Unlocking Genetic Secrets of the Date Palm - Weill Cornell Medical ...

Highlights of this issue122The Story of the Human CellNobel Prize winner Günter Blobel MD,PhD, discusses his research on cellmechanisms at the fourth Qatar FoundationDistinguished Lecture Series at WCMC-Q.4Transforming the Research LandscapeBiomedical research at WCMC-Qsupported by Qatar Foundation plays acrucial role in the renaissance of sciencetaking place in the country and the region.12Researchers Unlock Genetic Secretsof the Date PalmJoel Malek, PhD, director of the genomicslab, and his research assistants unlockthe genetic secrets of the date palm andvalidate the use of sophisticated genomicstechnology in the Gulf Region.1414Another Great MatchMembers of the Class of 2009 celebrate theirmatches with residency programs in the USand Qatar as they move on to the next phaseof their medical and scientific careers.17Sustainable Development in QatarRenee Richer, PhD, assistant professor of biology, promotes strategies for sustainabledevelopment in Qatar’s Second National Human Development report.Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar was jointly established bythe Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Developmentand Cornell UniversitySpring 2009 1

News from WCMC-QA Story of the Human CellFourth Qatar Foundation Distinguished Lecture Series held at WCMC-QGünter Blobel discusses his research on the signals that govern the transport and localization of proteins in the cell.Audience members from WeillCornell Medical College inQatar and beyond filled oneof the campus lecture halls on March17 th to listen to world renowned scientistGünter Blobel explain cellmechanisms that have set the stagefor research in the coming decades.Blobel, winner of the 1999 NobelPrize for Medicine for his work in uncoveringthese mechanisms, spoke atthe fourth Qatar Foundation DistinguishedLecture Series at WCMC-Q.He chose to avoid complete focuson what might fall under the lecture’stitle: “Access to the Nucleus,the Innermost Sanctuary of the Cell,”and broke the topic into several sections.He said he wanted studentsto be inspired about “how little weknow” more than he intended to godeeply into his findings for the seasonedresearchers in the audience.“As you sit here in this room, froma cellular point of view, you are fourbillion years old. A continuous fourbillion years of cell division, and cellevolution — this is something thatis absolutely magnificent … and wedon’t really realize how old we are,”Blobel explained.The audience gained a sense ofhow the cell evolved over time andhow all of its parts, as they developed,have been replicated over theyears in all living organisms. Untilabout 50 years ago, with the dawn ofthe electron microscope, all scientistscould do was speculate about whatthe big black dot and other tiny dotsin the cells were — then, the revolutionin cell biology took place.“And over the next 20 years peopledescribed everything you could possiblyfind in a cell. But what wasn’treally clear was how things talkedto each other,” he said. “We made avery bold hypothesis and there wasabsolutely zero evidence.”Blobel was a pioneer in a researchfield now known as intracellular proteintraffic, and would eventually winthe Nobel Prize for discovering thatproteins have intrinsic signals thatgovern their transport and localizationin the cell.“Specific sequence elements inproteins are like a zip code to directproteins to a cellular address, and ifthe protein does not arrive at the cellu-2 Qatar Chronicle

News from WCMC-Q“As you sit here in this room, from a cellular point of view, you are four billion years old.A continuous four billion years of cell division, and cell evolution — this is something thatis absolutely magnificent … and we don’t really realize how old we are.”— Günter Blobellar address, it cannot function. It’s verymuch like a love letter that isn’t sent tothe right address … well, if it isn’t sentto the right address it may have an adversereaction,” he explained.To inspire the students and youngresearchers in the audience, Blobeldescribed a phase in his researchwhere he challenged the idea thation regulation around membraneswould not possibly allow his hypothesizedprotein conducting channel.Everyone around him expresseddoubt, including his funders, whowithdrew grants. Luckily, RockefellerUniversity in the United Statesfound his work interesting and investedin him.“So, you must not give up if youreally think you have a good idea. Iwish I could tell you the excitementas we detected the protein conductingchannel by electrophysiology,” hesaid gleefully.Although he spent 40 yearsworking to open many doors forupcoming researchers, Blobel saidhe wished he had 40 more years towalk through those doors himself.It’s an exciting time in a line ofwork that has no end.“Human knowledge will be imperfectforever … but is indefinitelyperfectable,” he said quoting an acquaintance.“I think this indefiniteperfectability is what drives us, whatinspires us and is the inspiration thatI wanted to transmit to you.”—Emily AlpSpring 2009 3

News from WCMC-QBuilding a Research CultureStem Cell Work, Science Park Transform LandscapeProfessor Sir Martin Evans, 2007 Nobel Laureate in Medicine, left, and Dr. Javaid Sheikh at the Qatar Stem Cell Workshop on Science & Policy.With Nobel Laureatesas speakers and participationby scientists,diplomats, physicians and studentsfrom around the globe, Weill CornellMedical College in Qatar and QatarFoundation hosted the Gulf state’sfirst international conference on stemcell science and policy.The topic is an important onefor the entire medical and scientificcommunity and for the ambitiousbiomedical research program spearheadedby WCMC-Q and QatarFoundation.“Stem cell research is an integralpart of our new genetic and molecularresearch program,” said Dr. JavaidSheikh, MD, interim dean, who servedas one of the moderators of the Marchconference. “Our study of stem cellsand their use in therapies and treatmentswill help us improve the healthof Qataris and others around the world.This forum and our research demonstrateclearly that there is a renaissancein science taking place in Qatar.”Stem cell research is already underwayat WCMC-Q in the laboratoryof Arash Rafii Tabrizi, MD, PhD, assistantprofessor of genetic medicinein obstetrics and gynecology. He isworking with embryonic stem celllines from the Ansary Stem Cell Centerfor Regenerative Medicine at WeillCornell Medical College in New York.WCMC-Q Stem Cell Research“We have four different cell linesand they are growing well. As we developthese cells into hematopoetic orblood forming cells, we want to studytheir attraction with the endothelium,the layer of cells that line the interiorsurface of blood vessels. Our goal is tolearn how the stem cells interact andisolate the chemical signals that triggertheir expansion and differentiation.”Dr. Rafii Tabrizi also is workingwith ovarian and breast cancer cellsto understand how cancer cells acquirechemoresistance.For Fayez Safadi, PhD, adjunctassistant professor of cell and developmentalbiology at WCMC-Q, stemcells may ultimately be harnessed tohelp build new bone for those sufferingfrom osteoporosis and arthritisand other musculoskeletal disorders.Safadi recently received a five-year,$1.25 million grant from the NationalInstitutes of Health in the UnitedStates to continue his research on theregulatory mechanisms of bone celldevelopment, differentiation andfunction in normal and diseased boneand cartilage. Several years ago, hediscovered a gene named osteoactivinthat appears to activate bone growth.While he continues to study the geneand its role in osteoblast differentiationand bone formation, he plans to workwith stem cells and try to harness theirability to differentiate into bone cellsand promote bone growth.Making the ConnectionsTo ensure that WCMC-Q’s stem cellresearch is connected firmly to internationalscience and health policy, QatarFoundation formed a partnership with4 Qatar Chronicle

