HMC holds symposium to hone staff’s skills

Dr Abdulla al-Ansari (third left) and Dr Hanan al-Kuwari (fifth left) with some of the speakers at the event.


The inaugural Research and Innovation Idea Days, a two-day symposium, was held recently by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)’s Surgical Services in collaboration with the Academic Health System (AHS) to increase the skills of medical staff in best practice methodologies for conducting research or exploring innovative ideas.
The event was the “first of its kind” in Qatar and part of HMC’s efforts to stimulate research and innovation that would benefit patients and contribute to the health and well-being of the population.
Dr Abdulla al-Ansari, deputy chief of medical, academic and research affairs for Surgical Services, HMC, said it provided an excellent opportunity for clinical staff interested in research. “The staff got the opportunity to learn from local as well as international research and innovation experts through presentations on a range of research skills and practices.”
Among the speakers were representatives from HMC, Qatar University, Cleveland Clinic (US), McMaster University (Canada) and other leading international experts in the field of research.
Participants also had the opportunity to present their research proposals for peer review. A panel of experts critiqued their work with the aim of honing the skills of the participants not only in conducting research but also in writing research proposals as well as writing and publishing the results of their research studies.
Prof Ibrahim Janahi, executive director of the Medical Research Centre (MRC) at HMC, conveyed the organisation’s strong support for the activity as fitting into the general strategy for research enterprise at HMC: “Research is one of the pillars of our AHS initiative.”
Prof Janahi highlighted the MRC’s efforts to support HMC researchers and highlighted recent activities, such as the recruitment of eminent clinician scientists and investigators for HMC’s interim Translational Research Institute.
Dr al-Ansari presented prizes to winners, saying: “I am impressed with the level of commitment shown by HMC clinicians towards research. More than 40 research proposals were sent to our co-ordinating team. The expert panel strongly recommended that HMC should copyright one of the innovative ideas presented.”