Gulf Medical University (GMU), through its Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine, has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Physio Evolution Animal Physiotherapy LLC (PEAP) to introduce structured animal physiotherapy training into the university’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programme.
Under the partnership, students will complete their pre-clinical studies at GMU’s campus in Ajman before receiving practical training at PEAP’s specialist facility in Meydan, Dubai. The programme will give students exposure to animals recovering from surgery and injuries, as well as those requiring rehabilitation for age-related mobility conditions.
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PEAP clinicians will also serve as adjunct faculty at the university, providing students with practical instruction in animal rehabilitation. The collaboration will cover areas including teaching, research, healthcare management and continuing professional development.
The two organisations also plan to conduct joint research through the Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, alongside workshops, conferences and CME/CPD programmes. A joint coordination committee will review the partnership’s activities every six months.
The initiative comes as demand for specialised animal rehabilitation services grows, particularly in areas such as post-operative recovery, mobility care and sports rehabilitation for pets and performance animals.
Prof. Mohammad S. Khalifeh, Dean of Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine, said:: “Veterinary medicine is a profession of remarkable breadth, and our job is to prepare students for all of it. Rehabilitation is now a core part of modern animal care, yet it is rarely taught at this stage. Training alongside Physio Evolution’s specialists gives our DVM students real clinical exposure and a skill set that will distinguish them from the day they graduate.”
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Ms. Kirsten Christiansen, Founder and Managing Director of Physio Evolution Animal Physiotherapy, said: “The demand for skilled animal rehabilitation in the UAE is far ahead of the talent available. Training vets early, while they are still forming their clinical instincts, is the best way to change that. We are proud to open our doors to GMU’s students.”
Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine’s DVM programme received initial accreditation from the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation in September 2025. Students train through a network that includes Thumbay Veterinary Clinics and other specialist veterinary institutions.
GMU has also begun construction of a private veterinary teaching hospital at Thumbay Medicity in Ajman, which is expected to open in 2027. The five-year DVM programme follows the One Health approach, linking animal, human and environmental health.
