Two Qatari researchers from Sidra Medical and Research Center (Sidra), Dr Rashid al-Ali, deputy chief research officer and division chief, biomedical informatics and Ahmad al-Shaibi, graduate associate, have been selected to attend a prestigious leadership programme by the US Department of State.
They will participate in the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) on Regional Health Challenges: Research and Remedies taking place in the US.
IVLP is the US Department of State’s premier professional exchange programme offered annually to a handful of select nominees worldwide.
The US embassy in Doha oversees the IVLP locally and works with Qatari partners to bring this unique professional exchange opportunity to select leaders in a variety of fields.
The IVLP programme was formally established in 1952 and has a distinguished alumni of leaders, visionaries, innovators, academics and emerging talent.
Notable alumni include British prime ministers Theresa May, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher and Gordon Brown as well as international leaders such as Kim Dae Jung (S Korea), Nicolas Sarkozy (France) and Anwar Sadat (Egypt) and luminaries such as Noble prize winner Dr Mohamed Yunus (Bangladesh).
The programme is based on fostering international co-operation in health management programmes that prevent or minimise loss of life to communicable and non-communicable illnesses.
It will also address specific public health challenges and needs of countries and communities in crisis.
The project activities during the three-week long programme will include site visits to hospitals, clinics, rural health facilities, laboratories and academic and research institutions in the US.
They will also examine media coverage of disease and its influence on the public and government. Key takeaways from the programme will be to gain a better appreciation of cutting edge research, technology, treatments, and potential solutions to public health threats and challenges that can improve the lives of people in Qatar.
Sidra chief learning officer, Dr Kholode al-Obaidli said: “We are very proud to have Dr al-Ali and al-Shaibi attend the IVLP programme representing Sidra as well as Qatar’s research expertise. The selection of two worthy individuals highlights our commitment to supporting the development of our employees, at all stages of their career journey at Sidra.”
“This programme could not have come at a better time. At Sidra, we have achieved notable research milestones leading towards personalised medicine and it is part of our ongoing journey of learning and collaboration to learn from best practice health programmes from counterparts the world over. I am looking forward to the knowledge and ideas that will be exchanged and to consider best practice applications at Sidra,” said Dr al-Ali.
“Such an opportunity comes as a continuation of Sidra’s push for my development, which began all the way back during my years at university as a student sponsored by Sidra. To be among such a group of leaders and visionaries who attended this programme is a great honour, and I look forward to bring back what I learn to make it beneficial to my research, to Sidra, and to Qatar as a whole,” noted al-Shaibi.