News from WCMC-Qthe James Baker III Institute forPublic Policy at Rice Universityin the US. Together withWCMC-Q, they sponsoredthe international stem cellconference as part of the effortto bring together key researchers,ethicists, policymakers,and business leaders.“The partnership helpsbridge the gap between theoryand practice and createsan international dialog that isessential for advancing scientificresearch,” said Edward P.Djerejian, a founding directorof the James Baker Institutefor Public Policy and a formerUS diplomat familiar with theMiddle East.Besides an overview ofcurrent research on stem cellsby Nobel Laureate Sir MartinEvans, director of the Schoolof Biosciences and professorof mammalian genetics, CardiffUniversity, and GünterBlobel, director of the Laboratoryof Cell Biology atRockefeller University in theUS, conference participantsdiscussed opportunities forfuture research and the moral,ethical and cultural implicationsof stem cell research.Another Research MilestoneThe stem cell workshop coincidedwith another major milestone in thedevelopment of Qatar’s research infrastructure— the opening of QatarScience and Technology Park adjacentto Education City. The 11-acre,$800 million site, provides a platformfor academicians, researchers, andindustry to develop and commercializenew technologies emanating fromthe research programs at the nearbyuniversities and others around theworld. (See story on page 10.)“The leadership by the governmentSpeakers at the Qatar Stem Cell Workshop on Science & Policy, clockwise from top left: StephenMinger, King’s College London; Fathy Saoud, Qatar Foundation; Irving Weissman, Stanford Institutefor Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine; and Margaret Elizabeth Ross, Weill CornellMedical College.of Qatar is visionary,” said KhaledMachaca, PhD, associate dean for basicscience research at WCMC-Q andprofessor of physiology and biophysics.“Education City demonstrates itscommitment to building a world-classeducational and research infrastructure.With QSTP, the governmentprovides a forum for the applicationand commercialization of research.“We are a small country, whichmakes it possible for everyone to worktogether and to make powerful connections,”said Machaca, who is workingclosely with Dr. Sheikh to implementWCMC-Q’s research program andwith Qatar Foundation to build a vibrantbiomedical research communityand a world-class research program.“Qatar’s commitment to research,education, science and technology isdemonstrated by the dedication of2.8 percent of its gross national productto research programs,” said FathySaoud, PhD, president of Qatar Foundation.“We are creating a researchlandscape that consists of both basicand applied research with our universitypartners, with industry andwith centers of excellence around theworld. We are opening our doors, ourhands and our hearts to internationalcollaboration.”—Kristina GoodnoughSpring 2009 5

WCMC-Q Student Authors Published in New CollectionAnew book, Qira’at: Readingsfrom the Students of Weill CornellMedical College in Qatar,2004-2008 compiles the best essays bystudents from the last four years.The essays were selected by competition.Of more than 40 submissions,27 were selected for publication, andprizes awarded to the top three.WCMC-Q writing faculty chose10 finalists, and writing faculty fromCornell University in Ithaca determinedthe winners.“Rieux: A Willing Victim of Abstraction”by Tasnim Khalife took firstplace for being, in the judges’ words,“the most nuanced and elegant of theten semifinalist essays” and “an exemplarywork of literary criticism.”“Gulf Research: Stem Cell Research”by Marwa Saleh took secondplace, while third place went toAnayah Sarkar for “Adolescent Ethics,”an essay based on actual eventsfrom her clinical training.“The Psychoanalytical Theory: IsWCMC-Q student authors at the ceremony celebrating the release of Qira’at, ananthology of their essays.it relevant today?” by Samarpit Raireceived Honorable Mention — acategory specifically created by thejudges to recognize the high qualityof his work.“This process provides valuableadvanced training for writing futurescientific research papers, presentations,and notes in professionalnewsletters,” said Alan Weber, PhD,assistant professor of writing anddriving force behind the book.A reading and award ceremony washeld to celebrate the release of the anthologyand honor the contest winners.Qira’at is now available for purchase bythe general public at select Doha bookstores.Profits from the sales of Qira’atwill go to the Qatar National CancerSociety, an organization that campaignsto raise awareness of and funds for cancereducation and research.A New Tradition On The BooksMay this gift of a textbookabout the beginnings of humanlife inspire and teachyou in our shared disciplineof medicine.These words, inscribedby authorRebecca Baergen,MD in the front pages ofher book helped inauguratea new tradition,the Faculty Textbook &Monograph Collectionin the Distributed eLibraryReading Room.To build the new collection, residentand visiting faculty are invitedto donate copies of books they haveauthored or edited, or in which6 Qatar ChronicleRebecca Baergen signs a copy of her textbook for the collection in theDistributed eLibrary Reading Room.they have authored a chapter. Thesection will also contain books detailingthe history of WCMC-Q.The collection was the brainchildof Powers Peterson, MD, acting as-sociate dean for basicscience curriculum, withthe cooperation of theDeLib staff. Her intent isto inspire students withthe literary and academicachievements oftheir instructors, to helpthose faculty memberslead by example.“We want students tosee the names of peoplewhose educational activitiesinclude writing— physicians and scientiststhey actually know and who havecontributed to their education here.”Baergen, professor of clinical pathologyand laboratory medicine atWCMC in New York, donated a copy

