Medical Education Day 2008

MC's Department of Medical Education, directed by Dr. Abdul Latif
Al-Khal, received a collective award in recognition of its valuable
contribution to students' medical education: L to R Dr. Ismail Helmy,
Dr. Al-Khal, Dean Alonso, Dr. Omar Zaghmout, Dr. Mohamed El-Taweel.

In a move that reflects the strength of the partnership between WCMC-Q and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the two institutions joined together, February 20, to celebrate the achievements of young physicians and the contribution of HMC preceptors and teachers to medical education in Qatar.

Dr. Daniel R. Alonso, the Dean of WCMC-Q, congratulated and acknowledged all teachers, faculty and members of HMC as partners in bringing the Medical College's triple mission of patient care, education and research to Qatar and the region.

"HMC is an outstanding teaching hospital. Your commitment to health care and the mission of WCMC-Q has made it easy to for us to become your partners and colleagues. Together, it is our obligation to take the Medical Corporation and medical school to new levels of excellence," said Dr. Alonso.

Dean Alonso recalled how the WCMC-Q/HMC partnership first began, from the signing of an affiliation agreement in October 2004 to have HMC doctors actively engaged as Weill Cornell faculty in teaching medical students, to the start of the first clinical rotations in 2006.

Today, HMC has nearly 500 medical and surgical residents pursuing training in 20 different programs, with an average intake of 110 new residents each year.

Dean Alonso congratulates HMC's Dr. Hassan Al-Thani.

Medical Education Day, Dr. Alonso said, was a "momentous occasion, celebrating those who teach and those who are taught, and the vital partnership that is contributing to the ongoing success of the Medical College".

Also participating in the ceremony, which took place in the Hajar Auditorium of HMC's Education Center, were HMC leaders, Dr. Latifa Al Houty, Chair of the Board, and Dr. Hanan Al Kuwari, Managing Director. The audience included distinguished leaders from academia in Qatar.

In addition to the presentation of WCMC-Q teaching awards, the celebration also saw HMC present teaching awards to specialists and consultants selected by the residents for their significant contributions to resident teaching. Alongside these awards, a special collective award was given by the Medical College to HMC's Medical Education Department in recognition of its contribution to the education of the medical students.

Dean Alonso concluded: "This has been a wonderful ride that is getting better all the time, and we are collaborating in better ways. HMC gave us not just the faculty, but also the facilities to turn our vision into reality. Congratulations to all of the awardees, and I would like to express my thanks and deep appreciation for all teachers of HMC for the job they are doing."