Members Only | 12.18.25
As UAE Grows and Evolves, So Too Does Chougle as an MSP and NAMSS Member
By Teddy Durgin
Medical services professionals (MSPs) are well-respected in the healthcare sector in the United States, and their reputation for excellence is growing around the globe. One person who has garnered such a reputation is Shaileena Chougle, MPH, CPMSM, CPCS. She has been closely connected to the National Association Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) since 2011, when she joined Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and was introduced to credentialing and clinical privileging as a formal discipline.
Over the last 15 years, she has established three fully functional medical staff services departments across different healthcare organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), each with its own unique challenge. “At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, it was about creating a governance framework from the ground up for a greenfield hospital. At Al Jalila Children’s, it involved embedding policies and competency systems into a pediatric specialty environment. At Dubai Health, this meant aligning over 2,000 providers under a unified governance model,” she says.
Across all three organizations, Chougle identified a common theme. “The single biggest challenge was shifting deeply rooted mindsets,” she says. “Convincing stakeholders to unlearn outdated practices and embrace standardized, transformative processes required persistent engagement and education.”
In this regard, securing buy-in from leadership and physicians at all levels was critical. “I had to demonstrate that credentialing and clinical privileging are not administrative hurdles,” she recalls, “but essential safeguards that elevate the standard of care, reduce patient harm, and build trust in the organization’s commitment to safe, high-quality care.”
It’s a Small World With Big Evolutions in Credentialing
While healthcare systems across the region have traditionally differed from U.S. models, Chougle says she believes a significant transformation in governance and operational standards is now taking place. Credentialing and privileging are increasingly being recognized as cornerstones of patient safety, and there is immense potential to build robust, standardized processes in the UAE and throughout the neighboring regions.
The region’s evolution has coincided with Chougle’s personal growth. Along the way, she has earned dual NAMSS certifications — CPCS and CPMSM — and most recently completed the NAMSS Leadership Program. She recently attended her fourth NAMSS conference, and she tries to attend every other year in order to stay engaged with the industry’s evolving standards and best practices.
“Despite the challenge of time zones and distance, I have remained committed to continuous learning through NAMSS resources,” Chougle says. “The association has been my go-to for best practices, governance standards, and thought leadership in credentialing and privileging. NAMSS has not only strengthened my technical expertise, but it’s also enhanced my ability to lead transformative initiatives that elevate patient safety and trust. It truly serves as a cornerstone for professional growth in this evolving healthcare landscape.”
At the same time, she has had a proverbial front-row seat to a changing credentialing process over the past 15 years. “Fifteen years ago, the term ‘credentialing’ was relatively unfamiliar outside of the then-Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), later known as Dubai Health Authority,” she says. “Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Essa Kazim, then assistant director-general for medical affairs, Dubai Health Authority took a milestone step by introducing primary source verification for all healthcare professionals seeking licensure in the UAE.”
At that time, credentialing was limited to verification alone. Today, the landscape has evolved significantly. With the establishment of Dubai Health, the emirate’s first integrated academic health system, credentialing has become a comprehensive and mandatory process embedded within physician screening for recruitment under Clinical Affairs. “[Credentialing] now encompasses malpractice and liability checks and standardized clinical privileging for all independent healthcare professionals,” she says. “This transformation reflects the UAE leadership’s unwavering commitment to quality and patient safety.”
Celebrating the Differences
How do healthcare models in the UAE and neighboring regions differ from U.S. models? For one, the U.S. healthcare system matured over more than five decades via gradual reforms and infrastructure development. “In contrast, the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are pursuing an ambitious path to achieve similar sophistication in less than two decades,” Chougle says. “National strategies like ‘We the UAE 2031’ set clear goals that [aim to] position the UAE among the top 10 countries globally in the quality of healthcare, by 2031.”
She further notes that UAE healthcare models are built on innovation, prioritizing AI, telemedicine and unified digital health records as core pillars of care delivery. Healthcare has been elevated to a national priority, reflecting the country’s global image as a safe, successful, and high-quality destination for its diverse and growing population.
Central to this transformation is Dubai Health, the emirate’s first integrated academic health system, which unites care, research, and education. “At its heart is the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), a hub for world-class education, cutting-edge research, and innovation,” Chougle says. “MBRU’s programs emphasize lifelong learning, hands-on clinical practice, and global collaboration, ensuring healthcare professionals are prepared for a rapidly evolving system.”
Taking It Personal
Chougle has always found her line of work to be a deeply personal one, with valued contacts made over the years and multiple friendships. She has also been the beneficiary of wise counsel along the way. The wisest, though, came not from an MSP. “The best advice I ever received came from my father, a man who arrived in the UAE by boat nearly half a century ago, when this land was mostly a desert but full of promise,” she says. “He often reminded me that this country gave him opportunity, dignity, and a better life for his family. At the start of my career, I witnessed the same vision in the UAE’s leadership, a deep compassion to improve health and well-being for their people. Their belief in education gave me an extraordinary push through a scholarship to pursue a Master of Public Health at Columbia University, championed by strong women leaders who quietly shaped healthcare in this region.”
Her father’s words have stayed with her: “Value this benevolence and never forget what this country has given you. You may never fully repay it but give back in service, professionally and personally.”
That advice became her guiding principle. “Every initiative I lead, every standard I raise, is my way of honoring that promise and contributing to the UAE’s vision for world-class healthcare,” she says.
Chougle also believes in paying it forward, especially when it comes to advising those new to the profession. “One piece of advice I always share is this: ‘Believe in the purpose behind what you do.’ Credentialing may seem administrative, but it is a cornerstone of patient safety and trust. Pair that belief with persistence and an unwavering commitment to improving care for patients and the community,” she says. “Success in this field isn’t just about mastering processes. It’s about understanding the impact your work has on lives and staying dedicated to that mission!”
For Chougle, being able to witness the quiet, yet powerful impact on patient safety is one of her favorite parts of the job. “Our work happens behind the scenes,” she says, “but its results are felt in the most critical moments — when a qualified, vetted physician steps into an operating room or a high-risk procedure is performed without incident. What may seem like administrative tasks to some are safeguards that prevent harm and build trust in the healthcare system.”
The Road Ahead
While much progress has been made, Chougle feels the biggest challenge yet across the region is maintaining awareness of medical staff services and the value they bring. “The mindset shift is still evolving. Our goal is for every stakeholder — from leadership to clinicians to even patients — to understand that these processes are the foundation of trust and quality care.”
Looking to the near-future, Chougle is optimistic and steadfast in doing her part to elevate medical staff service professionals, starting with bringing NAMSS to the UAE. “My vision is to lead the establishment of a NAMSS international chapter and, under that initiative, develop custom-built training and certification programs tailored for the unique needs of healthcare systems in the UAE and neighboring countries,” she says. “This would not only elevate professional standards, but also create a community of credentialing and privileging experts who share the same commitment to patient safety and excellence. It’s an ambitious goal, but one I’m deeply hopeful and determined to make a reality!”