Graduates hosted at WCM-Q Symposium
Recent graduates, many of whom are working as consultant physicians at Hamad Medical Corporation and Sidra Medicine, were invited to the WCM-Q 1st Research Opportunities Symposium to learn more about the ways they could become physician scientists – doctors who practice medicine but also undertake research to increase the canon of medical knowledge.
Dr. Robert Crone, vice dean for clinical & faculty affairs and professor of clinical pediatrics at WCM-Q, spoke about considerable investment and visionary leadership in recent years and about how Qatar now has the state-of-the-art facilities and talented professionals required to conduct biomedical research at the highest level. He also encouraged WCM-Q alumni to take advantage of the opportunities to further their careers.
Graduates also heard from Dr. Ibrahim Janahi, the executive director of medical research at HMC, who told them that research is one of the three pillars of the organization - along with healthcare delivery and education.
Dr. Khaled Machaca, associate dean for research at WCM-Q, discussed the development of WCM-Q’s research program and the infrastructure that the college has at its disposal.
Dr. Machaca thanked Qatar’s visionary leadership for the strong emphasis they place on research and its investment – through Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) - making Qatar a regional scientific hub, that attracts collaborations with highly prestigious institutions and established research programs across the world.
The criteria required for QNRF funding and how to apply for it formed the basis of Dr. Laith Abu-Raddad’s presentation, who also spoke about the path towards personalized medicine.
Finally, WCM-Q’s alumni heard from Yassir Hussein, WCM-Q’s assistant director of research training and outreach, who oversees the college’s Biomedical Research Training Program for Nationals that introduces graduates to biomedical research and aims to build human research capacity in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
In addition, Ms. Haya Haj Ahmad, director of alumni affairs at WCM-Q, said that the college has a network of staff able to support and facilitate alumni who wish to take advantage of the many research opportunities on offer.