Spoken Languages
English
Educational Credentials:
- August 1985 British Medical Association
- March 1989 Royal College of Physicians, London
- February 1994 Association of British Neurologists
- December 1995 North-East Neurological Association
- December 1997 Specialist Register for Training in Neurology
- February 2000 Peripheral Nerve Society
- October 2001 The North of England Medico-Legal Society
- January 2009 American Academy of Neurology
- January 2009 Emirates Neurology Society
May 2021 Awarded UAE Golden Visa as a Special Talent
Professional Memberships
- Royal College of Physicians, UK
- Specialist Register for Training in Neurology, UK
- Association of British Neurologists
- American Academy of Neurology
- Emirates Neurology Society
Prof. UKD Ajith Goonetilleke
Specialty Consultant Neurologist
Biography
Dr. Ajith obtained his medical degree from St. Thomas’s Hospital Medical School in London. He has worked in eminent Neurosciences Centres in the UK, including the Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, Charing Cross & Westminster Hospitals, Newcastle, Manchester, and Edinburgh. He was a Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Neurology at the Regional Neurosciences Centre in Newcastle for 11 years.
Dr. Ajith moved to Abu Dhabi in 2009. He was the Chief of Neurology, Chair of Medicine, and the Chair of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee at Mafraq Hospital. He was the Chair of the SEHA Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee for 8 years. He moved to Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in November 2019, where he was Chief of Neurology. In August 2021 he became Chief of Neurology at Burjeel Medical City, and moved to Dubai in 2023.
Dr. Ajith has experience in medical leadership. In 2017 the Royal College of Physicians and Birkbeck College (University of London) awarded him a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Leadership. In 2021 he began a prestigious MBA program at Durham University in the UK, and was awarded the Durham University Business School Achievement Scholarship. He has received awards for his clinical and research work. He has published many articles and chapters in international peer-reviewed journals and books and presented at national and international conferences.
Dr. Ajith’s professional philosophy is that the needs and wishes of the patient always come first. He is dedicated to providing expert diagnoses and advising patients on all available management and treatment options. He makes decisions in collaboration with patients. He addresses the patient’s well-being, resulting in a reassuring and caring healthcare experience.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Fellow – Charing Cross and Westminster Hospitals (16.4.91-31.7.94)
I was awarded the honor of being the official Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Research Fellow in 1991. My MD thesis research was on the methodology of performing research trials in MND, both in screening for the efficacy of experimental medications, as well as in performing international multi-centre trials.
During this period of research, I presented at numerous national and international conferences, as well achieving many publications in internationally renowned neurology journals.
To continue my clinical neurology training, I also attended 2 Neurology ward rounds and 2 Neurology clinics per week. I was on the Neurology Registrar on-call rota (1 in 4) for Charing Cross Hospital.
I regularly contributed to the weekly clinical meetings and journal clubs in the Neurosciences Department and attended weekly neuroradiology and monthly muscle biopsy meetings
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
I have always been involved with teaching Medical Students. As a Registrar, I taught MRCP candidates and organized the MRCP examination at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. As a Neurology Senior Registrar in Newcastle, I taught Medical Students and prepared MRCP candidates for their clinical examination.
I organized the final examination for Medical Students in Newcastle. As a Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer with the University of Newcastle, I organized the teaching timetable and taught and assessed the Medical Students. I was also involved in the education of Senior House Officers and Specialist Registrars.
Since coming to Abu Dhabi in the UAE in 2009, I became an Associate Professor at the Gulf Medical University (GMU). I am involved in teaching Neurology to the GMU clinical medical students. I was also a Core Faculty Member in the Medicine Residency Program, being responsible for organizing and taking part in the Resident Neurology Teaching Program.
I have subsequently been an adjunct Clinical Professor for the Khalifa University College of Medicine & Health Sciences (2021-2023), and an Associate Professor for Johns Hopkins Hospital (2023-2024).