Innovation and Compassion at UAE's Nursing Conference

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Under the esteemed patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the 2nd Annual Nursing Conference was formally opened by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi on 12 November 2025.

With the theme “The SMART Nurse: Integrating Technology with Clinical Expertise to Shape the Future of Patient Care,” this conference delved into the vital intersection of digital innovations and nursing practice. The focus was not merely on technological advancements, but also on ensuring that patient-centric care retains its human element.

His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan conveyed the conference’s objective: to empower nurses, midwives, and healthcare professionals to meld their skills with compassion. He underscored the UAE’s pioneering role in fostering a healthcare landscape that harmonizes technological progress with ethical and humanitarian principles. “Nurses are the bridge between knowledge and care. They comfort, heal, and inspire hope,” he remarked, emphasizing the significance of the nursing profession in directing the future of healthcare.

Engaging more than 500 participants from the UAE and beyond, attendees participated in panels discussing leadership amid AI advancements, clinical simulation training, and real-world case studies highlighting the transformative effects of digital tools on patient outcomes.

The second day saw a live demonstration from Abu Dhabi Academy, which showcased an AI-driven solution emerging from the Healthcare Innovation Hackathon. This innovative tool aims to tackle real-life clinical issues and will undergo a six-month pilot study at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Elizabeth Guffeyro, Chief Nursing Officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, remarked on the essential synergy between technology and compassion: “While technology unveils amazing potential, its true strength shines when it is directed by the empathy of nurses who recognize the individual behind every data point.”

The conference reiterated Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s dedication to nurturing nursing as both a science and art form, promoting innovation while ensuring the essence of human-centered healthcare remains intact. It further positioned the UAE as a benchmark for global healthcare excellence, where technology amplifies—never replaces—the importance of empathy and professional commitment.