A Partnership Born to Leverage the Sound History of Egyptian Education of Health Professionals and the Expertise of UTMB in Student-Centered and Active Learning Approaches
With significant support from the political leadership in Egypt and the University of Texas (UT) System, medical experts from Texas and Cairo shook hands in 2023, setting in motion what would become a Medical Education transformation for Egypt. The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and Badya University (BU) launched a landmark partnership designed to establish a new standard for health sciences education, research, and healthcare delivery nationwide.
At its core, the initiative focuses on people, not just institutions: training doctors who understand Egypt's unique health challenges, conducting research that matters locally, and creating hospitals where both patients and medical students thrive.
The Egyptian Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, hosting the leadership of UTMB and BU in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt.
Who is Involved?
UTMB
UTMB is the driving force behind this transformative partnership. As one of Texas's most distinguished academic health centers, it brings deep expertise in public health education, global health system development, research capacity building, and healthcare quality improvement. This partnership is nested in the Division of Global Partnerships (DGP), Department of Population Health and Health Disparities (PHHD) of the School of Public and Population Health (SPPH). The project is led by Hani Serag, MD, MPH (PI) and Hanaa Sallam, MD, PhD (Co-PI) under the direction of M. Kristen Peek, PhD (Senior Vice President and Dean, SPPH). This partnership brings collaborative efforts between SPPH and the School of Medicine, represented by Majka Woods, PhD (Vice Dean, Academic Affairs), and the School of Health Professions, represented by Carole Tucker, PT, PhD (Associate Dean for Research, Chair, Physical Therapy).
DGP's mission intertwines with SPPH's mission of leading innovative public health education, translational research, and evidence-informed practice and policy through authentic collaborations in Texas and worldwide, making it a natural partner for institutions seeking to establish cutting-edge academic and healthcare systems.
The SPPH's DGP team works to develop sustainable, high-impact collaborations that improve education, research, and healthcare delivery in resource-constrained and emerging academic environments.
Badya University (BU)
Founded in 2023 by presidential decree, BU is a dynamic new university, a project of private investors in Egypt’s higher education and health fields, including Egypt’s Palm Hills Developments and education provider, Taaleem Management Services in Cairo, Egypt. With three health science schools, including Medicine, Dentistry, and Physical Therapy, BU is committed to delivering innovative, student-centered education that meets international standards and producing future healthcare and science leaders capable of tackling Egypt's most pressing health challenges.
Guided by academic freedom, equality, and excellence values, BU is focused on research that addresses national and regional priorities, community engagement, and building a healthcare workforce prepared for the future.
The collaboration between UTMB and BU is championed by Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD (President, CEO, Health System, UTMB), Hossam El-Mallahy, DDS, PhD (President, BU and member of the Egyptian Senate), and Mohamed El Rashidi, BEng (Chairperson of BU Board of Trustees)
-dr-reiser-and-dr-mallahy-signing-the-collaboration-agreement-back-(l-to-r)-dr-sharma-dr-ayman-ashour-(minister-of-higher-education-scientific-research)-mr-rashididaac3b62-8d95-427e-a020-9810bbe3d54a.jpg?sfvrsn=91843255_3 "Signing Ceremony")
Front (L to R): Dr. Reiser and Dr. El-Mallahy signing the collaboration agreement.
Back (L to R): Dr. Sharma, Dr. Ayman Ashour, Mr. El Rashidi.
Building the Future of Health Education, Research, and Care in Egypt
UTMB and BU work side-by-side in this multi-year collaboration to establish and deliver world-class academic and clinical health sciences programs. This partnership builds educational, research, and healthcare systems from the ground up, focusing on long-term sustainability and international best practices.
Key Areas of Current and Collaboration and Future Plans
- Developing fully integrated, competency-based curricula for BU's Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Physical Therapy, aligned with global standards and tailored to Egypt's needs.
- Training faculty to deliver modern, student-centered, active learning methodologies, including clinical teaching and research mentorship.
- Establishing robust student assessment frameworks, faculty evaluation processes, and comprehensive student support services to ensure educational excellence and accountability.
