Doha – June 2, 2024: Since the first graduation ceremony in 2008, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) has proudly graduated 596 medical doctors who now serve patients and conduct groundbreaking research worldwide. These exceptional graduates continue to earn accolades for their remarkable contributions to research, clinical practice, and education.
Dr. Sadeer Al-Kindi (Class of 2013), an attending physician, assistant professor of medicine and radiology, co-director of the Center for Vascular Metabolic Disease, and medical director of the Cardiovascular Phenomics Core at University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, has had his work featured in prestigious journals such as JAMA Cardiology, Nature, and Current Problems in Cardiology. His research explores satellite imagery and advanced analytical tools for health assessments and resource allocation, AI-enabled calcium-omics for cardiovascular risk prediction, and racial and urban/rural disparities involving geographical proximity to cardiovascular clinical trial sites.
Recognition also goes to another Class of 2013 graduate, Dr. Ghaith Abu-Zeinah, a hematologist-oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and an instructor at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, who received the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Scholar Award in the category of Clinical Research Junior Faculty Scholars for his research in machine learning for blood diseases.
Dr. Vignesh Shanmugam (Class of 2016), a pathologist and postdoctoral research fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Boston, Massachusetts, was honored with the 2024 Damon Runyon Physician-Scientist Training Award for demonstrating exceptional promise and novel approaches to fighting cancer.
Dr. Shidin Balakrishnan (Class of 2012), a clinical research scientist at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), led a high-impact research project funded by the Qatar National Research Fund's (QNRF) National Priorities Research Program (NPRP). His work on developing pre-operative CT and intra-operative ultrasound fusion for hepatobiliary procedures earned him the 'Rising Star' award at HMC's 11th Stars of Excellence awards (SOE2024). Additionally, his project on AI-driven surgical care improvements was awarded a 3-year grant from the Qatar Research Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council. For his innovative research work, Dr. Balakrishnan also received the 'Best Paper' award at the IEEE 36th International Symposium on Computer Based Medical Systems (IEEE CBMS2023).
In recognition of his dedication to education and mentorship, Dr. Shehryar Khan (Class of 2015), WCM-Q alum and psychiatrist at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services-Grand Rapids, Michigan, was recently honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award by the 2023 graduating class at Pine Rest/Michigan State University Residency and Fellowship Programs.
Dr. Dana Al Ali (Class of 2022), a second-year resident at Sidra Medicine, won the best resident award at the institution's second Medical Education Day, designed to honor its 2023-2024 graduate residents, fellows, and medical students.
The contributions of WCM-Q alums extend beyond research and clinical practice to admirable community service initiatives. Dr. Mahruk Rizvi (Class of 2011), a critical and intensive care consultant at HMC, and her all-female team provided vital medical care to the people of Swat Valley in Pakistan during a mission with the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA). The team successfully delivered medical care to women who often feel uncomfortable seeking medical attention due to a lack of female physicians.
Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, vice dean for academic and curricular affairs at WCM-Q, said: 'At WCM-Q, we are committed to graduating the very best physician-scientists who advance patient care through innovation, research, and education. We take immense pride in the achievements of our alumni. Their outstanding contributions to healthcare are consistently recognized and celebrated, reflecting the high standards and values we uphold as an institution.'
WCM-Q continues to celebrate and support the incredible achievements of its alumni in Qatar and around the world, fostering medical leaders who operate across diverse scientific domains and who continue to positively impact healthcare and the overall wellbeing of the community.
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