New WCM-Q seminar series aims to boost health literacy among public
Dr. Mohamud Verjee and Dr. Sohaila Cheema discussing hypothyroidism.
Three leading professors at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) have shared information about common health conditions with the community in a series of free online presentations.
Dr. Mai Mahmoud, Dr. Moune Jabre and Dr. Mohamud Verjee spoke about high blood pressure (hypertension), common causes of pelvic pain, and hypothyroidism, respectively. The presentations were part of the Health and YOU Community Wellness Series of talks organized by WCM-Q’s Institute for Population Health (IPH). Dr. Sohaila Cheema, assistant dean for the IPH, said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to draw upon the expertise of such highly qualified speakers. We feel that the public is benefitting a great deal from these talks.”
Dr. Mahmoud, assistant dean for faculty affairs and associate professor of teaching in medicine, gave a presentation titled, ‘High Blood Pressure – Know the Facts,’ in which she explained how high blood pressure or hypertension is defined, the health risks associated with the condition, and the options for managing it. Dr. Mahmoud also identified the complications that can arise because of hypertension, which include heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms, kidney disease, and vascular dementia, among others.
Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, vice dean for population health and lifestyle medicine at WCM-Q, said: “Our aim with the Health and YOU series is to provide members of the public with practical information about health issues that affect large numbers of people in everyday life. We in the IPH believe that good health literacy is absolutely essential to empower people to maintain and enhance their own health and that of their family.”
The presentation of Dr. Jabre, assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology, was titled, ‘Why Does It Hurt? Common Causes of Pelvic Pain.’ Dr. Jabre explained that nearly all women experience pelvic pain or discomfort at some time in their lives and discussed the different causes behind this, ranging from mild and benign health issues to severe, chronic, and serious problems. Dr. Jabre also discussed methods for diagnosing the cause or causes of pelvic pain and the different treatment options available.
Dr. Verjee, assistant dean for medical student affairs and associate professor of family medicine in clinical medicine, gave a presentation titled, ‘The Ups and Downs of Hypothyroidism’. The presentation gave a summary of hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid gland that does not produce enough hormones. This can lead to symptoms such as tiredness, feeling depressed, and weight gain. After summarizing the condition, Dr. Verjee discussed its diagnosis, management, different forms of treatment, and recent developments in research and therapies for addressing hypothyroidism.