Shaping Medicine’s Future LeadersWhen you hear the word“leader,” you may think ofa head of state stirring upthe masses with a campaign promiseor speech. You may also think “not me,I hate the spotlight.” This past January,pre-medical students at WCMC-Qsigned a contract to discover the leaderwithin themselves. The activities theysigned up for — all part of a six-dayLeadershape workshop — had little todo with speech giving or rally cries.“Leadership doesn’t mean you’re infront. You can lead in your own way.Some may take over at some point butthat doesn’t mean they’re the leader, itjust means they’re the loudest,” saidEric Fry, director of student affairs atWCMC-Q and cluster facilitator forthis year’s Leadershape workshop.Selected by essay applications,17 WCMC-Q students joined othersfrom universities throughout EducationCity for the workshop, whichtook place at Al Khor beach resort.They were not allowed to bring laptops,and text messaging time wasstrictly limited to breaks.The participants were randomlydivided into clusters — teams of 10that worked together and encouragedone another through the rest ofthe workshop. For most students, Frysaid, being a part of the family groupwas the highlight of the workshop asit allowed them to do a lot of interpersonalwork.“It’s like magic, what we felt there.So when I feel worn out from workLeadershape participants take a break from activities. Clockwise from left: Mohsen Ahmed;Eric Fry, director of Student Affairs; Afaf Osman; Mais Al-Kawaz, Zaid Hague, Tarek Elshazly,Abdulhadi Al Saei, Haneen A. Mohamhd, Rama AlBuz, Rofyda Marmar; Nour Barakat;Deena Wafadari; Abeer Al Majali; Arunima Bera; and Sundus Sardar.and stress, I look through the Leadershapeprogram binder and it makesme feel happy again because we hadlots of good memories there,” saidHaneen Mohamhd.Each day, students exploredthemes such as community, identity,and power. Related activities helpedthem develop a deeper sense of whatit means to be a leader.“The lessons are stuck in my mind,because it wasn’t lectures. It was‘learn by doing,’” said Abdulhadi AlSaei, Leadershape participant andWCMC-Q student.For WCMC-Q students in particular,Leadershape gave them the chanceto see themselves as leaders in the fieldof medicine. “It’s actually a life-definingexperience because it teaches younothing is impossible. You can haveyour goals and dreams and know howto achieve them,” Mohamhd said.Perhaps the most important lessonof all for the students was that leadershipinvolves both those who seem tofollow and those who seem to lead. Aself-assessment test helped studentsuncover their own leadership typeand the related strengths and challenges.Nour Barakat, Leadershapeparticipant and WCMC-Q student,discovered that she has a tendency tobe dominant and learned that thereare ways to manage the trait to be amore effective leader.“I learned that when I sit and listento others’ opinions, it gives a betterresult in the end,” she said.—Emily AlpA New Tradition On The Books (continued from page 6)of her textbook, Manual of Benirschkeand Kaufmann’s Pathology of the HumanPlacenta while at WCMC-Q asvisiting faculty in the Basis of Diseasecourse. A book signing was heldin the Reading Room to celebrate thelaunch of the collection.Other contributing visiting facultymembers include WCMCclinical professor of medicine PaulMiskovitz, MD; and Cornell Universitypsychology professor James B.Maas, MD, PhD.WCMC-Q faculty members whohave also contributed to the collectioninclude professor of pediatrics and ofgenetic medicine Ahmad Teebi, MB-BCh, senior lecturer in writing PeterFortunato, MFA, and associate deanfor premedical education MichaelJohnson, PhD.Spring 2009 7

Fall Highlight: the Student Research ForumWeeks of research culminate in oral and poster presentations during the Medical Student Research Forum.Student research took the spotlight at the fifthAnnual Medical Student Research Forum onNovember 11, where WCMC-Q medical studentsonce again demonstrated their expertise inresearch activities.In a series of oral and poster presentations, the studentsdiscussed their summer research projects investigatingsuch areas as the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, how tumorsresist radiation therapy, whether certain proteinsinhibit the spread of breast cancer cells, and more.The research forum remains a highlight of the fall semester.This year, prizes were awarded for the first time tothe top two presenters in each category.A total of 30 WCMC-Q students competed for andwere awarded summer research fellowships in 2008,compared to 20 students the previous year.The majority of the awardees traveled to the US towork with leading researchers in the labs of WCMC inNew York and Cornell University in Ithaca. A handfulof the students performed their research at WCMC-Q,taking advantage of its developing facilities and the expertiseof the resident faculty.Mohammed Hamza Shah and Mouayyad Zaza bothchose to do their summer research locally in Qatar. Theirproject in the laboratory of Khaled Machaca, PhD, associatedean for basic science research, aims to betterunderstand how calcium is regulated during oocytematuration, which could have practical uses in in vitrofertilization and the treatment of female infertility.Machaca believes the critical thinking and problemsolving skills students get from research projects broadentheir perspective, ultimately helping them become better2008 Medical Student Research Forum Presentation WinnersOral PresentationsFarah Ali SiamExploring the Functionality of a Meiosis-Specific Cre inTransgenic MiceFaculty Sponsor: Dr. Paula Cohen, Veterinary ResearchTower – Cornell UniversityMohamed Al-KazazNew Therapeutic Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease: Blockingthe Amyloidgenic Pathway Using the Catalytic Site if Pin1Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Linda Nicholson, associate professorof molecular biology and genetics, CornellUniversityPoster PresentationsKarima Becetti and Sumeja ZahirovicDiabetes SNPs in QatarFaculty Sponsor: Dr. Ronald Crystal, chairman ofthe Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill CornellMedical CollegeShady NakhlaEffects of VEGF on placental morphology and overall fetalhealth in a mouse model of pre-eclampsia, BPH/5Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Robin Davisson, professor of celland developmental biology at Weill Cornell MedicalCollege and professor of molecular physiology at CornellUniversity College of Veterinary Medicine8 Qatar Chronicle

Farah Siam, left. and Mohamed Al-Kazaz, members of the class of 2012, discuss their research projects at the research forum.physicians. “It improves their understanding of the verybasic science that underlies all of medicine,” he said.Dr. Javaid Sheikh, interim dean and vice dean for research,described the Research Forum as “one facet ofWCMC-Q’s overall strategy to build a biomedical researchculture and infrastructure in Qatar.”WCMC-Q’s research program, developed in partnershipwith Qatar Foundation, aims to create a biomedicalresearch infrastructure in Qatar and a scientific and technicalworkforce for the benefit of the region at large. Incooperation with partners in the region, the programsupports high quality research in the fields of geneticand molecular medicine, women’s and children’s health,gene therapy, stem cells, and vaccine development.Premed Researchers Head to Labs in BelfastUndergraduate researchers at Weill CornellMedical College in Qatar have been awardedjust over £16,000 — more than $24,000 — fromthe United Kingdom. The money, in the form of aPrime Minister’s Initiative for International Education(PMI2) grant, will fund the travel to and accommodationsin Belfast, Ireland, for premedical students, whowill conduct research that will offer a bigger picture ofthe work they’ve been doing.Students will travel over the two years that the grantis distributed, and pre-medical student Mason Al Nouriwill be the first to go. Al Nouri is working on a projectunder the guidance of Michael Pungente, PhD, chemistryprofessor and researcher at WCMC-Q.“Traveling to labs abroad helps enrich the students’perception toward research by giving them a breadthof practical research experience,” Pungente said. “It’sfunding opportunities like PMI2 that really allow thisexchange of vital information to flow.”Pungente collaborates directly with WilliamGoldring, PhD, an organic chemistry professor andresearcher at Queen’s University in Belfast. They areworking on a project to synthesize and characterizenovel compounds used in non-viral methods ofinserting genetic material into cells for research andtherapeutic purposes.Under the guidance of Pungente, Al Nouri and twoother WCMC-Q premed students have been workingwith novel compounds produced by Goldring’s lab togain insights into how they will function. This workis supported by an Undergraduate Research ExperienceProgram grant from Qatar Foundation. Al Nouriis traveling to Belfast to learn how those compoundswere synthesized and to gain a more complete idea ofthe research underway.“This is a wonderful experience for Mason to geta sense of the entire project, all the way from synthesizingthese compounds to their biophysicalcharacterization,” Pungente said.Al Nouri’s summer study session in Belfast will lastabout six weeks and he hopes it will be productive. Hesaid he is excited about the work coming up, a feelingthat may carry over long term.“I hope to gain experience in the diverse field ofgene therapy using non-viral methods, which will behelpful to my research experience as a whole. I maycontinue this research further after completing mystudies,” Al Nouri said.Spring 2009 9

