WCM-Q hosts workshops on intercultural communication and scientific research

The Institute for Population Health (IPH) at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) recently organized two workshops focused on intercultural communication in healthcare and the fundamentals of scientific research.

The workshops targeted a diverse audience of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, allied health professionals, researchers, educators, and administrators. 

The first workshop, titled “Bridging the Gap Medical Interpreters Training,” was a five-day intensive program that addressed the critical issue of language barriers, a significant contributor to healthcare disparities among culturally and linguistically diverse populations. The training aimed to increase awareness of intercultural communication practices and equip bilingual professionals with essential medical interpretation skills.

Led by Dr. Maha Elnashar, director of the Center for Cultural Competence in Healthcare (CCCHC) at IPH, and Ms. Huda Abdelrahim, senior specialist in cultural competence in healthcare at CCCHC, the workshop utilized a curriculum licensed from the Cross Cultural Health Care Program, a leading non-profit organization based in Seattle, US.

The second workshop, “Introduction to Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Principles and Practice,” was a two-day program designed to introduce participants to the fundamental processes involved in conducting systematic reviews and interpreting meta-analyses based on scientific principles, systematic methodology, and standardized guidelines. The workshop aimed to inform evidence-based healthcare practices to ensure optimal, safe, and effective patient-centered care.

The session was presented by several expert speakers from IPH, including Dr. Amit Abraham, assistant professor of clinical population health sciences and assistant director; Dr. Karima Chaabna, assistant professor of clinical population health sciences and manager of population health research; Dr. Sonia Chaabane, instructor in population health sciences and senior specialist in population health research; and Ms. Anupama Jithesh, projects coordinator.

Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, WCM-Q professor of population health sciences and vice dean for population health and lifestyle medicine, and professor of medicine at the Center for Global Health, said: “At IPH, we are committed to improving life expectancy and health outcomes while enhancing overall quality of life. We achieve this through need-based public health research, robust community engagement initiatives, and comprehensive educational programs that equip professionals with essential skills and knowledge.”

Both workshops were accredited in Qatar by the Department of Healthcare Professions-Accreditation Section (DHP-AS) of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and internationally by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

For more information about future IPH workshops, please click here