GMU launches region’s first CCAT aeromedical transport
foundation course
(AJMAN) - Gulf Medical
University (GMU), one of
the Middle East’s
fastest-rising academic
health sciences
institutions, has
successfully concluded the
inaugural CCAT Aeromedical
Transport – Foundation Level
Course, held from December 4
to 9, 2025, at its Ajman
campus. The next batch of
the course will start in
June due to huge demand and
limited seats.
This
intensive six-day program,
aligned with international
aeromedical standards, was
designed for doctors,
nurses, paramedics, and
allied health professionals
involved in patient
transport, medical
evacuation, air ambulance
operations, and global
medical repatriation. The
course marks a major leap in
preparing the region’s
workforce for the rapidly
expanding aeromedical and
retrieval medicine sector.
Developed in partnership
with global aeromedical
specialists from CCAT in the
United Kingdom and led by
Course Director
Prof. Dr. Terry Martin,
the program brought together
advanced theory and
high-fidelity simulation
training. Participants
engaged in realistic
aircraft-style scenarios at
GMU’s state-of-the-art
Clinical Simulation Center,
practicing emergency
interventions, aviation
physiology, and rapid
decision-making under
altitude-related
constraints.
Prof. Dr. Terry Martin
shared,
“Aeromedical transport
pushes clinical teams into
an entirely different
operating environment. This
course builds the
specialized skillset
required to safely care for
patients at altitude, where
equipment, time, and
conditions are constantly
shifting.”
Global
demand for aeromedical
services continues to surge
due to rising medical
tourism, the need for rapid
inter-country transfers,
growing humanitarian
missions, and increased
investment in air ambulance
fleets across the Middle
East. Industry reports
indicate sustained
double-digit growth in
patient repatriation and
emergency aviation medicine,
creating an urgent need for
structured, competency-based
training programs.
Prof. Dr. Manda
Venkatramana, Chancellor of
Gulf Medical University,
emphasized the strategic
importance of the program:
“GMU’s mission has always
been to prepare healthcare
professionals who are
equipped for the realities
of a changing world.
Aeromedical care is a
high-stakes discipline.
Introducing this program
ensures our region has the
expertise to respond
swiftly, safely, and
confidently in critical
situations. This is a vital
contribution to national
preparedness and global
healthcare mobility.”
Dr. Thumbay
Moideen, Founder President
of Thumbay Group, reflected
on GMU’s role as a
future-shaping institution:
“We invest in programs that
anticipate global needs.
Aeromedical transport is no
longer optional; it is
essential to international
healthcare, medical
evacuation, and emergency
response.”
The course
attracted participants from
the Middle East, South Asia,
and North America,
underscoring the rising
demand for specialized
aeromedical education.
Graduates received a
Certificate of Completion
jointly recognized by CCAT,
GMU, and industry partners.
GMU will now expand the
pathway with advanced
modules and recurrent
aeromedical training in June
2026, strengthening its
reputation as a hub for
aviation medicine,
humanitarian health, and
critical care transport
education. Currently, the
spring admissions are open
for students. Visit
www.gmu.ac.ae for more
information.