News ABOUT WCMC-Q PARTNERSQSTP Provides Home for Applied ResearchQatar Science and Technology Park, an 11-acresite of office and laboratory space, was officiallyopened this spring, providing fertileground for research and technology developed at nearbyWCMC-Q, which recently launched its biomedicalresearch program.QSTP will be connected to WCMC-Q and other universitiesin Education City by a tunnel for quick and easyaccess back and forth. The site already is home to severalmultinational corporations with expertise in informationtechnology, hydrocarbons and the environment. Incubatorspace for start up companies also is available in thepark, which is a partnership between Qatar Foundationand 21 major companies who have invested more than$850 million in the project.The science and technology park will serve as “an incubatorof creativity and innovation, a safe haven for free scientificresearch, a magnet for national and international expertise,and a space where cultures and ethnicities integrate,” saidHis Highness the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin KhalifaAl-Thani at the ceremony inaugurating QSTP before morethan 12,200 leaders of science, business and governmentfrom Qatar and around the world.“As our research matures and expands, our scientistswill have access to people and companies nearby to helptranslate their work into useable therapies and products,”said Khaled Machaca, PhD, professor of physiology andbiophysics and associate dean for basic science research.The WCMC-Q biomedical research program concentrateson genetic and molecular medicine with a focuson personalized medicine, gene therapy for cancer andstem cell research, and a women’s and children’s healthprogram with a focus on maternal/fetal medicine andneurogenetic disorders of the newborn.As a free-trade zone, QSTP makes it easy for companiesto establish a 100 percent foreign-owned firm, incorporateas a local company or operate as a branch of a foreign company.They can trade without a local agent and sponsor orhire expatriate employees.QSTP is an integral part of Qatar’s plan to transformitself, through sustainable development, into one of theworld’s most advanced countries within two decades.Cancer Expert Named Chief Research Advisor for SidraDavid Kerr, CBE, MA, MD, a cancer expert fromOxford University in the UK, has been namedchief research advisor for Sidra Medical and ResearchCenter, which will be a major academic, researchand clinical partner with WCMC-Q.Dr. Kerr has an international reputation for treatmentof and research into colorectal cancer and has establisheda series of international collaborations to improve the deliveryof cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa.Biomedical research will be a major priority for SidraMedical and Research Center when it opens in 2012. The$8 billion facility will house a 412-bed hospital along withstate-of-the-art research and information technology resources.“Sidra will be one of the most advanced hospitalsin the region,” said Kerr. “There is a fantastic vision in Qatarto build a leading academic medical center and makea dramatic difference in the health of the people here andaround the world.”Prior to his appointment, Kerr was Rhodes Professorof Clinical Pharmacology and Cancer Therapeutics atOxford. He made a significant contribution to reformingthe National Health System in the UK and was recentlyappointed president-elect of the European Society ofMedical Oncology.10 Qatar Chronicle

A UnifiedVision forArab HealthNews ABOUT WCMC-Q PARTNERSWCMC-Q and six otherQatar healthcareinstitutions joinedthe Qatar Ministry of Health atthe Arab Health Exhibition andCongress in Dubai to present aunified vision of health care ina single display space of nearly4,300 square feet, among the largestat the event.Under the theme “Qatar: Leadingthe Change,” the group shared The Qatar Pavilion stand at the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress in Dubai.the Qatar Pavilion stand, intricately designed in the ply walking across the pavilion to Hamad.”double-helix shape of a DNA molecule to represent the Collaborations such as this are indicative of WCMC-Q’smodernity of Qatar and its place in the 21st century health role in the Qatar medical community, working closelycare community. In addition to WCMC-Q, exhibitors were with its partners the Ministry of Health and HMC, QatarFoundation entities such as QSTP, and other localHamad Medical Corporation, Aspetar, Qatar UniversityCollege of Pharmacy, College of the North Atlantic universities. These relationships are key to furthering thein Qatar, University of Calgary Qatar, the Qatar Diabetes mission of providing quality patient care, developing theAssociation and Qatar Science and Technology Park. culture of biomedical research in Qatar, and securing the“It was good to have all the Qatar health care institutionsthere because we are all connected,” said fourth Arab Health is the region’s largest and most prestigiousbest opportunities for clinical student education.year medical student Fouad Otaki, who volunteered to event for healthcare manufacturers, wholesalers, dealersrepresent the student body at the pavilion. “If people and distributors in the Middle East, as well as some of theasking about the WCMC-Q program also had questions most important and influential decision-makers in the Arababout the HMC training, they could follow up by sim-world. It attracts more than 50,000 visitors each year.WCMC-Q Students Gain Access toWorld Class Orthopedic Clinical FacilitiesMedical students at WCMC-Q have gainedgreater access to world-class clinical facilitiesfor training in primary care, particularly inthe area of musculoskeletal injuries and diseases, througha new agreement with ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopedic andSports Medicine Hospital.The agreement, which was signed earlier this year,makes the ASPETAR facilities available as a training sitefor students during their primary care clinical rotation andprovides eligible ASPETAR teaching staff with WCMC-Qfaculty appointments. ASPETAR physicians also will gainaccess to the WCMC-Q Distributed eLibrary, an electronicrepository of more than 1,600 publications and periodicals.Aspetar is a 50-bed orthopedic and sports medicinefacility located within the Aspire Zone campus in Doha.(continued on page 22)Javaid Sheikh, Antonio Gotto and Mohammed GA Al Maadheed,left to right, celebrate the agreement that makes ASPETAR facilitiesavailable to WCMC-Q students during their primary care training.Spring 2009 11

