WCM-Q alum among winners at HMC research symposium

Dr. Nour Barakat, who graduated from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) in 2014, has won second prize in the clinical research category at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) annual surgical research symposium.

Dr. Barakat, a cornea and refractive surgery fellow in the ophthalmology department at HMC, won the prize at the 10th HMC Surgical Research and Innovation Ideas A. Al Baghdadi Symposium for her work on using retinoscopy to screen for keratoconus, a disease in which the cornea thins and becomes misshapen, causing distorted vision. Her research also investigates the prevalence of keratoconus in Qatar.

Dr. Barakat said: “Keratoconus is a corneal ectasia [a non-inflammatory eye disorder characterized by corneal thinning] that is 100 times more prevalent in the Middle East and Asia than in North America and Europe. Winning this prize gives me huge motivation to continue my path in research and connects me with experts who can provide me with valuable advice on how to navigate future projects.”

Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM-Q, said: “We are extremely proud and happy to see our WCM-Q alum Dr. Barakat receive this prestigious award. We are truly impressed by her dedication to her work, her patients and the ongoing development of clinical research in Qatar.”