ABU DHABI, UAE – Burjeel Medical City (BMC), the flagship hospital of Burjeel Holdings, has entered into a clinical and academic collaboration with New York-based Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to establish a specialized thoracic surgery program in the UAE, expanding access to advanced cancer care across the region.
The partnership will create a dedicated thoracic surgery service for cancers affecting the lungs, esophagus, mediastinum, and chest wall. The program will offer robot-assisted, video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS), and conventional open surgeries, providing patients with access to specialized treatment closer to home while reducing the need to travel abroad.
Integrated into the Burjeel Cancer Institute (BCI), the program will deliver multidisciplinary care by bringing together thoracic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pulmonology, pathology, and radiology. Joint thoracic tumor board meetings, second-opinion consultations with Roswell Park specialists, and treatment pathways aligned with National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines will further enhance patient care.
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Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and CEO of Burjeel Holdings, said: “This collaboration creates a sustainable pathway for patients in the UAE and across the region to access highly specialized thoracic cancer care closer to home. By combining Roswell Park’s expertise with BMC’s capabilities and regional reach, we aim to strengthen outcomes, build local expertise, and reduce the burden of traveling overseas for complex treatment.”
Beyond clinical services, the collaboration establishes a long-term academic partnership focused on clinician training, faculty exchanges, research, protocol development, and educational initiatives. The lead thoracic surgeon will also hold an academic designation with Roswell Park, strengthening knowledge exchange and supporting the development of local expertise in thoracic oncology.
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Dr. Candace S. Johnson, President and CEO of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, said: “Roswell Park has a long-standing commitment to advancing cancer care through collaboration, research, and education.”
Dr. Sai Yendamuri, Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and Chair of Thoracic Surgery at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, said: “By working with Burjeel Medical City, we can extend specialized thoracic cancer care expertise, support multidisciplinary decision-making, and help build a world-class program serving patients across the UAE and region.”