Researchers Unlock GeneAs equipment for the new hightechgenomics laboratory wasbeing delivered and installed, directorJoel Malek realized he needed a proofof concept project, something to establishand validate the capabilities of the lab.Tackling the sequence of the date palm genomeseemed like a good idea. “There were acouple of reasons,” said Malek. “The genomewas believed to be about 250 million base pairs, which issmall for a plant genome; and the information would bevery relevant for this part of the world where date palmsplay a significant role in agriculture and the economy.”So Malek and his team of laboratory assistants — all newgraduates of the biomedical science research program atQatar University — set to work.Less than two months later, they managed to generatea draft DNA sequence of the date palm genome. “We increasedthe publicly available knowledge of the date palmgene space nearly 1,000 fold using the approach that takesadvantage of the lower repetitive DNA in the date palmgene regions,” said Malek. The genome contained about500 million base pairs, twice the size they anticipated.Their success has tremendous significance forWCMC-Q. “It clearly demonstrates the feasibility andsuccess of our advanced genomics technologies in theKhaled Machaca, left, and Joel Malekin the genomics laboratory.region and represents a milestone in the effort to establishQatar and Weill Cornell as a regional research centerof excellence,” said Khaled Machaca, PhD, professor ofphysiology and biophysics and associate dean for basicscience research. “We now are confident we can begin toapply genomics technology to a better understanding ofbiomedical problems.”Next Generation Sequencing ApproachTo produce the draft map, the WCMC-Q researchersused a next generation sequencing approach,which Malek said offers data quality between that ofthe expressed sequence tag (EST) method and the traditionalwhole-genome mapping method. “We wereable to develop a relatively unbiased view of the genespace of the entire date palm plant at a fraction ofthe cost and in a much shorter period of time.” Thequality of their work is comparable to the versionsof other plant draft sequences such as the rice andpapaya genomes, according to Malek.For laboratory assistant Eman Al-Dous, the project wasa wonderful learning experience. “Everything we did, everystep, is very carefully documented, not only for us,but also for those who might want to replicate our work.It was really exciting to think that we were establishing anew protocol.”Al-Dous and research assistantsEman Al-Azwani, Yasmeen Salamehand Moneera Al-Jaber were born andraised in Qatar and came to their positionsat WCMC-Q after graduatingfrom Qatar University. The sequencingproject helped train them on the equipmentand in laboratory procedures.“Their ability to make a scientific contributionof this magnitude in such ashort time is a tremendous achievement,”said Malek.“This accomplishment is tremendousvalidation for the vision of HisHighness the Emir Sheikh Hamadbin Khalifa Al-Thani and Her HighnessSheikha Mozah bint Nasser AlMissned and their commitment tobuilding a knowledge based society inQatar,” said Machaca. “The researchwas made possible by the leadershipand investment of Qatar Foundation,12 Qatar Chronicle

tic Secrets of Date PalmKhaled Machaca, right, in the genomics lab with,from left, Yasmeen Salameh, Eman Al-Azwani,Eman Al-Dous, Moneera Al-Jaber, and Joel Malek.which is building a robust research infrastructure in Qatar.It is exciting to see the ‘fruits’ of the commitment relativelyearly on. We are very excited about the great potential forexceptional discoveries in the future with the continuedsupport of Qatar Foundation.”For the sequencing work, Malek used DNA from theKhalas date, one of the most popular varieties of the fruit.Date Palm Crucial to RegionDate palm trees play a significant role in farmingthroughout the Middle East, Northern Africa andPakistan; and they are an important element in the developmentof sustainable agriculture in many droughtand saline-affected regions of the world.Currently, commercial growers propagate date palmtrees for fruit production vegetatively, using offshoots ortissue culture to maintain fruit quality. Because vegetativepropagation allows the accumulation of mutations in thegenome over time, the plant tends to lose vigor and becomemore susceptible to disease, said Machaca.Seed propagation or sexual propagation avoids thatproblem, but female seeds are difficult to identify untilthe trees start to bear fruit, which takes three to five years.Genomic information would make it possible to identifyfemale seeds at an early stage and would make sexualpropagation of the trees much more viable.Additionally, the genome yields information about theenzymes, which control traits such as the sweetness of thefruit and the rate of ripening “The more we understandthe genes and their functions, the closer we come to beingable to manipulate the genome to control characteristicslike resistance to disease and fruit quality,” said Machaca.Malek will publish the final, annotated version of thedate palm genome, including data analysis and interpretation.In the meantime, he is making the date palm genomeavailable on WCMC-Q’s website (http://qatar-weill.cornell.edu/research/datepalmGenome/index.html)as aresource for others interested in date palm genetics. “Wehope our research provides a starting point for researchersdoing genetic studies of date palm.”Spring 2009 13

Members of the Class of 2009celebrate Match Day.Another Great MatchFor the second year in a row, Match Day was a timeof celebration for Weill Cornell Medical College inQatar and its students, as the Class of 2009 learnedwhere they would spend their next years of training.Following the tradition set last year by WCMC-Q’sfirst class of physicians, most members of the Class of2009 matched with major hospitals in the United Statesfor their residency training. Four students will go to NewYork Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia andCornell, which is sixth in the nation out of more than 5,000hospitals ranked by U.S. News and World Report magazine.Another student will go to Cleveland Clinic in Ohio,which is ranked fourth in the nation, and three will goto Virginia Commonwealth University Health System,which also is ranked among the major hospitals in the US.One student will go to Methodist Hospital in Houston,Texas; another will go to NY Hospital Medical Centerin Queens, NY; and another will go to the University ofConnecticut Health Center. Three students will remain inQatar to do their residency training with Hamad MedicalCorporation. Two students will do a year of research inthe United States before joining a residency program.“Way to go,” said Dr. Javaid Sheikh, interim dean.He advised the students to stay connected with eachother and with faculty members who served as mentors.“As you intensify your focus, you will learn moreand more about less and less,” said Dr. Sheikh. “Thereis a risk of becoming so focused and specialized thatyou lose touch with those around you. Ultimately, thegoal is to combine humanity and science. Keep yourhumanity intact, and you will become better doctors.Congratulations.”Assignments are made by a nonprofit organization,the National Resident Matching Program. Students submittheir choices and the participating hospitals rank theirpreferred resident candidates. Sophisticated software doesthe matching, with the goal of not only creating a good fitfor the student, but for the overall program as well.“I can’t believe it! All these years of hard work havefinally paid off,” exclaimed Yasir Tarabichi who matchedat Cleveland Clinic for a residency in internal medicine.“Everything feels completely surreal. I could hardly14 Qatar Chronicle

