WINTER 2012

WCMC-Q celebrates ten years of excellence in education, research and clinical care HIGHLIGHTS CONTENTS

The magazine of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar

Produced and published by the Office of Public Affairs, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar Your Health First and the SEC The Supreme Education Council joins forces with DEAN WCMC-Q for the college’s ambitious health campaign 07 Javaid Sheikh, M.D. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS WCMC-Q’s 10th anniversary Nesreen Al-Refai The college’s achievements over the past decade were celebrated with a dazzling ceremony attended 08 ASSOCIATE EDITOR by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Richard Harris

SENIOR WRITER Hilton Kolbe Researcher sets the pace Dr. Arash Rafii talks about taking part in an 119km trail run in the Alps 20 SENIOR WRITER John Hayward PHOTOGRAPHER Bridging the linguistic gap John Samples The Center for Cultural Competence in Healthcare holds its first medical interpretation course for volunteers 27 PRODUCTION MANAGER Mohanad Khouri A new approach to healthcare The new CEO of Sidra Medical and Research Center discusses his plans for the future of the hospital 30

Doctors of the future The winners of WCMC-Q’s Healing Hands competition talk about their experiences in New York 33

Medicine in Tanzania The experiences of two students at Weill Bugando Medical Center in East Africa 36 The sweet smell of success Researchers investigate the olfactory systems of desert 24 animals to gain insights into the process of evolution 2 • News News • 3 The danger of a $12.5 million funding windfall diabetes epidemic for WCMC-Q research projects

Dr. Mamtani addresses the World Diabetes Day symposium

urrently, there are 347 million people the development of diabetes, Dr. Mamtani said. at Hamad General Hospital, Dr. Mahmoud C worldwide who have diabetes mellitus, In addition, obesity, lack of exercise and an Zirie, highlighted the problems associated with Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, associate dean for global unhealthy diet are also major contributing factors diabetes and the urgent need to educate the and public health at WCMC-Q, told a diabetes especially for persons aged over 45. general public about its risk and prevalence. awareness forum hosted at Hamad General According to the World Health Organization, Dr. Machaca said the funding will help the people of Qatar Hospital in Doha. “Seventy percent of diabetes risk is attributable consequences of increased blood sugar led to to being overweight and 90 percent of diabetics an estimated 3.4 million deaths worldwide in CMC-Q was awarded $12.5 million in the fifth cycle of the National high rate of success for the college’s funding applications demonstrated The statistics for Qatar are not much better, Dr. are overweight,” Dr. Mamtani said. “Losing 2004. Deaths due to diabetes according to WHO W Priority Research Program (NPRP) from the Qatar National Research the excellence of the proposed research and the dedication, success and Mamtani said, where nearly 17 percent of the weight reduces the risk of diabetes or results in projections are likely to increase by two-thirds Fund (QNRF). high-level science performed by the faculty. He also said that this sustained population have diabetes and a third of sufferers its remission. Overweight individuals who lose between 2008 and 2030. level of funding from the QNRF is evidence of the central role that the fund In all, 13 WCMC-Q research projects have benefited, which translates as a are unaware that they have diabetes. even small amounts of weight, like 10 pounds, will is playing in establishing a research culture in the State of Qatar. find their medical condition improve, progression Dr. Zirie and Dr. Mamtani were joined by diabetes 37 percent success rate for the college – one of the highest for large, Qatar- based educational establishments. He was addressing the World Diabetes Day of diabetes slowed or its symptoms disappear. experts, Dr. Amin Jayyousi, Dr. Mahmoud Zayoud Dr. Machaca added: “The funded projects have clear benefits for Qatar 2012 symposium that is observed worldwide on This can be achieved by regular exercise and and Ms. Maya Atani who focused on diabetes The projects span the scientific range with a focus on biomedical issues and its people. As part of our commitment to Qatar Foundation, Cornell is November 14. The theme of the symposium for appropriate dietary changes.” and pregnancy, type 2 diabetes in children and important for Qatar and the region, including research into genomics, committed to train doctors and help create and foster a culture of research this year was ‘Let’s Protect Our Future’. obesity in children respectively at the World diabetes, pregnancy, epidemiology, cellular and molecular biology, in the country. These projects do that and the results are likely to have long- In his opening address to the high profile gathering Diabetes Day symposium. neurodegenerative diseases, and mental health issues. term advantages for Qatar.” Individuals with a family history of diabetes of medical and academic staff, the assistant and high blood pressure are most at risk for professor of medicine and head of endocrinology By Hilton Kolbe Dr. Khaled Machaca, associate dean for research at WCMC-Q, said the The funding provided by QNRF will be released over a period of three years. 4 • News Events • 5

“This has been such a great experience for me. I am fortunate to be Traditional White Coat awarded such an opportunity and I will use this experience to build on a career as a specialist in hematology/oncology. It is an opportunity of a lifetime that will hopefully be the foundation of a successful research and medical career for me,” Dr. Al-Khafaji said. Ceremony marks start of

Dr. Al-Khafaji is one of 44 trainees selected by the ASH who will each receive $4,000 to conduct research on blood and blood-related diseases. The award is designed to foster interest and to expose them medical career for students to both hematology and research early in their careers and to inspire them to pursue research in hematology as part of their future training.

Dr. Al-Khafaji arrived at WCMC-Q from Iraq on a scholarship offered by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

His award will allow him to build upon the research experience he gained at WCMC-Q. During his time at the college he was involved in a research collaboration between WCMC-Q’s Department of Genetic Medicine and WCMC’s Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Development. The project, Folic Acid Supplementation Affects Epigenetic Changes Associated with the Wnt Pathway: Implications for Neural Tube Defects, resulted in an abstract presented at the 40th annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience 2010 in San Diego, California.

In addition to receiving research funds, each ASH awardee will receive $1,000 to travel to the 54th ASH annual meeting at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta in December. Attendance at this event, the premier annual education and scientific meeting in the field of hematology, provides Trainee Research Award recipients with many opportunities to network with leaders in the field and to learn about the latest research and therapies in hematology.

The Trainee Research Awards have supported hundreds of students and medical residents in the United States, Mexico and Canada since Alumnus wins 1995. The funding is distributed through the awardees’ institutions and supports the trainees’ research projects for a duration of three to 12 hematology trainee months. ASH president Armand Keating, M.D. of Princess Margaret Hospital in The dean and senior faculty members pose with WCMC-Q’s newest trainee physicians Toronto congratulated the winners. “We anticipate hearing more about research award f any students in the Class of 2016 still had some lingering doubts about Dr. Sheikh welcomed the students and wished them success with their the discoveries made by this talented group in the years to come,” Dr. studies. “You are joining the most noble of professions,” he said. “There Keating said. I the challenges facing them over the next four years, WCMC-Q’s dean, Dr. Javaid Sheikh, highlighted the bumpy road ahead at the traditional White will be hard work ahead but you will benefit from the world class facilities of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar and the experience of our faculty ife just continues to get better for recent WCMC-Q graduate Dr. Jawad The American Society of Hematology, based in Washington, D.C., is Coat Ceremony held as the first semester got underway. who will help you along the way.” L Al-Khafaji who has been selected for the prestigious American Society of the world’s largest professional society concerned with the causes and Hematology’s (ASH) 2012 Trainee Researcher Award. treatment of blood disorders. Its mission is to further the understanding, Hosted at the Hamad Bin Khalifa Student Center, family, friends and faculty The new chief executive officer of Sidra Medical and Research Center, Dr. diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting blood, bone members watched as 39 first-year medical students were presented with a William Owen, delivered an inspiring keynote address and challenged the Years of hard work and dedication have paid off for this 2011 graduate who is marrow, and the immunologic, hemostatic, and vascular systems by stethoscope and the short version of the traditional doctor’s white coat as students to take up the opportunities available to them. The Class of 2016 currently a medical resident at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in a symbol of introduction to the medical fraternity. This is a ritual that has will be an integral part of Sidra in the years ahead, Dr. Owen said. Medicine in the United States. hematology. been adopted at medical schools in the U.S. and around the world to mark the transition from pre-med to medical studies and seen by students as a WCMC-Q associate dean for admissions and student affairs, rite of passage. Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, welcomed Dr. Abdullatif Al-Khal, director of the 6 • Events News • 7 SEC announced as new strategic partner for Your Health First he Supreme Education Council (SEC) has T joined forces with WCMC-Q in its ambitious Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First campaign.

The college’s five-year campaign to improve the health of everyone in the country is being run in association with the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) and has major strategic partners in Qatar Petroleum, Occidental Petroleum of Qatar, Exxon Mobil and Vodafone Qatar.

The inclusion of the SEC means that the Your Health First campaign will now have huge support in Qatar’s educational sector, providing groups of students, both Qataris and expatriates. One of the first of these will be the Sahtak a massive boost to its mission of improving the We are confident that through this partnership Awalan Fit for Life Challenge. It is expected health of the nation. we will be able to help them achieve their goals about 24 schools will compete in a day-long and aspirations for a brighter future. contest which will see students from different Dr. Sheikh helps Noor Nema on with her white coat His Excellency Saad Bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, schools pitted against each other in a variety of minister of education and higher education and “We believe that the roles of the Supreme physical challenges. Medical Education Center at Hamad Medical secretary general of the Supreme Education Education Council and the Supreme Council Corporation, who presented the students with Council, explained the role SEC will play in of Health complement each other, as both Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First was launched stethoscopes. He was assisted by Dr. Bakr Nour, supporting the Your Health First campaign. are working hard to build a healthy and well- in June at a high-profile event attended by WCMC-Q’s associate dean for clinical affairs; Dr. educated generation that realizes the vision of His Excellency Abdulla bin Khalid Al Qahtani, Lyuba Konopasek, associate dean for medical “With the start of the new school year, we thought His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa minister of public health and secretary general education; and Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, associate the Supreme Education Council should enter into Al-Thani. Equally important, the complementary of the Supreme Council of Health, and the dean for graduate medical education. a strategic partnership with the Your Health roles of SEC and SCH contribute to realizing the campaign’s strategic partners. The public launch First campaign, especially because it focuses wise vision of His Highness The Emir, Sheikh was held in Souq Waqif in August when people The White Coat Ceremony was an exciting and in its first stage on children and youth,” H.E. Al Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, and Her Highness were able to ask for advice about living healthy moving experience for student Hayaan Karam, Mahmoud said. “We are here to announce our Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who are leading lifestyles. They also had the chance to quiz Al from Pakistan. full support to the organizers and partners of this Qatar’s journey into a thriving, knowledge-based Sadd Football Club player Omar Yahya Rabah initiative that promises to make schoolchildren economy.” about how he stays fit. “It was such a proud moment both for me and and youth opt for healthy lifestyles,” for my family,” he said. “It has taken dedication The participation of the SEC will allow the WCMC-Q also produced 30 television episodes and effort to reach this point but my goal is much Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCMC-Q, added: “We campaign greater access to schools so that young and radio tips that were aired during the holy further. I have been motivated and encouraged are thrilled to have the Supreme Education Council people can be encouraged to take up healthy month of Ramadan in addition to marketing by this experience and now I am looking forward as a strategic partner to the Your Health First lifestyles sooner rather than later. It will also help materials as part of the launch. to succeeding in my studies to become a medical initiative as this will help us spread awareness when the college is spreading news about events doctor. This is now my focus and my aim in life.” about healthy lifestyles among the different age that young people can be involved in. By Richard Harris Aseel Al Zibdeh and Lama Obeid congratulate each other 8 • Events Events • 9

Singer Fahad Al Kubaisi and the children’s choir of Qatar International School

A decade of producing Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser was the guest of honor at the celebrations

he accomplishments of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar over the The celebratory event, held on October 14, began with a reading from the T past 10 years were celebrated in October with a dazzling ceremony Holy Qur’an by medical student Mohammed Al-Hajri, before drummers took world-class doctors attended by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar to the darkened stage to lend a sense of drama to the occasion. Foundation. Her Highness congratulated the university on reaching its 10th anniversary. The 10th anniversary event brought 800 guests to a stage erected on She said: “A decade ago, we welcomed Weill Cornell to Qatar, to be part the lawn behind the university where they were entertained by musical of our vision for an innovative, healthy future for the people of Qatar and performances and a 3-D film commissioned for the occasion, as well as the region. Today the college is successfully delivering on its commitment hearing speeches from Dr. Javaid I. Sheikh, Dr. Mohammad Fathy Saoud, to produce world-class doctors and to become a centre of excellence in president of Qatar Foundation, and Mr. Sanford I. Weill, chairman of the education, research and clinical training.” Board of Overseers of WCMC. Established as a beacon of excellence for medical education in the Middle A ‘garden of achievements’ equipped with audiovisual information pods East, the university started life as a few borrowed classrooms at Qatar was also installed, allowing guests to learn about WCMC-Q’s successes Academy high school before moving in October 2003 to the state-of-the- since beginning academic operations in 2002, which include graduating 112 art building it now occupies. With its modern, well-equipped laboratories, new doctors, establishing a world-class biomedical program and entering cutting-edge digital library system, sophisticated clinical skills center and partnerships with Hamad Medical Corporation, Sidra Medical and Research rigorous academic standards, WCMC-Q proved extremely popular with Center and Aspetar, Qatar’s first orthopedic and sports medicine hospital. The both students and faculty alike. From a starting count of ten professors and university was also the first to offer a United States M.D. degree overseas, 101 applications to the inaugural pre-medical program in 2002, there are and remains the only institution to do so, applying the same strict admissions now 60 academic faculty members and there were 480 applications to the standards and quality curriculum as its parent campus in New York. pre-medical program in 2012.

Mr. Sanford Weill and Dr. Sheikh Dr. Fathy Saoud, president of QF, addresses the audience 10 • Events Events • 11

From left: Dr. Rachid Bendriss, Dr. Ziyad Mahfoud, Dr. JoAnn Peters, Dr. Kevin Smith and Dr. Mike Pungente The reception before the ceremony

The university has also established a thriving biomedical research program “Without their vision and drive we would not be celebrating this anniversary that has 28 active laboratories and more than 130 members of staff, making now and I hope that what we have created in Weill Cornell Medical College a significant contribution towards Qatar’s goal of moving to a knowledge- in Qatar lives up to their every expectation. based economy. Research efforts have a particular focus on increasing understanding of conditions that commonly afflict local populations in “The goal for Qatar to become a knowledge-based economy rather than Qatar, such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. being based on hydrocarbons was always ambitious. However, I believe the country’s leaders have been justified in that ambition and that Weill The audience enjoyed donning 3-D glasses to watch a film detailing the Cornell is helping to lead the way towards a new future.” facilities and achievements of WCMC-Q, before the stage curtain was suddenly whipped back to reveal Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi and Visiting from New York for the occasion, Sanford I. Weill, chairman of the the children’s choir of Qatar International School who gave a surprise Board of Overseers of WCMC, addressed the audience to express his pride performance of a song composed for the event. in the success of WCMC-Q’s achievements over the past decade. WCMC-Q alumni Dr. Noor Suleiman and Dr. Juman Takeddin Dr. Sheikh highlighted the progress made by the college since 2002. Dr. Laith Aburaddad, Hiam Chemaitelly, Hanan Fares and Silva Kouyoumjian “My wife, Joan, joins me in expressing our heartfelt congratulations on the 10-year anniversary of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar,” he said. He said: “The establishment of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar was always going to be a challenge, but everyone involved in this great “Achieving this milestone has been a labor of love and we are very grateful adventure has risen to that challenge and surpassed all expectations. for our strong partnership with His Highness the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin “The progress that has been made in the last 10 years is quite astounding. Khalifa Al Thani, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and the Qatar A decade ago we did not even have a building to call our own and now we are Foundation. Together, we have built something special that will continue to here having graduated 112 doctors and with a fully-fledged research program. attract the best and brightest from all over the region, as well as the world. We take immense pride that our students in Qatar are doing equally as well “For these, and so many other achievements, I must thank all of our as our students in New York as it relates to their test scores and where faculty, staff members and students. The dedication, hard work and vision they are chosen for their residencies. The fact that we are still the only they have shown over the last decade leaves one feeling truly humble. American medical school to offer an M.D. degree outside the U.S. speaks “Of course, there are two people without whom none of this would have volumes of the hard work, dedication and determination of the entire Weill happened, His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, and Cornell team.” Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation. From left: Diana Hoteit, Rana Salah Eddin, Raya Alirani, Dr. Lotfi Choucane, Dr. Ravinder Mamtani By John Hayward WCMC-Q Student from left: Abdulhadi Al Saei, Ahmed Al Saei, Maen Abou Ziki and Emad Mansoor 12 • Events Events • 13 Images of a glittering evening

Dr. Leopold Streletz, Dr. Basim Uthman, Dr. Mark Pecker, Dr. Benjamin Shykind, Dr. Lyuba Konopasek, Dr. Shahinaz Bedri

H.E. Dr. Ghalia Al-Thani, of the WCMC-Q Joint Advisory Board Mr. Faisal M. Alsuwaidi, president of Research and Development at QF, with Dr. William Owen, CEO of Sidra Medical and Research Center reads WCMC-Q’s commemorative book

WCMC-Q Student Ibrahim Al-Emadi and Ameen Al-Aghil watch a film on the information pod Dr. Antonio M. Gotto Jr., dean emeritus of WCMC chats to H.E. Dr. Abdulla Al-Thani, president of Hamad Bin Khalifa University

Humna Asad, Meghan Pais, Jhoanna Tan, Saira Khan and Faten Shunnar

The information pods proved popular Dr. Rachid Bendriss, Dr. Ziyad Mahfoud, Dr. Stephen Scott and Yasmeen Salameh Violinists entertained the crowd following the ceremony Mariam Gabrial, Min Choi and Mouhamwed Abou-Ismail 14 • News News • 15 Teachers honored by students Literary Lecture Series is the Pre-Clinical Curriculum right medicine for students Molecules, Genes and Cells, Dr. Moncef Ladjimi; Human Structure and Function, Dr. Rachel Koshi; Host Defenses, Dr. Ali Sultan; Medicine, he English department at Weill Cornell Patients and Society I, Dr. Ziyad Mahfoud; T Medical College in Qatar has launched a Brain and Mind, Dr. Leopold Streletz; Basis of bold initiative that will involve the entire student Disease, Dr. Gerardo Guiter; Medicine, Patients body from the foundation program through to the and Society II, Dr. Ziad Kronfol. medical program in a series of literary lectures that aims to stimulate a love of literature, writing and language. Clinical Curriculum welve faculty members came top of the Dr. Javaid Sheikh presented the awards. Plans are also underway to host an emerging T class at this year’s Medical Education and talented young poet or two from the Faculty Teaching Awards. He said: “It would, of course, be nice to be able Clinical Clerkships and all 4th year courses (4 awards): Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, Dr. Hassen United States for a week-long series of student to honor every one of our teachers; we have a workshops, readings, transnational forums, and The annual ceremony looks to recognize those faculty to be proud of at WCMC-Q who place their Al-Amin, Dr. Marcellina Mian, and Dr. Basim Uthman. lectures, all of which will be open to Education WCMC-Q teachers who, in their students’ eyes, students first in everything they do. However, City and the wider community. have made the greatest difference to their there have to be winners and it is a privilege to education at the college. see the esteem that these faculty members are WCMC-NY Visiting Teaching Faculty “The Literary Lecture Series is about fostering held in by their students. an appreciation of English literature, but it is As always, the voting took place in strict secrecy also about appreciating the connective tissues “Everyone appreciates awards and honors but 1st Year, Dr. Estomih Mtui (HSF); 2nd Year, Dr. with the results only announced at the awards between art and science, culture and society, ceremony on June 10. those that are bestowed upon them by their own Estomih Mtui (BAM); Clinical Years Dr. Mark Professor Miller said an understanding of literature can help students become better doctors students must have special significance.” Pecker (Medicine Clerkship). the individual and history: a binding essence beyond the strictly corporeal - English, Arabic, or a young girl’s search for identity in a morass of So why, you may inquire, would medical students otherwise,” said Professor Ian Miller, lecturer of inversions and oddities. need to focus on English literature instead of English writing. more traditional aspects of grammar and report Honor for new WCMC-Q admin chief The Literary Lecture Series is an extension of our writing that may help future doctors? “We want to involve the entire student efforts to advance the nascent culture of literacy body at WCMC-Q. We see the college as a at WCMC-Q and beyond, Prof. Miller said. Prof. Miller turns to the words of poet and ewly appointed chief administrative officer of the growing importance of global education, continuous whole, wherein the humanities play editor Christian Wiman to answer this one: N Stephen Kenney is celebrating after being which I’m very keen to promote.” a fundamental role in the development of our Alice’s Adventures is part of this year’s reading “Let us remember … in the end we go to poetry chosen by the Worldwide Who’s Who networking students as empathic and compassionate future project for incoming students — a shared for one reason, so that we might more fully A graduate and then employee of the University organization as their 2012 Executive of the Year in physicians. experience that helps bond the class together. inhabit our lives and the world in which we live of Maine, Kenney was chosen as the founding the field of educational leadership. As for individual first-year writing seminars, them, and if we more fully inhabit these things, chief financial officer for the university’s joint “I believe we understand our lives and the the texts vary by course. Each seminar presents we might be less apt to destroy both.” Kenney, who joined WCMC-Q in August 2012, has initiative in Eastern Europe, the American condition of our living through story. We create its own autonomous subject under the general 20 years of international development experience University of Bulgaria. He later served as a “I think it’s safe to say that any medical narratives to etch meaning from the rawness of mandate of the Knight Writing Institute on the working in more than 30 countries throughout USAID contractor on development projects in student, physician, or scientist, can find useful experience. By interacting with the narratives of main campus. Students generally read anywhere Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, North Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan relevance, commonality, and resonance in others via texts - poetry, prose, the visual arts, between 40 and 70 pages of text a week and Africa and the former Soviet bloc. Having settled and Uzbekistan. He now hopes to bring the such a proposition. Moreover, the concepts music, film - we enhance our abilities to recognize write six revised essays over the course of the in Doha after arriving from his previous posting benefit of those appointments to his new role. of narrative medicine and medical humanities the common human story shared by all.” semester. as vice president for finance at the American have taken a hold in medical pedagogy. University of Beirut, Kenney was surprised and He said: “I have been fortunate to have had a lot of “Every patient arrives to the hospital with a pleased to receive the accolade so soon after unique experiences and challenges from my time The Literary Lecture Series provides an official There is already a lively interest in English story, not just a symptom or disease but a cultural his arrival. He said: “I was not expecting to be working in so many different countries and I hope forum for WCMC-Q’s writing faculty to share literature and students often search out and social narrative that informs the doctor- approached and it was a humbling experience for they have prepared me well for this position. I their research and love of literature with the opportunities to incorporate the humanities patient dyad. Physicians are being trained to me. I am pleased not just on a personal level but have experience working with institutions during community. Every fall, the incoming pre-medical into their education. The WCMC-Q debate club, treat their case studies as stories to synthesize more so because they were very positive about their crucial start-up years and I find the prospect and foundation class participates in Cornell’s Qira’at, and the student-run literary journal with treatment. By becoming more aware of the fact that I have worked in a lot of different of being here at WCMC-Q as it passes its tenth First Year Reading Project. This year, the students Between Seminar Rooms are some of the this synthesis, doctors can better care for their countries. That felt like an acknowledgement anniversary very exciting.” all read Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures avenues where students demonstrate an interest patients holistically.” in Wonderland - a beautifully illustrated tale of in rhetorical, literary, and artistic pursuits. By Hilton Kolbe 16 • News News • 17

By participating in this mission, Dr. Sheikh “But I am looking forward to expanding my explained, students had the opportunity to help knowledge because I would like to work in WCMC-Q work towards Qatar National Vision research, particularly relating to diseases like 2030, adding: “Through WCMC-Q, you can help obesity and diabetes as they affect the people to demonstrate that Qatar can become the first here in my home country, as well as being country in this region to really transform itself growing problems around the world.” from a carbon-based economy to a knowledge economy.” The Opening Exercises evening was just one of a series of events organized as part of the Students, their families and faculty members foundation and pre-medical orientation program then had the chance to speak with each other at a running from August 27 to 30. Students got to reception held in the North Commons. know their new classmates with icebreaker activity sessions on each of the four days of the First-year pre-medical student Fahad Al-Marri, program, and on day one took part in a cultural a graduate of the WCMC-Q foundation course, night where they wore national dress. explained why he had chosen to study at the university. Pre-med students sort clothing for donation

The most recent additions to the WCMC-Q family New students get acquainted with college life at WCMC-Q

ewly enrolled foundation and pre-medical students were offi- “Our goals here are nothing less than to establish WCMC-Q as the premier Students and workers get ready to share a cake N cially welcomed to WCMC-Q on August 28 in a ceremony led by medical education institution in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) “First of all, there is a deficit of doctors here in the university’s dean, Dr. Javaid I. Sheikh. region and we are already making good progress. Our vision is that by Qatar,” he said. 2015 we will be a major player in preparing a skilled workforce to improve Student Faten Aqeel takes part in an ice-breaker session Parents were also in attendance at the Opening Exercises event, where healthcare for Qatar’s population, not only by producing physicians, but “But the reason I wanted to study here is that they watched faculty members present 19 foundation and 48 pre- also researchers in our laboratories.” the university doesn’t just aim to fill the gap in There was also the annual event where new medical students with ceremonial pins in recognition of their new status the number of doctors, but has the ambition students serve dinner to the college’s cleaning as members of the WCMC-Q family. Dr. Sheikh told the students that research at the university was intended to produce really excellent physicians and staff and other workers, as well as information to benefit the local community. researchers who can help to develop and deliver sessions on how to get involved in student Addressing the assembled guests in WCMC-Q’s Lecture Hall 3, which new treatments that ultimately save lives. That is activities and about the various facilities on offer was filled to capacity, Dr. Sheikh spoke of the mission of the university, “We believe that the research should be targeting those ailments which what I want to be a part of.” at WCMC-Q such as the Distributed e-library and its achievements to date and its ambitions for the future. afflict the population here,” he said. the Writing Skills Center. Zahra Hejji, also a first-year pre-medical student, He said: “I extend a very warm welcome to all of you on behalf of our “Our focus is on translating findings from the laboratory to clinical trials said: “I feel really excited and, of course, a little The program ended on day four with a community faculty, staff and administration. This really is a very, very special that lead to new treatments for cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular bit afraid because it’s a big transition from high service evening in which donated goods were occasion. disease. Research must go all the way from the lab bench to the bedside.” school. collected to give to Qatar Charity. Student Nourhan Kika serves food to WCMC-Q workers By John Hayward 18 • Research News • 19

Dr. Chouchane said he was delighted with the success and it was a tribute to diligence and hard work. “We are hoping to build upon the foundations of our work and it is a tribute to many gifted and talented members of the WCMC-Q team that contributed to our success,” he said. First-year med students WCMC-Q third-year medical student Maen Abou Ziki was awarded the Best Student Health and Biomedical Research of the Year award in collaboration researchers excel with Weill Cornell Medical College in New York and Hamad Medical get practical experience Corporation for the study into the high prevalence of the ApoE Arg145Cys dyslipidemia at-risk polymorphism in African-derived populations. at QF Annual irst-year medical students were able to get Maen’s study focused on the unusually high occurrence in Qatar of F hands-on experience of treating injured and dyslipidemia, a condition characterized by abnormal levels of fats in the medically ill patients when they attended a day Research Forum boodstream of sufferers. of workshops at Hamad International Training Center. “No one knew the mutation was so prevalent,” he said. “This is fresh data and the project needs a lot of follow-up, but at least we can now advise Students learned how to address chest pain and people on how to monitor their lifestyle if they know they have this mutation. seizures, clear blocked airways, dress serious wounds and immobilize patients to prevent “In only one year, we were able to make phenomenal progress on this project. further injury in a series of lectures as part of It started in Qatar then we transitioned to the New York City metropolitan the annual First Responder Course for first-year population and then we studied the worldwide populations using the medical students at WCMC-Q. They then had the 1000 Genomes Project Consortium. Also, when studying the dyslipidemia chance to put theory into practice, applying slings phenotype in our patients we had to transition multiple times between the and splints to standardized patients simulating lab and the clinic. This study which was carried out under the supervision of the symptoms of broken bones and fine-tuning Dr. Ronald Crystal, chairman of the department of genetic medicine, is truly their airway skills on a lifelike mannequin. a translational research project with direct clinical implications.” In a new addition to the program, course director The president of research and development at Qatar Foundation, Faisal Dr. Hina Ghory, clinical instructor in medicine at First-year medical students practice artificial breathing techniques Alsuwaidi, said a key goal of this year’s forum was to inspire collaboration WCMC-Q and attending emergency physician at for future research and winning abstracts were picked based on quality, Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, ran “I think the airway workshop was the most merit, and relevance to the nation. a role-playing workshop in disaster medicine. informative,” he said. Students assumed the roles of senior medical “Getting some hands-on experience was also “It is a true honor to award these talented scientists grants, as they will and public services officials and were tasked very good, especially with the standardized not only advance their own ambitions, but the agenda of Qatar’s National with coordinating an effective response to a patients and the mannequin. We were able to try Research Strategy. Human capital is what drives research, and we must hypothetical scenario in which hundreds of lots of different techniques and treatment.” continue to find ways to invest in those who can help carry out the strategy’s people had been injured. implementation,” Mr. Alsuwaidi said. Student Sally Elgazar was also pleased to get the The exercise, which took place in September, Aseel Al Zibdeh (left), and Alreem Al-Nabti practice opportunity to practice giving treatment. bandaging techniques Maen Abou Ziki (left), with Dr. Lotfi Chouchane Dr. Dirar Khoury, director of institutional research and acting executive was designed to demonstrate the organizational She said: “The workshops have been very director of Qatar Foundation’s research division, said the quality of the problems posed by large-scale disasters and the start developing their professional identities as informative, especially the practical and scenario esearchers from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar won two pres- science at this year’s forum has improved tremendously and the workshops crucial need for hospitals to have comprehensive doctors, even though they have only just started case sessions. It’s fine to learn the theory of R tigious awards at Qatar Foundation’s third Annual Research Forum were targeting areas that directly address the Qatar National Research contingency plans in place to deal with major their medical training,” she said. “The goal giving treatment, but unless we try it in practice held at Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha. Strategy. incidents. Students had to consider the best way today is to teach our students how to provide we won’t have a real understanding of it. to utilize a hospital’s resources to identify the basic medical care in the field with limited “I found the practical sessions really useful and I The pair were among a group of 12 professional and student researchers The QF Annual Research Forum is held under the patronage of Her Highness most critically injured patients, direct them to the resources. It is a great foundation for the rest hope we will do more of them in the future during who were formally recognized for their groundbreaking discoveries in the Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, correct departments and administer treatment. of their training and we find that every year the the program.” past year. Science and Community Development, and it forms part of the national Another key lesson was the need for strong response to the course is very positive. Students strategy to transform Qatar into a knowledge-based society by seeking to coordination and collaboration between medical seem to get a lot out of putting what they have The day-long course at Hamad International Dr. Lotfi Chouchane, WCMC-Q’s assistant dean for basic science curriculum foster a community of research excellence and world-class education. staff, fire service and police personnel and public learned in theory into practice - it builds up Training Center was followed the next day by an and professor of genetic medicine and immunology, scooped the award for officials in order to provide effective disaster their confidence and helps them to very quickly Objective Structured Clinical Skills Evaluation best Health and Biomedical Research Program of the Year in collaboration This year it was held jointly with the Arab Expatriate Scientists Network relief. become accustomed to providing real treatment (OSCE). Held at the clinical skills center back with Brown University in the United States, the United States’ National Symposium 2012. This forum brings together Arab scientists from around to real patients - though recognizing their limits at WCMC-Q, the OSCE utilized moulage, role- Institutes of Health, and Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar, for how the the world, and encourages further collaboration to address the region’s Dr. Ghory said that getting hands-on experience as doctors-in-training.” play, and standardized patients, and required TNRC9 (TOX3) gene down regulates BRCA1 expression and promotes breast needs through research. early in their training was invaluable to the each student to manage an ill patient as a cancer aggressiveness. students. “We really want the students to Student Erfan Alotaki found the workshops useful. first-responder. 20 • Feature Feature • 21 Researcher sets the pace with mountain running

become very popular. When I first started out there were less than a thousand runners in the four different races - now it has increased to over six thousand runners in just four years.”

Over the past few years, Dr. Rafi has competed and finished every event in the series. It is regarded as the premier race meeting in international long distance trail running. This season he took on the challenging 119km TDS Sur Les Traces des Ducs de Savoie race that starts at Courmayeur, in northern Italy, in the foothills of The marathon followed a rugged course Mont Blanc. Seven refreshment posts are located along the The TDS race goes around Mont Blanc, the way where runners are supplied with drinks and highest mountain in Western Europe. There is a food to be consumed on the run. However, the cutoff time of 31 hours and 30 minutes for the aim of the event is to be semi-self-sufficient and 1,400 competitors who reach a height of more runners have to carry small amounts of food and than 2,000 meters during the race. clothes for the colder areas.

Organizers describe the TDS race as the wild “It can be quite lonely at times. Apart from the alternative. It is a mountainous event that refreshment stations, it is not unusual for runners includes several sections at altitude above not to see any other competitors for five or six 2,500m, in weather conditions that can be very hours. So you are alone. It is a semi-autonomous difficult with bitterly cold nights, strong winds, race. There was one race where I did not see any rain or snow. The route takes a narrow passage competitors except for the end of the day. It’s a up to the Col de Gitte at 2,322m where runners mental sport; you have to manage your pain and are greeted by an amazing panoramic view of the the desire to stop. It is harder running marathons. mountain chains of Mont Blanc and surrounding But there is also extreme euphoria at the end peaks before crossing the nose of the Bionnassay when you think you are the king of the world. Dr. Rafii said the race can be a lonely experience glacier by footbridge towards the finish at Chamonix. “The whole concept of these races is – you start it rash Rafii works hard as the assistant pro- The four races all differ in grade, intensity and you go through a range of emotions. Everyone A fessor in genetic medicine in WCMC-Q’s and distance but have one thing in common: “It sounds a whole lot harder than it really is,” goes through it and you think ‘am I going to finish it research division and in his spare time he also they are equally tough, difficult to master and Dr. Rafi says of his achievements. “It’s not as or will I have the strength to finish it’? You have to plays hard, competing in torrid ultra distance trail require a superior level of strength, fitness and demanding as triathlons or the marathon because dig very deep inside yourself to find a good reason runs at high altitude in the mountainous regions determination to finish. it is more about building on resistance. So, it is to finish it. So you build on the positive images of around France, Italy and Switzerland. not what I do in this year that affects my race but your life and that keeps you going beyond your “This has become something of a family event it is what I have done in the last five years. limit. It’s a very different psychology. You build Dr. Rafii nears the finishing line In late August, Dr. Rafii spent part of his vacation for us,” Dr. Rafii said. “We enjoy going there as more on your mental strength, rather than your participating in the annual Ultra-Trail Mont du a family. The kids love the place for the vacation “So every year I am going through, it becomes physical strength.” “It rained almost the whole race and it was very go fast enough to keep their temperature up. It Blanc four-race series that takes in mountain and I enjoy running in the region. easier for me as I build up resistance. But I have cold. You need to know how to recognize and how is really a challenging race. It is all about how trails and open country along the Grande to run at least five to seven hours per week to Dr Rafii said the race time is not so important, it is to manage the stress of hypothermia,” he added. you manage your equipment, how you manage Randonnée paths crossing through the Mont- “I started out by running by myself and built up stay in condition. At this rate you don’t really more the challenge of finishing. He explained that “At one of the pit stops, 500 people stopped yourself, how you manage your temperature. Blanc, Beaufort, Tarentaise and Aosta valley to running in these types of races. The whole increase your level. You need to do a lot more this year’s run was interesting because the race because of hypothermia. They just went through I was happy to manage that.” countryside. concept has changed a lot and trail running has running to increase your level of achievement.” was not long but it rained for 30 hours. a very difficult task at night and they could not By Hilton Kolbe 22 • News News • 23

Exploring stem cell therapies First-year for Parkinson’s med students sufferers tour diabetes

he potential of stem cell therapies to alleviate Parkinson’s disease was clinic facility T discussed in a lecture delivered by Dr. Claire Henchcliffe, visiting as- sociate professor from the department of neurology and neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

Dr. Henchcliffe, who is the Daisy & Paul Soros Scholar in Clinical Neurology tudents entering their first year of medical diabetes, but also the tools and self-esteem they and director of the Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorder Institute in S training visited Qatar Diabetes Association need to implement that information.” New York, gave faculty members and students at WCMC-Q a brief history of (QDA) to see treatment plans for the chronic stem cell treatments for the debilitating disease, which causes involuntary metabolic disease in action. El Nahas explained that patients could live tremors and movements (dyskinesia), and difficulty walking and slowness of relatively normal lives if they managed their movement (bradykinesia), among other symptoms. The WCMC-Q students toured the facilities condition carefully, but that failing to do so could at QDA on September 5, met clinicians and lead to severe complications such as blindness, Dr. Claire Henchcliffe Students and faculty members in attendance at the lecture on 7 October, interacted with patients visiting the clinic as part cardiovascular disease, increased risk of stroke, of their ongoing care plans. kidney malfunction and poor circulation that can entitled Is There Hope for Stem Cell Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease?, heard Major clinical trials conducted in the U.S. and Sweden had shown good First-year med student Nawaf Al-Taweel has his blood sugar tested that the need to develop effective treatments for the condition is becoming results in some implant recipients, but outcomes had been unpredictable. result in amputation of extremities. more pressing. Diabetes is perhaps the most pressing health there will be very significant financial savings for She said: “Some people did extremely well but others showed no issue affecting Qatar, with an estimated 17 Students watched a QDA clinician show the the country. “Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after improvement or only modest improvement. What worried everyone was percent of the native population and 12 percent parents of a seven-year-old boy with type 1 Alzheimer’s and probably affects about four million people worldwide,” said that once the cells are implanted, they cannot be removed, and some of the total population known to have the diabetes how to take a blood sample, check the “Even more importantly, we will be able to save Dr. Henchcliffe. “The World Health Organization has said that it’s going to recipients developed very severe graft-induced dyskinesis.” disease. The majority of sufferers have type 2 blood sugar level and administer an insulin shot. a lot of people from suffering and contribute become much more predominant and is probably going to double within the diabetes, which is acquired in adulthood and is QDA dieticians then held a question and answer positively to the general health and wellbeing of next couple of decades because of aging populations.” However, Dr. Henchcliffe was optimistic that recent developments in stem linked with obesity. session for the students. Qatar.” cell technology offer hope for researchers and sufferers, possibly paving Dr Matthis said that WCMC-Q students could The anatomical pathology of the disease, explained Dr. Henchcliffe, is the way for a new clinical trial. This centers on scientists at Rockefeller Students sat in on consultations between Dr Sharoud Matthis, QDA program manager, play a key role in helping Qatar meet the characterized by the death of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia University who derived the first human embryonic stem cell lines to be patients and QDA clinicians to discover how the outlined the challenge diabetes poses to Qatar. challenge of delivering diabetes care if they nigra, a part of the brain that plays a key role in coordinating movement. made available to other research institutes, releasing them in 2009. These condition can be managed by following a healthy She said: “The major part of health expenditure chose to specialize in the condition, a prospect Since dopamine is an important neurotransmitter, a lack of the chemical stem cells represent a breakthrough because they are more controllable diet, regularly checking blood sugar levels and in Qatar is spent on diabetes care and treating Qatari student Ameneh Amini found inspiring. inhibits the ability of nerve cells to send signals to one another, impairing than previous lines, allowing researchers to differentiate them into specific taking regular exercise. the associated complications, so if we can help movement. Stem cell therapies therefore focus on replacing the dead to prevent people acquiring diabetes or catch it types of cells for treatment of various conditions. “I’m definitely considering specializing in diabetes Senior QDA dietician Katie El Nahas gave a early and help them to manage their condition, dopamine-producing cells by grafting stem cells into strategic areas of the healthcare, simply because of the number of presentation outlining the general principles of brain. Dr. Henchcliffe said: “Right now we think the best thing we’ve got are people in Qatar who suffer from it,” she said. these human embryonic stem cell lines that are very well understood in diabetes management. Dr. Henchcliffe, who was in Doha for a week to teach second-year medical the laboratory. “The culture here plays a part in the spread of the students part of their brain and mind course, said: “The challenges we She said: “Medication is only about five percent disease, particularly among the older generation face are better diagnosis of Parkinson’s, individualizing treatments more “We think that we have got understanding to at least go ahead and start of treatment for diabetes. The rest is about who will sometimes refuse to come to the effectively and finding ways to slow down the disease. But what we would consulting and discussing what a first human transplant trial using human managing the condition through diet, lifestyle, hospital when they are unwell, which has serious really love to be able to do is actually to reverse the disease. The difficulty embryonic stem cells from the lab would look like.” exercise and education. implications if they are suffering from diabetes. is that implanted cells may not survive or may be rejected.” Dr. Henchcliffe also gave the first address of the Medicine And U Public “That means that we spend a lot of time and “I think it’s very important that doctors learn to Dr. Henchcliffe and her team undertook an exhaustive review of previous Lecture Series 2012-2013, entitled What Can Neurological Movement effort working with patients to give them not communicate in the proper way to encourage studies, aiming to understand the difficulties encountered by researchers. Disorders Teach Us About Aging? on 9 October. only the information they need to manage their Saleha Abbasi, Maryem Al Manaa and Zahra Rahman people to get help earlier.” 24 • Feature Feature • 25

food. That’s going to be different from what a frog needs or what a mouse needs if it’s living in Research team hopes for a New York City subway, for example. Eventually we hope to find desert-specific odor receptor genes that allow an animal to survive in a harsh environment with very little water and very little the sweet smell of success food.” To do so, the research team works in the laboratory to isolate the genetic material of the animals using a chemical process in which all extraneous material is dissolved away from the tissue samples. The genetic material – DNA and RNA – is then passed to WCMC-Q’s genomics core where state-of-the-art equipment and techniques are used to assemble it into a readable sequence. The sequenced genetic material is then handed to the bioinformatics core where computers analyze the sequences and determine which are likely to be related to olfaction by comparing them to known genes.

Despite the advanced equipment, the computers cannot definitively identify a gene. To do that, Dr. Shykind and his team must return to the lab.

He explained: “We use the computer to sift through all of these billions of DNA sequence Dr. Benjamin Shykind elements and then categorize them into known genes or likely genes. It’s a little bit like you’re hat can looking up a camel’s nose tell you Dr. Shykind explained: “One of the compelling looking at the ground from 5,000ft in the air W about life? Some might say it tells you reasons to study the olfaction of the camel has to and you can identify something as a car or a that you’re in the wrong job, but for Dr. Benjamin do with their apparent ability to recognize water house by their rough shapes and similarity to Shykind and his research team the olfactory sys- from great distances – they can smell water from other examples of cars or houses. That’s what tems of desert animals are helping to reveal the very, very far away. the computer does for us, but with the gene fundamental biological processes that underpin sequences, so it narrows down the search the evolution of living organisms. “Obviously water doesn’t smell, but when hugely. When we receive the material again water hits a rock or if the street is damp, it has after it has been sequenced and analyzed, we Dr. Shykind, assistant professor of cell and a distinctive odor. For example, you or I can tell then go back into the laboratory and try to prove development biology and biochemistry, has that the street is damp just from the smell and that the object we thought was a house actually harvested DNA samples from camels and oryx the same is likely true in the desert – water is is a house.” for analysis, hoping to identify the odor receptor impinging on sand or stone or plant material, so genes of the animals. Through the research, Dr. you know there’s water nearby or even afar, if According to Dr. Shykind, the research has the Shykind hopes to gain insight into how animals you’re very good at detecting it.” potential to shed light on more than the olfactory develop the complex specializations that allow systems of two particular animals by increasing them to adapt to their environments. The research could give new insight into how the understanding of the processes by which cells process of evolution works at the genetic level. select and express the relevant parts of the For the camel and the oryx, an acute sense of genetic code to become any one of the huge smell is essential for finding enough food and “One aspect that we find interesting is how has number of different types of cells that exist in water to survive in the arid desert landscape. this harsh climate sculpted the olfactory genome, animals. Rather than focusing only on decoding For Dr. Shykind’s team, the complexity of the because our environment will select for certain the genetic material, which is a well-advanced olfactory system and the vast number of genes traits, certain traits will allow us to adapt, allow field of research, he is interested in elucidating associated with olfaction in mammals – more us to thrive in certain environments,” said Dr. the as-yet mysterious and inscrutable processes than 900 in the human genome out of a total of Shykind. “One of the specializations we imagine by which cells regulate their genes in order to some 30,000 – make the area a fertile hunting is going to be an ability to survive based on an generate complexity and specialized functions - ground for researchers. ability to smell certain things and find water and a field of research that is very much in its infancy. Camels can smell water from vast distances 26 • News News • 27

the human genome is that only five percent or so of all the DNA actually encodes genes. The other 95 percent is going to be the material Bridging the linguistic gap that allows the genes to be regulated. We understand the five percent, but we are only just beginning to decode the information in the genome that allows the genes to be regulated in a sophisticated way.”

Dr. Shykind envisages that his basic research could lead to a number of applications in future. He said: “Let’s say that in the camel nose we find receptors that we could harness and make artificial sensing devices to find water – that would be spectacular.”

The research will also contribute to the growing body of knowledge of gene regulation, one of the most exciting research areas in molecular biology. This in turn has implications for understanding how genes are affected by environmental factors and the role this plays in causing disease.

Dr. Shykind continued: “Getting back to the bigger question of how genes are turned on or turned off, many cancers, for example, are sporadic in nature. One individual might develop a cancer whereas their identical twin will not, so it’s not based on their genes - it’s based on Maha Elnashar (center) with the interpretation volunteers the things that happen to the regulation of the genes. And that might be at the heart of certain atar is a patchwork of nationalities with hun- languages: Nepali, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, She said: “It’s mainly about helping people in misregulations that lead to diseases like cancer Q dreds of different languages spoken by its German, French and Arabic. Although they medical situations. That is our main role. The and potentially diabetes and other conditions. residents. But that can pose challenges for doc- came from different professional backgrounds, program gives us a strategy about how we can be It’s very interesting because we typically think tors at Hamad Medical Corporation when they all participants performed very well during the a good interpreter. I have to interpret everything of environmental toxins as being toxic in a direct are faced with treating a patient who is unable training and in their final evaluation.” but not necessarily all the time. When I feel there way, but they could in fact be toxic because to understand or communicate with them. is a misunderstanding between the doctor and they alter patterns of genes being turned on Huda Abdelrahim, medical interpreters’ trainer patient I have to speak out and clarify the issue.” and turned off almost in a heritable way, so With this in mind, WCMC-Q’s Center for Cultural at the CCCHC, added: “It takes a long journey The cells of the sensory tissue from a camel’s nose as seen under the light microscope (top) and the olfactory environment is likely to play a larger role than we Volunteers spent five days learning techniques nerve cells from this tissue are revealed by antibody staining (bottom, in green) Competency in Health Care (CCCHC) held the to build community capacity of qualified medical understand in a lot of these processes.” first ‘Bridging the Gap’ medical interpretation interpreters. The process includes selecting the and studying medical terminology before their He said: “I’m interested overall in how animals “Nobody knows how that’s done.” training course for bilingual volunteers who right candidates, providing them with quality details were passed onto hospitals who could use their genes to generate complexity. One of Dr. Shykind’s team has recently received a large wanted to help both patients and the medical training to enhance their skills and ensuring then call on them if and when they were needed. the big mysteries and compelling reasons to Intriguingly, the level of sophistication of amount of DNA sequence from the genomics profession alike. their continuous professional development. Our study biology is that we all start as a single cell individual animals does not appear to be related core and has begun the painstaking process of main goal is to help facilitate cross-cultural Filipina national Maria Ventura, a process and that single cell has a genetic library and – to the number of genes it has, explained Dr. working through the material. Maha Elnashar, director of CCCHC, said: “Our communication in healthcare settings, which coordinator at Sidra Medical and Research remarkably – we go from that single cell to Shykind. Creatures as diverse as humans, main intention is to build a community capacity is very common in Qatar, and prepare highly Center, said she now understood that often billions of cells. chimpanzees, mice, worms and fruit flies all He added: “We’re happy that there are certainly of medical interpreters who can be called upon qualified medical interpreters who are ready to patients felt quite helpless in medical situations, possess somewhere in the region of 30,000 plenty of genes there, which we expected. We’re by health-care institutions to help in facilitating make a difference in healthcare settings.” particularly when they do not fully understand “The analogy of a library is a useful one, because genes. That points to the regulation of genes now starting to categorize them and to reach the communication between patients and health- what is being said to them. each cell has exactly the same genetic library, but playing a crucial role in determining the startling level of proving them [to be odor receptor genes]. care providers in any medical setting. Qatari national Noora Essa Al-Fadala, who different types of cells are checking out different levels of complexity and diversity observed in It’s early days and it’s a long process but we’re speaks Arabic and English, was one of those She added: “I have also come to realize books. So a nerve cell in the eye is going to check living organisms. now at the point of assigning identities to these “Our first training course was in October 2012. taking part in the program. She said it was a vital the beauty of common communication and out all the books that say ‘this is how you become genes so hopefully in the near future we will be We trained 17 wonderful bilingual individuals service, particularly for elderly Qataris who may understanding between two people. In health a nerve cell in the eye’ whereas a muscle cell is Taking our own genetic makeup as an example, able to confirm some of them.” who approached us voluntarily to help their have greater difficulty in understanding a non- care appropriate medication can be applied if going to check out different books. Dr. Shykind said: “The remarkable thing about By John Hayward communities. They speak the following Qatari doctor. there is communication.” 28 • News Events • 29 WCMC-Q leading the Focus on the next Middle East with its Center generation of doctors for Cultural Competence in Health Care programs

he Center for Cultural Competence in Health T Care (CCCHC) at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) has been featured in one of the world’s most prestigious medical journals.

The June issue of Academic Medicine published a lengthy article about the center, detailing its development, its aims and its successes.

The piece was co-authored by Maha Elnashar, director of CCCHC; Huda Abdelrahim, trainer and medical interpreter at CCCHC; and Dr. Michael D. Fetters of the University of Michigan who is collaborating with WCMC-Q on research.

Ms. Elnashar said: “Academic Medicine is one of the leading peer-reviewed journals in the world. To publicize the story of our center in such a prestigious journal emphasizes the global interest and importance of cultural competence in our The participants learn what to expect from a medical degree new world order. It is also a great recognition of our dedicated endeavors and WCMC-Q’s vision to igh school students were treated to a will involve and demystify the process for them. promote global health. H taste of what life is like at WCMC-Q when “We want them to apply to the college knowing they took part in the summer Medical Explorer exactly what we require of them them but also “Sharing the details of our work will hopefully Program. the support, facilities and world-class faculty inform other institutions and hospitals in the that we will provide in return. Syed Hasnain, student recruitment programs manager, looks on as the students gain some practical experience region who are considering introducing similar In all 40 potential pre-medical students – about Maha Elnashar, director of the Center for Cultural Competence in Health Care “We want to make sure that competitive initiatives, further enhancing health-care.” a third of whom were Qatari – took part in the Mohammed Al Abidi, who attends Omar Bin applicants have the best possible chance of Ms. Abdelrahim said: “WCMC-Q medical The center, part of WCMC-Q’s department for scheme, which was designed to prepare them Al Khattab School, said the program was very success and the Medical Explorer Program is just The center, of which WCMC-Q’s is the only one students will be working, more than ever before, global and public health, was launched in 2009 for life at university, explain what is expected useful in knowing what to expect if a successful one way of doing this.” of its kind in the Middle East, educates students, in a multi-cultural society and world. At Hamad with a view to preparing students for the myriad of them and also offer help with their SATs. The application is made to WCMC-Q. faculty and health care providers about the cultural Medical Corporation (HMC) alone, patients speak nationalities, languages and cultures they will students were from schools across the country, In previous years the program has taken students encounter when treating patients at HMC in differences of nationalities, which may in turn dozens of languages. Students must acquire although two students travelled a little further; for just one week but for the first time this year The 17-year-old said: It’s good to be here as I affect how they treat patients. Instances could be skills to work with these diverse populations and Qatar and when they embark on their residencies one came from Bahrain while the other flew in the program lasted three weeks, providing know Weill Cornell is going to give us knowledge as simple as an Arab woman refusing to be treated understand their needs in order to provide the anywhere in the world including in the U.S. thousands of miles from Ireland. potential undergraduates with more information about studying medicine and I also just wanted to by a male doctor but may be as specific as medics best possible treatments. Our focus is to prepare about what a career in medicine entails. know about the place as after high school I will recognizing when a bruised child has undergone students to be open and curious about different To access the article, use the hyperlink: Noha Saleh, director of student recruitment They also had the chance to meet faculty maybe apply here. coin-rubbing; not a form of abuse but a traditional cultures and to be aware of their own biases http://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/ at WCMC-Q, said: “The whole idea of the members and attend lectures from some of “If successful I might be here for six years so Southeast Asian therapy that involves massaging and stereotypes which could lead to health Abstract/publishahead/Cultural_Competence_ Medical Explorer Program is to show potential WCMC-Q’s professors as well as have hands-on it’s good to find out about the university and the the patient with hot oil and the edge of a coin. disparities.” Springs_up_in_the_Desert__The.99639.aspx students what a medical degree at WCMC-Q experience in the laboratories. facilities.” 30 • Feature Feature • 31 A new approach to healthcare last two decades in education, economics and in health for women and children as compared to men, unfortunately that disparity which has long been standing has not been reduced.

“The vision of Her Highness Sheikha Moza, endorsed by the board of Sidra and supported by Qatar Foundation, was first of all a public acknowledgement that there was a disparity in He said: “Sidra will be a learning environment whereby we will quite He said: “Sidra is an all-digital environment whereby we can store health and healthcare that can be addressed and deliberately try to groom - I anticipate successfully - a different type of extraordinary amounts of information in a very small area and access it in that one of the ways this can be done is with a physician, one who is humanistic and who will address what I would a portable way. That is very powerful as opposed to going through a stack specialty healthcare facility like Sidra.” characterize as some of the ills in healthcare that my generation has not of folders and it means that as a physician I can minimize the likelihood of managed very well. errors occurring because I didn’t know, didn’t remember, didn’t communicate Describing Sidra’s unique working structure, some crucial information the right way. So we will train our students in that Dr. Owen was keen to stress the importance of “One of those ills is what I would describe as inverse healthcare delivery, kind of digital environment. physicians working in close cooperation with not just in Qatar or the United States, but throughout the world. The people other professionals in the field to improve the who have the least means have the greatest burden of disease and vice “The second part of the training at Sidra that’s going to be different and overall health of patients. versa, and that is something that needs to be addressed. very powerful is the use of simulations. When I trained – and I’m not that old - you were dependent on case material, so if you wanted to learn how He said: “While Sidra is a structural facility where “What I see as exciting is that from the day they walk through the door, we to deliver a baby you had to hope a woman would come in delivering a baby. healthcare is a goal, health is equally important are going to train those young men and young women to think about how to Now, with simulations that involve hi-tech dummies and interviews, you as a goal, which means that the way physicians, address those ills. They will be much more humanistic physicians.” can replicate what is being done and you can do it without causing harm - it nurses and other health-related providers is a wonderful way to train people. You can simulate childbearing and you can engage with the patients will be different. WCMC-Q students therefore form an integral part of Sidra’s mission to both simulate trauma in circumstances in which you can make a mistake and no one Care will be provided by teams of healthcare increase the national capacity of Qatar in healthcare and carry forward the is harmed. professionals; so rather than traditional ways new approach to patient care. For that reason, Dr. Owen explained, the ties of providing healthcare, which is best described between Sidra and the university are crucial, and he has been encouraged “Pencils have erasers for a reason, especially when you’re learning. You as a hierarchical or caste system where the by the strength and depth of the partnership he has witnessed so far. often need to use the eraser.” physician is at the pinnacle, it will be provided by teams where different disciplines, opinions and Dr. Owen said Sidra will try to help train ‘humanistic’ physicians “The relationship is already established and it goes well beyond the legal But it is not only students and patients who will benefit from the strong perspectives of healthcare are actually respected document of an affiliation agreement,” he said. “Most importantly, the relationship between WCMC-Q and Sidra, added Dr. Owen, as the new he newly appointed chief executive officer improving both the quality of patient care and and embraced and part of the care plan.” relationship is established in terms of intellectual and emotional alignment center also promises to boost the potential for collaborative research. T of Sidra Medical and Research Center has accessibility to it for underserved groups. and that comes down to the simple thing of interaction among people: do spoken of the strong relationship between his Under this model, physicians will be encouraged the leadership and the people deeper in the organization at Weill Cornell “Having a vibrant medical school and a state-of-the-art healthcare delivery organization and WCMC-Q, which he believes Dr. Owen, who previously held the position of to view the hospitalization of a patient as only Qatar embrace the sorts of attributes that I’ve described for Sidra and vice system working closely together is a wonderful incubator for discovery,” can help usher in a new era of improved access president of the University of Medicine and a single component of a wider care plan that versa? The answer to that is a categorical ‘yes’. We welcome one another’s he said. to quality healthcare for people all over the world. Dentistry of New Jersey, the largest publicly extends beyond the hospital, drawing in the partnership - if you don’t have that sort of emotional alignment, no contract, funded academic health system in the US, said: patient’s family and complementary external no legal document is going to manage that.” “You can monetize those intellectual assets by creating revenue streams Dr. William Owen, who assumed the role of CEO at “By a number of metrics, Sidra is addressing the healthcare providers. or they can create jobs for people. By working together to make new Sidra in early August, believes the key to achieving needs of what many have characterized as the Dr. Owen is confident that the new generation of students that will be discoveries, Sidra and WCMC-Q can help Qatar in its mission to develop a this ambitious goal will be equipping a generation most vulnerable and underserved demographic In order for medicine to be practiced in this way, produced by the partnership of WCMC-Q, Sidra and HMC will not just knowledge-based economy.” of physicians with the skills to approach medicine on a global basis: women and children. If you medical training will be tailored to produce what advance a new approach to medicine but will also be trained to the very in a more humanistic and multi-disciplinary way, look at the gains that have been made over the Dr. Owen calls, “a new type of physician.” highest standards, aided by the state-of-the-art facilities at Sidra. By John Hayward 32 • News Feature • 33

Students are awarded the Doctors of the Future Scholarships based on an annual essay The challenges for a greener Doctors of the competition open to all high school students throughout Qatar. This year’s essay topic was on the history and future of medicine in the country. Separately, each of the students wrote about the Future winners changing face of health care in Qatar, from the and more sustainable future practice of traditional herbal medicine through the introduction of modern technology in the last sample the rigors of 25 years and, finally, to the future of medicine in the next 50 years as envisioned by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar scientific research Foundation. WCMC-Q’s director of student recruitment, Noha Saleh, said it was a memorable and an exciting experience for the winners. “Since the inception of the essay competition in 2008, WCMC-Q has awarded scholarships to 11 students. By doing so, we hope to stimulate the interest of the younger generation of Qatar to pursue medicine and research as a career by providing them with an opportunity to visit our research labs in New York. So far the program has been very successful as students come back and apply to our pre-medical program.”

During the course of their two-week visit, the students toured three labs and two patient-care units, including NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s medical intensive care unit.

In the labs, the students worked with two Professor Greene said Qatar should show leadership in environmental issues main cell lines, A549 and 293HEK. One of the cean science and technology expert than many people can imagine,” said Professor “By demonstrating leadership in addressing primary experiments was the introduction of a O Professor Charles Greene was in Doha Greene. humanity’s greatest challenges, Qatar can not reporter gene into a cell line and then testing to attend the United Nations Climate Change only ensure its own national security, it can and identifying the expression of the newly Conference 2012 (COP18) and took time out to He also described a bold plan to transform help stabilize an increasingly unstable world,” introduced gene. visit WCMC-Q to share his views on shaping a modern society from its currently unsustainable Professor Greene said. more sustainable world in the future. fossil-fuel addiction to a new reliance on algal “We had embryonic kidney cells and we bioenergy and concentrated solar power. Along Small steps are already in place in Qatar with an transfected these cells with a gene that codes for Professor Greene is the director of the ocean with this energy transformation, the plan also experimental solar energy and algae cultivation GFP (green fluorescent protein). And we added Ali Mohsen Hajji and Hamad Nasser Al Naimi in the lab with a WCMC scientist resources and ecosystems program in the integrates a suite of technologies that will plant established as part of the Sahara Forest also a PEI (polyethyleneimine), which helps DNA department of earth and atmospheric sciences reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere Project at Mesaimeer. hree talented Qatari high school students in New York. There they learnt about laboratory get into cells, and then we viewed the cells under at Cornell University. His talk was titled: A Need while simultaneously providing new sources of T returned from an intense two-week medi- procedures and the scientific method from green laser,” said Al-Hail, who attends high for Qatari Leadership in Securing a Sustainable food, freshwater, and employment to regions of On its website, the pilot program describes cal and scientific scholarship in New York with physician-researchers at WCMC and NewYork- school at the Al-Bayan Educational Complex for World for Future Generations. the world where all of these things are in short its mission designed to utilize what we have renewed passion to pursue careers in medi- Presbyterian Hospital. Girls in Doha. supply. enough of to produce what we need more of, cine and research as part of the Healing Hands “Imagine a future in which Qatar plays a using deserts, saltwater and carbon dioxide to competition. Standing before the faculty of the department For Hessa, this was her first trip to the U.S. and leading role in solving the greatest challenges In a wide-ranging discourse about the long-term produce food, water and clean energy. This is of genetic medicine at WCMC, the high school she was fascinated by the different lifestyle. “It Hessa Khalid Al-Hail, Ali Mohsen Hajji and was a remarkable experience. New York was confronting humanity during the 21st century. impacts of global warming, climate change, the done by combining already existing and proven Hamad Nasser Al Naimi were this year’s winners students outlined all they had accomplished Imagine an integrated solution to climate change, consequences of rising sea levels and the near environmental technologies, including saltwater- of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar’s annual over the previous two weeks: differentiating so unbelievable and way better than what the energy security, and food security emerging from universal dependence on declining resources of cooled greenhouses, concentrated solar power Doctors of the Future Scholarship. They were cell types, culturing cell lines, performing a movies show. I really enjoyed my time there. Yes, the Arab world of the Middle East and Saharan fossil fuels, Professor Greene outlined a grim (CSP) and technologies for desert revegetation rewarded with a fully funded, two-week trip to DNA restriction digest and transfecting cells it was different to Qatar but it was also a very North Africa. The realization of such a future future that could have a major impact on the way around a saltwater infrastructure. the lab of Dr. Ronald Crystal, chairman of the with a reporter gene - among a half-dozen other beneficial experience. I made the utmost of it,” and such a solution are a lot closer to reality we live our lives and conduct our business. department of genetic medicine at Weill Cornell scientific and laboratory techniques. Hessa said. 34 • Feature News • 35

an ‘Intern Bootcamp’ coaching session led by Dr. Norman Angell, chairman and program director of the obstetrics and gynecology residency program at Albany Medical College.

For third-year medical student Abdelaziz Farhat, the event proved useful and informative.

He said: “The highlight of the symposium for me was getting close contact with the program directors. I’m interested in neurology and being able to talk directly to directors of programs in that field and find out what the program offers was a really useful experience.

“I have not had the chance to talk face to face with a program director before and it really gave me an insight into what they are looking for in an applicant in terms of attitude, personality traits and academic background. It will really help me with my application.”

Dr. Eugene Toy, program director of the obstetrics Curriculum a and gynecology residency program at the Hessa Khalid Al-Hail examines a sample Methodist Hospital-Houston, who delivered a “After this experience, I now have a better idea hit with visiting lecture advising students how to prepare for about a doctor’s life and a researcher’s career, it’s standardized exams, gave his impressions of his not easy but I am determined to be a doctor after first visit to WCMC-Q. having this experience. I would do anything to study in the U.S. and make my country feel proud residency He said: “I have been very impressed by the of me. I have this huge interest in cardiology and curriculum on offer here, which is as good or neurology, so I want to be a neurological and perhaps even better than those of many medical cardiac surgeon. It is challenging and competitive, program schools in the U.S. From the faculty and students but I believe I can do it.” I have met I can see that the teaching here is outstanding. I think that students of WCMC-Q One of the first observations Ali Mohsen Hajji directors can have a great chance of getting residencies made was that a day in New York was very because there are 22 program directors from all different to a day in Doha. “New York City was The chances of WCMC-Q graduates securing giving students the opportunity to learn key skills over the U.S here that will have seen with their definitely a very different place for me. It got me places on residency programs at elite hospitals to maximize their chances of success in their own eyes the excellence of education here that excited because this was something new. I really received a boost when program directors from residency applications. I have seen.” enjoyed the many famous landmarks that we saw leading U.S. institutions visited the university in and visited. It really helped us to enjoy our time October. Following a welcome message by college dean Dr. Lyuba Konopasek, associate dean for medical there.” Dr. Javaid Sheikh, a keynote address was education, spoke of her satisfaction at the Residency program directors from Johns Hopkins given by WCMC-Q alumnus Mohamed Elshazly, success of the event. Ali was impressed by the size and scope of Weill University, Virginia Commonwealth University who gave an account of his experiences on Cornell Medical College in New York and he was and Albany Medical College, among several a residency program at the renowned Johns “As we are still a relatively young university, this surprised to find a touch of home on the campus. After experiencing this scholarship, Ali is keen I definitely recommend this scholarship to any others, attended the three-day New Frontiers in Hopkins University in Baltimore. Dr. Wallace sort of relationship building is critical in order to “They had so many different facilities and the to experience more of the U.S. lifestyle but he is person who can participate and compete as hard Medical Education symposium from October 2 to Carter, director of the emergency medicine get the word out about the quality of our program university was working on so many different also considering studying medicine in Qatar. as he or she can to get it, because I think it is 4 where they met and spoke to with WCMC-Q residency program, gave a further keynote and the talents of our students,” she said. “It is projects. I also noted that many of the buildings on an opportunity that high school students won’t faculty, students and alumni, as well as touring address to discuss the ramifications of the Next extremely encouraging that so many program the Cornell campus were funded and constructed Hamad Nasser Al Naimi has unforgettable forget for as long as they live.” the facilities at HMC. Accreditation System currently being introduced directors attended and I think our students gained by Qatar and this made me proud of my country memories of his visit to the Empire State building, by the Accreditation Council for Graduate a great deal from hearing their advice. I think the and proud of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin the American Museum of Natural History and he Hamad is also considering a medical career but Through a series of seminars, tours and roundtable Medical Education. program directors also benefited from meeting Khalifa Al-Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Moza had an amazing time just strolling around Times said his first priority was more practical and that discussions, the event introduced the program our students, who have an enormous amount to bint Nasser for their continuous support not only Square. “This was my first visit to the U.S. and I is getting into a suitable medical school. directors to WCMC-Q and its commitment to The second day brought roundtable discussions contribute to their residency programs.” in Qatar but also worldwide.” enjoyed doing many things during the two weeks. By Hilton Kolbe academic excellence, while simultaneously between students and program directors and By John Hayward 36 • News News • 37 Tanzania mission challenges Navigating the moral maze medical students WCMC-Q associate professor “What is good about the global health published in leading medical scholarships is that you get to see and do so many different things in medicine and you also ethics journal get an opportunity to get out and see new things and new places.” econciling a patient’s right to confidential- R ity with the need to provide the highest The department of global and public health (GPH) quality healthcare is an ethical dilemma many at WCMC-Q sponsors two first-year medical doctors will face at some point during their students annually during the summer break for career. a global health experience in Tanzania. GPH provides scholarships to help pay for the The situation is complicated further if the students’ travel and living expenses. patient in question is a minor suffering from a condition such as depression that can be Dr. Sohaila Cheema, manager of the department, difficult to diagnose, and adamantly insists said applications for the scholarships will open that his or her parents not be informed. This early next year and she encouraged medical was the hypothetical scenario addressed by Dr. students to apply for this unique experience. Pablo Rodríguez del Pozo, WCMC-Q’s associate professor of public health, when he was asked The global health opportunity provides students to submit an article to a special edition of Virtual with experience that complements their medical Mentor, a monthly bioethics journal published by training and prepares them for medical practice the American Medical Association (AMA), which anywhere in the world. focused on the issue of confidentiality. It wasn’t all work, work, work for Aseel Abu Dayya The hypothetical situation posed by the AMA ot many students choose to spend the sit in on everything they did. These were some involved a 16-year-old male named Dylan who N summer break working in a developing of the best neurosurgeons in the world so it was reveals to his longtime family physician, Dr. Dr. Pablo del Pozo country’s hospital but Aseel Abu Dayya and an exciting opportunity to see them working in Emory, that he has been experiencing depression Mohamed Amin, two second-year medical surgery and learning from them.” since the divorce of his parents 18 months ago. is a tendency to spend considerable efforts Dr. del Pozo remarked: “The Virtual Mentor story students at WCMC-Q recently returned from In a subsequent appointment, the patient says discussing subjects such as cloning, stem cells or reminds us that clinical judgment is inseparable a challenging experience working at one such Mohamed agreed that it was an enjoyable and he has been having thoughts of self-harming, but genetic engineering. These are important areas from moral judgment. Every situation is different, hospital - Weill Bugando Medical Center in interesting learning experience, especially for has not acted on them. Dr. Emory recommends but they are not widely practiced. So it’s good which means that doctors must sometimes think Mwanza, Tanzania. students with a focus on global health issues in involving a therapist and the support of Dylan’s to talk about what could happen any given day creatively, often under the time pressure of The learning experience in a vastly different developing countries. parents, but Dylan insists that the matter must in any doctor’s office, which in the end is where a short consultation, in order to optimize the culture where resources are often scarce remain confidentialand asks instead to be most ethics issues arise.” clinical outcome without compromising their and opportunities limited was invaluable and “I would recommend it to fellow students as a prescribed an antidepressant. Dr. Emory believes ethical duties towards the patient. Vice-versa, intense. It opened their eyes to the medical once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said. a low-dose antidepressant could help but is In his commentary, Dr. del Pozo outlined the doctors have to optimize the moral outcome needs of people who are less fortunate. reluctant to prescribe one, as Dylan is unwilling dilemma facing Dr. Emory: He can’t rush into the without compromising their duty to provide “I got opportunities to do rounds in internal to schedule the follow-up appointment that such diagnosis of depression as it would necessitate excellent clinical care. In the end, this is the “This was truly an amazing experience. It was a medicine, the intensive care unit, and psychiatry. medication would require, fearing that his mother breaking confidentiality, given that the patient challenge, and the beauty, of medicine.” unique opportunity to see and learn so much,” The psychiatric ward was not very well advanced will realize something is wrong. would need close family monitoring. However, Aseel said. “At Weill Bugando Hospital we did and it was sad to see how limited resources can neither can he rule out such a diagnosis in the To read the full version of Dr. del Pozo’s article, see research, attended morning rounds with patients, actually affect patients. Dr. del Pozo, who is in charge of the courses name of confidentiality, as it could put the patient Virtual Mentor, American Medical Association attended conferences with staff doctors as they on medical ethics for WCMC-Q’s pre-medical at risk of harming himself. Journal of Ethics, September 2012, Volume 14, discussed treatment options, and then we were “You certainly get to see many different things, and medical program, explained the relevance Number 9: 695-700. http://virtualmentor.ama- basically free to observe around the hospital. which you will probably not see elsewhere. of the fictional scenario: “For me, the key was Dr. del Pozo recommended resolving the assn.org/2012/09/ecas2-1209.html Even the visiting doctors from abroad said they that this situation was an example of everyday situation by involving a trusted third-party – “We were very lucky that a team of did not see these types of illnesses very often ethics, which I feel is important to write about,” Dylan’s grandmother - who could offer discreet neurosurgeons from the U.S. came to work at in the modern countries as opposed to these he said. “When we consider medical ethics there monitoring and support. By John Hayward Weill Bugando Hospital and they allowed us to developing countries. Mohamed Amin with a young football fan 38 • News Events • 39 Medical education retreat encourages scholarship and academic publishing Researchers probe eill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, WCMC-Q’s associate dean for medical education, W in association with Hamad Medical Dr. Lyuba Konopasek, led discussions on building Corporation, hosted faculty and staff at a medi- an academic portfolio and demonstrating cal education research retreat at the Doha Ritz scholarship in medical education. Dr. Konopasek Carlton on June 13 where the focus was on reminded the participants of the academic adage physicians’ policy of scholarship and academic publishing. “publish or perish” and encouraged the forum to continue the pursuit of academic excellence and WCMC-Q dean, Dr. Javaid Sheikh, who promoted scholarship. the value of scholarly engagement, officially opened the three-day forum. Dr. Sheikh said The keynote speakers for the event were Dr. truth in cancer diagnosis the value of academic publishing and scholarly Ara Tekian and Dr. Jack Boulet. Dr. Tekian is Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCMC-Q research cannot be underestimated as a means associate professor and director of international towards academic progression, delivering affairs in the department of medical education, institutional value and contributing to career and associate dean of international affairs at objectives like promotion and tenure. the College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Cancer diagnosis can be a traumatic experience toward revealing cancer diagnoses to patients in hospitals and outpatient centers were given the Chicago. even at the best of times for a patient and often the Arab world. study instrument to complete. All 131 physicians In his opening address, Dr. Sheikh welcomed faculty it generates an ethical dilemma for a physician surveyed agreed to participate. and staff from WCMC-Q, Qatar University and HMC. Dr. Boulet is the associate vice president for whether to tell the truth or not. The report highlighted that over the past half “This is a workshop that is looking to get the faculty research and data resources at the Foundation for century, evolving medical ethics has identified With regard to the central question of truth- more into research on multiple levels. It is also an Advancement of International Medical Education A team of researchers led by WCMC-Q associate the patient’s right to know his or her diagnosis telling, a large majority of respondents (88.5%) opportunity to look at how we can contribute to the and Research (FAIMER) based in the United States. professor of public health in the division of and the physician’s reciprocal duty of disclosure reported that their usual policy was to tell larger literature of medical education research in a FAIMER is a non-profit foundation committed to medical ethics, Dr. Pablo Rodríguez del Pozo, as key elements of the informed consent process. patients of their cancer diagnosis but, notably, broader fashion,” said Dr. Sheikh. improving world health through education. Keynote speaker Dr. Ara Tekian and physicians from HMC and WCMC in New But what began in the United States and has a majority also revealed that they would make York looked into the attitudes and practices of taken deep cultural roots in medical practice has exceptions in rare cases (66.4%). The percentage physicians in Qatar. The findings were published not been universally assimilated into medical of physicians who would make exceptions to their in the August 2012 edition of The Oncologist, practices and cultural norms across the globe. policy was significantly higher among physicians International an international digest devoted to medical In this paper, the researchers emphasized this whose usual policy was to tell (74.3%) than and practice issues for surgical, radiation, and evolving practice in the Arabic-speaking world, among those whose usual policy was not to tell medical oncologists. with a focus on Qatar, which had remained (23.1%). Moreover, there was fluidity in their expert promotes unexplored until now. views. A third of respondents said that their The team of Dr. del Pozo included chief of the policy had changed over the years and about biosafety training division of medical ethics at WCMC-New York Dr. They found that there was rather limited half thought that their policy would probably or Joseph J. Fins, Dr. Ismail Helmy from Hamad, Dr. information on physicians’ attitudes toward certainly change in the future, although they did Ziyad Mahfoud from WCMC-Q and students Rim informing patients of cancer diagnoses in the not specify whether the direction would be more iosafety training was the focus of atten- of Health guidelines for research involving forthcoming or not. El Chaki, Tarek El Shazly and Deena Wafadari. Arabic speaking and Muslim world, although there B tion for scientific and research staff at a recombinant DNA molecules. WCMC-Q seminar hosted by internationally re- seems to be a mismatch between what patients The most frequently reported factors that Dr. del Pozo said the primary objective of this nowned expert Dr Richard Gilpin. Dr. Gilpin is adjunct professor of microbiology and prefer and what doctors and families actually do. physicians would take into account when making study was to assess physicians’ policies and immunology at the University of Maryland School an exception to truth-telling were the patient’s As part of Weill Cornell Medical College in of Medicine and former compliance officer at the practices toward informing patients of their “The primary objective of this study was to emotional stability (74.0%), age (68.8%), and cancer diagnosis. “We also aimed at exploring assess physicians’ policies and practices toward Qatar’s continuing commitment to education and University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, perceived intelligence (67.7%). To a lesser extent, training, Dr. Gilpin led a short course on biological whether or not physicians’ disclosure policies informing patients of their cancer diagnosis. We Central Administration. the patient’s sex (26%) and religion (25%) were safety principles and practices in June. Under and practices are associated with their socio- also aimed at exploring whether or not physicians’ still considered when making an exception to the discussion were a range of topics including risk demographic, religious, cultural, and educational disclosure policies and practices are associated The safety course was initiated for the benefit truth-telling practice. management biosafety laboratory practices and backgrounds,” he said. with their socio-demographic, religious, cultural, and capacity building of WCMC-Q’s research emergency procedures. and educational backgrounds,” Dr. del Pozo said. The project was made possible by a grant from mission, supporting development of Qatar In their study titled Truth-Telling and Cancer the Qatar National Research Fund under its Dr. Gilpin also led a short course in recombinant Foundation’s biomedical research program, and Diagnoses: Physician Attitudes and Practices The study was cross-sectional in nature, Undergraduate Research Experience Program, DNA and Institutional Biosafety Committee to provide outreach to the Qatari community in in Qatar, the researchers found there is limited whereby a convenience sample of 131 physicians number 08-131-3-026. program implementation. This involved a variety offering high quality training in support of Qatar’s information regarding physicians’ attitudes from nine different Hamad Medical Corporation By Hilton Kolbe of topics including the US National Institute mission to build a knowledge-based economy. Dr. Richard Gilpin 40 • Events News • 41 WCMC-Q in first broadcast Top students honored to Ithaca campus students