- Launching a joint Research Collaborative Program focusing on Egypt's most urgent public health needs, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and brain health, with UTMB providing technical assistance in research infrastructure, protocol development, and faculty training.
- Supporting the Badya Teaching Hospital, a modern clinical facility integrating patient care, clinical education, and quality improvement, supported by UTMB's expertise in healthcare quality governance, clinical education, and digital health transformation.
Key Milestones in the Partnership
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Mid-2023 | Initial partnership exploration meetings |
| November 2023 | A formal Affiliation Agreement was signed between UTMB and BU |
| December 2023 | UTMB, represented by Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD, Charles Mouton, MD, MS, MBA, Gulshan Sharma, MD, MPH, Hani Serag, MD, MPH, and F. Marconi Monteiro, EdD, visited BU. UTMB leadership met with Chancellor AbdulWahab AbdulRazek, JD, Egyptian Senate President, and Mostafa Madbouly, Egyptian Prime Minister, at the invitation of Prof. Ayman Ashour, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. |
| March 2024 | BU, represented by Hossam El-Mallahy, DDS, PhD (President, BU and Egyptian Senator), Mohamed Saleh, BEng, PhD (VP, Planning and Global Affairs, BU), and Mohamed El Rashidi, BEng (Chairperson of BU Board of Trustees) visited UTMB. Both parties signed the Non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (Scope of Collaboration) to outline detailed technical assistance in the presence of His Excellency Ambassador Hosam Elkaweesh, General Consul in Houston. |
| April 2024 | Launch of curriculum review and faculty development planning |
| July 2024 | UTMB, represented by Era Buck, PhD, F. Marconi Monteiro, EdD, Hani Serag, MD, MPH, and Hanaa Sallam, MD, PhD, implemented the first in-person faculty development workshop in Cairo. |
| September 2024 | Jeffrey Susman, MD, representing UTMB, spoke at the inauguration ceremony of BU in Cairo. Official start of academic collaboration, including virtual workshops and faculty mentoring. |
| December 2024 | UTMB, represented by Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD, Salim Hayek, MD, PhD, Deborah Jones, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, and Hani Serag, MD, MPH, visited BU and met with BU leadership and Ruben Harutunian, Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy, US Embassy in Cairo. They also participated in the EMPOWER National Conference for People with Disabilities at the invitation of Prof. Ayman Ashour, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. |
| February 2025 | UTMB, represented by Kristen Peek, PhD, Neil Mehta, PhD, MSC, MA, Carole Tucker, PT, PhD, Laurie Farroni, DPT, PT, PCS, Jeffrey Susman, MD, F. Marconi Monteiro, EdD, and Hani Serag, MD, MPH, visited BU to conduct the Second in-person faculty development workshop in Cairo. |
| Ongoing | Research collaborations, faculty and student exchanges, and development of healthcare and research infrastructure |
Setting a New Standard for Health Sciences in Egypt
Facilitated by DGP, UTMB, and BU are working to redefine health sciences education and care in Egypt, with a focus on excellence, sustainability, and relevance to national and regional health priorities.
Through this partnership, UTMB and BU are:
- Training a new generation of Egyptian healthcare professionals using modern, internationally benchmarked educational methods.
- Establishing a model research enterprise focused on NCDs and brain health—two of Egypt's most urgent public health issues—while creating long-term faculty research development pipelines.
- Building a teaching hospital that integrates clinical education with patient care, serving as a model for healthcare quality and patient-centered teaching hospitals in Egypt and the Middle East.
- Embedding systems for healthcare quality improvement, digital health, and clinical governance that meet global best practices.
- Fostering sustainable academic capacity through faculty mentorship, curriculum development, and research infrastructure that will empower BU to thrive as a leading academic health center.
Creating a Healthcare Legacy
The UTMB-BU partnership stands as a bold new model for global academic collaboration. When the first graduates begin treating patients and conducting research, they'll carry forward healthcare shaped equally by American expertise and Egyptian insight—creating a legacy that will educate future healthcare leaders, transform lives through research, and set new standards for patient care.
Dr. Reiser and Dr. El-Mallahy shaking hands after signing the collaboration agreement.