mariam earned a Master of Business Administration in Health Administration from the University of Colorado - USA in 2002 and a Certification in Medical Quality from the American College of Medical Quality (ACMQ) - USA in 2009, she was one of the first two Emiratis who received this certificate. She is also the first UAE Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), USA. She later became the president of the ACHE MENA group.

Those certificates empowered her to pursue her dream of making in the “change” that she wants to see in the medical sector.

“I was certain that as an administrator I will have a direct and a bigger impact on the patients. Having a good clinical outcome needs more than good clinicians. It needs a strong system of clinical practice, education, and infrastructure and only a strong leader could bring all these together to enhance the patient care outcome. I was confident that I could make a difference in the system if I moved into the medical administration. And I did.”

Dr. Mariam’s journey from a Junior Medical Resident to the Chief Executive Officer of Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in 2019 has not only positively impacted her career but also genuinely changed her outlook towards the medical field.

 “My current role as the CEO at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City has been a highly enriching and motivating experience.  My tenure so far has allowed me to execute exceptional initiatives in the hospital’s clinical, technical and administration fields. I have been actively involved and instrumental in boosting the transformational leadership and Emiratization in the hospital administration. I have enjoyed empowering staff and mentoring my fellow UAE Nationals to take on big challenges.”

Dr. Mariam Al Mazrouei received “Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Superiority” in 2003, “Abu Dhabi Medical Distinction Award- Healthcare & Management Distinction Award” in 2013 and SEHA Medal for the Best Executive Director in 2013. She was also awarded as “Manager of the Year” by the European Business Assembly in 2015 and qualified among 10 best employees across Abu Dhabi Government for the Best Executive Director Category (Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance (cycle 4-2015). Dr. Mariam served as a Member of College of Medicine and Health Sciences College Council and Member of the College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, Abu Dhabi University and President and Past-President of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) MENA Group. She also served as a member of the Federal Health Authority Board of Directors and member of Ewa’a Board of Directors.

Her education and vast medical and management skills are the corner stone assets in achieving and supporting her prosperous career.

“My dual role has allowed me to effectively execute projects with a focus specifically on timelines in order to offer excellence in our healthcare deliveries.”

Knowledge has no limits. This is a strong belief of Dr. Mariam Al Mazrouei.

“I live by a great legacy of the UAE’s founding father Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who is fondly remembered in every step of my never-ending strive to achieve more. My favorite quote that motivates me is ‘the first and foremost responsibility of all Emiratis is to work day and night to keep on improving themselves which will eventually lead to boosting their nation. No Emirati should believe that receiving a degree and settling at their work is the ultimate goal’.”