Match Day Results Class of 2009Student Program Location SpecialtyAhmed, Marwa NYP Hospital-Columbia & Cornell-NY US PM&RAl Barwani, Aalia University of Connecticut Health Center US Family MedicineAl Muhannadi, Muneera Hamad Medical Corporation Qatar Internal MedicineAmmous, Zineb Methodist Hospital-Houston-TX US Surgery-PrelimDeb Roy, Manisha NY Hospital Medical Center Queens US Internal MedicineEl Sherif, Amira NYP Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center-NY US PediatricsFarooq, Imran Virginia Commonwealth University Health System US Internal MedicineHaddad, Heba Virginia Commonwealth University Health System US Internal MedicineHassan, Sara Hamad Medical Corporation Qatar Pediatric SurgeryNemati Shafaee, Maryam NYP Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center-NY US Internal MedicineSaad, Ali NYP Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center-NY US NeurologySiddique, Faizah Virginia Commonwealth University Health System US Internal MedicineSuleiman, Noor Hamad Medical Corporation Qatar Internal MedicineTarabichi, Yasir Cleveland Clinic Foundation-OH US Internal MedicineZaki Abdel Malak, Nancy NYP Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center-NY US Psychiatryimagine this day when I started medical school,” saidManisha Deb Roy, who matched at New York HospitalMedical Center in Queens, NY, for an internal medicineresidency. “I’m grateful to the faculty at WCMC-Q whomade this day possible, and I am especially grateful to myparents for their support.”Ali Saad, who matched at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospitalof Weill Cornell Medical College in New York fora residency in neurology, said of his medical school experience,“Above all else I thank my class for things thatcannot be conveyed through words. They were the greatestpart of my experience at WCMC-Q.”WCMC-Q Students Compete in World Debate ChampionshipThe WCMC-Q Debating Society and teams fromfour other Qatar colleges competed in the 29thWorld Universities Debating Championships atUniversity College Cork in Ireland, the first time MiddleEastern universities joined the competition.With teams from more than 40 countries, the championshipsare billed as the largest academic event in the world.“There was a great energy to the event and a realsense of it being organized by people who love debatingfor people who love debating,” said Rodney Sharkey,PhD, assistant professor of writing who coached thestudents for the eight-day competition. That love of debatingis flourishing in Qatar, from Qatar Foundation’sDoha Debates to the successful QatarDebate program inschools and universities throughout the country. Thatprogram culminated last year in the National Universities’Debating Competition, where WCMC-Q studentstook top honors.Mirroring their success in the nationals, the WCMC-Qteams overall fared best of the Qatar contingent at theworlds. Team A, Marwa Saleh and Rahima Sanya, rankedhighest among the Middle-East participants. AnasAbou-Ismail and Abdullah Firoze also competed at theMembers of the WCMC-Q debate team, left, stand with coachesSam Neill, wearing the red scarf, and Rodney Sharkey and withsome members of the Cornell University debating team, right,during the World Universities Debating Championships in Ireland.tournament. The WCMC-Q team also met their debatingcounterparts from Cornell in Ithaca, and discussed establishingan annual debate between the two campuses.Spring 2009 15

WCMC-Q Research ProjectExamines Women’s Health IssueOne of the first graduates of Weill Cornell MedicalCollege in Qatar has published a researchstudy on women’s health in a leading internationaljournal.Research on the rate of episiotomy in a local women’shospital by Dr. Amila Husic, a graduate of WCMC-Q’s inauguralclass of 2008, was published in the InternationalJournal of Gynecology and Obstetrics.Episiotomy, a surgical procedure to enlarge the openingof the vagina during labor, has been performed traditionallyto prevent tearing during childbirth, to speed updelivery and to protect against future incontinence andpelvic relaxation. While the rate varies widely around theworld, anywhere from 8 to 95 percent, the World HealthOrganization has begun calling for a rate of 10 percent.Dr. Husic found that episiotomy was performed onmore than 95 percent of women giving birth to their firstbabies at Hamad Medical Corporation’s Women’s Hospitalin Doha, Qatar, between January and March 2008.The overall rate of episiotomy was 60 percent during thattime, she found.The idea for the research study came to Dr. Husic duringher third year of the medical program, after finishingher obstetrics and gynecology rotation. “I was curiousabout episiotomy because my experience in Qatar wasdifferent from my readings in books and papers,” saidDr. Husic, who is currently doing a general surgery residencyat the Lahey Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts, in theUnited States.With a $10,000 grant from the Undergraduate ResearchExperience Program (UREP), Dr. Husic got theresearch project approved by the Department of Gynecologyand Obstetrics and then by HMC General Hospital.After obtaining Internal Review Board approval for theproposal, Dr. Husic started collecting data in early 2008with help from third-year medical students doing theirob/gyn rotations. She submitted the paper to the InternationalJournal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, where it waspublished in November, 2008.Dr. Husic’s research is one of 99 student projects fund-Dr. Amila Husiced through the UREP, a program established in 2006 byQatar National Research Fund to provide research opportunitiesto students in Education City and QatarUniversity. Each year, Qatar dedicates about 2.8 percentof its gross domestic product, or $1.5 billion, to supportresearch at all levels, from undergraduates to professionals,to diversify the country’s economy and build aknowledge-based society.“It’s encouraging to see a research paper published inan international journal by one of our alumni based onwork performed while she was a medical student,” saidDr. Javaid Sheikh, interim dean for WCMC-Q. “It’s animportant effort by one of our students to stimulate moreresearch on women’s health and ways we can work toimprove it. This is also a great example of UREP supportfor the establishment of a biomedical research culture inthe country.”—Kristina Goodnough“It’s encouraging to see a research paper in an international journal by one of our alumnibased on work performed while she was a medical student. It’s an important effort by oneof our students to stimulate more research on women’s health and ways we can work toimprove it.” — Javaid Sheikh16 Qatar Chronicle

Sustainable Development in Qatar“Achievable,” Says Renee RicherQatar is growing at a frenetic pace. Life expectancyand standard of living are on the rise. Thecountry’s population increased an estimated 79percent between 2006 and 2008, its annual GDP growthrate averages over 18 percent, and building constructionand road expansion are everywhere.But is economic development in Qatar at the expenseof the social well-being of the population? And how canQatar balance today’s growth against the resources availableto future generations?Renee Richer, PhD, assistant professor of biology, addressedthose and other issues in a chapter on sustainabledevelopment in Qatar’s “Second National Human DevelopmentReport.”The authors of the report, prepared under the guidanceof the Qatar General Secretariat for Development Planning,recently presented its content in a national seminarentitled, “Achieving the Environmental DevelopmentOutcomes of the Qatar National Vision 2030.” The seminarallowed the public to hear and comment on the report,and the results of that open discussion are to be incorporatedin the report’s findings.“Countries promoting stricter environmental standards have been ableto capture a market share in technologies meeting those standards.”— Renee RicherWith a majority of Qatar’s economy based on naturalcapital — in this case, non-renewable naturalresources — Richer asserts that the country’s leadershipmust maintain overall capital levels by investing profitsfrom these natural resources into other forms. Theseinclude durable capital such as physical infrastructure,human capital through its citizens’ education and skills,as well as financial capital.“Qatar can approach sustainability if it invests theprofits wisely,” she said. There are financial incentives tosustainability, and she believes improved efficiencies canalso improve the bottom line.“Countries promoting stricter environmental standardshave been able to capture a market share in technologiesmeeting those standards,” she added.Success, Richer said, will require stakeholder engagementand transparency, an improved and integrated setof indicators, and the creation and implementation of acomprehensive development plan.But Richer warned that time is of the essence. Theestablishment of the regulatory framework to guidedevelopment already lags dangerously behind thepace of growth.The good news: “Qatar is a relatively small country withbold and forward-thinking leadership that has the abilityto make and implement these decisions. Qatar is really in aunique situation to make it happen.”Richer came to the attention of the GSDP through thereputation of her 2008 paper, “Conservation in Qatar:Impacts of Increasing Industrialization.” Her backgroundpaper and input contributed to the productionof the HDR.This and subsequent HDRs will inform the nationalstrategy to realize the Qatar National Vision — a statementof strategic goals Qatar hopes to achieve by theyear 2030, encompassing four “pillars” of development:human, social, economic and environmental.—Chris GibbonsSpring 2009 17

