By Samar Yahya

RIYADH — Young Saudi doctors are being given opportunities to kick-start their career in the healthcare sector. Dr. Mosheer Ziadi and Dr. Moataz Zagzoug, two Saudi doctors who recently completed their Saudi Board Orthopedics Residency Training Program, were personally approached by Dr. Khalid Batterjee, orthopedic surgeon and vice president of Saudi German Hospitals Group, as their first job at Saudi German Hospital in Jeddah. Once the doctors successfully complete their first year with the hospital, they will be given an opportunity by SGH to undergo a fellowship-training program.

This is in line with Saudi Arabia’s goals, as expressed in Vision 2030, to enhance the training and development of Saudi doctors and encourage more Saudi nationals into the healthcare profession. It comes at an important time where reports are indicating a need for 39,600 additional doctors in Saudi Arabia by 2030 due to a rapidly growing population. Reports also suggest there is a high demand for more specialized doctors as the need for certain specialties, such as orthopedics, is expected to grow further by 2030 in the Kingdom.

“As an orthopedic surgeon myself, I have been in their shoes and know exactly how complex the healthcare field can be in the beginning. I want to make it easier for all future young doctors by providing more opportunities to young Saudis,” Dr. Batterjee explained. “At Saudi German Hospital, education and learning is at the heart of what we do. I am also a firm believer in ‘employability’ as, at the end of the day, education should always end in employment. I am delighted to offer Dr. Moataz and Dr. Mosheer a full-time position with Saudi German Hospital, and we look forward to developing them further and offering more Saudi doctors the first point of entry into the exciting and meaningful careers ahead of them. This will not only help address the current gap in healthcare services, but also ensure we are continually grooming the brightest of Saudi talent.”

“Passing final exams is a nerve-racking time for any student, especially with the thought of employability at the end of it. However, Saudi German Hospital were proactively interested in having a fresh graduate from the Saudi Board of Orthopedics program so this was a huge relief for me,” explained Dr. Moataz. “Thanks to them, I am now realizing my dream after many years of hard work and training. I have been with the hospital for nearly two months and I have already learnt and experienced so many new things, whilst having the support of Dr. Khalid Batterjee. It is a privilege to work with him as he’s such a talented and experienced leader in the orthopedics field.”

“Doctor training is a long and testing journey, but I would encourage aspiring doctors to persevere and continue to work as hard as they can to reach their goals,” adds Dr Mosheer. “I want to personally thank Dr. Batterjee, as he approached me before graduation and believed in me by providing me with this job immediately after I graduated. I have been working at the hospital for two months now and I am impressed that the hospital provides their employees with such a healthy work environment, as well as being organized, respectful and in line with international standards.”

Speaking about the experience so far, Dr. Moataz explained: “To me, the most inspiring thing about being a doctor is seeing my patients being able to continue with their normal life and activities, such as running and jogging, as well as having an overall new lease of life. This is what matters most to me and I am happy I now have this opportunity to serve and make a difference to patients at SGH.”