Led by its College of Pharmacy, the University of Iowa has partnered with Gulf Medical University in the United Arab Emirates. 

The formal partnership was established when UI College of Pharmacy Dean and Professor Donald Letendre and Assistant Dean for Professional Education Susan Vos traveled to the UAE university in the city of Ajman recently and signed an official memorandum of understanding. The agreement opens the doors for more exchange opportunities among the universities.

Gulf Medical University contains colleges of pharmacy, medicine, nursing, and other health sciences. Its Doctor of Pharmacy program is the first and only such degree program in the Middle Eastern country, according to its website. It also offers a master's degree in Clinical Pharmacy to its students.

Before traveling to Ajman, Letendre and Vos presented in Dubai at the 3-day, 5,000 attendee Dubai International Pharmaceutical and Technological Conference and Exhibition (DUPHAT) Conference.

Letendre's keynote presentation topics included "Transforming Pharmacy Practice in North America through Advances in Education and Postgraduate Training" and "Correlating Advances in Pharmacy Practice with Strategic Changes in Curricular Development."

At DUPHAT, Vos presented tools and techniques for preceptors, and at Gulf Medical University she presented on the roles of preceptors.

Vos also hosted and presented at the fourth Regional Pharmacy Faculty Development Workshop at Al Ain University in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where she shared best practices in curriculum and assessment.