HOSPITALS Magazine issue 31 by The Arab Hospital Magazine

Issue 31 / 122 Nov / Dec 2016 www.tahmag.com

Chief Executive Officer, American Hospital Dubai

Peter Makowski

DEFINED BY OUR PAST, FOCUSED ON THE PRESENT, INVENTING OUR FUTURE

PERSONALIZED CARE AND FAMILY SUPPORT WITH DEDICATED MEDICAL TEAM

THE COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CARE SERVICES Cancer not only affects your health, but also your family and lifestyle. Understanding this, the American Hospital Dubai Cancer Care Facility offers a range of current Medical Oncology and Hematology services for adults and children. Our specialists are American Board Certified (or equivalent) and are supported by a team of expert staff trained in advanced cancer treatment techniques in the region. We are here to ensure that you are never alone in your fight against cancer. Because when you are treated at American Hospital Dubai, you are with family.

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Medical Hematology Oncology Chemotherapy

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Pediatric Hematology Oncology Chemotherapy

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Radiation Oncology

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Ablation Therapy for Thyroid Cancer

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Surgery

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Palliative Care

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Multidisciplinary Approach

For more information, please contact +971 4 377 6369 or visit www.ahdubai.com

The first hospital in the Middle East to be awarded Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCI) The first private laboratory to be certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP)

American Hospital Dubai accepts most major health insurance plans, please call (+971) 800 - 5500

MOHAP – WQ89334 – 26/02/2017

CLINICAL OFFERINGS

Publisher

Arab Health Media Communication

The Arab Pharmaceutical Industry… Production and Treatment

General Manager

Simon Chammas E: schammas@tahmag.com

Art Director

jessie@tahmag.com

Photographer

Hanna Nehme

Copy EDITOR

In light of the general development achieved by the health sector in the Arab world and the achievements made on many levels, the pharmaceutical industry is considered one of the sector’s pillars achieving growth on the qualitative and quantitative levels. Over the past few years, the pharmaceutical industry in the region, especially in the Gulf countries, has seen great progress. A study released by “QNB Capital Foundation” says the value of the pharmaceutical market in the GCC countries will exceed $10 billion by 2020.

Jessica Achkar

EDITORS

Roula Fakhry, Colette Semaan, Abbas Moussa

Advertising & Marketing

Mirna Khayrallah E: mirna@tahmag.com Roula Fakhry E: roula@tahmag.com

Information System Manager The pharmaceutical sector in the Arab countries is expected to maintain its strong growth by 5 percent a year. The value of the pharmaceutical products market in the GCC countries and Yemen is currently estimated to be more than US $ 6 billion. The demand for drugs is expected to increase, driven by the rising numbers of overseas patients seeking treatment. The number of residents in the Gulf countries is expected to increase to 50 million by 2017. Figures indicate that the Arab countries produce $ 11 billion worth of medicines, as the demand for medicines produced locally in the Arab countries is seeing a significant increase in recent years, reflecting the high quality standards in the Arab pharmaceutical companies, for instance, the Jordanian companies that export 80 percent of their products to the regional market and developed countries such as Britain and the United States. Exports of Jordanian medicines are expected to increase to 1 billion dollars over the next five years. This undoubtedly drives us to praise the efforts made and support the recommendations that help attract investments, make the prices of medicines in the region close to the average prices globally and help the market grow for the benefit of our communities and the safety of our people. The Publisher

Business Development Manager

Roula Fakhry E: roula@tahmag.com Dubai: 00971 50 2986362 Lebanon: 00961 3 978637

Contributors

Aline Debes, Mark Steven, Don Karn, Andrew Weichert

Offices & Adresses

AHMC, Lebanon Mansourieh High way, Jihad Wakim center, 3rd floor. T/F: +961 4 53 40 58 M : +961 3 60 61 00 E: tahmag@tahmag.com Simon Chammas M: + 971 50 2971007 E: schammas@tahmag.com

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November - DECEMBER 2016

NEWS

8 Hamdan Medical Award is to organize

the 1st

conferences of the DIAD & DIAL in November

10 Royale Hayat Hospital 12 Genetec Announces Mission Control Situational Intelligence and Decision Support System

20 Aster DM Healthcare wins the ‘Excellence in Healthcare Sector’ Award

24 Aster DM Healthcare acquires 60% stake in Harley Street Medical Centre Abu Dhabi

32 Cerner to showcase healthcare IT innovations at ‘Ministry of Health and HIMSS Middle East Exhibitions & Conferences 2016’

40 ABSAMC brings Middle East region’s

first ‘Diamond

Facial Sculpting’ Non-surgical procedure to Dubai Sanofi Pasteur supports BAU first vaccination campaign

40 Sanofi Pasteur supports BAU first vaccination campaign

FEATURES

48 Robotic Surgery 4

58 Robotic in cmc 64 Modern Cancer treatments

ARTICLES

70 Saint George Hospital University Medical Center Emergency Medical Training Center

72 Successful new technologies

in the fight against

Lung Cancer

74 Teach Your Children Well 80 An overview of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery

82 Irritable bowel syndrome 90 Sidra Collaboration Saves Two Young Lives 92 QU College of Medicine 94 WCM-Q researcher has new MS test in his sights 96 Hamad Medical Corporation

INTERVIEWS

42 Mr. Peter Makowski 56 Dr. Husam Balky 58 Dr. Karim Nawfal

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life sciences exhibitions

ARTICLE

Hamdan Medical Award is to organize

the 1st conferences of the DIAD & DIAL in November tissue disease, blistering diseases, and cutaneous infections”. “Also, the conferences reveal the novel techniques in Laser treatment, peeling, anti-aging modalities, body contouring, and injecting the various areas of faces to deal with aging marks such as wrinkles”.

Dr Faiza Al Ali

heikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences will organize the 1st conferences of the Dubai International Academy of Dermatopathology (DIAD) & Dubai International Academy of Laser & Aesthetic Dermatology (DIAL), from 10 to 12 November 2016, at St Regis Hotel, Dubai. The two conferences are endorsed by the International Society of Dermatopathology, the European Society for Cosmetic & Aethetic Dermatology, and the European Society for Laser Dermatology. Around 300 specialists from USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, China, India, the GCC countries, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan are expected to attend the event. Abdullah bin Souqat, a member of the board of trustees of Hamdan Medical Award, noted that organizing such an important gathering comes within the award’s commitment towards supporting the activities aiming at improving the performance of healthcare professionals in all disciplines and

Abdullah bin Souqat at all levels. “Beside supporting the continuing medical education, the award enhances the existing sincere national efforts aiming at promoting the regional and global medical tourism for the emirate of Dubai, especially that Dermatopathology and Easthetic Dermatology are a nucleus of this ambitious project”, he added. For its part, Dr Faiza Al Ali, Consultant Dermatologists and Dermatopathologist, Dubai Health Authority, and the President of the Conference, indicated to the conference of the Dubai International Academy of Dermatopathology as the first of its kind in the Middle East. She assured that Dermatopathology is the basis of the definite diagnosis of skin diseases and monitoring their developments, in order to find out the proper and effective treatment. “The 2 conferences comprise 51 scientific lecture scheduled to discuss many important issues such as the diagnosis of skin diseases including skin tumours, connective

“A number of innovative workshops will be held, including the ‘exam simulation session’, with the aim of preparing doctors for the oral and written exams of the Arab, Saudi, American and European Boards of dermatology, by the supervisors of these programs”. “Regarding the ‘self-assessment session’, microscopes will be available for the attendees with pathology slides and a special brochure for the explanation. Also, the ‘virtual slides workshop’ will showcase real diseases in patients, with comments and analysis for each”, Dr Faiza Al Ali added. A galaxy of senior professors and specialists are the keynote speakers in the conferences, such as Prof. Lorenzo Cerroni, the laureate of “The Founder’s Award” from the American Society of Dermatopathology in 2015. He was chosen as one of those who have made outstanding original and significant contributions in that field of medicine. Also, among the keynote speakers is prof. Luis Reguena, the winner of 34 national and international Research Prizes in Dermatology and Dermatopathology, beside Dr Raj Acquilla, who was listed as one of the finest cosmetic doctor in UK in 2014.

NEWS

Royale Hayat Hospital Welcomes

Dr. Raed Al Swait at Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Dr. Al Swait is an expert in treating gastric reflux and acidity, stomach ulcers, indigestion and chronic constipation, chronic diseases in the liver and pancreas, and celiac and colon disease. His vast experience also includes endoscopy of esophagus, stomach, duodenum and colon, diagnostic and therapeutic bile ducts, endoscopic ultrasound for the digestive system and pancreas, and gastric balloon to treat obesity.

Dr. Raed Al Swait

oyale Hayat Hospital announced the appointment of Dr. Raed Al Swait, Consultant of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology with a subspecialty in advanced therapeutic endoscopy at the Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

Dr. Raed Al Swait graduated from the Royal College of Ireland. He is a member of the Canadian Board of Internal Medicine McGill University, Canada, the American Board of Internal Medicine, in addition to a fellowship in Gastroenterology, McGill University,

Canada, and a fellowship in Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy, Alberta University, Canada. He was previously Head of Medical Department at Al Jahra Hospital, and is currently Head of Gastroenterology Unit at Al Jahra Hospital. Dr. Raed Al Swait is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and fellow at the Royale College of Physician, Canada. Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at Royale Hayat Hospital offers state-of-the-art equipment and technology. Like all departments it has a highly trained staff and the most qualified physicians to provide exceptional care that guarantees safety and comfort to all patients and their families.

Royale Hayat Hospital annouces

Dr. Ahmed Al Mulla to Join Department of Pediatrics

oyale Hayat Hospital announced the appointment of Dr. Ahmed Abdurrahman Al Mulla to the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Ahmed is a Specialist Pediatrician, Member of Kuwaiti Board of Pediatrics, and fellowship of the British Royal College of Pediatrics.

Dr. Ahmed Abdurrahman Al Mulla

Dr. Ahmed provides advanced medical services at Royale Hayat Department of Pediatrics like monitoring growth, nutrition and development of newborns and children, routine vaccination check and offering special vaccines, common pediatric problems and emergencies in children.

