Houston Methodist expands strategic footprint in Saudi Arabia
Following successful participation at Global Health Exhibition, held in Riyadh, Houston Methodist cemented once again its partnership with the Saudi health care sector, and its commitment to leading medicine in the kingdom and the region.
Houston Methodist’s presence at GHE 2025 yielded fruitful meetings with key partners such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre and several Saudi public and private sector partners.
Key signings took place at the exhibition, a letter of intent (LoI) with the Ministry of Defense Organ Transplant Center of Excellence (OTCoE), and a partnership collaboration with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
Cathy Easter, president and CEO of Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services, who attended the exhibition and was a panelist and keynote speaker at GHE’s Leader Summit, reflected on the substantial efforts and transformation the kingdom’s health care sector has witnessed in the last decade. ““Saudi Arabia’s health care transformation is a remarkable success story,” said Easter. “The kingdom’s visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to advancing health care have laid the foundation for extraordinary progress over the past decade. Houston Methodist is honored to play a role in this journey, bringing international best practices to the forefront, and working hand-in-hand with key partners and decision-makers. Our collaboration has helped shape pivotal milestones in the kingdom’s health care journey, and we remain deeply committed to supporting its continued advancement as a global leader in the field.”
On the signings that took place, Easter said: “The LoI with the ORTCoE establishes a roadmap to deliver the center’s objectives, allowing for ongoing knowledge exchange between specialists from both organizations, through on-ground workshops, and training programs at the Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center in Houston”.
Whereas the cooperation agreement signed by Professor Aws Al-Shamsan, secretary-general of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, builds on and reinforces the organizations’ cross-border efforts to bolster health care services and translate international best practices into the local sector, to elevate the medical education of future health care leaders and practitioners in effort to advance the patient experience.
“Houston Methodist and the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties share a common goal – to foster local talent, enable knowledge exchange, and to develop and empower Saudi health care leaders. Our new agreement reflects the organizations’ commitment to building capabilities that can lead and drive the ongoing health care transformation within the kingdom,” added Easter.
Houston Methodist is one of the few leading U.S. health care systems that provides international expertise in Saudi Arabia through advisory services, education and training and patient care.
Najla AlHudaib, Houston Methodist Global senior country manager for Saudi Arabia and Qatar, praised the kingdom’s efforts and investment in the national health care sector. “The convergence of health care innovation and impact have allowed Saudi and international institutions such as Houston Methodist, will allow the implementation of the national health care sector transformation program, and the successful translation of set strategies to practical practices that elevates operations and patient experience in Saudi Hospitals,” concluded AlHudaib.
