Ajman, UAE — Most veterinary students around the world graduate know how to diagnose and treat animals. Very few graduates know how to rehabilitate them. At Gulf Medical University, that gap is closing.

Gulf Medical University (GMU), through its Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Physio Evolution Animal Physiotherapy LLC (PEAP), the region's leading animal physiotherapy provider, based in Meydan, Dubai. The five-year partnership brings structured physiotherapy training and electives directly into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) study plan.

The MoU was signed by the Dean of the College in the Presence of Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder and President of Thumbay Group, and Ms. Kirsten Christiansen, Founder and Managing Director of Physio Evolution Animal Physiotherapy. DVM students will complete their pre-clinical courses at the GMU campus in Ajman and then undergo in physiotherapy training at PEAP's specialist facility, working with real patients recovering from surgery or injury, as well as managing age-related conditions. PEAP clinicians will be appointed as adjunct faculty at GMU, so students learn directly from professionals who practise animal rehabilitation every day.

This is a fast-growing field. Pet owners across the UAE increasingly expect post-operative recovery, mobility care, and sports rehabilitation for their animals, particularly for dogs and performance horses. Graduates entering the profession with this training will have an added clinical skill set from the day one. The collaboration extends well beyond student training. Faculty from both institutions will collaborate across teaching, research and healthcare management, while joint research will run through the Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine. PEAP clinicians will gain access to Gulf Medical University Library’s academic resources and publications, along with short-term veterinary education programs and workshops led by GMU. Together, the two institutions will also develop joint CME/CPD programs, workshops and conferences. A joint coordination committee will report on shared activities every six months.

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.”

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.”

A Complete Veterinary Ecosystem

The PEAP partnership joins a growing clinical network behind the Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine. The DVM program received initial accreditation from the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in September 2025. Students train across Thumbay Veterinary Clinics, the Thumbay Veterinary Clinical Skills Lab, and partners including the Royal Veterinary College London, Sharjah Equine Hospital, Sharjah Falcon Hospital, and the Umm Al Quwain Camel Hospital. Thumbay Group has also broken ground in Ajman on the UAE’s first private veterinary teaching hospital, set to open at Thumbay Medicity in 2027. The      five-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at Gulf Medical University is now accepting applications. Students who have completed Grade 12 with Biology and Chemistry are eligible to apply. The program is grounded in the WHO One Health approach, connecting human, animal, and environmental health.