Dr. Ahmed Al Mulla is an expert in treating urinary tract infection and Enuresis, chronic constipation, allergy, eczema and Bronchial Asthma. Department of Pediatrics at Royale Hayat is equipped and designed to fulfill the needs of children to amuse the young ones, ensure safety and proper treatment. Royale Hayat Hospital offers the services and expertise of a highly qualified medical team along with advanced technology and caring atmosphere to ensure first class comfort to patients and their families.

NEWS

Genetec Announces Mission Control

Situational Intelligence and Decision Support System and map-centric view of their entire security infrastructure. Mission Control will also move beyond the capabilities of traditional security platforms, enabling organizations to manage the entire lifecycle of incidents and situations, from monitoring incoming sensor data and detecting incidents, all the way through to resolution and auditing. With Mission Control, organizations will be able to define their response strategy and contingency plans in advance.

enetec Inc. (“Genetec”), a leading provider of open-architecture, IP security solutions announced Mission Control, a unique Decision Support System (DSS) that will provide security professionals in the Middle East with new levels of situational intelligence, system visualization, and incident management. Designed to work seamlessly with Security Center, the company’s unified security platform that combines video surveillance, access control, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) and communications management, Mission Control aims to simplify the operator’s tasks and decision-making process when handling routine activities and undesirable situations. Genetec Mission Control is expected to be available in Q4 2016. Ideally suited to meet the operational needs of larger, multi-site deployments in markets such as higher education and transportation, Mission Control will give operators a holistic, unified,

Based on their unique needs and environment, security and operations departments will be able to create incident categories, the multi-layered rules that trigger each, and automate system actions to address them. They can further assign automated workflows and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to incident categories, which are triggered when an incident is detected to guide the response of the operator to ensure compliance with internal and external policies. “Security systems have been traditionally designed to report events and alarms, leaving it up to the operator to interpret the information and react to situations. However, with the increased complexity of security installations, and the sheer volume of data gathered by the multitude of sensors, it can be difficult for operators to confidently assess complex situations or respond to threats,” explains Firas Jadalla, Regional Director - Middle East and Africa, Genetec.

“Mission Control will allow personnel to take control of undesirable situations by correlating incoming data to detect more complex situations, prioritize larger incidents and threats, and remove emotion from the response by steering operators along the way.” Mission Control gives security personnel a more intelligent view of an incident so they can make informed decisions. This is achieved by ingesting data from thousands of sensors and associated real-time information and qualifying them more intelligently based on the end user’s operational environment. Once triggered, incidents launch workflows that drive system behavior and guide operator responses through the entire lifecycle of the incident using SOPs. In addition to comprehensive incident management, Mission Control will offer operators the ability to manage both active and historical incidents, run reports for analysis purposes and continuous improvement, as well as for auditing purposes. To enhance and streamline the operator experience, Mission Control introduces new levels of interaction within dynamic maps, including monitoring live incidents and response management, to go beyond traditional maps that are generally limited to monitoring security devices and singular events. By utilizing a map-centric approach to monitoring and command and control, operators will be able to more intuitively visualize the security environment and take appropriate action as warranted.

NEWS

Dubai ENT specialist joins international committee

to redefine understanding of inner ear anatomy 500 years after first description

Dr. Muazz Tarabichi ENT SURGEON EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT (ENT)

hanks to pioneering work by the American Hospital Dubai, patients are now set to benefit from a new understanding of the anatomy of the Eustachian Tube – a vital part of the middle ear. Dysfunction of the Eustachian Tube is the most common reason for patients visiting and seeking treatment at ENT departments worldwide. Almost 500 years after first being identified and described by Italian anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachio (in 1562 in Rome), the medical understanding of the Eustachian Tube –part of the anatomy of the middle ear – has been refined after a research collaboration undertaken by an international committee of 15 ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) specialists including Dr Muaaz Tarabichi, Head of ENT Department at American Hospital Dubai. The committee’s re-evaluation of the Eustachian Tube was made possible by the use of middle-ear endoscopes (an

endoscope is a thin, illuminated tubular instrument used to look deep into the body in a procedure called an endoscopy) to create direct access to and viewing of the Eustachian Tube. Dr. Tarabichi was the first ENT surgeon to perform Endoscopic Ear Surgery (EES), in 1992, and developed the procedure at American Hospital Dubai, which is acknowledged as the ‘birthplace’ of EES. With the benefits of ear endoscopy, the committee was able to redefine the structure of the Eustachian Tube and develop a new understanding and a clearer and more distinct description of an area that is now increasingly accessible for surgical interventions. This new anatomical understanding will be reported across international ENT organisations and will be adopted as the official position on Eustachian Tubes. Speaking about the committee’s work, Dr. Tarabichi comments: “This re-evaluation lays the ground for a new and common understanding of the anatomy and terminology used to describe the Eustachian Tube for the ENT community worldwide. We were also pleased to be able to do some of the evaluation work here at American Hospital Dubai.

With this greater understanding and access to the inner ear made possible by middle ear endoscopy, we will be in a better position to correct Eustachian Tube dysfunctions and so improve patient outcomes. To create a new view of the anatomy first described almost 500 years ago and to be able add to this knowledge, is special and very satisfying.” ENT specialists from Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, Italy and the US worked as part of the international committee alongside Dr Tarabichi, which took three months to complete the re-evaluation of the Eustachian Tube. The Eustachian Tubes are a pair of narrow tubes that run from each middle ear to high in the back of the throat, behind the nasal passages. The throat end of the tubes open and close to regulate air pressure in the middle ear, refresh air in the ear, and drain normal secretions from the middle ear. Swelling, inflammation and mucus in the Eustachian Tubes from an upper respiratory infection or allergy can block them, causing the accumulation of fluids in the middle ear. A bacterial or viral infection of this fluid is usually what produces the symptoms of an ear infection.

Al-Ahli Hospital – Doha, Qatar ORTHOPEDIC DEPARTMENT

We provide the following services in the orthopedic specialty and subspecialty groups: JOINT ARTHROPLASTY SERVICE: • Total knee replacement. • Total hip replacement.

ORTHOPEDIC TRAUMA:

• Upper and lower extremity fracture.

PEDIATRIC ORTHOPEDIC: •Pediatric bone deformities. • Dysplasia’s. • Pediatric fractures.

FOOT AND ANKLE: • Fusions. • Osteotomies. • Manipulations.

SPORTS MEDICINE:

• Intraarticular injections including PRP. • Arthroscopic procedures. • Anterior cruciate reconstructions.

SPINE:

• Discectomies. • Degenerative lumbar spine fusions. • Dynamic stabilizations. • Facet joint injections. • Caudal epidural injections. • Pediatric scoliosis services.

HAND AND UPPER EXTREMITY: • Tendon repairs. • Fusions. • Arthroscopic procedures.

For more information please call: 0097444898747 -009744898562

Accredited by ACHS International until May 2018

NEWS

Orange Business Services improves patient care and infant safety with e-health solutions for Dr. Samir Abbas Hospital

range Business Services has signed an ICT contract with the Dr. Samir Abbas Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to deliver a range of advanced IT e-Health solutions. The contract aims at improving patient care, decreasing cost and enhancing the working environment within the hospital. Dr. Samir Abbas Group is one of the largest and most established medical groups in Saudi Arabia in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Women Wellness with four centers in the Kingdom. The new Dr. Abbas Hospital is a 140-bed private hospital providing specialized services in a prime location in Jeddah. Dr. Samir Abbas Hospital in Jeddah is at the forefront of the digital wave that is changing the way services are delivered in the Kingdom.

Laurent Marini COUNTRY MANAGER SAUDI ARABIA ORANGE BUSINESS SERVICES

The ICT contract with Orange paved the way for a recently implemented infant protection and tracking solution. A tamper-proof RFID ankle band is attached to the baby which enables location tracking of the infant and sets off an alarm if the infant is moved out of a predefined area within the hospital. This reassures parents and eliminates the risks of abduction and baby swapping. Orange will also implement an information and entertainment solution called “patient infotainment”. It provides bedside terminals that incorporate on-demand movies and TV, phone and Internet access, including email, web browsing, hospital

intranet, staff alerts, and calls for assistance. Patients can also view their files and their individualized educational material. The system also enables medical and nursing staff to browse medical files and investigations, and input their findings and orders electronically.

ICT key enabler for healthcare in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is building new hospitals and medical cities to meet the needs of growing populations. With the healthcare sector seeing ICT as a key enabler, Saudi Arabia is a strategic market for Orange Business Services in the region. Orange addresses the healthcare sector in the Kingdom through the local team operating through the local company - Orange Business Arabia - with the support of the strategic business unit Orange Healthcare, which is dedicated to supporting the digital transformation of the healthcare sector. Laurent Marini, Managing Director Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman for Orange Business Services/Arabia, said: “Dr. Samir Abbas Group is undergoing a digital transformation and adopting the latest advanced technology to enhance the patient experience. Saudi Arabia is one of the most dynamic and exciting markets in the entire Middle East, where digital transformation is having a major impact and creating the need for a digital partner such as Orange.

NEWS

Our aim is to support Saudi Arabia’s achievement of its 2030 vision and its 2020 National Transformation Program, and to be the digital partner of choice to the government, major infrastructure projects and enterprise sector.” Professor Samir Abbas, Director of the Board of Dr. Samir Abbas Hospital, Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Assisted Reproductive Technology Subspecialist, said: “Our hospital is providing the stateof-the-art specialized medical services and has built a very strong and innovative information technology infrastructure. This infrastructure relies

upon the latest in virtualization hardware and internet protocol (IP) software, such as nurse call, IP telecommunication, IP television, IP signage, infant abduction protection, hospital information system and picture archiving and communication system. The hospital con tracted with Orange Business Services to integrate the various software applications in order to enhance patient safety and provide an enjoyable and comfortable patient experience.” In Saudi Arabia, Orange Business Services has developed strong customer relationships across the Kingdom in a range of key industries, such as Oil &

Gas, healthcare, banking and more recently, smart cities. In addition, Orange supports government bodies and other growing local KSA companies as they expand beyond the Kingdom, as well as the multinational companies which operate within Saudi Arabia. In 2012 Orange Business Services established a local company, Orange Business Arabia and operates from three offices in the main cities across the three provinces of KSA – Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. The growing team includes specialists in presales, sales and customer service, as well as consulting.

