Veronica Martin spoke to Dr Mohammed Al Shamsi, Head of Technical Support at Emirates Health Services, to find out how he has transformed Emirates Health Services with his knowledge and expertise, the key skills he has gained from obtaining a PHD in blockchain technology – and his role as chairman of the Ajman Youth Council.
Can you give our readers an overview of your roles and responsibilities at Emirates Health Services?
At Emirates Health Services, I am the manager of technical support. I have been with the company for almost 12 years. I started as a junior, worked in different departments, and then became head of technical support.
I have a PhD in computer science, specialized and focused on blockchain at the British University in Dubai.
Many of my projects have been successful, including the Head Quarter AV project where I achieved 50% savings as a result of my efforts.
You’ve had a phenomenal career in the IT profession, particularly in the healthcare sector, but can you tell us how you’ve leveraged your knowledge and expertise to transform Emirates Health Services?
Before joining Emirates Health Services, I worked with the Ministry of Health, so my exposure and experience in the healthcare field is quite extensive.
In addition, my experience allows me to bring a lot of expertise and decision-making skills. These skills are essential on a daily basis, as I am the head of department and we are responsible for the IT operation of the hospitals under Emirates Health Services. In addition to understanding what needs to be done and how to do it, I have a sense of timing.
You recently obtained a PHD in blockchain technology, can you tell us more about that process and what are the key skills you have now gained from achieving this unique qualification?
I started my PhD in 2019 to focus on research. After attending many conferences, I was inspired by them to choose sustainability as a topic for my dissertation, and specifically how it affects blockchain technology in higher education.
I have also published seven articles in various areas of healthcare, business, security and blockchain. My thesis has been distributed to seven universities and almost all surveys have evaluated my thesis and concept positively.
Blockchain has formed a key part of Dubai’s paperless strategy, but some technology and IT analysts remain skeptical of the technology, but from your perspective, what are the key features that Blockchain provides for those implementing and adopting the technology – and how will it help transform any of the services you offer at Emirates Health Services?
Blockchain replaces people, so they are resistant to this change, but this is the future and we have to accept this technology. We have already implemented blockchain in Emirates Health Services and encourage people to use it. Any revolutionary technology comes with resistance all the time. However, blockchain creates an increased sense of security and reliability for users, which is very beneficial since there is a lot of vulnerability around data protection. The future of data security is undeniably blockchain.
What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the healthcare sector in the UAE?
We have excellent services and specialists, but often send patients abroad to countries such as the USA or South Korea for treatment. This means we need to open specialized centers in the UAE so that people do not have to travel to other countries for specialized treatments.
Can you tell our readers more about your role as chairman of the Ajman Youth Council?
We started the council in 2020 and I was elected as the leader of the Ajman Youth Council, which has been an amazing journey. I have represented the UAE at several conferences around the world. I am grateful for this experience. I am delighted to pave a path and guide the young Emiratis in achieving excellence together.
Are you using your position as Chairman to encourage the next generation of Emiratis to pursue a career in IT and other STEM-related fields?
Absolutely, yes. As they say, every position comes with responsibility. It is an absolute honor that I get to interact with the youth of our country and I hold myself responsible for carving out their career paths in IT. I hosted several events to bring the right exposure to our youth and showcase what the future holds for them in IT.
I developed subject matter training programs to teach the skills required to excel in our industry. The future for our youth looks promising, and we are only at the beginning. The foundation for our future is laid in gold. I truly believe in the words of wisdom quoted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum “The youth of the Emirates are the fuel of our renaissance. The youth of the Emirates are the guarantee of our future. The youth of the Emirates are the protectors of our home.”
