This interview is one in a series of interviews with recipients of the 2026 ACGME International Awards. The awardees join an outstanding group of current and previous honorees whose work and contributions to graduate medical education (GME) around the world represent the best in the field. They will be honored at the 2026 ACGME Annual Educational Conference, taking place 19-21 February 2026, in San Diego, California, US.
2026 ACGME International Susan H. Day Physician Leader Awardee Maha M. Al Fahim, MBBCh, CCFP, is Chair and designated institutional official (DIO) at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). ACGME-I spoke with Dr. Al Fahim about her career and what receiving this award means to her.
ACGME-I: How did you become involved in medicine, and in academic medicine specifically?
Dr. Al Fahim: My interest in medicine started with a simple wish to help people in a meaningful way. During my family medicine residency in Canada, I enjoyed working closely with patients and their families. When I later moved to Abu Dhabi and joined Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, I began teaching interns in the clinic, and something changed for me, I discovered how much I truly loved teaching.
Supporting a colleague in establishing the family medicine residency program showed me how powerful education can be. I realized that training young doctors does not just shape individuals; it strengthens entire health systems. That realization inspired me to continue in academic medicine. Over the years, as I took on larger roles in education and leadership, my passion for supporting residents only grew. Watching them develop into confident physicians and leaders has been one of the greatest joys of my career.
ACGME-I: What does this award mean to you?
Dr. Al Fahim: Receiving this award is a very humbling and emotional moment for me. It represents many years of work, not only from me but from countless people who have supported medical education in the UAE. I feel honored that ACGME-I recognizes the efforts that so many of us have put into improving training and strengthening our programs.
For me, this award is a reminder of why we do this work. Medical education is often behind the scenes, but it has a huge impact on patient care and on the future of health care in the country. I am grateful to receive this recognition, and I accept it on behalf of all the residents, faculty members, coordinators, and leaders who have walked this journey with me.
ACGME-I: As this award reflects the contributions you’ve made to GME in the UAE, what would you consider to be the most important of your contributions?
Dr. Al Fahim: I have been fortunate to contribute in many ways, from establishing new residency and fellowship programs to leading SKMC through several successful accreditation cycles and supporting national GME development across the UAE.
But the contribution that means the most to me is creating opportunities for young physicians.
By expanding training programs, we opened doors for young Emirati physicians to pursue their specialties locally at international standards. Strengthening our systems, policies, and governance helped ensure that learners across all disciplines receive consistent, high quality education. Through mentoring both residents and faculty members, we supported the development of a confident and capable medical workforce, one that is now taking on leadership roles throughout the country.
The greatest privilege has been watching this transformation. Residents who once walked into their first day of training are now consultants, educators, researchers, and decision-makers shaping the future of health care in the UAE. That legacy, our people, is the contribution I value most.
ACGME-I: In your view, how has the overall strengthening of GME, especially through international accreditation, benefited the UAE’s medical education and health care systems?
Dr. Al Fahim: International accreditation has given the UAE a powerful framework for excellence. It has standardized expectations, aligned educational outcomes with global competencies, and created a shared language among programs, faculty members, and residents. This structure has helped elevate the quality of GME across institutions and ensured that residents’ learning journeys are transparent, rigorous, and well-supported.
For the health care system, accredited GME has strengthened workforce planning and allowed hospitals to cultivate specialists and subspecialists with the exact skills the country needs. It has also fostered a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and scholarly inquiry—key components of any modern health system.
Ultimately, international accreditation has helped establish the UAE as a regional leader in medical education, capable of training physicians to the highest international standards while cultivating a workforce deeply rooted in the nation’s values and priorities.
ACGME-I: Having played a key role in the evolution of GME in the UAE, what would you like to see happen in the UAE’s GME environment in the future?
Dr. Al Fahim: The UAE has built tremendous momentum, and I believe the next chapter will be even more transformative. I envision:
- Expansion of fellowship programs to meet the country’s evolving subspecialty needs.
- Greater national collaboration, with institutions sharing expertise, faculty development initiatives, and research resources.
- Integration of emerging fields, artificial intelligence, genomics, and digital health, into curricula so that our residents graduate ready for the medicine of the future.
- Increased investment in faculty development, ensuring our educators are equipped to mentor, inspire, and lead in an ever-changing landscape.
- Sustained support for resident well-being, because thriving physicians create thriving health systems.
Most of all, I hope to see continued empowerment of Emirati residents and young faculty members. Watching them rise into leadership roles has been one of the greatest joys of my career, and I believe they will carry forward the vision of a world class, patient-centered, innovation-driven GME environment.
ACGME-I: Is there anything you would like to add?
Dr. Al Fahim: Only this: The success of any educational system is built on people who believe in the mission. I have been fortunate to work with extraordinary residents, faculty members, coordinators, and leaders who share a passion for excellence and a commitment to the future of health care in the UAE.
To the many residents who have inspired me over the years, your resilience, curiosity, and dedication remind me every day why this work matters. You are the reason I continue to grow, learn, and strive to create better systems. This award reflects your success as much as mine.
This award is not the end of a journey but a reminder that our work is meaningful, impactful, and far from finished.