Faculty NewsNew arrivals to the WCMC-Q facultyHassan Al-Amin has joined WCMC-Qas Visiting Associate Professor of PsychiatryDr. Al-Amin received hisMD from the AmericanUniversity of Beirut and hasbeen a faculty member at AUB since1997. He has been an active teachersince joining the AUB, involved inteaching psychopathology, ethicsand the psychiatry rotation for thefamily medicine department aswell as supervision of pharmacystudents from Lebanese AmericanUniversity.Dr. Al-Amin has served on anumber of committees and boardsincluding the Med II and Med IIIteaching committees, the Pharmacyand Therapeutic Committee, theAmbulatory Services Committee,and the committee to help internallydisplaced people in Lebanon.His current research interests includeneurobiology of pain andschizophrenia and neuropsychopharmacology. He has served asprincipal investigator on a numberof funded research projects.Dr. Hassan Al-AminThurayya Arayssi has joined WCMC-Qas Visiting Associate Professor of MedicineDr. Arayssi received her MDfrom the American Universityof Beirut and has beena faculty member at AUB since 1997.She has been an active teacher sincejoining the American University ofBeirut, involved in teaching 2nd,3rd and 4th year medical students,residents and fellows with extensiveefforts in lectures in biochemistry, epidemiology,physical diagnosis, andintroduction to medicine.In 2006, she was appointed assistantdean for graduate medicaleducation specifically to work on theorganization of the residency programsat AUB, an effort that led totheir meeting the full criteria of theAccreditation Council on GraduateMedical Education, which accreditspost-MD medical training programsin the United States. In addition shehas served on a number of committeesand boards, ranging from theDean’s Medical Affairs Committee toGraduate Medical Education Committeeto the Research Committee,Department of Internal Medicine.Dr. Arayssi’s current research interestsfocus on rheumatoid arthritis forwhich she has received funding forgrants as the principal investigator.She has also served as external reviewerfor half a dozen journals.Dr. Thurayya Arayssi18 Qatar Chronicle

Biology lecturer Christopher Ogden shares his interest in science at WCMC-Q’s largest ever outreach program for high school students.Inquiring Minds — Unlimited Potential“This event highlights our commitment to fostering the talents of Qatar’s young students.They are the doctors and researchers of tomorrow who will ensure quality patient care andadvance biomedical research for the country and the region.”— Javaid SheikhDean Emeritus Daniel Alonso welcomes students and theirparents to Medicine Unlimited.Doha high school students flocked to the IntercontinentalHotel this fall for an opportunity to test theirskills as potential doctors and scientists and learnwhether a career in health care might be in their future.Medical mannequins allowed them to try out a rangeof medical procedures, from providing CPR to examiningthe inner workings of the ear and eye. A virtual microscopeprovided a view into the unseen world of viruses andbacteria. Science tables offered opportunities to exploreanatomy, physics, chemistry, biology, neurology, surgeryand transplantation, while a research table offered insightinto the fascinating field of biomedical research from geneticsand molecular biology to stem cells.It was all part of the first annual Medicine Unlimited,an event organized by WCMC-Q in partnership withHamad Medical Corporation and Qatar Diabetes Associationto raise awareness of the many career opportunitiesavailable in the health professions. With more than 540students and 200 parents in attendance, it was WCMC-Q’slargest and most ambitious outreach program ever.The students were treated to a variety of activities thatexplored the complex relationship between their bodiesand the world around them, including live experiments,hands-on simulations, quizzes, and fun demonstrations.Faculty and students from WCMC-Q as well as physiciansfrom Hamad Medical Corporation conducted manyof the activities, answered questions, and offered adviceabout being a medical student and a doctor.The attending students were highly engaged, andasked thoughtful questions of the presenters. How does20 Qatar Chronicle

A high school student, left, participates in one of the quizzes while medical student Salman Al Jerdi asks one of the questions.DNA testing work? Why does the sun leave a lingeringimage in our vision? Why shouldn’t every tumor be surgicallyremoved? Many also had questions about WCMC-Qprograms and admissions requirements.Some students came in groups organized by their highschools, accompanied by their teachers. Still others camewith their families and friends. School spirit was high:every correct quiz answer was punctuated by cheers fromclassmates; every mention of a school brought a roar ofsupport from its students.In addition to the informational and educational opportunitiesfor students, their parents benefited from freehealth screenings provided by WCMC-Q partners, includingtests for blood pressure, blood sugar, pulmonaryfunction and bone density.“This event highlights our commitment to fosteringthe talents of Qatar’s young students,” said Dr. JavaidSheikh, interim dean. “They are the doctors and researchersof tomorrow who will ensure quality patientcare and advance biomedical research for the countryand the region.”“The evening turned out to be an even greater successthan we had anticipated,” said Noha Saleh, director ofstudent recruitment. “We are already looking forward tonext year’s event.”—Chris GibbonsEncouraging Qatar’s Youth Through Outreach“Men who are occupied in the restoration of health to othermen, by the joint exertion of skill and humanity, are above allthe great of the earth. They even partake of divinity, since topreserve and renew is almost as noble as to create.”—Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer and historianIn addition to preparing local primary and secondaryschool students for the challenge of practicingmedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatarfaculty are reaching out in ever-increasing ways to helpmore of them view the medical profession as a veneratedone.“In Britain, in Europe, in North America, the ideaof wanting to become a physician is totally acceptable.Here in Qatar, it is being kindled as a novel but importantconcept,” said Dr. Mohamud Verjee, assistantprofessor of family medicine at WCMC-Q.Through increasing participation in outreach activities,WCMC-Q faculty and staff are working to makestrong, positive impressions on students across Doha.In particular, faculty members visit local high schools toprovide demonstrations and contribute to school programs;and the WCMC-Q campus welcomes groups ofstudents in a range of grades to view and experiencethe facilities, meet faculty and learn about the admissionsprocess.“We’re working very hard with a measure of successto encourage young students to think about scienceand medicine not only as a career but as an educativeprocess from the word go,” Dr. Verjee said.Through their experiences, it is hoped that studentswill be better able to understand both thedemands and the rewards of becoming a doctor. Andeven if the students don’t apply to WCMC-Q in thefuture, the larger goal of spreading the word aboutmedicine is achieved.Spring 2009 21