NEWS

Aster DM Healthcare wins the ‘Excellence in Healthcare Sector’ Award at the Qadat Al Tagheer Awards 2016

of - Treating you well,” said Ms. Alisha Moopen while receiving the award.

ster DM Healthcare has received the “Excellence in Healthcare Sector” award at the Qadat Al Tagheer Awards 2016, the inaugural awards of the 2nd UAE-INDIA Economic Forum.

Ms. Alisha Moopen – Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hospitals & Clinics (GCC), Aster DM Healthcare received the award from Mr. Nitin Gadkari, India’s Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping. The awards honored prominent organizations and business leaders who have transcended boundaries to create epitome of business excellence in respective sectors which helped strengthen the trade and commerce ties between UAE and India. The “Excellence in Healthcare Sector” award recognizes Dr. Azad Moopen’s tireless efforts to drive excellence in the healthcare sector through Aster DM Healthcare. Founded in 1987, through a single clinic in Bur Dubai, the enterprise today has 293 establishments across 9 countries in Middle East and India. The growth of the company has been in accordance with

efforts to strengthen the healthcare delivery system in UAE which brings internationals standards of care to meet the needs of common public. Catering through a vast network of hospitals, clinics, retail pharmacies and specialized healthcare professionals, the company constantly seeks to innovate and introduce best practices which can help shape a healthier society. “As an organization our efforts have been dedicated towards pushing the boundaries of excellence, enabling wider access to quality healthcare in the countries that we serve. Around 30 years ago, we used to serve 100 patients per day, and today, we cater to the needs of 50,000 patients in a day. While we are a home-grown brand in UAE, our commitment is strengthened by our vision to deliver better quality and healthier life for each and every one in the community. We are glad that our efforts have successfully contributed to the development of the sector and confident that we will continue to deliver excellence in the future, while driving our promise

Speaking at the UAE – India Economic Forum, on the successful trade and commerce ties between the two countries, Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare, expressed excitement about the system changes and potential in India with nearly $70 billion of investment being invited. Dr. Moopen said the focus of the Indian government on infrastructure development which requires significant funding, is a huge opportunity for UAE investors. “On the other hand, key factors such as peace of mind, freedom and safety, social infrastructure, logistics and connectivity, and vision of the leadership to make UAE one of the top 3 countries in the world in terms of ease of doing business, make UAE an attractive investment destination,” he said. Dr. Moopen called on the UAE government to consider offering permanent residency to long-term investors and increasing foreign ownership of businesses to possibly 100 per cent. A number of high profile dignitaries, government officials and business leaders from both countries convened at the forum, hosted by the Consulate General of India in Dubai and supported by the UAE Ministry of Economy, in strategic partnership with UAE International Investors Council, Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Invest India, Abu Dhabi Global Market and Dubai Economic Council.

People are different and so are diseases.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we are committed to discovering and developing personalised medicines and targeted diagnostic tests to help people live better, longer lives.

NEWS

Insulin of Today for a Steady Tomorrow

Sanofi launches its Next Generation Basal Insulin that redefines the limit of control co-morbidities and complications thus making it difficult for doctors to control their blood sugar and disease progression,” explained Dr. Geremia Bolli, Professor at the University of Perugia, Italy, who helped lead the EDITION study. “Early insulin treatment is the most cost-effective regimen versus new costly treatments that have minimal HbA1c efficacy versus insulin treatment efficacy.”

iabetes is a chronic disease that affects a staggering 464,200 individuals in Lebanon who live with a challenging quality of life no matter the stage or the type of the disease. Driven by its leading role in supporting patients in the management of their diabetes, Sanofi announced the introduction of its novel formulation of basal insulin to the Lebanese market. Sanofi’s next generation basal insulin will enable further patient control and treatment optimization through a favorable safety profile: less “nocturnal” and “all day” hypoglycemia events, as well as weight neutrality. The new drug approval was based on the results of the EDITION clinical trials, which evaluated its efficacy and safety in over 3,500 adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In this analysis, more pronounced, significant reductions in hypoglycemia rates at any time of day, including nighttime, were observed during the 8-week titration period when compared with original basal insulin. “This important milestone is another step forward in expanding our insulin portfolio,” said Dr. Marie-Therese Sawaya,

Head of Sanofi Diabetes Business Unit. “Sanofi and its research team are proud of this new discovery, this next generation of basal insulin will help doctors manage diabetic patients and increase their chances in reaching optimal glycemic control. We continue to be encouraged by the positive results to help meet unmet needs of people living with diabetes.” Insulin glargine U-300, a long-acting analog of insulin, will regulate the glucose metabolism offering doctors additional options to help manage patients who are not currently able to reach optimal glycemic control. This ‘next generation’ of basal insulin has a more stable and prolonged glucose-lowering effect improving glycemic control in adults. It is administered once a day and acts as long acting basal insulin by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake, especially via skeletal muscle and fat, and by inhibiting hepatic glucose production. “Early insulinization is a key drive for long-term patient benefit and control as most patients start insulin at a very late disease stage with many

“69% of diabetic patients in Lebanon are uncontrolled and 80% of insulinized patients do not reach their glycemic target,” said Dr. Emile Andari - President of the Lebanese Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Lipids. “Hypoglycemia is one of the most frequent adverse events experienced by people treated with insulin and fear of these events can prevent some patients administering appropriate insulin doses and can even lead to discontinuation of treatment. A reducing hypoglycemia event is relevant in helping patients better manage diabetes.”

Insulin glargine U-300 The dosing of insulin glargine U-300 is individualized based on the patient’s diabetes type, metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring results, and HbA1c goal. Insulin glargine U-300 is administered subcutaneously once daily at any time during the day, at the same time every day. The injection sites should be rotated to reduce the risk for lipodystrophy. Patients’ glucose levels should be closely monitored when they change to insulin glargine from another medication and during the initial weeks thereafter.

NEWS

Aster DM Healthcare

acquires 60% stake in Harley Street Medical Centre Abu Dhabi

ster DM Healthcare has acquired 60% stake in Harley Street Medical Center (HSMC) in Abu Dhabi. Currently operating as a day-care surgery facility, the center is staffed by European trained medical practitioners specialized in Urology, Plastic Surgery, Gynecology, Gastroenterology, Ortho, Pediatrics, Internal medicine and General Surgery. The center which is located in the Marina Business Park, Abu Dhabi, provides treatment of sleep-related disorders, General Surgery and Plastic Surgery. Their mission is to offer an extensive, comprehensive and personalized healthcare services in a tranquil, discreet environment that promotes relaxation. HSMC which is applying to become a specialty

hospital in the near future, also incorporates a sleep lab clinic located opposite to the existing facility and a dental center in a vicinity of existing center, giving the brand a leadership position for this niche services in the Abu Dhabi market. Dr. Hady Jerdak M.D, Chief Executive Officer from HSMC, said “Harley Street Medical Centre is a unique medical facility. Established in Abu Dhabi in 2013, it offers high-end medical services in a serene and luxurious environment. With our fourth anniversary in sight, what better way to grow other than teaming up with a group that shares our vision and values. Aster DM Healthcare, headed by Dr. Azad Moopen, share our passion to serve people and to change societies. This partnership will mutually consolidate our goals and beliefs to provide an ethical and sophisticated medical service.” “This is an exciting acquisition for us”, commented Dr. Azad Moopen, Aster DM Healthcare Chairman & Managing Director. “Aster DM Healthcare has a diverse and sector-leading portfolio. This partnership not only expands our niche service offering, but gives us an additional platform to deliver sophisticated healthcare services with a partner who shares our philosophy of delivering unparalleled excellence. “

QU Health Clinic to hold seasonal flu vaccination campaign Fight the Flu Virus! Get Your Seasonal Flu Vaccination!

atar University (QU) Health Clinic will organized its annual flu vaccination campaign on October 31. The campaign aimed to increase community awareness on the importance of getting an annual flu vaccine. By getting an annual flu vaccine, we can minimize the impact of seasonal influenza (flu) on QU members, allowing us to create a safe learning environment for all. During this time, the Health Clinic’s medical team was available from 8am to 2pm to provide free flu vaccination shots at the Female Health Clinic. The Health Clinic also provided information leaflets on the importance of flu vaccinations, and staff members was available to answer the questions or concerns that QU members may have about flu vaccinations. Commenting on the event, Health Clinic Head Dr Hafsa Hashad said: “The campaign aligns with QU mission to raising community awareness

on health-related issues and to providing the ultimate support to Qatar’s healthcare sector. Millions of people are hospitalized each year from the flu, and over 30,000 people die from flu-related problems annually. Getting an annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missing work and school due to the flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations. Although the elderly, pregnant women and children are at high risk of the flu, healthy children and adults can also get very sick and spread the flu to their families and friends. Getting vaccinated protects you as well as the people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, the elderly, and those with certain chronic health conditions.” QU Health Clinic will continue to provide flu vaccinations until June 2017. Qatari ID is required to get the flu vaccination shot.

NEWS

Pharmaton launches “LIVE VITALLY”

A dynamic approach to feeling radiant, alive and amped up with vigor and energy the energy in the muscles and protect body cells against free radical damages”. To give a dynamic boost to the gathering, Fitness Consultant Nahy Bassil engaged the audience with an energetic bodyweight training session which increased the attendees’ strength and amped up their energy levels. Bassil went on to explain how people should improve their quality of life through proper exercise,nutrition, and dietary supplements:

ecognizing the universal need for increased personal vitality, energy and revitalization, Pharmaton, convened a “feel good” event aimed at unveiling the latest advancements in the world of multi-vitamins and promoting mental and physical energy-boosting solutions through a dietary supplement with standardized ginseng under the slogan of ‘Live Vitally’. Located at ‘The Villa’ in Dbayeh, health and lifestyle journalists and influencers were brought together to learn ways to improve their overall well-being. They were brought up to speed about the advanced methodologies in managing physical and mental energy, combating stress and fatigue byre-energizing their bodies that may suffer due to an insufficient supply of vitamins and minerals to the body and the importance of to the body, as it reinforces cognitive abilities, contributes to energy production in muscles, and safeguards the body’s cells. When addressing the crowd, Dietitian Sally

Sawaya, Vice President of the Lebanese Association for Nutrition and Dietetics, emphasized the role that healthy nutrition and regular exercise play in energizing the body, and highlighted how current lifestyle habits, poor nutrition and insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals may itself be a factor leading to feelings of tiredness and lack of energy.“ A healthy lifestyle for counteracting fatigue and boosting energy revolves around healthy nutrition and supplementing unbalanced diets with a multivitamin/mineral supplement containing a variety of micronutrients such as vitamins A, C, D and B vitamins, as well as minerals such as iron and zinc, all of which support bodily functions and aid in utilization of energy in the body. To further increase energy levels, look for natural ingredients in the multivitamin/mineral supplement, such as Ginseng, which helps improve general well-being, enhance cognitive parameters, aid in the utilization of

“We undoubtedly, include “having more energy” on our list of goals. With the demands of today’s hectic lifestyles, stress, few hours of quality sleep, and poor eating habits, it’s no wonder many people complain of fatigue and low energy. Add to that a slew of possible health conditions and/or medications that may cause overall weakness.” “In today’s perpetually plugged-in, fast-paced world, personal energy is increasingly taxed and the body is in constant need of a boost! It is crucial to get key vitamins and minerals, with the right ingredients, that are increasingly important to supporting nutritional health and enhance utilization of the energy in muscles.” Bassil concluded. Invitees were then treated to a balanced lunch and indulged in refreshing, healthy fresh juices. Pharmaton strives to infuse much-needed energy into daily people’s lives to maintain and increase their mental and physical performance and live vitally.

