The Dubai Mall Medical Centre strengthens portfolio with Complementary & Alternative Medicine Department

• Dr Heather Eade, Naturopathic Medicine Practitioner, heads the department offering a broad range of healthcare conditions

The Dubai Mall Medical Centre, the flagship healthcare centre of the Emaar Healthcare Group and Methodist International partnership, has strengthened its portfolio of healthcare services with the opening of the Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) Department.

Focused on the holistic wellness of visitors in addition to offering specialised services that meet modern lifestyle requirements, the CAM Department is headed by Dr Heather Eade, Naturopathic Medicine Practitioner, with extensive experience working in Canada and Saudi Arabia previously.

The CAM Department at The Dubai Mall Medical Centre offers a spectrum of treatment options that address specific patient profiles in addition to supporting the other departments by providing valuable lifestyle recommendations for patients. A variety of conditions can be addressed by the department including gastro-intestinal problems, skin conditions, reproductive concerns, hormonal abnormalities, as well as lifestyle issues like smoking cessation, weight loss, and stress management.

Mr Omar Al Shunnar, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Healthcare Group, said: “A recent healthcare survey in the UAE reports that nearly a third of the Emirati population is obese and that one in every four Nationals is diabetic. This is an indication of the need for modifying lifestyles, in which complementary & alternative medicine can play a pivotal role.”

He added: “The opening of the CAM departments underlines our commitment to offer holistic treatment options for visitors, and underscores how we are leading the way in integrated medical care for the community. By integrating wellness treatments with modern treatments, patients benefit from an overall lifestyle modification that adds to their well-being.”

“While antibiotics have saved millions of lives, there has been a real shift in the way people think about their health,” said Dr. Sarper Tanli, Executive Director for Methodist International. “Many people are attracted to complementary alternative medicine, as it emphasizes on treating the whole person – body, mind and spirit. Some physicians have started to use CAM as a part of support to their conventional medicine practice. A combination of complementary and conventional medicine integrates the solutions for people’s well-being and patients find the individualized and collaborative approach of medicine particularly appealing.”

Dr Eade added: “Complementary & Alternative Medicine is gaining acceptance as a healthcare priority by healthcare organisations globally. CAM treatments are focused on preventative as well as corrective options, in tune with the individual needs of each patient. The value of CAM therapies, when integrated in a modern treatment centre, is immense as the focus is on healthcare options that promote and support the body’s natural healing processes.”

Dr Eade’s scope of practice as a Naturopathic Medicine Practitioner includes clinical nutrition, homeopathy, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and physical medicine. Further certifications in colon hydrotherapy, cranio-sacral therapy, intravenous, and chelation therapy leave Dr. Eade well positioned to offer comprehensive CAM treatment protocols for a variety of medical conditions. In addition, the department offers food and environmental sensitivity screening.

Dr Eade completed her BSc (Honors) in Life Sciences at Queen’s University in Canada in 1999, and her four-year doctorate degree in naturopathic medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in Vancouver, Canada in 2005, where she earned the prestigious John Cosgrove Award for Excellence in Clinical Skills.

Previously she managed the Complementary and Alternative Medicine department in a private hospital in Saudi Arabia, and has experience treating patients of all ages. She has a particular interest in helping her patients achieve their health and wellness goals through truly individualized and integrated care.

Conveniently located within The Dubai Mall, the 60,000 sq ft premium multi-speciality medical centre is focused on offering an integrated healthcare experience, and is the largest out-patient facility in the region. The focus of the medical centre is to drive Emaar Healthcare Group’s goal of creating holistic healthcare systems that are aligned with the needs of the community.

Other specialities offered include: cardiology, orthopaedics, general surgery, paediatrics, family medicine, endocrinology, urology, gastroenterology, general medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology.