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ANNUAL REPORT اﻟـــﺘـــﻘـــﺮﻳــــﺮ اﻟـــﺴـــﻨـــﻮي 2012 2012
Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, receives a 10th anniversary gift from Alreem Al-Nabti and Mohammed Al Hajri. Our faculty, students and staff are tremendously proud to be playing an important role in the progress of our host nation. ANNUAL REPORT JULY 1, 2011 TO JUNE 30, 2012
Leadership Report 02
Joint Advisory Board 05
Education 07
Foundation Program and 19 Pre-Medical Education CONTENTS Clinical Care 27
Research 33
Global and Public Health 41
Student Life 47
Outreach 53
Statistics 58 AR • 2012 2
Leadership Report
It gives me great pleasure to present to you this annual report on Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar’s (WCMC-Q) progress and achievements over the past 12 months. At any moment, there are countless stories to be told about the efforts of students and medical educators, the work of distinguished researchers, the care rendered by physicians, and the connections this college has with its surrounding communities. What is shown in this report is just a small representation of how WCMC-Q is building a world-class medical college in Qatar.
Since 2011, we have witnessed many exciting signs that our college is excelling in its tripartite mission of excellence in education, research and clinical care.
Our five-year strategic plan was implemented in 2010, having been developed in the context of this tripartite mission and with full alignment to the goals of Qatar’s National Vision 2030. The plan provided a formal structure for us to define our aspirations in all of these areas. In the pages that follow, you will see our strategy at work.
Our primary mission is the education of the next generation of physicians and this year’s graduation ceremony saw 32 talented young men and women join the international medical community. This was the largest graduating class in WCMC-Q history and, as such, a powerful reaffirmation of our mission and strategy. Since its inauguration in 2002, WCMC-Q has created 112 superb doctors, many of whom are now in residency positions at some of the most prestigious training hospitals in the U.S. Other graduates have chosen to remain in Qatar to contribute to the country’s healthcare system. We are working closely with our alumni association to create multiple career opportunities AR • 2012 3
in Qatar, thus enabling most of our graduates to return to collaborate with Hamad Medical Corporation on the to the host nation. We are immensely proud that these development of an Academic Health System and this joint talented young men and women are using the skills initiative will revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of and expertise that they learned in our classes and labs the local community. to directly impact the health and wellbeing of Qatar’s citizens. While affirming our commitments to local health, our strategic plan reflects more far-reaching global And as our graduates step out into the world to continue responsibilities. These pages will introduce you to the their medical careers, we welcome our new students, multiple initiatives being developed by our Department excitedly taking the first step in their careers. Within of Global and Public Health. Such initiatives will ensure these pages, you will learn about the enhancements we that the reach of our medical college extends to an even have made to our curricula. These enhancements provide greater number of places and people, making a positive our students with increased breadth and opportunities contribution to their health and wellbeing. in their education and offer multiple pathways to future career success. As you read this annual report, you will see one common thread woven through its pages: commitment to WCMC-Q’s research program is truly a local institution quality. It is through this commitment, resting on the with a global reach. Our innovative training programs pillars of excellence in education, research and clinical are contributing to the national vision of becoming a care, that WCMC-Q is directly contributing to Qatar’s knowledge-based economy by preparing Qatari nationals objective of becoming an increasingly knowledge-based to become pioneers in Qatar’s emerging research industry. society. By building strong and successful collaborations with local stakeholders and over 50 research centers across Our commitment is a direct response to the profound the world, we continue to develop cutting-edge therapies support shown by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa for the most pressing local health concerns, namely Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndromes. Our recent Bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation. Their investigations into the date palm, one of the region’s dedication to the development of advanced education most important agricultural products, are establishing and world-class health systems is inspirational to Qatar as a world leader in the genomic research of this all at WCMC-Q. Our faculty, students and staff are major source of nutrition and sustainable agriculture. tremendously proud to be playing an important role in the progress of our host nation. Through the strategic planning process, we also reaffirmed our commitment to clinical care, to positively impact the health of the State of Qatar. Our faculty are establishing a series of new clinics and developing Javaid Sheikh, M.D. fresh links with local healthcare providers. We continue Dean AR • 2012 4 AR • 2012 5
Joint Advisory Board
The Joint Advisory Board provides advice and assistance to the dean and the governing parties of WCMC-Q. It consists of four members selected by Cornell University, four members appointed by Qatar Foundation, three additional independent members who are selected jointly by Cornell and Qatar Foundation, and three ex-officio members.
QATAR FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVES INDEPENDENT REPRESENTATIVES H.E. Ghalia Bint Mohammed Al-Thani, M.D. Jordan J. Cohen, M.D. Co-Chair, WCMC-Q Joint Advisory Board member, President Emeritus Qatar Supreme Council of Health Chair, Sidra Clinical Association of American Medical Colleges Steering Planning Committee Chair, Qatar Foundation Sir Christopher Paine, D.M., F.R.C.P. For Child & Woman Protection Consultant in Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Corporation Ziyad Mousa Hijazi, M.D., M.P.H. Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine Mohammed Fathy Saoud, Ph.D. Director, Rush Center for Congenital and Structural President, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science & Heart Disease Community Development Section Chief, Pediatric Cardiology Hassan Ali. S. A. Al-Thani MB.Bch, FRCS(C), FRCS (Ire), CABS Head of Vascular Surgery, General and Vascular Surgery at HMC Director of Arab Board Program of Surgery in Qatar
Jassim Al Suwaidi
M.B. Ch.B. B.A.O., L.R.C.P. & S.I. (Honors)
Consultant Cardiologist
Hamad Medical Corporation
CORNELL UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., M.D., D.Phil. Mr. Sanford I. Weill Co-Chair, WCMC-Q Joint Advisory Board Chairman, Board of Overseers Dean Emeritus and Co-Chairman of the Board of Overseers Weill Cornell Medical College Lewis Thomas University Professor H.E. Abdulla A. Al-Thani, Ph.D. Weill Cornell Medical College Vice President, Education Vice President and Provost for Medical Affairs Emeritus Qatar Foundation for Education Science & Community Mrs. Barbara B. Friedman Development Vice-Chair, Board of Overseers President-Hamad Bin Khalifa University Weill Cornell Medical College Javaid I. Sheikh, M.D. James J. Mingle, Esq. Dean University Counsel & Secretary for the Corporation Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar Cornell University
Mr. Tarek Abdel-Meguid Member, Board of Overseers Weill Cornell Medical College AR • 2012 6
In May 2012 WCMC-Q celebrated the largest graduating class in the history of the college AR • 2012 7
Education
Medical Education
WCMC-Q’s stimulating learning environment continues to provide the foundation for the acquisition of knowledge and skills for a lifetime of clinical practice. The curriculum is designed to promote students’ professional identity formation and to develop habits of inquiry and self-directed learning. While learning objectives and assessment methods remain comparable with those of the New York City campus, faculty on the medical education program are working to individualize the implementation of these objectives to meet the specific needs of the learners and the community.
The program continues to grow: 44 students entered the first year medical college class in September 2011 and 32 students graduated in May 2012 – the largest ever graduating class.
This year, WCMC-Q’s newest doctors received their degrees in a ceremony at Qatar National Convention Centre in front of family, friends, faculty and college staff from both Doha and New York. They later traveled to New York to participate in the WCMC-NY graduation ceremony.
Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCMC-Q, paid tribute to their dedication and spoke of the role they can play in the future.
Dr. Sheikh said: “Nothing gives us greater pleasure than witnessing our talented students fulfill their dream of being called ‘Doctor’ for the first time.
“The Class of 2012 have a passion for learning, a spirit of inquiry and a dedication to the improvement of human lives. Such wonderful attributes have brought these young physicians the rewards that we all enjoy celebrating with them today.
“As our graduates join the international medical community, we are confident that their future contributions to medicine and science will further enhance Qatar’s growing global reputation as a beacon of knowledge and enlightenment.”
The students have taken up various positions since graduating. Of those who sought post-graduate placements, 20 will continue their training in the U.S. while nine opted to remain in Qatar and will train at Hamad Medical Corporation. The remaining three will pursue research work for a year. AR • 2012 8
Priorities
The focus of the medical education program continues on three major platforms: enhancing student learning and assessment; building faculty resources; and implementing a strategic plan for enhancing students’ residency placements.
Enhancing Student Learning and Assessment
Dr. Lyuba Konopasek, the associate dean for medical education, and Dr. Lotfi Chouchane and Dr. Steve Scott, the assistant deans for curriculum and medical student education, continue to work with colleagues in New York on the education unit to plan curriculum reform at Weill Cornell. Dr. Konopasek is leading the work group on developing a clinical reasoning curriculum.
Several curricular innovations have already been implemented this year, including multiple sessions on effective learning strategies and the clinical masters program which is designed to enhance the teaching of clinical reasoning, communication skills, and physical diagnosis skills. In the program, one faculty member works with four to five students to develop and assess clinical skills.
Other innovations include a reflective writing project in the medicine clerkship, led by Dr. Dora Stadler, Dr. Mai Mahmoud and Dr. Pablo Rodriguz del Pozo, which aims to deconstruct the hidden curriculum and promote reflective practice. On the obstetrics-gynecology clerkship, Dr. Kristina Sole continues to enhance training with objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) stations using standardized patients wearing simulation equipment. As part of the first year medicine, patients, and society course, Dr. Hina Ghory has implemented a first responder course in collaboration with colleagues at HMC. In the basic science courses faculty members are continuing to work to make large group sessions more interactive with a focus on analysis, synthesis, critical thinking and problem solving. They also continue to promote the use of iPads in the classroom and to develop new strategies for large group learning with this device. Additionally, Dr. Gerardo Guiter has developed a peer tutoring service to support learning in the basic science courses.
Enhancing student assessment has been a major focus of medical education’s activities in the ongoing curriculum reform process. Basic science National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) subject examinations have been implemented in all of the classes to provide students with additional practice in taking tests in the style of the United States Medical Licensing Examination and to also give them early opportunities for self-assessment.
In the basic science courses, course directors are working to increase the question banks for our locally produced tests to benefit both campuses. A new clinical evaluation form has also been developed by AR • 2012 9
Erfan Alotaki, Noor Anabtawi and Ameneh Amini, of the Class of 2016, learn artificial respiration on the first responder course
medical education in collaboration with clinical teachers in New York City, which will enhance student evaluation and feedback in the clinical clerkships. Additionally, the new OSCEs have been developed to ensure that all students meet the standards of basic physical examination and communication skills prior to commencing their clinical clerkships. These OSCEs are an integral component of the clinical masters program. Finally, work has also begun with the NBMEs on a multi-source feedback instrument to assess professional behaviors. AR • 2012 10
Seham Alebbi receives her white coat from Dr. Sheikh AR • 2012 11
Building Faculty Resources
Faculty development continues to be a prime focus for medical education. Current faculty development initiatives focus on educational scholarship, teaching and assessing professionalism, providing effective feedback, and enhancing student assessment. In addition to formal workshops, ‘snippets’ are used, short presentations in regularly scheduled meetings, to develop faculty skills. Most clerkship directors have attended faculty development sessions at their specialty-specific national meetings to develop skills and network with fellow medical educators. Many have also presented peer-reviewed posters, oral presentations, and/or workshops at regional and U.S. medical education meetings. This demonstration of WCMC-Q’s educational scholarship is essential to enhancing its visibility and reputation in the international medical education community. Additionally, most medical education faculty members presented workshops in collaboration with HMC at the first Qatar Medical Education Conference, demonstrating expertise and sharing skills and strategies as medical educators.
Medical education continues to provide opportunities for local faculty development both at WCMC-Q and at HMC. We collaborate with HMC to deliver workshops on a number of topics, including communication skills, professionalism, assessment and feedback. Dr. Amal Khidir continues to run webinar programs to “bring” leaders in medical education to Doha via a virtual platform. Through these webinars, WCMC-Q faculty members have learned about team-based learning and inter-professional education. This year, Professor Basim Uthman led the organizing committee of the Great Teachers’ Retreat, an Education City-wide initiative to identify best practices for teaching and learning in Qatar. Faculty members from Qatar University (QU) were also involved in this retreat and invited WCMC-Q faculty to give faculty development presentations at the QU campus.
Research in medical education is the major faculty development focus this year. All faculty members are being encouraged to engage in educational scholarship projects to build their portfolio as educators and to demonstrate innovations in medical education at WCMC-Q. A combination of workshops, webinars, and mentored research groups are being used to provide the necessary support and build a “medical education research core”. Dr. Konopasek began the three-day Medical Education Retreat by describing different aspects of educational scholarship and its assessment. Over the three days, faculty from the Foundation of Advancement in Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) presented sessions on medical education research methods, data analysis, critical appraisal of the medical education literature, and getting work published. Over the next year, faculty will work on research projects in small groups with FAIMER faculty. Medical education research seminars will also be provided along with webinars to continue to build faculty skills in these domains. AR • 2012 12
Dr. Javaid Sheikh with students at the White Coat Ceremony AR • 2012 13
Dr. Amal Khidir, assistant professor of pediatrics, leads a residency workshop
Residency Program Placements
A strategic five-year plan for enhancing residency placement success has been developed and is in the second year of implementation. This plan includes optimizing learners’ academic success, designing a longitudinal career and residency placement advising system, and building relationships with residency programs and academic medical centers. Excellent performance on U.S. standardized tests such as the USMLE Steps 1 and 2 is critical for our students’ residency placements. Medical education has been working with the students to develop strategies for deeper learning and easier information retrieval to enhance their test performance. We have been giving students additional practice on multiple choice question test-taking both through in-class sessions using the audience responses system, and through additional USMLE exams. Students’ USMLE preparation materials have also been augmented and they are given explicit instructions for preparation starting in the first year of medical school. As such USMLE scores have been steadily increasing over the past two years.
Strengthening the residency application process also continues to be a major focus of medical education’s activities. WCMC-Q’s residency placement advising system includes the assignment of two advisors in each student’s specialty choice, one in Doha and another in New York. Students are also guided through the application process through class meetings and on-line resources. In addition, staff and faculty members actively support students’ applications through a system that allows personal statements and CVs to be edited and improved. Students prepare for the interview season in mock interview sessions conducted by faculty members in the clinical skills center. Finally, medical education is building a database of residency programs to help students select the best options for application. This database will also be useful in targeting residency programs and academic medical centers for relationship building with WCMC-Q. AR • 2012 14
Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, associate dean for GME; Deema Al-Sheikhly, manager of GME; Dr. Dora Stadler, assistant dean for GME; and Julia Blackwell, senior administrative assistant AR • 2012 15
Graduate Medical Education
International Recognition
Recent months have seen the graduate medical education (GME) department, in collaboration with WCMC-Q’s affiliate hospitals, make significant progress towards bringing the affiliate hospitals in line with the standards of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International (ACGME-I). Representatives of the ACGME-I have made several visits to both Hamad Medical Corporation and WCMC-Q. In March a key milestone was passed when a contract was signed with the ACGME-I, committing HMC to be reviewed for accreditation by the council in 2012. It is anticipated that seven of the residency programs (emergency medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, radiology, family medicine and urology) will be reviewed for accreditation by 2013. The GME department is continuing to work with the HMC medical education department to assist HMC residency program directors in developing their curricula and assessment tools in preparation for the accreditation of the programs.
The department is also working closely with Sidra Medical and Research Center to help the facility meet its target of obtaining ACGME-I institutional accreditation by 2013.
To satisfy an ACGME-I requirement for residents in training to undertake scholarly work that includes research projects, GME forged partnerships with research departments at both WCMC-Q and HMC. The parties drafted a proposal under which WCMC-Q will support the HMC leadership by hosting three to four exceptional residents in ongoing research projects.
Faculty Development
Several WCMC-Q faculty members participated in a successful two-week faculty development program from September 25 to October 6, 2011, making presentations on competency-based education, supervision, assessment tools and feedback. Organized by HMC’s medical education department in partnership with Dr. Ara Tekian of the University of Illinois, Chicago, two days of the event were hosted by the GME office, which were allocated for residents.
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First year medical students take part in the first responder course
Meeting Global Standards and Enhancing Professionalism
WCMC-Q has become the testing center for the International Foundation of Medicine Clinical Science Examination (IFOM-CSE) in Qatar, which provides one of the measures used for the selection of residency applicants to HMC. The GME department successfully administered two IFOM-CSE examinations for a total of 536 examinees. A further examination took place in October.
The GME department and the HMC medical education department are working together to develop a professionalism curriculum, led by Dr. Amal Khidir, which entails determining appropriate training programs, putting in place relevant assessment tools and training assessors to use the tools effectively.
Educators Across the Healthcare Spectrum Series
In collaboration with the HMC medical education department, the GME department initiated a new, cross- disciplinary educational program, the Educators Across the Health Care Spectrum series. The project will bring two world-class scholars to WCMC-Q each year to speak on key topics in health education for the benefit of residents, students, faculty and other healthcare professionals. The first lecture of the series, entitled Assessment of Professionalism: the Role for Multisource Feedback, was delivered at WCMC-Q on January 23 by Dr. Peter Katsufrakis, vice president for assessment programs, National Board of Medical Examiners. The presentation was also broadcast live to Hajar Auditorium at HMC and the following day Dr. Katsufrakis held two workshops on changing behavior via direct observation and skilful feedback. AR • 2012 17
Dr. Kristina Sole, clerkship director for obstetrics and gynecology, with Dr. Lyuba Konopasek, associate dean for medical education, at the Qatar Medical Education Conference
First Qatar Medical Education Conference
The first Qatar Medical Education Conference was organized by HMC in partnership with WCMC-Q and Sidra Medical and Research Center and held at Qatar National Convention Centre from January 20 to 22. Featuring guest speakers from internationally renowned institutions such as the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the American Board of Medical Specialties and the National Board of Medical Examiners, the conference highlighted key areas in graduate medical education through a series of plenary sessions and workshops. Among the many evolving issues covered were international accreditation, inter-professional education, social accountability, curriculum development, professionalism and educational scholarship. WCMC-Q faculty presented 11 out of the 30 workshops that were held at the event, all of which were collaborative and were facilitated by faculty members of HMC and WCMC-Q. The event also offered a series of pre-conference workshops hosted at WCMC-Q.
Going Digital
Accessibility to learning resources for professionals involved in the education of physicians was boosted in July when the GME department announced the launch of its new website. The site furthers the department’s official mission “to better the healthcare of the community by improving the postgraduate medical training system and by supporting/creating opportunities for continued professional development for health professionals across the spectrum”.
The GME website can be found at http://qatar-weill.cornell.edu/gme/
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Dr. Marco Ameduri, assistant dean for student affairs, gives feedback to a student AR • 2012 19
Foundation Program and Pre-Medical Education
Record Numbers Enter Medical Program
In June 2012, the faculty and staff of pre-medical education joined with 36 second-year pre-medical students to celebrate their success on being offered admissions to the WCMC-Q Medical Program for the fall semester of 2012. With a success rate of 90 per cent of applicants being offered admission, this is the highest rate of matriculation in the history of WCMC-Q. This is testament to the motivation and effort of the students and to the dedication of staff and faculty in accomplishing such an achievement.
Greater Opportunities for Students
Efforts are ongoing to provide students with greater flexibility within the curriculum. As such new foundation students who achieved the necessary scores on a math skills placement examination in the fall semester were invited to enroll in the pre-medical calculus course. Having completed the calculus course while enrolled in the foundation program, these students will now have greater opportunities in the pre-medical program to take special topic courses at WCMC-Q or elective courses offered at other Education City colleges. As an example, those students now have the opportunity to participate in a new introductory statistics course. This will allow students to collect, analyze and evaluate real statistical data. Also, in an effort to offer students greater opportunity to experience medicine, a new seminar course in global and public health was offered in the fall semester. This course, the first to be open to both foundation and first-year pre-medical students, provided an introduction to the principles of practicing medicine in a world where infectious disease can move across the planet in less than a day and where the success of medical practice involves politics as much as science. AR • 2012 20
Class of 2015 students Mohammed Al Hajajji and Rana El-Maghraby
Collaboration between WCMC-Q and CMU-Q
Although the students who join WCMC-Q’s pre-medical program each year are clear in their decision to join the medical profession and eventually become doctors, the intensity of the curriculum and its short duration can be a significant challenge. Additionally, some students feel that they prefer to achieve greater breadth in their education including the opportunity to take additional courses in the humanities and social sciences. As a result of this, WCMC-Q partnered with Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) during the fall semester of 2011, to co-deliver the courses necessary for students to earn a four- year bachelor of science degree in either biological sciences or computational biology. During the past year, it was offered as a pilot program where transferring WCMC-Q students could use their pre-medical credits to complete their degree with an additional two years of study. Beginning in the fall semester of 2012, this new program will also accept direct-entry students who will join the freshman year curriculum. All students graduating from the program will meet the coursework requirements necessary to apply to medicine, therefore offering an additional route for students to enter the WCMC-Q medical program. AR • 2012 21
Shaikha Abdulla presents a research poster into Von Willebrand disease
Building a Culture of Research
Efforts have been made by pre-medical faculty to help our students develop as scientists by instilling a research culture. Since the establishment of WCMC-Q’s top quality research program, the pace of growth has been impressive. However, to develop a research mindset among students can be challenging, especially considering that the academic program leaves little time outside of studies. As such, faculty have taught their courses so as to nurture interest in research as a possible career path. This has been done through primary literature, the teaching of research skills and incorporating more investigation in laboratory courses. It is hoped that these will lead students to participate in authentic undergraduate research but an extracurricular approach has also been developed to encourage all entering students to broaden their academic curiosity beyond clinical medicine. Three years ago an optional, extracurricular certification program called the Access to Science through Experience in Research, more commonly referred to as ASTER, was launched. AR • 2012 22
Samah Musa and Moza Al-Sulaiti on the pre-medical course AR • 2012 23
ASTER is for students who participate in a variety of research-related activities such as attending public seminars and lectures, running and attending journal clubs and participating in a research laboratory or field visits. Students create a portfolio that documents their activities and they must also provide a written piece about their experience and what they have learned about science and their own learning. ASTER recently completed its sixth semester and with each semester, students increase their involvement. Many of the journal club discussions and laboratory visits are being run or organized by student volunteers and recently WCMC-Q students initiated their own student research club to further the goals of communicating research.
The enthusiasm of research has even spread back into the lecture courses with students in both foundation ESL/biology and pre-medical biology courses being encouraged to present course research projects at public venues. Also, in celebration of the International Year of Chemistry (IYC 2011), pre- medical education held a chemistry in medicine research presentation competition for both local high school and university students.
Dr. Kevin Smith, assistant dean for premedical education, teaches lab skills to students AR • 2012 24
English lecturer Autumn Watts in the classroom AR • 2012 25
Ian Miller, visiting lecturer of English writing, helps students improve their language skills
Focus on Pre-Medical Teaching Practice
The structure of pre-medical education at WCMC-Q is unique in undergraduate education in that faculty who teach in such diverse disciplines as math, physics, writing and medical ethics have offices along the same hallway. This has allowed for opportunities for faculty to discuss and share aspects of their teaching practice and course pedagogy with each other in the hallways or over casual coffee. Formalized in 2011 through the creation of the pre-medical teaching forum, these bi-weekly sessions provided an opportunity for faculty to discuss unique teaching strategies used in particular courses and shared objectives and strategies of pre-medical education. Some examples of forum topics include: Roles and Responsibilities in Providing Medically Oriented Content in our Courses; Promoting Academic Integrity; Sharing Practical Strategies we use in our Classes and Brainstorming how to Encourage Integrity as a College; Information/data/criteria we need to Evaluate Our Effectiveness as a Unit; and Cognitive Specializations in Organic Chemistry.
Faculty members have had years of experience and professional development to assist in building their own teaching practice. However, our teaching assistants (TAs), who are recent graduates from Cornell University and assist with lab courses, recitations and one-on-one help sessions, have limited teaching experience. Similarly, senior WCMC-Q students who act as peer-tutors for their junior colleagues have had little experience or opportunity to hone their teaching skills before assuming their role at WCMC-Q. In recent years, TAs have participated in a brief training session when they first arrive in Doha. This year pre-medical education implemented a substantially enhanced interactive training program that allows TAs and peer-tutors to meet regularly under the mentorship of pre-medical faculty to discuss their teaching experiences with students and to develop more effective teaching strategies. AR • 2012 26
Mustafa Al-Kawaaz and Lamya Mubayed, of the Class of 2013, learn how to deliver a baby AR • 2012 27
Clinical Care
Providing support to WCMC-Q faculty who deliver healthcare directly to patients in Qatar is the role of the clinical affairs department. Working in partnership with local healthcare providers, the department ensures patient care and services meet the standards of clinical excellence demanded by WCMC-Q.
Strengthening the Team
The past year saw the department strengthen its clinical care capacity with the appointment of two new physicians, Dr. Naim Haddad, associate professor of clinical neurology, and Dr. Shahinaz Bedri, assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine.
Both new appointments bring considerable experience to the team. Dr. Haddad formerly served as associate professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he taught numerous medical students and residents. Dr. Bedri was a faculty member and researcher in the biotechnology lab at Ahfad University for Women in Omdurman, Sudan, and has also worked as a diagnostic pathologist at Ahfad University affiliate hospitals, including Khartoum Breast Care Centre, where she directed the immunohistochemistry laboratory.
Furthering the well-established relationship that clinical affairs has with local healthcare providers, both Dr. Haddad and Dr. Bedri were credentialed at HMC, as well as being granted licenses to practice medicine in Qatar by the Supreme Council of Health (SCH). Both physicians have started clinical activities, with Dr. Haddad holding a clinic there once a week. AR • 2012 28
Ghaith Abu Zeinah, Rama Albaz and Mahmoud Awad are briefed about a clinical skills session
Developing the Academic Health System
Since its launch in August 2011, HMC and WCMC-Q have collaborated to deliver the Academic Health System (AHS). This shared platform operates as a forum for cooperation among Qatar’s leading academic and research institutes and local healthcare providers, establishing a network through which new knowledge can travel from the laboratory to the bedside and the classroom.
In keeping with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, the AHS is facilitating the spread of innovation throughout Qatar’s health industry by helping local institutions to implement new and cost-effective models for delivering healthcare, encouraging the use of breakthrough drugs and technologically advanced medical equipment, and ultimately improving health outcomes both locally and at global level.
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Enhancing Clinical Capacity
Existing faculty members have strengthened the presence of the clinical affairs team in the community by establishing a series of new clinics and forging fresh links with local healthcare providers and government ministries.
Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, associate dean of global and public health, holds consulting clinics for public health services at the Supreme Council of Health. Dr. Marcellina Mian, professor of pediatrics, consults with HMC on child abuse and neglect and is part of a group of professionals at HMC working to establish a hospital-based suspected child abuse and neglect (SCAN) team. Dr. Hassan Al Amine, associate dean for faculty affairs and associate professor of psychiatry, holds clinics with psychiatry residents, supervises them, and assesses patients and treatment as part of WCMC-Q’s patient care package. Meanwhile, Dr. Bakr Nour, associate dean for clinical affairs, has been actively participating in the consultation of patients in the weekly hepato-biliary medical decision team (MDT) meetings. In the field of sports medicine, Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, associate dean for graduate medical education and associate professor of medicine, has continued her collaboration at Aspetar-Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, delivering a weekly clinic.
Student Engagement
The department has pushed ahead with efforts to increase student involvement in the delivery of clinical care. Since October 2011, Dr. Mai Mahmoud, assistant professor of internal medicine, has been offering information seminars to students before each of her weekly residency clinics. In addition, the WCMC-Q neurology team of Dr. Basim Uthman, professor of neurology, Dr. Leopold Streletz, associate professor of neurology and Dr. Naim Haddad, associate professor of clinical neurology, organized weekly clinical neurophysiology reviews between January and June 2012 for fellows, residents and students at the request of the section of neurology of the department of medicine at HMC. Dr. Uthman also organized neurology grand rounds for students during the neurology clerkship to present and discuss the cases of neurology patients.
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Dr. Kristina Sole, clerkship director for obstetrics and gynecology, instructs the Class of 2013’s Moath Hamed
Training and Practice
WCMC-Q physician Dr. Jeremie Arash Rafii Tabrizi, assistant professor of genetic medicine in obstetrics and gynecology has been actively participating in the organization of the gynecologic oncology (GO) multidisciplinary team and the redaction of procedures for gynecologic cancers, in addition to providing laparoscopic training and GO training to the team’s specialists. Since September 2011, Dr. Kristina Sole, clerkship director for obstetrics and gynecology, spends two mornings each week at the HMC Women’s Hospital working in the labor room (LR) and operating theater, accompanying the LR team on patient rounds, teaching residents, and performing some conventional deliveries and Caesarean sections. AR • 2012 31
Dr. Basim Uthman advises Hanin Abou Ayash (left) and Ladan Davallow Ghajar, watched by Tarrek Hegab (back left) and Munjid Al Harthy
Dr. Mohamud Verjee, director of primary care clerkship and director of the clinical skills center, continues to teach and practice family medicine in the community. The family medicine clerkships are now well established at five major health centers in Doha: West Bay, Airport, Gharaffa, Umm Ghwalina, and the newest addition from 2012 - Mesaimeer. With a total of 42 students in the WCMC-Q M.D. program, expansion of the teaching base has been progressive. All the health centers have teaching preceptors with a strong interest in wanting to become WCMC-Q clinical faculty. In addition, Aspetar Orthopedic Hospital, with nine clinical faculty, has been a resounding success. It has seen high recognition from the attending students of the teaching experience and standards applied. Al Khor Hospital Emergency Department has also continued to make a positive impact with the diverse range of illnesses and conditions. With more consultant-student time spent with patients, this has enabled better comprehension of the presenting ambulatory conditions.
Primary health care has now evolved from HMC to be autonomous as the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), responsible for its own administration and supervision of community health centers. Currently, there is the joint Supreme Council for Health, HMC, and PHCC strategic steering committee, reviewing primary health care/family medicine in Qatar. The aim is to produce a first-class system of primary health care in Qatar. Plans are already at an advanced stage under the leadership of Dr. Mariam Abdulmalik, chief executive of the PHCC, supported by the UK’s Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham.
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Raphael Courjaret, postdoctoral associate in physiology and biophysics research, examines a sample under the microscope AR • 2012 33
Research
Yasmeen Salameh, research technician, and Yasmin Mohamoud, genomics core manager, in the genomics laboratory
Building a Center of Research Excellence
Throughout the academic year 2011/2012, the research division of WCMC-Q continued to work towards its goal of establishing itself as the leading biomedical research program in the region.
This aim, which was officially declared in 2009 following a request from Qatar Foundation to develop a biomedical research program to meet the targets set out in Qatar National Vision 2030, comprises three broad objectives: providing biomedical research capacity for Qatar by building world-class infrastructure; cultivating human capital by investing in a cadre of talented scientists; and addressing the most pressing health needs affecting the population of Qatar and the region.
In pursuit of these goals, the research department has spent the past three years developing infrastructure that will establish WCMC-Q as a center of excellence in basic, translational and clinical biomedical research, with particular focus on diseases prevalent among populations in Qatar and the region such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, associated cardiovascular complications, and neurogenetic abnormalities. AR • 2012 34
Yassir Hussain, Maha Agha, Mohammed Dahir and Muna Alnoubi have all taken part in the Biomedical Training Program for Nationals
Investing in Local Talent
In the third year of the five-year start up period of the department’s biomedical research program, the number of employees grew to more than 130, with the majority hired and trained locally. In addition, five Qatari university graduates received training through the six-month Biomedical Training Program for Nationals. From January to June 2011, the participants undertook training in laboratory procedures, writing for research, environmental health and safety, ethics, clinical research and research administration. The division retained three of the participants after the program ended.
The division also hosted three Qatari interns as part of the Qatar Science Leadership Program (QSLP), a QF initiative designed to prepare recent graduates to become pioneers in Qatar’s emerging research industry.
The practice of recruiting foreign talent to Qatar while simultaneously generating rewarding positions for local scientists has continued to increase research capacity at WCMC-Q. The department has plans to further this process in the coming year by recruiting up to five junior faculty members to help establish innovative research programs and two senior faculty members with expertise in basic and clinical/translational sciences, focused on diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and the associated cardiovascular disorders. AR • 2012 35
Devendra Bansal, postdoctoral associate in microbiology and immunology, in one of WCMC-Q’s 28 laboratories
Cooperation - International and Local
Integral to the success of WCMC-Q’s research department is the support provided by QF and the technical assistance of the home campuses in the U.S. The strong commitment of both parties has allowed WCMC-Q to quickly establish a functional research program, with a total of 28 laboratories in action investigating multiple areas of biomedical research at molecular, cellular, biochemical, organismal translational and clinical levels. This capacity is allowing the program to undertake comprehensive research at the level of sophistication necessary to gain understanding of complex diseases such as diabetes.
At local level, the close partnerships with local stakeholders such as HMC, Sidra Medical and Research Center, the Supreme Council of Health, Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) and Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) have continued to make crucial contributions to the success of the department through a series of shared programs and initiatives. In order to consolidate these partnerships, the department intends to recruit a senior clinical/translational scientist to build critical bridges with WCMC- Q’s community healthcare partners.
The past year also saw the department establish a joint institutional review board (IRB) in partnership with HMC to monitor the ethical component of proposed and ongoing studies. A joint administrator has been recruited to oversee the IRB initiative.
AR • 2012 36
The sequencing of the Arabian oryx genome was just one highlight for the research division AR • 2012 37
The Path to Progress
By dedicating 2.8 percent of GDP to research, Qatar has signaled its clear intent to move towards a knowledge-based economy. In response to this commitment, WCMC-Q’s research department has successfully attracted competitively funded extramural funding totaling $65 million through various programs run by QNRF. Specifically, funding was secured for research projects through two cycles of the Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) and cycle 4 of the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP).
A highlight of the year for the department was securing $4.5million of funding over five years for research into the biology and genetic profile of the date palm, one of the region’s most important agricultural products. Entitled Establishing World Leadership in Date Palm Research in Qatar, the study was put forward by Dr. Karsten Suhre, professor of physiology and director of the bioinformatics core, and Dr. Joel Malek, director of the genomics core. The project is being funded by QNRF’s National Priorities Research Program – Exceptional Proposal (NPRP-EP), established to fund studies of exceptional scientific merit that require money and time in excess of that provided under the 1-3 year NPRP funding program.
This comprehensive funding approach has allowed the research department to achieve more than 50 publications in academic journals, including prestigious periodicals such as the American Journal of Human Genetics, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Cell Biology Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Looking forward, plans to enhance the college’s infrastructure by building the vivarium core are currently in the final design stage, with construction scheduled to begin in early 2013. Basic plans for the facility include up to a 6,000-cage capacity, holding animals from rodents to aquatics. Though considered a relatively small project, the WCMC-Q vivarium will be a facility containing at least 12,000 square feet of usable space. AR • 2012 38
Abdulrahman Al-Abdulmalek looks at a sample in one of WCMC-Q’s biology laboratories AR • 2012 39
Dr. Renee Richer, visiting assistant professor, photographs a desert plant
Pre-Medical Faculty Research Seminar Series
In 2011, pre-medical education initiated a new bi-weekly faculty research forum to allow faculty to share their research objectives and results with their peers. Some of the research topics discussed during this series include: Understanding the Link Between Moisture Dynamics and Microbial Activity in Mobile Dunes; Elastography: Imaging Mechanical Properties of Tissue for Diagnostic Purposes; Novel Synthetic Reagents for Non-Viral, In Vitro Delivery of Biotherapeutics; The Regenerative Act of Writing; Shifting Centers: Meta-Reasoning in Moral Choices - A Study of Student Analyses of A Priori Values; Desert Dust and Neurodegenerative Disease; Higher Science Education: Semiotics and Epistemology; Chemical Nuggets from 25 Years in a Mining Camp: Tales from Sudbury, Ontario - home to INCO, Falconbridge and Laurentian University; and Educational Blogging: Bridging the Gap between Digital Natives and Educators. AR • 2012 40
Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, associate dean for global and public health; Maha Elnashar, director of the center for cultural competence in healthcare; Huda Abdelrahim, trainer and medical interpreter at the center for cultural competence in healthcare; and Dr. Sohaila Cheema, manager of the division of global and public health AR • 2012 41
Global and Public Health
Following its establishment in January 2011, the department of global and public health (GPH) has continued to pursue its core goals in education, research and patient care. Led by the associate dean for global and public health, Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, the department is working on a series of ongoing global and public health initiatives, including education and outreach programs, research studies and awareness campaigns addressing community related health issues, both internationally and at local level in Qatar.
Gaining New Understanding
Several new research studies in the field of public health have been launched by the department in the past year, including a project to assist Qatar Diabetes Association to assess the prevalence of diabetes among school children in Qatar. A further partnership has been formed with the division of endocrinology and diabetes at HMC to discover the effect of smoking on the progression of diabetes.
Other projects are investigating the use of supplements among college students in Qatar and predictors of smoking cessation. The department, staffed by Dr. Sohaila Cheema, manager, and Dr. Awatef Ismail, projects specialist, along with three coordinators, is also cooperating with the Supreme Council of Health on the STEP household survey. This project aims to determine the prevalence and distribution patterns of chronic diseases in Qatar and discover risk factors associated with the most commonly occurring chronic ailments.
A recent study on road traffic injuries in Qatar, conducted in partnership with the Department of Public Health and entitled Motor vehicle injuries in Qatar: time trends in a rapidly developing Middle Eastern nation, was completed and published in the British Medical Journal’s Injury Prevention in October 2011. AR • 2012 42
Knowledge Exchange
In November 2011 the department successfully hosted the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Symposium: Changing Paradigm of Health Care in the Middle East with a Special Focus on Qatar. The well-attended symposium provided a platform for discussion among medical education professionals, research faculty, students, physicians and other healthcare practitioners, with the goal of determining strategies and priorities for improving healthcare in Qatar and the wider region.
In another event, the department hosted and sponsored seminar discussions led by officials from the non-governmental organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF; Doctors Without Borders). Dr. Tankred Stöbe, president of MSF Germany, led a discussion on the topic of multiple drug resistant tuberculosis and the challenge this presents to the organization, while Michiel Hofman, former head of mission for MSF in Afghanistan, talked about the effects of conflict on healthcare provision. The event was directed and coordinated by Dr. Sohaila Cheema and was attended by 23 MSF personnel and many WCMC-Q faculty and students. AR • 2012 43
Dr. Ravinder Mamtani and Dr. Sohaila Cheema, with (center) Aseel Abu-Dayya and Mohamed Amin who spent seven weeks at a hospital in Tanzania
Student Outreach
To meet WCMC-Q’s objectives in education and research, and strengthen the relationship with the local and international community, the department initiated the global and public health internship program. The four-week program introduces undergraduate and medical students to basic information on global and public health, healthcare delivery, research and clinical topics through lectures, interactive seminars, meetings with key personnel in the public health arena and visits to local healthcare providers. Run for the first time in July 2012, the program also gave participating students the opportunity to gain experience related to health administration, public health policy and research and clinical health in programs individually tailored to their qualifications and educational backgrounds. Prior to the culmination of the program, the interns produced a report paper or a literature review on a topic of personal interest related to the field of community health.
Embracing the department’s international outlook, two first-year medical students took part in the second annual Summer Global Health Experience, spending seven weeks at Weill Bugando, the largest hospital in Mwanza in northern Tanzania. The students, Mohamed Amin and Aseel Abu Dayya, took part in learning and research activities, while discovering how medicine is practiced in a developing country.
A new one-credit course entitled Health and Disease: A Global Perspective for foundation and pre-medical students was offered in the Fall semester of 2011. Directed and taught by Dr. Mamtani, with assistance from Dr. Cheema, the course provides foundation and pre-medical students with basic knowledge about key concepts related to health and disease, disease causation and prevention. AR • 2012 44
Maha Elnashar discusses cultural issues surrounding healthcare AR • 2012 45
Cultural Engagement
In keeping with its core goals, the Center for Cultural Competence in Health Care (CCCHC) spent 2011/2012 working with healthcare providers and students to equip them with the cultural competency skills they need to practice medicine in a culturally sensitive and effective way. Key initiatives include providing training to students on methods for working with both trained and untrained medical interpreters, and offering pre-departure briefing sessions to all students who travel abroad for educational experience.
In September 2011, CCCHC provided two cultural competence training sessions to HMC residents and specialists on working with medical interpreters. In February 2012, two four-hour cultural competence training sessions were delivered to students at Qatar University. CCCHC will conduct its second professional training program for medical interpreters, entitled Bridging the Gap. WCMC-Q staff received training in cultural sensitivity in Qatar, with two information seminars offered to new employees in December 2011 and February 2012. CCCHC also advanced its activities in research, continuing participation in a grant-funded project established in 2009 entitled Providing Culturally Appropriate Healthcare Services in Qatar: Development of a Multilingual Patient Cultural Assessment of Quality Instrument. In addition, Ms. Maha Elnashar, Ms. Huda Abdelrahim and Dr. Michael Fetters published a research paper in the journal Academic Medicine entitled Cultural Competence Springs up in the Desert: The Story of the Center for Cultural Competence in Health Care at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. AR • 2012 46
Hiba Sheikh, Sarah Salameh and Mohamed Al Kazaz, who all graduated as doctors in 2012, discuss lecture notes AR • 2012 47
Student Life
Students Unleash Creative Talent
The second edition of Between Seminar Rooms was launched at WCMC-Q in October 2011. The creative writing and visual arts journal, created exclusively by medical and pre-med students at WCMC-Q, features poems, photos and short stories. Edited by Autumn Watts, English lecturer and Writing Center coordinator, the volume gives students an opportunity to express their creativity and see their work in print.
Speaking at the launch, Watts said: “Why do we produce a book of creative work by medical students? Why is art important to them? The answer is because our students are many things: They are incredibly bright, they are high achievers, they are driven, and they are smart. But medical students are also creative, they spill outside the boundaries of themselves and create art.”
During the book launch at WCMC-Q, 14 students presented their work in a presentation to last no more than two minutes, or face being chased off the stage. Some read out their work to the audience whilst those who created images spoke about their inspiration and methodology in creating them.
Watts said: “I’m incredibly proud of what these students have created. There are sketches, photos, paintings and prose of a very high standard in this, our second edition of Between Seminar Rooms, and the feedback about it has been very positive.” AR • 2012 48
AlJawhara Al-Jufairi, Ghoroor Ahmed, AlJazi Al Mana, and Shaikha Abdulla at the Sheikh Faisal Museum
Foundation Students Take Time Out at Sheikh Faisal Museum
The development of English language skills is a critical component of coursework for Foundation students at WCMC-Q and a study trip to the impressive Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum Doha provided an opportunity to mix work and leisure to utilize language skills learned in the lecture rooms.
English lecturer in pre-medical education, Dr Rachid Bendriss and senior lecturer in chemistry Dr Sheila Qureshi accompanied the group of foundation students who were required to review the museum and to devise a graphic presentation of the experience in March 2012.
“This was an opportunity for our students to put into practice what they have learned and to encourage language appreciation,” Dr. Bendriss said.
“ For a creative writing project, students took pictures of interesting artefacts and created stories that combined history, travel, and folklore. It was a wonderful opportunity for students and me to appreciate the human experience through the museum visit.”
Exhibits include pearl diving vessels and Qatari family life relics as well as a large collection of artworks and vintage automobiles.
For the students it was an opportunity to learn about Qatari culture and a chance to see rare and valuable artefacts from the Middle East region and around the world on display. For Jaber Al-Adba, it was not his first visit and he took the opportunity to explain items of interest to his friends. “This is a fantastic place with so many interesting things on display. I am amazed by the many rare cars and the priceless carpets on display,” said Jaber, who came to WCMC-Q from the De Bakey School in Doha. AR • 2012 49
Student volunteers helped organize Fiesta Somalia
WCMC-Q Global Health Club Adds New Voices to Somalian Discourse
Students took a break from hectic academic schedules and joined students from across Education City in September 2011 to focus on positive developments emerging from the turbulence in Somalia.
Somalia is a war ravaged country that has seen more than its fair share of conflict, social upheaval and wars that have left thousands of people scarred by famine, poverty and human misery. It is against this background of deprivation that students in the Global Health Club at WCMC-Q linked up with students and members of Qatar’s Somali community to organize Fiesta Somalia.
The fiesta was jointly organized by the Global Health Club and the Union of Somali Students in Qatar and aimed to show a brighter side to the troubled African nation often portrayed in international media as a country in political turmoil and scourged by episodes of piracy along its African coast. It was also an opportunity for students in a fortunate country like Qatar to reach out and support efforts to ease suffering and hunger in this war-ravaged country.
The Somalia Fiesta stemmed from a similar grassroots program by the American Refugee Committee called I Am a Star which encourages ordinary people to take action in their own communities to help Somali famine victims.
A lively group of volunteers and visitors participated in the fiesta held outdoors at the WCMC-Q campus where a variety of stalls promoted Somali handicrafts, African traditional cuisine and an exhibition of Somali landscape photographs.
All money raised was donated to the Qatar Red Crescent Society, which has been sending doctors and support staff to Somalia since 2006. AR • 2012 50
Muhammad Panhwar bowls during a cricket match AR • 2012 51
Vignesh Shanmugam at the annual Coffee House talent show
Enhancing Student Success through Extracurricular Activities
The two-year pre-medical program has had great success in preparing students for medicine, but having only two years of coursework can limit the opportunity that students have to develop important skills and to experience breadth beyond that coursework. Over many years, the faculty and staff members of the pre-medical program, with the assistance of student affairs, have strived to create such opportunities outside of coursework. This can perhaps be best illustrated through the efforts of the writing faculty who have introduced a number of activities that promote a culture of literacy in the sense of both absorbing and producing language and literature in a reflective and creative way. Some of these initiatives are relatively straightforward – such as establishing a robust and popular debate club through which students meet twice weekly and engage in debate on a wide variety of current affairs and philosophical topics. Publication initiatives involve the production of selections of WCMC-Q student essays in hard and softbound books. Students are invited to submit a favored essay to an annual competition wherein the winning essay is judged by a panel of first-year writing seminar faculty at the main campus in Ithaca, New York. Subsequently, a selection of the best essays is published in a handsome volume. To date, two volumes of Qira’at: Essays from the Students of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar have been published. The writing center also produces an annual collection of creative writing entitled Between Seminar Rooms in which students present their poetry, short stories and more general literary musings to their peers. Further initiatives include an annual literary lecture series in which faculty present a lecture on areas of their expertise to the college and the general public alike.
AR • 2012 52
Student Abdulhadi Al Saei helped high school students develop an interest in science during the 2011 summer enrichment program AR • 2012 53
Outreach
Summer Enrichment Program
WCMC-Q engaged with secondary and high school students from across the region in July 2011 through three summer outreach programs.
The initiatives target different age groups: Q-SMARTS, aimed at students in grades 7-9; Qatar Future Doctors, for those who may be interested in a career in medicine and want to know more about what that entails and finally, the pre-college enrichment program, which helps prospective college students in grades 11 and 12 prepare for the SAT exam and admissions interviews, which are important aspects of getting through the college admittance process.
“These programs have become more and more popular every year,” said Noha Saleh, director of student recruitment, “we have had around 350 applications this summer and in keeping with our high standards, we are only able to take students on merit. Therefore those students who have an interest in the sciences and an adequate grasp of English are accepted into the programs. This best prepares them for college life and professional careers later on as a high level of English will then be needed.”
Youngsters on the Q-SMARTS program, (an acronym of Qatar Summer Math & Reading Talent Scholars), threw themselves into debating sessions where they learned important skills in communication, analyzing information and mutual respect.
Qatar Future Doctors, aimed at students in grades 10-12, offered an opportunity to experience what it’s like to practice medicine.
The pre-college enrichment program teaches prospective college students in grades 11 and 12 how to prepare for the SAT exam and admissions interviews, which are important aspects of getting through the college admittance process. AR • 2012 54
Charles Msuya, assistant laboratory manager, discusses anatomy with two potential students
Medicine Unlimited
WCMC-Q welcomed hundreds of students, their parents and members of the wider community to its campus as part of Medicine Unlimited, its annual student recruitment fair and open day.
The interactive event is designed to inform potential students and their parents about what a career in medicine entails and what life at WCMC-Q is like. Faculty members, staff and current students were all on hand to provide information and answer any questions students and their families might have.
Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCMC-Q, extended a warm welcome to the students and their families and in his address, provided them with a comprehensive insight into life as a student at WCMC-Q. He shared details of the College’s six-year program of studies, which leads to the M.D. degree from Cornell University and also spoke of WCMC-Q’s biomedical research program.
Dr. Sheikh said “Medicine Unlimited is a wonderful opportunity for these young men and women to explore the many exciting options that a career in the fields of medicine and science can offer. WCMC- Q’s excellent program equips its students with a world-class education which can enable them to create an ambitious, fulfilling and exhilarating career.”
Faculty members manned tables and introduced students to topics including internal medicine, neurology and pediatrics.
Dr. Bakr Nour, associate dean for clinical affairs, provided information about organ transplantation and surgery, displaying surgical tools to illustrate his talks. On the chemistry table senior chemistry lecturer Dr. Sheila Qureshi, senior lab assistant Mandy Bondaruk, and Dr. Michael Pungente, associate professor in organic chemistry, used glow-sticks and balloons to demonstrate the shapes of gas molecules. AR • 2012 55
Healing Hands essay winners Ali Mohsen Hajji, Hessa Khalid Al-Hail, and Hamad Nasser Hessa Khalid Al-Hail said her experience Al Naimi spent time in research laboratories at WCMC in New York made her determined to be a doctor
Trip of a Lifetime
Three Doha high school students celebrated in June 2012 after winning summer scholarships in the United States as part of WCMC-Q’s Doctors of the Future program.
Ali Mohsen Hajji, a student at Qatar Academy, Hamad Nasser Al-Naimi, from the Omar Bin Al Khattab Education Complex for Boys and Hessa Khalid Al-Hail, from the Al Bayan Education Complex for Girls, enjoyed a fully funded, two-week experience of a lifetime at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, where they visited prominent research laboratories and spent time with distinguished Weill Cornell physicians in major New York hospitals.
The students won the coveted prize by coming out on top in a medical essay writing competition organized by WCMC-Q.
The winners and other participants were honored at a reception hosted by WCMC-Q dean, Dr. Javaid Sheikh.
As part of its community outreach program, WCMC-Q encourages Qatari nationals who are considering a career in medicine to pursue academic excellence. This year the annual Healing Hands high school essay competition encouraged young people to share their views on becoming a doctor in Qatar. The competition was first launched in 2008 and this year it was expanded to offer three scholarships.
In New York, the students were hosted by Dr. Ronald G. Crystal, professor and chairman of the Department of Genetic Medicine and the Bruce Webster Professor of Internal Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Dr. Crystal has hosted exceptional Qatari high school students in his research laboratories and during his clinics since the program’s inception five years ago. Each year, the students spend two weeks fully immersed in various clinical medicine experiences, clinical research and laboratory work. AR • 2012 56
From left: Mr. Ahmed Al Ahmed, DGM Oxy; Mr. Bart Cahir, P&GM ExxonMobil; HE Abdulla Bin Khalid Al Qahtani, Minister of Public Health and Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Health; Dr. Javaid Sheikh; Mr. Steve Kelly, P&GM Oxy; Mr Ahmed Al Mawlawi, Director for Administration QP; Abdulaziz Al Talib, DGM Al Khaleej Gas; Mr. John Saad, Chief Marketing Officer Vodafone Qatar. AR • 2012 57
WCMC-Q Launches Ambitious Five-Year Health Campaign
In June 2012, WCMC-Q launched an ambitious, long-term campaign to help improve the health of the nation in association with the Supreme Council of Health.
Titled Sahtak Awalan; Your Health First, the five-year campaign aims to educate both the Qatari and expatriate communities about healthy lifestyles.
The initiative was launched by His Excellency Abdulla Bin Khalid Al Qahtani, Minister of Public Health and Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Health. Strategic partners in the campaign – Qatar Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, Occidental Petroleum of Qatar and Vodafone Qatar – were also at the launch. The Supreme Education Council joined the initiative as a strategic partner later in the year.
His Excellency said that Your Health First fully supports Qatar’s National Health Strategy (NHS) 2011- 2016, which aims to enhance the wellness of the people of Qatar and includes amongst its several goals preventive healthcare.
The Your Health First campaign consists of five stages. The first phase of the campaign covers a wide range of topics including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, psychological health, woman and child healthcare, bone health and rheumatoid arthritis, stress and insomnia, benefits of vitamins, cancer, healthy eating habits amongst children, teens and adults.
Your Health First will also make use of digital media and social networks, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, to reach the largest number of Qatari nationals and expatriates living in the country.
Each of the other stages of WCMC-Q’s Your Health First campaign will last for a year with a focus on two major health issues as well as public health. AR • 2012 58
Statistics
FACULTY AND STAFF Figures for faculty include all those on the WCMC-Q payroll considered active NUMBERS, 2001-2011 within the 2011-2012 academic year. Figures for staff are as of June 17, 2012, and include those residing in New York. Academic non-faculty includes postdoctoral positions in the research program. 260
234
260 195 200 166 234 147 132 195 200150 112 166 96 147 150100 132 61 64 64 54 112 60 57 60 96 10050 51 37 20 21 17 12 61 8 64 64 3 2 54 600 573 60 0 0 50 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 250105/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 237011/12 17 20 21 12 8 3 2 0 3 0 Faculty Staff Academic (Non-Faculty) 0 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12
Figures are as of September 21, and reflect any attrition from incoming classes TOTAL NUMBER300 OF 272 269 262 STUDENTS, 2002-2011 in subsequent years. 250 239 204 300 272 269 200 262
250 150 239 150 130 204 200 90 100 150 150 52 130 50 25 90 100 0 52 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 50 25
0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 AR • 2012 59
822 800 700 603 600 550 539 500 450 400 392 PROFILE OF CLASSES350 ENTERING THE PRE-MEDICAL PROGRAM, 2002-2011 Total Enrollment and Applicants 320
300 822 800 238 700 250 204 200 603 600 200 550 539 500 150 134 450 99 100 392 400 57 61 61 60 350 48 50 31 48320 46 42 300 25 250 0 238 204 200 200 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 150 134 100 99 57 61 61 60 48 46 48 42 50 25 31 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Enrollment Applicants
Gender Profile 35 35 35 800 35 33 33 800 33 33 30 700 664 681 678 667 682 677 30 283027 641 646 700 681 678 682 677 30 27 26 26 615 664 667 25 25 60028 27 641 646 25 27 24 615 23 2623 26 21 20 25 500 25 600 20 25 18 17 23 400 23 24 15 21 20 300 500 10 10 20 8 200 18 17 400 5 100 15 0 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010300 10 10 8 200
5 100
0 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Male Female AR • 2012 60
PROFILE OF ENTERING MEDICAL STUDENTS, SEPTEMBER 2011
Enrolled students ...... 43 Male ...... 24 Female ...... 19 Previous education: WCMC-Q ...... 42 American University of Cairo ...... 1 Average College GPA...... 3.4 Average age (Sept 1st, 2011) ...... 20.5
CITIZENSHIP OF STUDENT BODY 2011
Qatar Philippines
Canada Saudi Arabia
Egypt South Korea
India Syria
Jordan United Kingdom
Lebanon USA
Pakistan Yemen AR • 2012 61
National Priorities Research Program Grants - 5th Cycle, 2012
Title Lead Researcher Awarded (US$)
Genome Arabia Prof. Lotfi Chouchane 1,041,710
Molecular Epidemiology of Malaria in India and Qatar with an Emphasis on Parasite Dr. Ali Sultan 1,048,949 Diversity, Drug Resistance and Immune Response
A Novel Protein Marker in Type 2 Diabetes Dr. Hong Ding 1,049,942
A Cross Cultural Exploration of the Experience of Pregnancy Loss Dr. Kristina Sole 977,350
Nature, Extent and Determinants of Child Discipline: a Policy Oriented and Comparative Dr. Marcellina Mian 1,049,998 Study between Qatar and the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia in Qatar: Clinical, Genetics Analysis and Expression Profile Prof. Alice Abd El Aleem 1,049,903
IP3 Receptor Regulation in the Oocyte Dr. Khaled Machaca 1,042,497
Regulation of Store Operated Calcium Entry During Cell Division Dr. Khaled Machaca 1,049,997
A Quantitative Proteomic Approach to Neurodegenerative Disease in the Defined Genetic Dr. Johannes Graumann 1,048,255 Context of Isogenic Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Mental Health Issues Among College Students in Qatar: A Comparative Study Dr. Ziad Kronfol 1,049,215 A Quantitative Proteomics Approach to the Molecular Identification of Lipid Flippases in Dr. Johannes Graumann 1,049,215 the Endoplasmic Reticulum Understanding the Sexual Network Determinants of the Epidemiology of Sexually Trans- Dr. Laith Abu-Raddad 1,049,215 mitted Infections: Quantitative Assessment
Regulation of the Annexin A2 System by MicroRNAs Dr. S. Hani Najafi-Shoushtari 1,035,269
TOTAL 13,541,515
National Priorities Research Program - Exceptional Proposals
Dr. Karsten Suhre Establishing World Leadership in Date Palm Research in Qatar 4,500,000 Dr. Joel Malek AR • 2012 62
WCMC-Q FACULTY PUBLICATIONS JULY 2011-JUNE 2012 (AS OF JUNE 21, 2012)
Abdel-Aleem, Alice K.
Zaki MS, Sharaf El-Din WE, Hamdy GM, Kamal IH, Abdel-Aleem AK. Molecular analysis of MECP2 gene in Egyptian patients with Rett syndrome. The Egyptian journal of medical human genetics. 2012 Feb;13(1):19-27.
Abu-Raddad, Laith. J.
Chemaitelly H, Cremin I, Shelton J, Hallett TB, Abu-Raddad LJ. Distinct HIV discordancy patterns by epidemic size in stable sexual partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa. Sexually transmitted infections. 2012 Feb;88(1):51-7.
Mumtaz G, Hilmi N, McFarland W, Kaplan RL, Akala FA, Semini I, Riedner G, Tawil O, Wilson D, Abu-Raddad LJ. Are HIV epidemics among men who have sex with men emerging in the Middle East and North Africa?: A systematic review and data synthesis. PLoS medicine [Internet]. 2011 Aug 2 [cited 2011 Sep]; 8(8):e1000444 [15 pages]. Available from: http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/ journal.pmed.1000444.
Tanton C, Abu-Raddad LJ, Weiss HA. Time to refocus on HSV interventions for HIV prevention? [editorial]. The Journal of infectious diseases. 2011 Dec 15;204(12):1822-6.
Arayssi, Thurayya
Chaaya M, Slim ZN, Habib RR, Arayssi T, Dana R, Hamdan O, Assi M, Issa Z, Uthman I. High burden of rheumatic diseases in Lebanon: a COPCORD study. International journal of rheumatic diseases. 2012 Apr;15(2):136-43.
Slim Z, Chaaya M, Habib R, Arayssi T, Uthman I. High burden of musculoskeletal conditions: a problem that has only has only recently come to recognition. Chronic illness. 2011 Dec;7(4):311-20.
Bendriss, Rachid
Bendriss R. Internationalization efforts at state universities in Florida. Charleston, SC: BiblioLabsII; 2011.
Bendriss R, Golkowska K. Early reading habits and their impact on the reading literacy of Qatari undergraduate students. Arab world English journal [Internet]. 2011 Dec [cited 2012 May 15]; 2(4):37-57. Available from: http://www.awej.org/?article=71. AR • 2012 63
Büsselberg, Dietrich
Florea AM, Büsselberg D. Metals and breast cancer: risk factors or healing agents? Journal of toxicology [Internet]. 2011 Jul 24 [cited 2011 Sep 28]; 2011. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC3143443/.
Florea AM, Büsselberg D. Calcium ([Ca2+]i) signaling as a key-target for cancer treatment. In: Yamaguchi M, editor. Calcium signaling: protein biochemistry, synthesis, structure and cellular functions. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers; 2012. p. 215-20.
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