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Brewer power table line

designed to deliver unmatched return on investment

hether it’s power exam tables you are interested in or power procedure tables, Brewer’s value-added offering merits serious consideration. Every Brewer power table comes complete with industry-leading warranties and practice-enhancing exclusive features to enhance your return on investment. Plus, they are all built to Brewer’s demanding quality standards to deliver a lasting value. These are all key reasons why Brewer is an official supplier of the US Government and the power table supplier of choice for Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital and King Fahad Medical City.

Access® Exam Tables set the standard for power exam table performance and value.

slide the extension in and out with minimal effort

Access High-Low Exam Tables offer more value-added standard features than any other manufacturer, which include the following:

• Generous, pass-through storage drawers for easy access from either side to instruments and supplies • Separate storage for paper rolls

• Units are available with an industry-best weight capacity of 317 kg (700 lbs) to help practices keep pace with changing patient populations • Pivoting safety grab bars on both sides for safe patient handling • Brewer’s exclusive SafeGlide™ leg extension system includes a heavy-duty design that allows caregivers to

• Slide-out work surface enables you to keep your laptop, instruments or patient medications handy during exams • Available with hospital grade electrical outlet What’s more, the Access High-Low Table provides a more logical approach

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to safe patient handling. Only Brewer power exam tables offer a 45.7 cm (18”) seat height in the full upright, seated position, enabling true level transfers from wheelchairs.

room space constraints. Yet, they offer many of the same high-performance features as the Access HighLow Table, including a 317 kg (700 lb) weight capacity unit.

With the Brewer Power Procedure Table, you can offer patients a broader range of services in a unit designed to be cost-effective to deploy and maintain over time.

In addition, the upright seatback configuration and sturdy, pivoting safety grab bars enable better supported, more confident patient transitioning, while minimizing the need for caregiver interaction.

• Delivers unmatched ergonomic patient access, enhancing physician comfort

• Enhance patient satisfaction by enabling patients to get more taken care of in surroundings that are familiar to them

The end result is a safer exam experience for patients and staff.

• Includes generous storage capacity for paper rolls and supplies to help drive clinical efficiency

FLEX™ Access Exam Tables enable practices to step up to power table performance for not much more than the cost of a traditional, fixed-height exam table. Their compact design gives you greater flexibility when it comes to dealing with tight exam

• Features easy-to-clean seamless upholstery standard

• Options, including pivoting safety grab bars, pass-through clinical work surface, and stirrups, pelvic tilt and drawer heater, enable you to configure FLEX to suit a diverse range of practice requirements.

Brewer Power Procedure Tables help you perform profitable procedures in-house.

• Gain a competitive edge in your market by easily accommodating a wide range of procedures thanks to an infinitely adjustable design that conveniently transitions from supine, left-lateral prone, lithotomy and proctology positioning • Quickly transition from one procedure to the next with foot or handheld controls for maximum throughput. • Ability to extend the table from 173.5 cm-203.2 cm (69”-80”) means one table can accommodate a diverse range of patients

You see Brewer is all about delivering more of what you want for the money. Our innovative power table designs have been uniquely developed to enhance patient and staff safety, preserve patient dignity and enhance patient satisfaction, while meeting the needs of more patients, optimizing throughput and being cost-effective to maintain over the life of your investment. In the end, we want the same thing you do – greater return on investment for your practice. For more information, contact your Brewer representative or visit brewercompany.com.

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pan by BHM

one of the world’s most innovative hearing systems an is a highly precise air conduction hearing aid that can be integrated into any pair of glasses. The experts at Austrian hearing device manufacturer BHM have come up with an innovative new product that stands out for its reliability, practicality and individual design.

pan – maximum choice, maximum satisfaction

See better, understand better

So it’s just as well that in pan, BHM has crafted an inconspicuous hearing aid that provides optimum hearing quality, regardless of whether you wish to keep your existing glasses or opt for a completely new pair.

Hearing is the key to the world. And there are as many different ways to perceive it – both with our eyes and with our ears – as there are people. This is why it is vital to provide reliable hearing systems for those with a hearing impairment. Hearing glasses are a great solution for those who need a little help not only with their hearing but also with their vision. Such solutions include the innovative models by BHM, Austria’s only manufacturer of hearing devices.

These days a pair of glasses is much more than simply a vision aid: besides the obvious requirements of fitting well and aiding sight, they can also serve as a fashion accessory that expresses your personality and lifestyle.

pan can do more pan immediately provides a reassuring feeling of safety in multiple ways. A small, discreet button on the frame meets the highest technical standards. Direct, clear communication becomes possible once again: for example, the

ability to focus entirely on each respective conversation partner. pan automatically adapts to the noise level of the environment. Thanks to its adaptive directional sensitivity, you can even clearly differentiate whispering against a loud background – but without the ambient noise disappearing from your own auditory range. This also goes for telephone calls. You hear the person you are talking to without isolating yourself acoustically from your environment. Nights out at the opera or theatre are once again transformed into unforgettable experiences, as pan features an inductive signal input that lets sound ring out in all its glory. Innovative technology is, of course, behind all of this.

pan – outstanding hearing quality thanks to state-of-the-art technology pan is a highly precise air conduction hearing system that captures sound via two directional microphones, and transfers it into the ear by means of a small speaker. This precise directional sensitivity enables pan to provide clear and interference-free hearing, thus setting completely new standards in relaxed, comprehensible hearing. Cutting-edge technology and the advantage of being able to attach pan easily and comfortably into any pair of glasses make this model one of the world’s most innovative hearing

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Sound in all its glory Thanks to the inductive signal input, pan reveals sound experiences in all their glory. It also achieves excellent results in tinnitus treatment, whether by means of the traditional “masking” technique or by playing a supporting role.

pan-CROS for secure sound transmission

systems, combining excellent hearing quality with the highest degree of comfort!

See and hear safely and comfortably Compared to the usual mini behindthe-ear and normal behind-the-ear devices that are also attached to the ear by means of a frame, pan offers optimum comfort as the device cannot slip when the glasses are removed. Awkward situations are thus easily avoided.

Glasses wearers have it easy – simply switch pan is a flexible device that can be attached to any pair of glasses. Wearers themselves can attach the model easily, quickly and discreetly. Removing the device is just as straightforward. And remember: to enjoy this advantage, there’s no need to buy new glasses.

Your optician or acoustician will affix pan to your existing pair.

The perfect hearing experience even in ambient noise With two microphones positioned in front of the ear, pan guarantees outstanding directional sensitivity. This means that pan wearers can also follow conversations in noisy environments such as parties or restaurants. Upon request, your acoustician can angle the microphones in such a way that they capture sound predominantly coming in from the front. This enables each respective wearer to hear their conversation partner perfectly, even at a greater distance – or even when watching TV, at the theatre or wherever you might wish to watch and listen at the same time. In comparison, customary behind-the-ear and mini behind-the-ear devices have microphones that sit above the ear, or behind it if there are two microphones.

For single-sided deafness or severe hearing loss, BHM experts recommend pan-CROS – contralateral routing of signals – a version that guarantees secure sound transfer from the impaired ear to the healthy ear. Thanks to adjusted signal differences, the direction of the sound can be determined, giving each particular wearer a wholly unlimited spatial orientation.

Quality Made in Austria Quality manufactory BHM develops high-quality hearing systems based on bone and air conduction technology. Their products are manufactured exclusively in Austria and distributed around the world. BHM has set itself a challenging goal: to help those with a hearing impairment regain a significant quality of life by using innovative hearing systems that ensure outstanding performance in aesthetics, quality and reliability.

Contact: BHM-Tech Produktionsgesellschaft Grafenschachen 242 7423 Grafenschachen Phone: +43 (0)3359 200 78 0 Email: nice_2_hear_u@bhm-tech.at Web: www.bhm-tech.at

NEWS

Cerner to showcase healthcare IT innovations

at ‘Ministry of Health and HIMSS Middle East Exhibitions & Conferences 2016’ that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 will introduce an increase in the use of healthcare technology services leading to a growth in the capacity of accepting patients and creating new job opportunities, a $24.7 billion market by 2020.

Michael Pomerance VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER, CERNER MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

ccording to recent reports, healthcare continues to be among the top valued industries by Governments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to create a better future for GCC citizens. The United Arab Emirates spends $1,200 per person on healthcare – putting it in the top 20 countries for healthcare spending per capita. It is also noteworthy to mention

In line with the growth in the region, Cerner, a global leader in healthcare technology, showcased its commitment to advancing healthcare interoperability across organizations and demonstrated applications of its workflow solutions at the ‘Ministry of Health and HIMSS Middle East Exhibition and Conference 2016’ in Saudi Arabia on October 12 and 13, as well as the ‘HIMSS UAE eHealth week 2016’, from October 31 till November 2. “Cerner has long been committed to connecting organizations and systems, regardless of platform or provider, to enable the free flow of data across the continuum of care,” said Michael Pomerance, Vice President

and General Manager, Cerner Middle East and Africa. “We look forward to sharing the importance of industrywide connected healthcare.” Within the Cerner booth, attendees followed a patient’s journey through several workflow zones to get a firsthand experience of how interoperability and the free flow of data among clinical settings play an essential part in improving patient outcomes. Cerner delegates also demonstrated the importance of value-based healthcare and why patient engagement is part of population health management, the future of the healthcare industry. Pomerance added: “We also discussed our next generation solutions and the latest advances in healthcare innovation across the continuum of care to educate stakeholders about how managing populations one person at a time keeps people at the center of the health system.”

