WCM-Q’s student innovation club hosts inaugural workshop

The ‘Innovations & Technologies for Precision Health’ student club at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) recently hosted its inaugural event, ‘Innovation Unboxed: From Idea to Reality.’

The dynamic two-hour session kicked off with an introduction from WCM-Q student and innovations club president Kareem Essam Aly and WCM-Q dean Dr. Javaid Sheikh, and featured insights from trailblazing minds, sparking creativity among the approximately 40 students and faculty in attendance.

The event commenced with riveting talks by two distinguished innovators from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)—Dr. Rashid Mazhar (MD), senior consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon, and Dr. Julien Abi Nahed (Ph.D.), head of technology innovation. The experts shared their personal journeys in navigating the landscape of innovation within the medical field, including the use of surgical devices and telemedicine-surgery solutions, offering invaluable glimpses into the successes and challenges they encountered.

Following these inspiring narratives, WCM-Q students engaged in a short hands-on workshop facilitated by Ms. Milena Kraeva, a long-term mentor in Qatar and European accelerator and founder/CEO of Nexus Impact Ventures. The workshop involved ideating innovation solutions alongside WCM-Q faculty and researchers using the Business Model Canvas. This collaborative atmosphere fostered a creative exchange of ideas, exploring how innovation starts from a problem statement and creating a value proposition for an end-user (a patient or physician, for instance).

Mohammad Zebian, program manager – acceleration, from Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), was invited to shed light on various funding avenues available for innovation and startup ventures. This segment provided crucial insights into transforming innovative ideas into tangible projects, aligning with the ambitions of aspiring medical innovators. QSTP currently hosts a free-of-charge 10-week part-time XLR8 training and mentorship program in the late afternoons, enabling promising innovators to transform tech-based ideas into commercially viable businesses.

The evening concluded on a high note with a captivating fireside chat with the expert speakers and moderated by Dr. Max Renault, WCM-Q’s new director of innovations in global precision health. The panel discussed various questions, from how to get started with innovation, what the local ecosystem looks like, and how medical students can get involved and navigate their busy schedules—all from the experts’ firsthand experience.

Commenting on the event, Dr. Renault said: “The overarching theme of the event was the unique set of challenges faced by medical innovation but also the collaborative approaches and networks that can help innovation succeed. The discourse was not only enlightening but also served as a catalyst for innovation leveraging teamwork between students, faculty, and local experts.”

Aly said: “We extend our gratitude to all who contributed to the success of the workshop—from our esteemed speakers to the enthusiastic participants. It is essential that we continue to work together to carry the spirit of innovation forward, breaking barriers and propelling our medical college to new heights of excellence. We invite all interested students, faculty, researchers, and staff to join our community, and help shape the future of healthcare.”