Rafii Tabrizi and HMC Colleagues BringLaparoscopic Technique to Ob/Gyn CareDr. Arash Rafii Tabrizi, assistantprofessor of genetic medicinein obstetrics and gynecology atWCMC-Q has performed laparoscopicsurgery to remove a tumor and lymphnodes at HMC Woman’s Hospital, a newprocedure for Qatar.Working with Dr. Afaf Al Ansari, consultantat HMC Woman’s Hospital, Dr.Rafii Tabrizi used the laparoscopic technique,also known as minimally invasivesurgery, on two different gynecologic oncologysurgeries on two different patients.Laparoscopic surgery has many advantagesfor patients. It is less invasive becausethe surgery is performed through small incisions.“Instead of a single, large incision,we use several very small incisions to inserta tiny tube with a light, a camera and a cutting device,” saidDr. Rafii Tabrizi. “Generally, the smaller incisions mean lesspain, less blood loss, and a quicker recovery for the patient.In addition, because the laparoscope images are magnifiedonto a nearby monitor, the surgeon can see greater detailthan allowed with traditional surgery.”One of the surgeries involved adnexectomy, or removalof fallopian tubes and ovaries, and omentectomy,or removal of tissue lining the abdomen, which wouldhave required an eight-inch incision. The second surgerywas pelvic lymphadenectomy, which is removal oflymph nodes.Dr. Arash Rafii Tabrizi (third from left) and colleagues in the operating room at HMCWoman’s Hospital after completing laparoscopic surgery. Left to right, Dr. Nadia AlMulla, senior specialist, Woman’s hospital; Dr. Afaf Al Ansari, consultant, Woman’s Hospital;Dr. Rafii Tabrizi; and medical student Nigel Piera, Class of 2010.“My hope is that wecan do more surgeries laparoscopicallyon a routinebasis in the future. The procedureis done commonlyelsewhere and we want tomake it the gold standardfor care in Qatar,” said Dr.Rafii Tabrizi, who trainedwith Dr. Denis Querleu whopioneered the procedure inFrance in the 1990’s.Dr. Rafii TabriziStudents Gain Access to World Class Orthopedic Clinical Facilities (continued from page 11)Built to internationally accredited standards, ASPETARis designed to treat orthopedic problems and athletic injuriesusing the latest technology and therapies. Its staffincludes internationally recognized sports medicine expertsfrom around the world.“Our agreement with ASPETAR is a testimony to ourcommitment to provide WCMC-Q students with a varietyof excellent opportunities for clinical education,”says Dr. Javaid Sheikh. “At ASPETAR, our students willhave the opportunity to directly observe the emergingfield of sports medicine with some of the most renownedphysicians in the field.”“The clinical training agreement with ASPETAR complementsthe existing affiliation agreement we have withHamad Medical Corporation,” says Antonio M. Gotto Jr.,MD, provost for medical affairs and dean of Weill CornellMedical College in New York, who signed the agreementwith Dr. Sheikh and Mohammed GA Al Maadheed, MD,PhD, director-general of ASPETAR. “It is welcome evidenceof the growing relationship between the UnitedStates and the Islamic world and helps promote understandingamong international societies.”“This agreement enhances Qatar’s position as a centerof both academic and health care excellence in theregion,” says Dr. Al Maadheed. “We are delighted towelcome WCMC-Q students for part of their clinicaltraining and we look forward to welcoming them backas physicians in the future.”22 Qatar Chronicle

Participants at the Faculty Teaching Awards program, from left to right, Gerardo Guiter, Fayez Safadi, Mohamud Verjee, Khaled Machaca,Ravinder Mamtani, Rodney Sharkey, Sheila Qureshi, Michael Johnson, Javaid Sheikh, Nady Nady-Mohamed; Syed Naqi, Leopold Streletz,Suresh Tate, Kevin Smith, Marco Ameduri, and Renee Richer.Award Winning TeachersIt’s pretty much unanimous. The great teachers maketheir lectures really interesting and really care abouttheir students.That was the verdict of the students who voted forthis year’s best teachers.Master of Ceremonies Michael Johnson, PhD, associatedean for pre-medical education, quoted from thestudents’ nomination forms as he named the winners ofthe awards. Shared characteristics for the teachers acclaimedby the students was their ability to make theirpresentations “really interesting” and their “caring”treatment for those in their classes.Winners of the 2009 Annual Faculty Teaching Awardsfollow.Foundation programSheila Qureshi, senior lecturer, chemistryRenee Richer, assistant professor, biologyPre-medical year 1Rodney Sharkey, assistant professor, writingMarco Ameduri, senior lecturer, physicsPremedical year 2Kevin Smith, associate professor, organic chemistryMarco Ameduri, senior lecturer, physics +Syed Naqi, professor, microbiology and immunology +Molecules, Genes and CellsKhaled Machaca, professor, physiologyand biophysics+ indicates a tieHuman Structure and FunctionNithila Isaac, assistant professor, anatomy in surgery +Fayez Safadi, adjunct assistant professor, cell anddevelopmental biology +Host DefensesSyed Naqi, professor, microbiology and immunologyBrain and MindLeopold Streletz, associate professor, neurologyBasis of DiseaseGerardo Guiter, assistant professor, pathology andlaboratory medicineAdvanced Biomedical ScienceRavinder Mamtani, professor, public healthMedicine, Patients & Society IRavinder Mamtani, professor, public healthMedicine Patients and Society IIMohamud Verjee, assistant professor, medicineClinical ClerkshipsNady Nady-Mohamed, assistant professor, ob/gynBakr Nour, professor, surgeryMohamud Verjee, assistant professor, medicineVisiting FacultySuresh TateEstomih MtuiRobert KimSpring 2009 23

12351 Pablo Rodriguez del Pozo, MD, JD, PhD, associateprofessor of public health, with his black and whitephotograph that won an award at this year’s CaptureLight photography competition.2 Pankit Vachhani, left, wears a blindfold, and BassemZaki provides guidance during an exercise designed tohelp students experience, briefly, life with a disability.3 Dhritiman Gurkha and Rama El Yafawi step lively onthe dance floor during International Night 2009, sponsoredby the Medical Student Executive Council-Qatar,to celebrate cultures from around the world.4 Dr. Abdul Latif Al Khal, left, director of the Departmentof Medical Education at Hamad Medical Corporation,receives congratulations from Dr. Marcellina Mian, associatedean for clinical curriculum, and Dr. Javaid Sheikh,interim dean, at Medical Education Day, which celebratesthe partnership between HMC and WCMC-Q for providingclinical training to medical students.5 Muhamed Baljevic controls the ball during a match.After an undefeated season, the team won the championshipgame and took home the trophy for the 2009Education City Soccer League.646 Students gather information about medical careersand WCMC-Q from Suha Sami, Admissions, andNada Hassen, Public Affairs, at the 2009 QatarCareer Fair.24 Qatar Chronicle

Class of 2009www.qatar-weill.cornell.edu

www.qatar-weill.cornell.eduWeill Cornell Medical College in Qatar was jointly established bythe Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Developmentand Cornell University