The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) recently hosted the 2nd Symposium on Diabetes Care: Empowering Global Health through Life-Changing Research, in support of World Diabetes Day 2023.
The symposium was organized with the participation and support of several esteemed health institutions in Qatar including the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Sidra Medicine and Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), in cooperation with the leading global healthcare company, Novo Nordisk.
Present at the symposium were Dr. Salem Al-Naemi, President of UDST, Dr. Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, Director of Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Programs (MoPH); Dr. Abdelatif Al Khal, Director of Medical Education at HMC; Prof. Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra Co-Chair, National Diabetes Committee (MoPH) and Director, Qatar Metabolic Institute (HMC); Prof. Shahrad Taheri, Chair, Diabetes Research Sub-Committee National Diabetes Strategy (MoPH) and Assistant Director, Qatar Metabolic Institute (HMC); Dr. Rayana Ahmed Bou Haka, official representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Qatar; Mr. Venkat Kalyan; Vice President and General Manager of Novo Nordisk Gulf; and a multitude of researchers, distinguished guests, faculty and students.
The symposium sessions aimed to deepen healthcare professionals' understanding and expertise in diabetes care, prevention and education, while also promoting the exchange of knowledge and innovation across the global medical community. The symposium goals are aligned with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and continues the work set out by Qatar’s National Diabetes Strategy. This includes increasing public awareness of diabetes and developing the world’s best workforce, infrastructure and research in this field.
During his welcoming remarks, Dr. Salem Al-Naemi said, “It is once again an honor for UDST to organize the Symposium on Diabetes Care. Excellence in diabetes care and management is a huge priority for our country. The National Diabetes Strategy in particular aims to improve health and quality of life in Qatar, by preventing diabetes and its associated complications. This is no easy feat. Collaboration, education and research are key to promoting diabetes awareness, and to advance methods used to manage and treat the disease. UDST’s Master of Science in Diabetes Care and Patient Education was established to enhance the standard of diabetes education and care in the country. We have successfully graduated two cohorts of professionals, who are now adeptly addressing the essential requirements of the healthcare industry. Furthermore, by hosting the Diabetes Care Symposium, we can also provide a platform for sharing insights and developments from a local and global perspective.”
Prof. Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, Co-Chair of the National Diabetes Committee (MoPH) and Director of Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI), HMC highlighted: “The 2023 World Diabetes Day campaign focusses on the importance of delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes and associated complications with the slogan “Know your risk, Know your Response” underscoring the significance of proactive screening. As a slowly progressive disease that typically originates without symptoms, T2D can exist for many years without being recognised. Globally, 50% of diabetes is considered undiagnosed. In Qatar, 25% of diabetes is undiagnosed accounting for approximately 5% of all adult population. To address that, centered to the National Diabetes Strategy’s implementation has been the establishment of a screening programme, delivered through primary care, to early identify those with early diabetes and those at high risk for development of diabetes. This creates an opportunity to enrol people at risk into clinical trials of different approaches to diabetes prevention through the Qatar Diabetes Prevention Program (QDPP) and to do early intervention in subjects with newly diagnosed diabetes aiming at diabetes remission”.
For his part, Vice President and General Manager of Novo Nordisk Gulf, Mr. Venkat Kalyan commented: “Novo Nordisk is grateful to be a part of today’s event and collaborate with the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar and University of Doha for Science and Technology to organize this symposium on Diabetes care. Our company is always keen to cooperate with governments to combat diabetes and work to limit the growing number of patients by spreading awareness and introducing medical developments in this area. We also confirm that the company is committed to developing new medicines for people with diabetes and is keen to exchange experiences and provide appropriate solutions for chronic diseases, according to the latest scientific research worldwide, especially about diabetes and obesity.”
The highly respected healthcare professionals delivered presentations on key topics throughout the symposium. These included insights on the Qatar National Diabetes Strategy; innovation in diabetes research and the national agenda for diabetes research in Qatar. The event also fostered conversations on novel therapies for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the accessibility of diabetes care, with some insightful closing remarks by Dr. Michael Phillips, Director of the Applied Research, Innovation and Economic Development Directorate at UDST.
The symposium targeted researchers, endocrinologists and physicians from academia, internal medicine departments and Primary Health Centers across Qatar and beyond. Following the event, attendees will be able to integrate the knowledge gained from conference sessions into real clinical environments, and work collaboratively with colleagues and patients to promote long-term behavioral changes, through consistent patient-centered care and education.