The high-achieving students with Dr. Sheikh milestone was celebrated on October 16 when 27 high achieving A pre-medical students were named on the Dean’s Honors List at a ceremony in Education City. Ahmad Hamed is congratulated by Dr. Sheikh Professor Segal held the first lecture to be beamed from WCMC-Q to New York Students who successfully earned a 3.75 GPA or higher in the Spring 2012 and talents. “We can through hard work and diligence increase our t was an historic occasion at WCMC-Q when the second-year pre-medi- the first lecture was broadcast from Qatar to the students in the United term were selected on academic merit to receive the award. It was only knowledge and hone our talents into skills that make the world a better I cal psychology class settled down on October 9 to greet Professor Harry States. Things will only get better and improve from here because this is an the second time in the 10-year history of WCMC-Q that high achieving place. Or through laziness and indifference, we can destroy our God-given Segal; it was the first time that a lecture was recorded and beamed from educational milestone for us,” Falah said. students were inducted to the Dean’s Honors List. potential,” he said. Doha to the students at Ithaca, New York. Professor Segal is a senior lecturer in psychology at Cornell University and Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCMC-Q, presented the awards and “In medicine you have chosen a career through which your exceptional The WCMC-Q students were all familiar with Professor Segal and his style senior lecturer in clinical psychology at WCMC who is involved in community congratulated the students on their impressive academic achievements, talents can profoundly enrich the lives of others. But don’t rest on the of teaching but this time it was different. The professor that they had all psychology and also advises students on clinical careers. encouraging them to continue to strive for excellence. The Dean’s laurels of just talent alone … hone it, perfect it, get the absolute most come to love and learn from the small screen was right there in front of them Honors List is now a bi-annual event on WCMC-Q’s academic calendar in out of your abilities. The extent of your talent will only be truly realized and the cameras were ready to roll. “There is a wonderful cross-pollination going on and I commend students recognition of dedication, hard work and high achievement by students. through dedication to your craft.” at Ithaca to consider spending some time here at WCMC-Q if they can,” Psychology lectures are usually recorded and beamed from Ithaca to the Professor Segal said at the start of his lecture. “I am delighted to applaud the exceptional performance of these students students in Qatar but this time the students were waiting in Bailey Hall at as they are recognized for this significant academic honor. The Dean’s The students inducted on to the Dean’s Honor List were: Hebatalla Ithaca for Lecture 16 of Introduction to Psychology, on the topic Possible “I’ve had a wonderful visit to the medical school. The staff planned my trip Honors List reflects the high caliber of WCMC-Q’s student body and it is Selves (and more). Professor Segal recorded two lectures in Qatar that were with care down to the smallest detail, and the faculty were welcoming and Allam, Lama Obeid, Mostafa Naguib, Zahra Habibur Rahman, the legacy of our endeavours to provide a stimulating medical program in a shared with students in Ithaca. a pleasure to meet with. All of them are dedicated to the students, and for world-class environment,” said Dr. Sheikh. Fathima Shajeedha Ameerudeen, Perola Lamba, Ahmad Hamed, good reason: they are a remarkable group. Shereen Darwish, Muhammad Panhwar, Risheek Kaul, Amro Afi, WCMC-Q pre-medical student Omar Falah said he was excited to be part “These young men and women have demonstrated an outstanding level of Buchra Zakzok, Maryem Al Manaa, Khalid Al-Dasuqi, Vignesh of such an auspicious event. “I feel like I am involved in something that is “Students who came to office hours asked interesting questions, were work to achieve this honor and their commitment and talent is inspiring to Shanmugam, Alaaeldin Elsayed, Hamza Oglat, Aya El Jerbi, Sarah quite unique. It is, for me, an exciting event in the history and development polite and engaging, and I felt both lucky and honored to spend time with all at WCMC-Q. We are proud to support them and help them achieve their Kanbour, Lina Irshaid, Elizabeth Boctor, Ayesha Khalid, Shruthi here at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. We are celebrating the 10th them. For several years the lectures had been recorded and shown here in undoubtedly remarkable potential.” anniversary this week and I am just happy to be a part of it all. Doha, so I was happy that the associate dean for premedical education, Dr. Suresh, Josia Schlogl, Anchalia Chandrakumaran, Khalid Taha and Marco Ameduri, and I were able to reverse the process and record lectures In his keynote address Dr. James Roach, associate professor of chemistry Mohammed Sheriff. “Even if I graduate as a medical doctor some time in the future, I will here to be shown to the Ithaca students. I’ve heard the recording looked in the pre-medical program, challenged the students to utilize their skills always be able to say that I was there on campus and in the class when great projected in Bailey Hall. Perhaps this is the start of a new tradition.” By Hilton Kolbe 42 • New faculty New faculty • 43 Introducing new faculty members

Diego Lorenzetti, Ph.D. Adam H. Larson, M.A. JoAnn Peters, Ph.D. Kuei-Chiu Chen, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biology Lecturer, English as a Second Language Professor, Chemistry Senior Lecturer, Biology

Dr. Lorenzetti joined WCMC-Q in October 2012. Prior to coming to the Mr. Larson joined WCMC-Q in September 2012. Prior to coming to WCMC-Q, Dr. Peters joined WCMC-Q in August 2012. Prior to joining WCMC-Q, she Dr. Chen joined WCMC-Q in August 2012. Prior to her arrival at WCMC-Q, college, he served as a visiting instructor of biology at Guilford College in he served as a communications instructor and advanced writing center served as professor and chair in the department of chemistry at Central she served as director of the investigative biology laboratory at Cornell Greensboro, North Carolina, where he taught biology survey courses and mentor at the College of the North Atlantic-Qatar in Doha. In addition to his Washington University. Dr. Peters has more than 25 years of teaching University. In that role, she developed and implemented modern laboratory associated laboratories as well as an upper division course in molecular duties as instructor and mentor, Mr. Larson was involved in course design experience in both lecture and laboratory settings at the undergraduate topics focusing on scientific investigations, lectured weekly on lab topics, cell biology. and in the development of rubrics and course assignments. level. The majority of her teaching has been in the area of organic chemistry, trained and supervised lab instructors, and directed the day-to-day operation and in this role she has contributed to the training of pre-medical students. of lab courses. Additionally, she was involved in advising freshman students. Dr. Lorenzetti received a Ph.D. in human and molecular genetics from the Mr. Larson’s research interests focus on the sociology of education, She has taught in the general chemistry lecture and laboratory sequence Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine professional education, and higher education policy. He is particularly at Central Washington University, as well as an interdisciplinary course, Dr. Chen’s research interests focus on population genetics and in Houston, Texas. His research interests focus on different areas of interested in how young people in the Gulf transition into post-secondary chemistry of materials for art, in the Honors College. In addition, she has phylogeography on lower vertebrates using molecular markers. In recent mammalian genetics, including generating animal models of inherited education and employment. Mr. Larson holds a master of arts in international played a key role in student advisement and has served on many department years, this interest has been extended to human populations using 10 human neurological disease and identifying novel genes involved in studies from the University of Washington and is currently a doctor of and university committees, including curriculum committees, search microsatellite DNA loci as markers. She has published four articles in peer- spermatogenesis. He has held several research positions, including education candidate at King’s College London. committees, committees responsible for promotion and tenure decisions, reviewed journals and two more have been submitted. She has co-authored postdoctoral fellow in the department of immunology at MD Anderson and safety committees. several books and has presented her research at several professional Cancer Center in Houston (2004-2005), research associate in the conferences. department of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine Dr. Peters has directed numerous undergraduate and M.S. level research (2005-2006), research fellow at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, projects, with funding from the National Science Foundation, American North Carolina (2006-2008), and scientist at Plureon Corporation in North Chemical Society-Petroleum Research Fund, Dreyfus Foundation, and Carolina (2008-2010). Research Corporation. She has published ten articles in peer-reviewed journals. Recent research interests include the conservation of plastic materials in museum settings. 44 • New faculty Happenings • 45

Maha Agha, Yassir Hussain, Mohammed Dahir and Nawaf Al Taweel were all honored after Sarah Elsoukkary and Diala Steitieh use hula hoops during Wellness Day completing the Biomedical Research Program for Nationals

James D. Roach, Jr., Ph.D. Hani Najafi-Shoushtari, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Chemistry Assistant Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology

Dr. Roach returns to WCMC-Q after serving one year as interim chair of the Dr. Najafi-Shoushtari joined WCMC-Q in January 2012 as assistant professor department of physical sciences at Emporia State University. of cell and developmental biology. Prior to joining WCMC-Q, he served as research associate in the department of medicine at the University of Illinois During his previous appointment at WCMC-Q, Dr. Roach was renowned in Chicago (2005 – 2007), and as a research fellow in the department of cell as an exceptional teacher who was very highly regarded by faculty, staff, biology at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital and students alike. Dr. Roach’s outstanding performance and dedication to Cancer Center (2007 – 2012). teaching were recognized with the WCMC Excellence in Teaching Award in 2010 and 2011. Considered a true expert in the field of non-coding RNAs and the biology of lipid metabolism, his research interests focus around studies in the Dr. Roach received a Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1996 from the University gene expression field. His efforts have been dedicated to understanding of Oklahoma. He is a chemist with an outstanding teaching career that the role of microRNAs in cholesterol/lipid homeostasis with an emphasis spans almost fifteen years at universities in the United States and the on defining new mechanisms of major human diseases associated with Middle East, including Campbellsville University in Kentucky, Emporia State obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. His discovery of the University, and Alfaisal University in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. role and function of miR-33 in regulating plasma HDL levels has led more recently to the development of novel potential therapeutic strategies for Khalid Albureshad, Abdulrahman Al-Abdulmalek, Ahmad Al-Shahrani and Mohammadshah Gul man a stall at Wellness Day Dr. Roach’s research interests focus specifically on the uses of colloidal the treatment of abnormal lipid levels. He combines genetics, biochemistry, systems in wastewater remediation, enhanced oil recovery, seawater genomics, and computational tools to map critical points for metabolic desalination, and chemical education. During his career, he has attracted control by microRNAs and to explore how these molecules involved are several grants to fund his research, first authored six papers in peer-reviewed connected and orchestrated at the systems-level with emphasis on clinical journals, and presented his research at several professional conferences. relevance and implications in cardiometabolic disease. 46 • Happenings Happenings • 47

Khalid Al-Marri, Shaikha Al-Thani, Aldana Shahbik, Shaykhah Alqahtani and Alaa Al-Naama man the Qatar booth at International Night

Actor Adam Driver performs a reading from The End of Life U.S. director Bryan Doerries discusses the issues raised by the play The End of Life

Yanal Shaheen and Lama Obeid perform the dabka dance at International Night Student Christina Rhee plays the flute for her performance at International Night

Some students wore national dress at International Night Mohammed Al-Nufal, Mostafa Refaat, Amro Wafi, Alaa Kubbar, Lama Obeid, Vanessa Leonhard and Khalid Al-Dasuqi celebrate sporting success 48 • Happenings

Med students Vignesh Shanmugam and Muhammad Panhwar enjoy a cup of Arabic coffee served by classmate Khalid Al-Marri.

Finance director Moiz Motawala cuts the cake at his leaving event.

Foundation students visit the Museum of Islamic Art as part of a field trip Rasha Abou Hazima, Tasneem Mazahir, Deepa Sreedharan, Sandra Pais, Joanne Sarao and Diana Serrao celebrate with Moiz Motiwala (center) at his farewell party..