Julphar

Launches the First App to Study Dyslipidemia in the Region

ulphar Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries, the largest generic pharmaceutical company in Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has launched PULSE – the first research application in the region to study behaviors and attitudes in disease management, during a launch event that took place at the Park Hyatt hotel in Dubai on September 30th 2016. PULSE – available on iOS and Android – will support Julphar in studying key therapeutic aspects starting by studying trends in management of dyslipidemia in the region – focusing on its prevalence, clinical practices and treatment – by submitting a medical study in its first phase to 30 selected practitioners on their current practices and patient-centered management of dyslipidemia. The new and one-of-a-kind mobile approach of the study will make it easier for the selected physicians to participate and to provide the most relevant inputs. “We are proud to be the first company to penetrate this field of advanced mobile technology in the region, The study is part of Julphar’s continuous efforts to help the medical community better understand the compelling challenges in the cardiovascular field, and will support us in joining forces with the healthcare professionals (HCPs) to find out an appropriate and dedicated solution to face those challenges,” said Dr Hosam Badr, Marketing Director at Julphar.

NEWS

World innovation summit for health announces keynote speaker Larry Summers

Dr Lawrence H Summers CHARLES W ELIOT UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND PRESIDENT EMERITUS AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY, IS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE 2016 WISH SUMMIT

he World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) has announced Dr. Lawrence H Summers as a keynote speaker for its 2016 Summit. Dr Summers is the Charles W Eliot University Professor and President Emeritus at Harvard University. Dr Summers has served as Secretary of the Treasury, Director of the White House National Economic Council, President of Harvard University, and Chief Economist of the World Bank. Dr Summers will discuss the future of aid with a particular focus on investing in global health. He will draw on the key lessons from other sectors, including education and food aid. Dr Summers will consider the ongoing, dangerous neglect of global functions and examine the implications this has for research and development of new medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics; and also policy and implementation

research for flu pandemic preparedness and antimicrobial resistance. Most of the world’s poor now live in “pockets of poverty” in middle-income countries, and Dr Summers will make the case for supporting global functions as a way to reach these impoverished populations. Dr Summers is a passionate advocate for innovation in healthcare. During his presidency at Harvard, he launched a major effort to make Boston, and Cambridge in particular, the global leader in life sciences research, with the formation of major programmes for stem cell research and genomics. He also recently chaired the Commission on Global Health, lauded by the UN Secretary General who noted that it “will bring more than health – it will bring equity, and contribute to a life of dignity for all.” Dr Summers will deliver his keynote address on 30th November, the second day of the WISH Summit. Commenting on his inclusion in the programme he said: “In a few short years, WISH has established itself as a forum that brings health policymakers from around the world together with leaders in the academic community for frank discussions on emerging issues. I particularly welcome- and look forward to participating in - the WISH 2016 agenda with its substantial emphasis on the economic issues that will play an increasing role in health policy discussions.” Egbert Schillings, CEO of WISH, said: “Dr Summers has a distinctive voice in global policy and we are delighted that his thoughts will add to the rich discussion at WISH.

Now more than ever, his measured tone and optimistic outlook are needed to provide a counter narrative to today’s dominant discourse of doom and gloom. He has said recently that the world is actually coming together, not falling apart, which perfectly encapsulates the purpose and spirit of WISH.” WISH, a global initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), is a meeting point for thousands of high-level policymakers, academics, and professionals. It has also evolved into a key platform for the dissemination of healthcare innovation and best practices. The WISH Summit, which takes place from 29th to 30th November, will feature innovation showcases from around the world that are shaping the design, delivery, and financing of care, as well as a cohort of young innovators - emerging healthcare leaders under the age of 30 - whose contributions to global health deserve wider recognition. The WISH 2016 Summit will feature reports and nine panels that highlight and address some of the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges, including Autism, Accountable Care, Behavioral Insights, Cardiovascular Disease, Health Professional Education, Healthy Populations, Investing in Health, Genomics in the Gulf Region and Islamic Ethics, and Precision Medicine. Internationally-renowned experts will chair the discussions. WISH will also report on its impact, locally and globally, on issues previously highlighted at the conference, such as diabetes and patient safety.

Transforming Healthcare For more than 60 years, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center has remained at the forefront of healthcare. From our collaborative partnership with Baylor College of Medicine® to our longstanding affiliation with Texas Heart® Institute, we have contributed to research and advancements that have transformed medicine for generations.

“Physicians and scientists will work together on one integrated campus that creates a first of its kind infrastructure for advanced patient care, research, and education. This establishes a unique and best-in-class environment unlike any other institution in the Texas Medical Center.”

Now we’re building on our tradition of excellence with a $1.1 billion investment as we move forward with completion of our state-of-the-art

– Wayne Keathley, President Baylor St. Luke’s

hospital on our McNair Campus, which will also be the new home of the Texas Heart® Institute. When complete, the new complex—located at 7200 Cambridge Street, bordering the Texas Medical Center—will include a 650-bed hospital, a medical office building and ambulatory care complex, and new facilities for science and research.

McNair Campus at a Glance • Ambulatory Surgery Center complete in March 2016 • Surgical Specialty Facility complete in May 2016

International Services

www.CHIStLukesHealth.org/McNair-Campus Email: international@stlukeshealth.org | Tel: +1-832-355-3350 | www.stlukesinternational.org Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas – USA

• First bed tower will be complete Fall 2017 • 650-bed replacement hospital and second bed tower complete 35 early 2019

NEWS

Koenig announces successful completion of first batch of trainees for its EC Council ‘Certified Network Defender’ course

Aditya Girish TERRITORY MANAGER MIDDLE EAST

oenig Solutions, a leading IT training provider and the world’s number one offshore training company, revealed the successful completion of the first batch of trainees for its new course offering, the EC Council ‘Certified Network Defender’ course.13 participants completed the new course offering, which took place at the Koenig Training Solutions Centre in Dubai. The program has been designed to help address the growing cyber security skills gap in the region—as industry experts have noted the emergence of new cyber threats and criminals becoming more tech-savvy in their operations. Koenig is the first learning partner in the region to offer this course, potentially targeting the millions of IT and Network Administrators that remained untrained on network defense techniques. According to a report from Micro Market Monitor, the Middle East and African

(MEA) region’s cyber security market is poised to grow to USD 13.43 billion by 2019. Network defense proves to be a timely and strategic course to offer as it represents a broader market globally, as compared to ethical hacking and penetration testing. In fact, the industry will face over 1.5 million unfilled IT security jobs globally in 2020--with 92 per cent of hiring businesses clamouring for highly skilled and fully certified candidates to fill in the openings. To help address this issue, Koenig believes focusing on people and essentially training up the next generation of workers in cybersecurity skills is the first step towards addressing this gap. “We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the first batch that enrolled for our new EC Council ‘Certified Network Defender’ course. This new offering proves to be both timely and strategic as the number of people and the amount of information available online continues to grow along with the need for more cyber security professionals,” said Aditya Girish, Territory Manager Middle East, Koenig Solutions. “The need to secure network and information systems in the Middle East in general and the UAE in particular, is an essential factor that needs to be addressed in order to keep the online economy running and to ensure economic prosperity. To reduce the skills gap and train a new generation of security specialists, organisations, higher education establishments, and training centres should share

responsibility and ideally act together to combat the growing threats in today’s connected world.” Koenig’s ‘Certified Network Defender’ course is facilitated by EC-Council Certified Instructors with over than 10 years’ experience in the technical and training field. Network professionals with certifications from the likes of CCNA, Network+, Security+, are ideal candidates that need to take this course to upgrade their skills. The course forms the basis on which skilled professionals can pursue Certified Ethical hacking (CEH) and EC-council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA) courses thereafter. The program is designed to give students the opportunity to practice architectural thinking in the design of enterprise IT systems while also be trained on the use of practical tools and techniques, which they can take back and implement in their companies and organizations. “A recent industry report has forecasted that IT global spending on cyber security will grow to USD 170 billion by 2020—which can be attributed to the emergence and continued growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) security market, which is expected to grow from USD 6.89 billion in 2015 to nearly USD 29 billion by 2020.With this in mind, the cyber security market is poised to yield huge economic opportunities. We remain committed to strengthening the UAE’s cyber security industry, and help businesses in the country to seize these opportunities and reinforce the trust of citizens and businesses in the digital world,” concluded Girish.

NEWS

“Ministry of Health & Prevention” launches ‘Generation Health’ campaign to highlight ADHD disorder in children

he Ministry of Health and Prevention’s Specialized Healthcare Department has launched the ‘Generation Health’ awareness campaign to highlight the importance of early diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Part of the campaign is to organize activities in government agencies and shopping centers as well as conduct surveys in collaboration with families and school communities. ADHD is a mental disorder of the neurodevelopment type that affects children’s behavior. Kids afflicted with ADHD have short attention span and behavioral problems, which often result in poor school performance. The disorder is characterized by problems paying attention, excessive activity, or difficulty controlling behavior. Dr. Youssif Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Ministry of Health & Prevention Hospitals Sector, said: “The ‘Generation Health’ campaign forms part of the National Mental Health Program designed in accordance with the Ministry’s mandate to provide quality and globally recognized healthcare services to all members of UAE society. We aim to promote the mental health and well-being of all community members by raising awareness of the disease. Through our campaign, we hope to reduce society’s negative attitudes towards people with mental disorders, especially children with ADHD, and their families. Dr. Al Serkal revealed that the Ministry will establish a special clinic to treat children with ADHD. As such, WILL

signed strategic agreements and Memorandums of Understanding with concerned government and private institutions to facilitate exchange of information and experiences regarding ADHD. Dr. Muna Al Kuwari, Director of the Ministry’s Specialized Healthcare Department, added that ADHD symptoms in children include lack of focus, avoidance of homework, and the tendency to lose stuff frequently. There is a gap in terms of accurate statistics with regard to its prevalence in the UAE but the number continues to grow based on the cases being treated by local psychiatric clinics and specialized treatment centers alone. Dr. Al Kuwari said: “We began our series of awareness campaigns at Dubai Festival Centre and City Centre Mirdif, where we distributed leaflets containing proper methods to detect the disorder, in addition to our initial diagnostic questionnaires given out to parents. Moreover, we organized workshop sessions at the first Academy School in Ajman for teachers; at the Ministry’s office for the staff; at the Sahara City Centre Sharjah. Similar activities will take place in Manar Mall Ras Al Khaimah on October 22, 2016; Ajman City Centre on November 12, 2016; and the Emirates Mall on November 11, 2016. The program’s second phase will involve holding of workshops in schools to guide teachers in teaching and helping students with ADHD. The school sessions will be conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. The trainings will also target kindergarten and secondary school teachers.