The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) recently hosted the 2nd Symposium on Diabetes Care: Empowering Global Health through Life-Changing Research, in support of World Diabetes Day 2023.
The symposium was organized with the participation and support of several esteemed health institutions in Qatar including the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Sidra Medicine and Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), in cooperation with the leading global healthcare company, Novo Nordisk.
Present at the symposium were Dr. Salem Al-Naemi, President of UDST, Dr. Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, Director of Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Programs (MoPH); Dr. Abdelatif Al Khal, Director of Medical Education at HMC; Prof. Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra Co-Chair, National Diabetes Committee (MoPH) and Director, Qatar Metabolic Institute (HMC); Prof. Shahrad Taheri, Chair, Diabetes Research Sub-Committee National Diabetes Strategy (MoPH) and Assistant Director, Qatar Metabolic Institute (HMC); Dr. Rayana Ahmed Bou Haka, official representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Qatar; Mr. Venkat Kalyan; Vice President and General Manager of Novo Nordisk Gulf; and a multitude of researchers, distinguished guests, faculty and students.
The symposium sessions aimed to deepen healthcare professionals' understanding and expertise in diabetes care, prevention and education, while also promoting the exchange of knowledge and innovation across the global medical community. The symposium goals are aligned with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and continues the work set out by Qatar’s National Diabetes Strategy. This includes increasing public awareness of diabetes and developing the world’s best workforce, infrastructure and research in this field.
During his welcoming remarks, Dr. Salem Al-Naemi said, “It is once again an honor for UDST to organize the Symposium on Diabetes Care. Excellence in diabetes care and management is a huge priority for our country. The National Diabetes Strategy in particular aims to improve health and quality of life in Qatar, by preventing diabetes and its associated complications. This is no easy feat. Collaboration, education and research are key to promoting diabetes awareness, and to advance methods used to manage and treat the disease. UDST’s Master of Science in Diabetes Care and Patient Education was established to enhance the standard of diabetes education and care in the country. We have successfully graduated two cohorts of professionals, who are now adeptly addressing the essential requirements of the healthcare industry. Furthermore, by hosting the Diabetes Care Symposium, we can also provide a platform for sharing insights and developments from a local and global perspective.”
Prof. Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, Co-Chair of the National Diabetes Committee (MoPH) and Director of Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI), HMC highlighted: “The 2023 World Diabetes Day campaign focusses on the importance of delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes and associated complications with the slogan “Know your risk, Know your Response” underscoring the significance of proactive screening. As a slowly progressive disease that typically originates without symptoms, T2D can exist for many years without being recognised. Globally, 50% of diabetes is considered undiagnosed. In Qatar, 25% of diabetes is undiagnosed accounting for approximately 5% of all adult population. To address that, centered to the National Diabetes Strategy’s implementation has been the establishment of a screening programme, delivered through primary care, to early identify those with early diabetes and those at high risk for development of diabetes. This creates an opportunity to enrol people at risk into clinical trials of different approaches to diabetes prevention through the Qatar Diabetes Prevention Program (QDPP) and to do early intervention in subjects with newly diagnosed diabetes aiming at diabetes remission”.
For his part, Vice President and General Manager of Novo Nordisk Gulf, Mr. Venkat Kalyan commented: “Novo Nordisk is grateful to be a part of today’s event and collaborate with the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar and University of Doha for Science and Technology to organize this symposium on Diabetes care. Our company is always keen to cooperate with governments to combat diabetes and work to limit the growing number of patients by spreading awareness and introducing medical developments in this area. We also confirm that the company is committed to developing new medicines for people with diabetes and is keen to exchange experiences and provide appropriate solutions for chronic diseases, according to the latest scientific research worldwide, especially about diabetes and obesity.”
The highly respected healthcare professionals delivered presentations on key topics throughout the symposium. These included insights on the Qatar National Diabetes Strategy; innovation in diabetes research and the national agenda for diabetes research in Qatar. The event also fostered conversations on novel therapies for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the accessibility of diabetes care, with some insightful closing remarks by Dr. Michael Phillips, Director of the Applied Research, Innovation and Economic Development Directorate at UDST.
The symposium targeted researchers, endocrinologists and physicians from academia, internal medicine departments and Primary Health Centers across Qatar and beyond. Following the event, attendees will be able to integrate the knowledge gained from conference sessions into real clinical environments, and work collaboratively with colleagues and patients to promote long-term behavioral changes, through consistent patient-centered care and education.
