Dr. A. Marc Harrison has been picked to lead Cleveland Clinic's Abu Dhabi outpost.

Next month, the 47-year-old pediatrician, who currently serves as chief medical operations officer at Cleveland, will take the reins of the under-construction, 360-bed hospital, set to open in December 2012. His tenure as chief executive officer begins April 10, according to the Plain Dealer.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's former CEO Dr. Andrew Fishleder stepped down last October, citing "personal reasons." The future hospital's COO Dr. Mark McPhee has been serving as interim CEO.

The hospital will be a 2.6-million-square-foot multispecialty hospital on Sowwah Island in the United Arab Emirates, with a staff of 3,000, including 300 doctors.

Harrison joined Cleveland in 1999, and helped expand its critical care transport service. He was promoted to his current role in 2009.

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