Prof Yacoub gets inaugural Al-Ahli Hospital Award

Prof Magdi Yacoub has received the inaugural Al-Ahli Hospital Award for Pioneers of Arab Medicine.Prof Yacoub is considered one of the leading figures and pioneers of Arab medicine, having dedicated his life to advancing science and research in the field of complex heart surgeries, contributing to saving many lives in his homeland Egypt and worldwide and for humanity at large.This award, presented by Al-Ahli Hospital in its first edition, coincides with the hospital's 20th anniversary, celebrated on November 28. The award will be presented every two years and will follow a nomination-based system rather than direct selection in its future editions.Accordingly, Al-Ahli Hospital organised an award ceremony on Thursday evening, which was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Thani bin Abdullah al-Thani, chairman of Al-Ahli Hospital’s Board of Directors; Khaled al-Emadi, CEO of Al-Ahli Hospital, alongside a number of ambassadors, physicians, and medical directors from public and private hospitals.Al-Emadi stressed the importance of launching this award to honour the Arab medical pioneers. He expressed his pride in this initiative, which reflects the hospital's appreciation for medicine and its practitioners. He noted that this serves as a message to new generations of medical graduates and those aspiring to enter the field, highlighting the noble and valued nature of their mission to serve humanity wherever needed.He explained that the launch of this award aligns with the hospital’s 20th anniversary since its establishment, marking the opening of its first paediatric clinic on November 28, 2004. He noted that Al-Ahli Hospital has been steadfast in its approach, inspired by the nation’s vision of prioritising the healthcare sector for treatment and prevention as well. The hospital continuously diversifies its departments and enhances its services to global standards, becoming a leading institution thanks to the efforts of its medical and administrative teams, regarded as its true capital.He added that selecting Prof Magdi Yacoub for this award was due to his exceptional contributions. As an extraordinary figure, he has dedicated his life to advancing science, particularly in the field of complex heart surgery. Prof Yacoub revolutionised heart disease treatment and saved the lives of many children and adults, in his homeland and globally. His research in cardiology has left an indelible mark on lecture halls in prestigious universities and advanced hospitals worldwide.Jamal Hammad, Deputy CEO of Al-Ahli Hospital, said that over the past 20 years, they have witnessed tens of thousands of patients whose lives were saved by their doctors. These doctors gave their utmost knowledge, expertise, and sacrifices for the sake of saving lives. He expressed pride and admiration for the hospital’s medical team, which inspired the launch of this award.In his remarks, Prof Yacoub expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Abdullah bin Thani bin Abdullah al-Thani, chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Ahli Hospital. On behalf of his colleagues in Egypt, London and worldwide, he extended his thanks and deep appreciation for the award.He further expressed his happiness for receiving this award and praised the medical advancements he observed at Al-Ahli Hospital, which provides top-tier community service. He congratulated the entire medical team, including doctors, researchers, nurses, and staff, for their commitment and excellence. He also commended the hospital’s focus on scientific research, which he considered a distinguished aspect.Prof Yacoub highlighted the importance of scientific research, which involves idea exchange with Hamad Medical Corporation, representing a service to humanity. He stressed that scientific research is vital for many reasons, including its role in delivering the highest standards of care to the society, as medicine fundamentally serves humanity.