Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is once again charting the future of surgical innovation. The hospital has signed an agreement with Johnson & Johnson MedTech to pilot Polyphonic, a first-of-its-kind digital ecosystem designed to make surgeries smarter, safer, and more connected.
Over the next year, the hospital will integrate Polyphonic into three of its operating rooms, becoming the first healthcare institution in the Middle East to do so. The move underscores Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of medical technology and patient safety.
“Global collaborations are critical drivers of innovation in medicine. Our collaboration on the Polyphonic project is a significant step toward that mission,”
— Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
A Connected Surgical Command Center
At its core, Polyphonic functions as a connected digital platform — a real-time command center that unites surgical teams, procedures, and data.
Developed by Johnson & Johnson MedTech, the system includes:
Advanced case planning tools to enhance preoperative preparation
Telepresence capabilities for remote coaching and surgical support
Secure video recording and sharing to enable analysis and training
Together, these features create what Dr. John Rodriguez, Chief of the Digestive Disease Institute, calls “a foundational step toward a more connected and data-informed surgical environment.”
The platform will also facilitate live case observations, allowing residents to learn in real time while generating data-driven insights that refine surgical performance.
Why It Matters
The impact of Polyphonic extends beyond the operating room. Through this pilot, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is redefining the surgical ecosystem — combining human expertise with digital intelligence to deliver:
Smarter decision-making powered by real-time data analytics
Seamless collaboration across geographies and specialties
Enhanced surgical education for future healthcare professionals
As Dr. Haber noted, “This technology will enable our teams to analyze and enhance surgical performance, foster collaboration, and ultimately unlock broader possibilities for smarter, safer, and more connected surgeries.”
Innovation at the Core
This pilot marks another milestone in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s growing portfolio of groundbreaking partnerships. Earlier this year, the hospital:
Partnered with Toshiba to establish the region’s first heavy ion therapy center for cancer treatment.
Collaborated with BioTwin to advance “virtual human twin” technology for breast cancer prevention.
Recognized by the Ministry of Health and Prevention – UAE as the nation’s top health research hospital, the institution continues to expand its research footprint — completing 40 studies in 2024 and deepening collaborations through industry and government partnerships.
Every initiative aligns with a clear vision: positioning the UAE as a global hub for advanced, research-driven healthcare.
With the Polyphonic pilot, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is not merely adopting new technology — it’s orchestrating the next movement in surgical excellence.
