Omani Women’s Day: Dr. Thuraiya Al Sulaimi on Leadership, Motherhood and Resilience
For Dr. Thuraiya Al Sulaimi, an emergency physician and Head of Emergency and Crisis Management at Khoula Hospital, success means balancing professional responsibility with personal resilience. Her journey reflects the determination of Omani women who lead, serve their communities, and pursue their ambitions through life’s challenges.
From Emergency Medicine to Crisis Leadership
Dr. Thuraiya’s work focuses on strengthening hospital preparedness, coordinating with relevant agencies, and developing healthcare teams’ ability to respond to emergencies and disasters. Her role highlights the importance of leadership, teamwork, and preparation in protecting patients and communities.
Her medical career required years of study, dedication, and sacrifice. Yet another deeply personal journey tested her patience in a different way: she waited ten years before becoming a mother of triplets.
The experience taught her that professional ambitions and personal hopes can develop on different timelines, requiring perseverance and the ability to keep moving forward despite uncertainty.
Motherhood and a New Perspective on Healthcare
Becoming a first-time mother to three babies while managing demanding professional responsibilities brought new challenges. Dr. Thuraiya learned to prioritise, accept support, and recognise that strength does not mean carrying every responsibility alone.
Motherhood also deepened her understanding of patients’ families. As an emergency physician, she understood the clinical urgency of treating patients. As a mother, she gained a more personal appreciation of the fear families experience when someone they love needs urgent care.
This perspective further strengthens the meaning of her work in emergency and crisis management, where effective preparation and coordinated responses can help protect lives.
A Message to Omani Women
For Omani Women’s Day, Dr. Thuraiya encourages women to believe in their abilities, embrace opportunities, and remain open to new career paths. She believes that professional experience can lead to unexpected opportunities and that asking for help is a sign of awareness, not weakness.
Her message is simple: every woman has her own journey and timing. By investing in themselves, accepting support, and continuing to pursue what matters, women can build lives shaped by their values and ambitions.
Dr. Thuraiya’s story is a reminder that leadership, motherhood, and personal growth can coexist, even when the journey requires patience, courage, and resilience.