39 H.O: Sami el Solh Av. - Ghorayeb Bldg l T: +961 1 389067 l F: + 961 1 389379 P.O.Box: 166 - 116 AshraďŹ eh, Beirut 1100 - 2100 Lebanon l marketing@victoire.com.lb

NEWS

ABSAMC brings Middle East region’s

first ‘Diamond Facial Sculpting’ Non-surgical procedure to Dubai

Dr. Mendhy Khan CHAIRMAN, ABSAMC

he American British Surgical & Medical Centre (ABSAMC), has announced that it is bringing the Middle East region’s the ‘Diamond Facial Sculpting’ (DFS) technique to Dubai-a procedure created by world-renowned Plastic Surgeon Dr. Jason Diamond. The announcement was made, on October 6, 2016, in a press conference held at the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai. During the exclusive event, Dr. Diamond, who is listed as one of the ‘Top Injectors in the World,’ introduced and showcased the ‘Diamond Facial Sculpting,’ along with its benefits and advantages. ABSAMC’s new ‘Diamond’s in Dubai’ campaign throws the spotlight on ‘Diamond Facial Sculpting’, and the centre is the only facility with complete exclusive rights offering this technique in the region. DFS was created by Dr. Diamond to address the demand required by his ever film-ready clientele in Hollywood. The non-invasive

treatment is a unique ground breaking 15-minute facial sculpting and facial rejuvenation technique that provides standard results and makes the patient appear 10-15 years younger. At the event, Dr. Diamond explained that DFS is a non-surgical way to both lift the face and create significant improvement with facial sculpting and definition using an injectable filler, which are injected on the bony surfaces of the face, including the high lateral cheek bone, the jaw angle and the central chin. Through his revolutionary procedure, the fillers are placed deep onto the bone--literally changing and enhancing the shape and structure of the bone.

Dr. Diamond, whose hard work and carefully crafted surgical skills are backed by several prestigious accolades, including being double board certified by The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology. Medical experts have shared that some of today’s stunning celebrity faces have two enviable traits in common--a defined bone structure and flawless, youthful-looking skin. With this in mind, Dr. Diamond’s ‘Non-Surgical Facial Sculpting’ not only helps drive in key results to a patient’s facial appearance but also does away with the long healing phase common among surgical procedures.

“We are proud to bring “‘Diamond Facial Sculpting’ to the Middle East and we are delighted that Dubai is one of the first places to offer the same in the region,” said Dr. Mendhy Khan, Chairman, ABSAMC. “We have always identified the world’s best talent in cosmetic surgery and this is reflected in our long standing partnership with Dr. Jason Diamond, who we have worked with for the last eight years. Rest assured, ABSAMC remains meticulous and unwavering in its commitment to excellence and perfection.”

“I am privileged to be working with ABSAMC in Dubai, which is now widely recognized as the definition of beauty, happiness, luxury and comfort in the GCC. The emirate has become a melting pot of beautiful people from different cultures from around the world and being here allows me the opportunity to offer my services to the beautiful people in Dubai. I’m looking forward to helping thousands of patients achieve a more youthful, natural-looking appearance,” concluded Dr. Diamond.

INTERVIEW

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AMERICAN HOSPITAL DUBAI

Mr. Peter Makowski 42

INTERVIEW

The Hospital is focusing on three major themes, each of which will help enhance our clinical services and patient care - patient access to services, personalized medicine, and innovation. Based at the international hub for healthcare tourism in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, American Hospital Dubai is the Middle East’s leading private hospital and has been offering US standards of healthcare for 20 years. American Hospital Dubai is an internationally accredited general surgical hospital providing the highest standards of patient-centric healthcare and customer services, across a wide range of clinical areas. The 240-bed hospital campus is equipped with the most advanced imaging and diagnostic technology, and treatments, through a multidisciplinary team of physicians who are all western board certified or equivalent. The American Hospital Dubai provides easy access to innovative personalized services, comfort and convenience on an outpatient and inpatient basis, with a range of state-of-the-art private rooms and VIP rooms, for patients and family members.

First, we would like to know about the main elements of excellence provided by the hospital to the patients The American Hospital’s Commitment to excellence is evident across the entire hospital organisation and especially in the clinical care we provide for patients. From the outset, when the hospital first opened in 1996, our mission was to provide the highest quality of US healthcare to the people of Dubai, the UAE and the wider region. This remains our mission today and everything we do is guided by this single and compelling objective. It is clear from our international accreditations (JCI and CAP), from the standards we set for our multidisciplinary team of physicians (all are required to be North American Board Certified or equivalent), and the industry recognitions and awards that we earn through our work. We invest in the most outstanding healthcare facilities and advanced technologies for the benefit of patients and we research and actively share our expertise with the physician community in the UAE. Measuring patient outcomes and satisfaction levels is central to ensuring our performance excellence. Most recently – and notably – our standards of excellence have been recognised by the Mayo Clinic, which undertook an extensive and rigorous process of due diligence before announcing that the American Hospital Dubai had become the first hospital in the Middle East to become a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, in June 2016 – almost 20 years after we first started to treat patients. Mayo Clinic has recently been named the best hospital in the nation in the U.S. News and World Report rankings for 2016-2017.

The hospital is always looking forward to providing the best healthcare services and the world’s best treatments. What is the mechanism used to deliver a portfolio of integrated medical services conforming to US standards in the UAE and in the same quality? Setting and maintaining clinical and operational standards is central to the way we work. In addition to our accreditations and the ongoing work of our quality team, the hospital works closely with The Mayo Clinic to ensure that we continue to meet the highest standards of US healthcare, using a number of patient centric and clinical outcome metrics. The hospital’s healthcare services have expanded significantly and you have opened new units. Could you tell us about the most important services that you offer and the most important medical units that you have? Our recent developments include our Cancer Care Center, which now includes a new Radiation Therapy program using advanced RapidArc technology. The center is a dedicated facility providing a range of Medical Oncology and Hematology services for all forms of cancers and blood disorders, with a dedicated team.In addition to traditional cancer treatment options of Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Palliative care, the Cancer Care Center offers new therapies, which are creating exciting new treatment possibilities. Developments in our care include services for those patients who need longer term care and their specific needs; our Palliative Care service focuses on the quality of life in patients, who may have life limiting illnesses, by focusing on the prevention of suffering and relief of symptoms particularly early in the course of the illness.

INTERVIEW

The Heart & Vascular Center now includes a range of vascular services and an updated state-of-the-art angiosuite. The center is able to diagnose, monitor and treat all types of heart conditions through invasive and non-invasive cardiology procedures, cardiothoracic surgery, and vascular surgery, supported by advanced rehabilitation services. Our new electrophysiologist is starting a laboratory service to look at heart rhythm problems such as ventricular arrhythmia which occurs when the heart beats irregularly and cannot pump blood effectively. The new service will provide cardiac electrophysiology and echocardiography. It will also offer device management, including pacemakers, loop recorders, defibrillators and biventricular devices. Cosmetic & Dermatology Services provides diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of all skin, hair and nail diseases for adults and children, including treatment for skin cancers. Laser treatment is available for a range of conditions including wrinkles and aged skin, as well as treatment of unwanted hair; skin fillers and botox injections are also offered for wrinkles. The new Advanced Rehabilitation Center is a dedicated facility located in the hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Bed Tower. With a total of 22 private rooms, the center provides patient-centric therapy and comprehensive patient care under one roof.

The multidisciplinary team consists of more than 20 staff, including a physician specialist in neurological and spinal cord injuries, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist and full-time specialty nurses. The American Hospital Dubai has developed a comprehensive pediatric service with the introduction of new specialties and a growing team of US board certified (or equivalent) pediatric specialists. The pediatric team provides comprehensive care with outpatient and inpatient services, as well as 24-hour access to emergency care. The 13-bed inpatient unit provides care with pediatricians undertaking regular rounds; this includes a high dependency area for children requiring more intensive observation and dedicated care. The hospital offers highly specialized expertise in pediatric surgery and pediatric orthopedic surgery, pediatric endocrinology, pediatric hemato-oncology, supported by ENT and audiology specialists, ophthalmologists and dermatologists. The team uses neuroimaging techniques as well as other tools in the assessment of babies, to identify any possible abnormalities and the prediction of possible future neurodevelopment problems. Whilst setting standards, the American Hospital Dubai has also created a track record of achievement, from the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Orthopedics and Total

INTERVIEW

Joints Reconstruction Center to the introduction of a Cochlear implant program, and clinics dedicated to Neuroscience, Cancer Care, and Cardiology. The Orthopedics and Total Joint Replacement Center offers a single point of service for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of trauma cases, sports injuries and a wide range of joint related conditions, for adult patients. The center’s team comprises North American Board Certified orthopedic surgeons and practitioners, including rehabilitation specialists. The ENT department at the American Hospital Dubai provides a wide range of patient services including audiology, ear surgery, surgery of the thyroid gland and tumors of the head and neck, selected facial plastic surgery, salivary gland excisional surgery, and speech, voice and swallowing therapy. In addition, the department supports the Hospital’s Cochlear Implant Center of Excellence, which is one of the leading centers of its kind in the Middle East. On campus, we have a development program which includes expansion of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from 9 beds to 19 beds, and a renovation program for the Transitional Care Unit (TCU). The TCU provides long term care for geriatric and other patients and is one of the most demanding forms of care, in which the patient may be suffering from a wide range of debilitating physical and mental, chronic and acute conditions. The TCU incorporates all the latest technology and facilities used in providing state-of-the-art long-term care for patients, in an environment and surroundings that provide comfort and reassurance for senior patients and their families, in spacious private rooms and suites with attractive views.

