Bridging Cultures, Advancing Care: My Transformative Experience at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

This article is part of our “Bear Tracks” series, which chronicles the experiences and thoughts of our College of Pharmacy students. If you are interested in participating, please fill out this form.

By Tia Karout

A Personal and Professional Connection

As a driven student pharmacist of Middle Eastern heritage, I’ve always understood the power of intertwining my career with my cultural identity. In January, a one-week voluntary shadowing and “rotational” experience at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi became a defining moment in my pharmacy education, one that reminded me why I chose this profession and showed me what is possible when passion meets purpose.

“This experience reminded me why I chose this profession and what is possible when passion meets purpose.”

With graduation just months away, this experience stood out not only for its clinical rigor but also for its personal significance.

Mentorship and Clinical Immersion

Under the mentorship of Rania El-Lababidi, PharmD, EMHA, BCPS, BCIDP—a fellow Lebanese pharmacist—I was immersed in a high-acuity, internationally recognized healthcare system focused on infectious diseases. I participated in interdisciplinary clinical rounds and topic-focused discussions where pharmacists were central to patient care, antimicrobial decision-making, and therapeutic optimization. Watching pharmacists actively collaborate alongside physicians and other healthcare professionals reinforced the evolving and impactful role our profession plays in complex clinical environments.

“Watching pharmacists actively collaborate alongside physicians reinforced the evolving and impactful role our profession plays.”

It was fascinating to observe the similarities and differences in disease patterns between the Middle East and the United States, and I expanded my knowledge of European-based guidelines while preparing for topic discussions.

I mainly used LinkedIn and sought out this opportunity myself. The good thing that came out of this was that the facility is now looking to conduct actual rotations for Mercer students.

Pursuing a Lifelong Dream

I pursued this opportunity outside my required curriculum because it represented a dream I had nurtured throughout pharmacy school: to engage directly with a Middle Eastern healthcare system and contribute to a region that shaped my identity.

As a soon-to-be American-Lebanese pharmacist, I have long felt a deep connection to the Middle East and a responsibility to contribute to its healthcare systems. Learning in such an environment, while witnessing global standards of care in action, was both empowering and affirming.

“Learning in such an environment was both empowering and affirming to who I am.”

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi exemplifies how world-class healthcare institutions can deliver culturally informed, patient-centered care without compromising clinical excellence. This experience broadened my global perspective and reaffirmed that meaningful healthcare impact transcends geography.

Global Impact and Lifelong Learning

During this time, I also earned a World Health Organization certificate titled Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Competency-Based Approach, through the WHO European Region’s Programme Control of Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Communicable Disease, Environment and Health. This further fueled my passion for Infectious Diseases and stewardship on a global scale.

“This experience reinforced that growth often comes from pursuing opportunities beyond what is required.”

For pharmacy students, or anyone considering the profession, my experience reinforced an essential lesson: growth often comes from pursuing opportunities beyond the required curriculum. Seeking experiences aligned with your values, cultural background, and long-term goals can shape not only your career but your understanding of purpose.

Above all, this journey reminded me that our profession can bridge cultures, advance global health, and turn long-held dreams into reality…if we dare to seek meaningful connections.

“Our profession can bridge cultures, advance global health, and turn long-held dreams into reality.”

– Tia Karout is a P4 PharmD student graduating with the Class of 2026.