Essential Skills in Organ Donation Professional Certificate
About This Programme
The Essential Skills in Organ Donation (ESOD) Professional Certificate is an interactive online programme from MBRU for healthcare providers who want to advance their expertise, confidence and professionalism in organ donation. Learners can register for individual certified modules, or complete all four modules within one year to be awarded the full ESOD Professional Certificate, and keep access to the learning materials for one year from their first module registration. The four modules cover the early identification and referral of potential deceased organ donors within the UAE national donation pathway; the clinical and legal requirements for determining death by neurological criteria in the UAE; clear, compassionate communication with families when breaking bad news and during donation conversations; and physiological donor maintenance to preserve organ viability after death is determined. The programme is about 30% theory, through videos, readings, podcasts and lectures, and 70% practice, through case discussions, group activities and applied exercises. Teaching combines live interactive sessions with faculty, self-paced preparation, virtual practical workshops on realistic clinical scenarios, small-group discussions and facilitated reflection, and expert faculty feedback. Participants must complete the self-paced materials before the live sessions, attend all synchronous sessions and complete knowledge checks, reflections and course evaluations. MBRU states that the programme is CME-accredited.
Course Highlights
- Online modular certificate of four modules, completed within one year for the full award
- Modules on donor identification and referral, brain death by neurological criteria, breaking bad news and consent conversations, and donor maintenance
- About 30% theory and 70% practice through case discussions, group activities and applied exercises
- Medical and nursing students are exempt from all fees
- CME credits are issued only to attendees who demonstrate full commitment and attend all course days
What You'll Study
Delivered as online modular learning through synchronous interactive sessions with faculty, asynchronous self-paced learning, virtual practical workshops, small-group discussions and facilitated reflection. The learning journey includes pre-course preparation, interactive sessions during the course, and post-course assessment and evaluation.
Module DIR: Donor Identification and Referral
Early recognition of potential deceased organ donors and timely referral within the UAE national donation pathway. The module stresses that referral is based on donor potential and should not be delayed until death by neurological criteria testing is complete.
Key learning areas
- Recognising clinical triggers for potential donor identification
- Identifying patients with non-survivable brain injury and a GCS of 3
- Understanding when and how to refer to the national donation system
- Communicating essential referral information, including age, cause of injury and haemodynamic status
- Understanding that early referral supports Hayat registry review, OPO preparation and retrieval team readiness
- Integrating donor identification into routine ICU and emergency clinical practice
Module BD-DNC: Brain Death by Neurological Criteria
The clinical and legal requirements for determining death by neurological criteria (DNC) in the UAE, emphasising the rigour, safety and legal finality of the process.
Key learning areas
- Understanding the legal recognition of DNC in the UAE
- Establishing the known cause of irreversible brain injury
- Excluding confounding factors such as hypothermia, metabolic derangement, sedation and paralytic effects
- Performing and interpreting brainstem reflex assessment
- Understanding apnoea testing requirements
- Recognising when ancillary testing is required
- Completing documentation, independent examinations and required waiting periods
Module BBN: Breaking Bad News and Consent Conversations
Clear, compassionate and structured family communication during catastrophic brain injury, the explanation of death and donation-related conversations, including the Separator Rule that distinguishes the treating team's role from the Organ Procurement Officer's.
Key learning areas
- Breaking bad news in catastrophic and irreversible brain injury
- Communicating prognosis clearly and consistently
- Avoiding vague language and false hope
- Managing family expectations and second-opinion requests
- Supporting family acceptance of death
- Explaining DNC using clear and appropriate language
- Applying the Separator Rule to protect trust and avoid perceived conflict of interest
- Understanding the role of the Organ Procurement Officer in donation conversations
Module DM: Donor Maintenance
Physiological donor maintenance after death determination, as care moves from neuroprotection to organ preservation to support successful transplantation.
Key learning areas
- Understanding the transition from neuroprotection to organ preservation
- Applying key physiological donor maintenance principles
- Haemodynamic optimisation and vasopressor support
- Fluid management and diabetes insipidus management
- Endocrine and hormonal replacement therapy
- Oxygenation and ventilation targets
- Preserving organ viability and graft function
- Recognising the role of ICU nurses and multidisciplinary teams in donor maintenance
What You'll Learn
By completing the course, participants will
- Gain a solid foundation in the principles, pathways and best practices of organ donation
- Strengthen their ability to identify, refer and support potential organ donors in clinical settings
- Build confidence in applying organ donation processes within daily clinical practice
- Enhance communication, teamwork and ethical decision-making related to organ donation
- Reflect on how organ donation practices can be integrated into their own healthcare setting
Entry Requirements
Professionals submit a CV, a valid medical licence and, for UAE residents, an Emirates ID; students submit a passport, a student ID or enrolment letter, a CV and, for UAE residents, an Emirates ID. Applications come either through healthcare organisations as nominations or as individual applications for external seats, and the course faculty committee screens and selects participants.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
MBRU states that the programme is CME-accredited: participants earn CME credits by completing certified modules, and credits are issued only to attendees who demonstrate full commitment and attend all course days.
Programme Details
Award
MBRU Essential Skills in Organ Donation Professional Certificate
Typical Offer
Licensed healthcare professional with at least one year of experience, or a medical or nursing student
Duration
Up to one year to complete all four modules
Qualification
Certificate
Subject Area
Medicine
Delivery Format
Online
Tuition Fee
AED 1,900 total
Fees per module for physicians and nurses: Donor Identification and Referral AED 400 and AED 200; Brain Death by Neurological Criteria AED 500 and AED 300; Breaking Bad News and Consent Conversations AED 500 and AED 300; Donor Maintenance AED 300 and AED 200; and the ESOD certificate AED 200 for both. The full pathway costs AED 1,900 for physicians and AED 1,200 for nurses, and medical and nursing students attend free of charge. The application deadline on MBRU's page was 20 August 2026, and the page showed registration as closed on 13 September 2026.