The multidisciplinary team consists of more than 20 staff, including a physician specialist in neurological and spinal cord injuries, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist and full-time specialty nurses. The Advanced Rehabilitation Center provides specialty care for patients requiring long-term care for serious conditions such as stroke or spinal cord injuries, which may severely affect mobility, speech or other bodily functions. The Center combines high-tech and high-touch to optimize the expertise of the multidisciplinary team. The holistic approach ensures care for the patient and support for family members to help patients through their recovery and return to the highest possible quality of life and work. The aim is to get the patient back into the family home and community, living life as normally as possible. Pediatric Service We recently launched a comprehensive pediatric service with the introduction of new specialties and a growing team of US board certified (or equivalent) pediatric specialists. The pediatric team provides comprehensive care with outpatient and inpatient services, as well as 24-hour access to emergency care. The 13-bed inpatient unit provides care with pediatricians undertaking regular rounds; this includes a high dependency area for children requiring more intensive observation and dedicated care. The outpatient clinics offer appointments made through easy access online and over the phone, as well as walk-in clinics.

What are the latest therapeutic techniques available at the American Hospital Dubai? The hospital is moving increasingly towards personalised care for patients, and with a greater focus on wellness - that is all about what we can do to help keep the community healthy and more effort dedicated towards screening and prevention, rather than just treatment.

The team treats more than 2,000 patients every month at the dedicated clinics supported by a team of qualified pediatric nurses. The hospital offers highly specialized expertise in pediatric surgery and pediatric orthopedic surgery, pediatric endocrinology, pediatric hemato-oncology, supported by ENT and audiology specialists, ophthalmologists and dermatologists. The team uses neuroimaging techniques as well as other tools in the assessment of babies, to identify any possible abnormalities and the prediction of possible future neurodevelopment problems.

New Advanced Rehabilitation Center The new Advanced Rehabilitation Center is a dedicated facility located in the hospital’s new Bed Tower. With a total of 22 private rooms, the center provides patient-centric therapy and comprehensive patient care under one roof.

Colon cancer Screening Program American Hospital Dubai recently launched a new screening program for colon cancer – one of the most common forms of cancer and a main cause of cancer related deaths worldwide – at the UAE Cancer Congress 2016, where the hospital

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was the Main Partner. The new program is designed to prevent, detect and cure colon cancer in women and men aged 50 and over, and so save patient lives. Colorectal (large bowel) cancer is the third most common cancer in the world and one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths among women and men but it is also one of the most preventable types of cancer and is often curable when detected early. The hospital’s Colon Cancer Screening Program is a comprehensive package designed for people over the age of 50. Screening involves Colonoscopy, which is a quick (20-30 minutes) and safe procedure to detect polyps undertaken whilst the patient is under sedation and provides fast and accurate results. You have recently announced that you joined the “Mayo Clinic Care Network”. What is the added value of this step as you are the first healthcare institution in the Middle East to join this network? How important is this to you? A5: We are very proud to be the first hospital in the Middle East to be selected to join the prestigious Mayo Clinic Care Network – we announced this in June 2016. It is the culmination of nearly 20 years’ work by the hospital’s board, management and staff. We look forward to building on the high standards of care we have in place and enhancing quality even more. As one of the pioneers of private health care, we are determined to push the bar even higher in the Middle East when it comes to patient-centric care – a commitment we share with Mayo Clinic. The agreement gives us access to the latest Mayo Clinic scientific knowledge and promotes collaboration among physicians for the benefit of patients. What are the services covered by the Mayo Clinic Care Network and that the hospital in Dubai will benefit from? In June 2016, the hospital became the first in the Middle East to join the prestigious US-based Mayo Clinic Care Network, creating an exciting new joint approach to patient care and close collaboration across research interests. As a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, American Hospital Dubai will work closely with Mayo to share medical knowledge and clinical expertise in ways that enhance patient care. Network products and services include: - eConsults that enable American Hospital Dubai physicians to connect electronically and directly with Mayo specialists for additional input on a patient’s care - AskMayoExpert database for reference at the point of

care to offer the latest Mayo-vetted information on disease management, care guidelines, treatment recommendations and reference materials for a wide range of medical conditions - Healthcare consulting that enables American Hospital Dubai to learn more about Mayo’s clinical, operational and business models, including their design and implementation - eTumor Board conferences that invite American Hospital Dubai physicians to present and discuss management of complex cancer cases with a multidisciplinary panel of Mayo specialists and other network members We are only a few months away from the Arab Health Congress 2017, where the American Hospital Dubai introduces its latest innovations. What are your preparations for this year? What are the main themes that you will be focusing on? The main theme of our presentation at Arab Health 2017 is our collaboration with Mayo Clinic as the region’s first member of the Care Network and how it reflects on our major services including Comprehensive cancer care services, Joint replacement (center of excellence), Advance rehabilitation services and Heart and Vascular center. We will also be highlighting the 20th anniversary of the American Hospital Dubai. What are the main conferences in which you participate throughout the year? How important are they to you? In addition to Arab Health 2017, the hospital supports the UAE Cancer Congress, which is the annual gathering of oncologists dedicated to the latest scientific developments and research in cancer. We were most recently in Nigeria supporting the Medic West Africa 2016 event, as a Silver Sponsor. In addition, we are active at a wide range of specialized seminars and conferences, from the Arab Pediatric Medical Congress to the Emirates Cardiac Society Congress, and Middle East Otolaryngology Conference. Today, medical tourism receives a great deal of attention in the United Arab Emirates, what are the services that you offer in this field through your International Patients’ Office? The American Hospital Dubai provides a range of US standard healthcare services to visiting patients from across the Middle East and Africa, including all our comprehensive services such as, the Heart & Vascular Center, Cancer Care Center, Pediatric Services, Orthopedic Services, Intensive Care, Acute Rehabilitation, and our Cosmetic & Dermatology Services.

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Since you are present in the UAE, Dubai in particular, what do you think about the medical sector in the emirate in light of the great attention and support given by the leadership to this sector? American Hospital Dubai is the Middle East’s leading private hospital and has been offering US standards of healthcare for 20 years. There is no doubt that the hospital has been able to achieve success and realise its mission because of the incredible vision shown by the leadership of the UAE and Dubai, and the commitment and dedication of

the hospital’s board. Under this leadership, the healthcare sector in the UAE – and in Dubai with its innovative healthcare free zone - has developed at a rapid pace and attracted some of the world’s leading healthcare providers to the country. The fact that the American Hospital Dubai has just become the first hospital to join the prestigious Mayo Clinic Care Network is a testament to the confidence and respect that the UAE and Dubai has created around the world and a great example of what the healthcare sector has achieved in the last 20 years.

ARTICLE FEATURES // Robotic Surgery

echnological advancements have strongly entered the world of medicine while bringing modern and sophisticated methods and procedures that are now available all around the world. Today, robotic surgery is the trend of modern medicine that allows surgeons to operate with greater precision and minimal discomfort for the patient.

The use of high-definition 3D cameras allows surgeons close-up views of areas they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to see during open surgery. Robotic surgery is also available in many countries of the Arab world and the Gulf and some countries were even the first to provide this technology after having worked on attracting professional doctors who master this new technology. In this context, we can assure that a skilled surgeon is only the one who is able to perform a robotic surgery unlike the misconception saying that robots can replace doctors. Today, the Arab world is full of stateof-the-art medical technologies as well as competent personnel who saved the patient from travelling abroad to Europe and the United States to receive treatment; robots are one of these modern technologies that gave the Arab world an added value in terms of medicine by combining advanced diagnostic techniques and robotic surgery and most importantly excellent personnel are able to work on these sophisticated machines.

The future of modern medicine aiming to reduce surgical intervention

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ARTICLE FEATURES // Robotic Surgery

Compared to traditional techniques, the very small incisions created by robotic surgery drastically reduce patients’ time in the hospital and their risk of infections. The use of high-definition 3D cameras allows surgeons close-up views of areas they aren’t able to see during open surgery. Fully articulating robotic arms mimic the movement of hands, allowing surgeons to have greater dexterity and control than is possible with conventional laparoscopic instruments. Recent advances in the field of medicine that have been spreading and increasing in the last ten years played a major role in helping patients overcome their suffering by altering surgeries and the face of medicine in general and became the most promising medical innovation. Robotic surgery, therefore, complements the development of laparoscopic surgery - the new concept in modern medicine “minimal surgical intervention.”

How do robots work? Robotic surgery allows doctors to perform many types of complex procedures with more precision, flexibility and control than is possible with conventional techniques; it is usually asso ciated with minimally invasive surgery. The most widely used clinical robotic surgical system includes a camera arm and mechanical arms with surgical instruments attached to them. The surgeon controls the arms while seated at a computer console near the operating table. The console gives the

surgeon a high-definition, magnified, 3-D view of the surgical site. The surgeon leads other team members who assist during the operation. The da Vinci Si has two separate but connected sections, the tower, which is positioned directly over the patient during surgery, contains the robot’s four arms—three that can hold a multitude of different surgical instruments, and a fourth that holds the system’s 3-D cameras. These arms are controlled by a computer that exactly replicates the movements of the operating surgeon.

ROBOTIC SURGERY IS THE TREND OF MODERN MEDICINE THAT ALLOWS SURGEONS TO OPERATE WITH GREATER PRECISION AND MINIMAL DISCOMFORT FOR THE PATIENT

ARTICLE FEATURES // Robotic Surgery

THE USE OF HIGH-DEFINITION 3D CAMERAS ALLOWS SURGEONS CLOSE-UP VIEWS OF AREAS THEY ARENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T ABLE TO SEE DURING OPEN SURGERY. FULLY ARTICULATING ROBOTIC ARMS MIMIC THE MOVEMENT OF HANDS, ALLOWING SURGEONS TO HAVE GREATER DEXTERITY AND CONTROL THAN IS POSSIBLE WITH CONVENTIONAL LAPAROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS

ARTICLE FEATURES // Robotic Surgery

The console is where the surgeon sits and operates the robotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s controls while looking into a stereoscopic monitor that provides a magnified, high definition 3-D view of the surgical site. The surgeon manipulates the robotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four arms by maneuvering two master controls that provide fingertip precision of movement.

The surgeon also operates a footswitch that provides additional options, such as the ability to switch between two different energy sources. Touchpads allow the surgeon to easily adjust video, audio and system settings, while the ergonomic console and the alignment of the controls and monitor are designed to keep the surgeon

in a relaxed, focused position at all times. Often, robotic surgery makes minimally invasive surgery possible. The benefits of minimally invasive surgery include fewer complications, such as surgical site infection, less pain and blood loss, quicker recovery and smaller, less noticeable scars.

ARTICLE FEATURES // Robotic Surgery

When is robotic surgery performed? Cases requiring robotic surgery include prostate, cardiovascular, gynecological surgeries such as hysterectomy, fibroids removal, weight loss and intestinal surgeries such as cholecystectomy, appendectomy or tonsillectomy. The most common surgeries in this field today are those related to the urinary tract, especially radical prostatectomy in case of prostate cancer.

ROBOTIC SURGERY ALLOWS DOCTORS TO PERFORM MANY TYPES OF COMPLEX PROCEDURES WITH MORE PRECISION, FLEXIBILITY AND CONTROL THAN IS POSSIBLE WITH CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES This surgery can reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction and other traditional consequences prostatectomy. Robots can be also used in kidney surgery, for both partial and total nephrectomy and to treat uterine prolapse. Most importantly, robots should be only used when needed; some surgeries are simple and do not require a lot of technological intervention. In some cases, the surgeon is forced to perform critical and complicated surgeries, thus, they would resort to robotic surgery given that it enhances precision, flexibility and control during the operation and allows them to better see the site, compared with traditional techniques. Using robotic surgery, surgeons can perform delicate and complex procedures that may have been difficult or impossible with other methods.

SHARING OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE WORLD When an international academic center approached the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) for guidance, we sent a multidisciplinary team of experts to advise the hospital on how to improve its health care service delivery, operations and training programs. Katherine Pakieser-Reed, PhD, RN, executive director of the Center for Nursing Professional Practice and Research, reviewed the institution’s nursing practices and provided a set of recommendations that included operational improvements as well as customized training programs in areas such as preventing pressure ulcers. Gary Lennon, UCM’s director of Supply Chain Performance and Analytics, brought to the project his business savvy on how to contain costs and improve efficiency in the management of materials and supplies. And Dr. Aasim Padela, an Emergency Medicine faculty member, reviewed the hospital’s Emergency Department operations and educational programs and suggested improvements in clinical care processes and residency and fellowship training. These are just three of the many experts from the University of Chicago Medicine who are now supporting new and existing hospitals around the globe. They are the same men and woman who work every day in our “hospital of the future,” the Center for Care and Discovery, a new 10-story facility at the heart of the University of Chicago medical campus. An architectural and technological tour de force, our new hospital provides a home for complex specialty care with a focus on cancer, gastrointestinal disease, neuroscience, advanced surgery and high-technology medical imaging. For more information about our international knowledge transfer services and training, please contact Naif Alsantli, regional manager of International Programs, at Naif.Alsantli@uchospitals.edu or call +1-872-201-9453.

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Cardiac surgeon Husam Balkhy, MD, in the Center for Care and Discovery at the University of Chicago

â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the Forefront of Robotic Cardiac Surgeryâ&#x20AC;?

Cardiac surgeon Husam Balkhy, MD, is an internationally recognized expert in this highly sophisticated technique and has performed hundreds of robotic heart procedures with excellent outcomes. I spoke to him recently about the advantages of using a robotic approach for cardiac surgery, and where he sees the field headed in the near future. What is the main benefit of robotic cardiac surgery over the traditional approach? The main benefit of the robot is that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not disrupting

The University of Chicago Medicine is one of a handful of hospitals in the world that offers a wide range of robotic approaches for heart conditions, including coronary bypass surgery, valve repair and replacement, surgery to correct atrial fibrillation, implantation of pacing devices and procedures to correct congenital conditions. the anatomy of the human body. When we do traditional open surgery, we have to saw the sternum in half and spread the ribs to get good exposure and work all around the different areas of the heart. When we do the robotic approach, we just have to make little holes in between the ribs. The procedure will determine the size of these holes, but generally they are anywhere from 5 millimeters to about 20 millimeters in diameter. So the benefit is that there is less disruption of human anatomy. There is a significantly reduced incidence of infections after big incisions.

INTERVIEW

There is a reduced incidence of blood loss, and most importantly there is less disability of the patient after the surgery, and a quicker return to normal activities and to work. Are there other advantages that the technology of the robot offers? There are some cases where we actually see more with the robot, believe it or not, than we see with the patient wide open. For example, when we do ablation for an irregular heartbeat, there are some areas of the left atrium, or the upper chamber on the left side, which are obscured by the other anatomy in front of it. When we come in with the robot, we come in from the side with the robotic camera, which basically can go in so we can see underneath those areas. The robotic camera and scope, it’s almost like some of those cartoons where you take your eyeball out of the socket and take it to where you want to see. We don’t yet have the ability to do it in a flexible way, to bend it around to look behind something, but I can use it to see something up close and personal. Is there an ideal candidate for a robotic procedure? Absolutely. For example, if somebody needs coronary bypass surgery and they need 5 bypasses, it is probably more appropriate to do the surgery in an open fashion, for the simple reason that it takes a while longer to do the surgery. The length of the operation matters; it means that the patient is on the operating table for a period of time; they’re on general anesthesia for a period of time. So if the procedure takes beyond a certain period of time then it’s better to do it the traditional way. How have the robotic systems changed in the years you’ve been using them? There have been advances in the robotic systems overall, specifically in the instruments that are available through the robot and advances in the imaging available through various significant ones. There have also been advances in the adjunctive tools that are not part of the robot but allow us to do things inside the body that weren’t available before. For example, anastomotic devices, which are things that connect blood vessels together during coronary surgery, have come a long way. We have a device now to basically staple the blood vessels ogether with one fell swoop,

just by pushing a button. It’s been used for years in bowel surgery, but because of the size and the delicacy of coronary arteries and the bypass grafts, they hadn’t been developed for coronary surgery. Now that’s a new device that we use regularly. What are some of the challenges to using these tools? Are there certain things you wish they could do? I think the first one is cost. The cost of these instruments is fairly steep and sometimes prohibitive. Robots are used in all sorts of different disciplines in surgery, including urology, gynecology and now cardiac, so there’s a challenge in having enough systems to go around. If they weren’t as expensive as they are, we could have one ideally for each group. The technology of the instrumentation can be a little bit challenging too because there’s limited space in the patient sometimes. The patients that benefit the most from this technology are patients who have the largest number of complications from the traditional approach, which often means they are obese. Those are the exact same patients that have a limitation in the amount of space inside the chest, so that sometimes can be a challenge. What are some further advances you see coming in the near future? I would hope to see advances in the adjunctive technologies that are associated with the robotic system. For example, I’d love to see different instrumentation like different forceps, cautery, or laser adjuncts to the robotic arms that allow us to do some things differently. Adding staplers to the robotic arms is going to happen soon, as will adding these anastomotic devices so they’re not outside of the system. So the next step will be a lot of coupling of technologies. The robot is also pretty big right now. The only robot available for cardiac surgery in clinical use is the da Vinci robot, and it’s huge. If you were to come down from Mars and look at it, you would say it’s as big as the ones they use to build cars. So there should an improvement in the whole bulk or size of it. We want to increase the whole toolset to give it more dexterity and flexibility to do all of these procedures more efficiently. For more information, please visit the website of the University of Chicago Medicine at http://international.uchospitals.edu/

INTERVIEW

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC) in Beirut affiliated with Johns Hopkins International managed to introduce the robotic surgery technology since 2012 to achieve a quantum leap in the world of surgery in the Middle East and the Gulf region and was a pioneer in performing robotic surgeries while avoiding the hassle of traditional surgery. Despite the importance of this step, it wouldn’t have succeeded without the highly-skilled surgeons who have extensive experience in the field of robotic surgery. Dr. Karim Nawfal, a specialist in gynaecological surgery, is one of the physicians working in Clemenceau Medical Center and has a distinguished record of experience in robotic surgery. “Hospitals” magazine visited Dr. Nawfal in his clinic at the center and made the below interview: First of all, how do you assess robotic surgeries in the Middle East? And to what extent did this type of surgery begin to change among the general public? In fact, robotic surgeries in the Middle East started in 2012 through Clemenceau Medical Center in affiliation with Johns Hopkins, where the “Da Vinci” robot was brought along with a team of specialized surgeons in this field. That was after the Clemenceau Medical Center realized that the machine alone is useless without the presence of an experienced team in this field. Medical robots were first introduced to the world in 2005 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Da Vinci Surgical System for gynaecological surgery. Thus, this technology began to develop and spread significantly and it is being used today 80 to 90% of the time. It is true that the launch of robots in the Arab world was slightly slower compared to the United States, however, Clemenceau Medical Center managed to introduce it and use it when it was still uncommon in many US hospitals. Today, the center has become a popular destination for many patients from the neighboring Arab countries because they are aware that robotic surgeries in CMC are equivalent to the ones performed abroad. It is no doubt that robots have facilitated the performance of surgery and reduced the complications that may occur during recovery. But, how important is a doctor’s experience in this field? Is it possible for a robot to perform the surgery without the surgeon as some believe? Such machine is very important but is not more important than the presence of a skilled physician who has extensive experience working on this machine, which will be useless alone; therefore, specialized surgeons with competence and experience in robotic surgery have been hired first and

then “Da Vinci” robots have been brought, hence, the surgeon’s experience has been combined with this machine. In order for a doctor, a gynaecologist in particular, to perform a robotic surgery, they must study this specialty as there is a specialized organization in this regard in the United States, the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL). The doctor should join the AAGL, which includes laparoscopic and robotic surgeries; after completion of studies, the doctor can start carrying out this type of surgery. I did that along with my work in the United States where I performed hundreds of operations that enabled me to acquire the experience needed in this field. How much did the robot spread in the neighboring countries? Besides Lebanon that is considered a pioneer in this field, robots are available today in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. To what extent does the center benefit from the existing affiliation with Johns Hopkins in this field? We have a close and constant cooperation with them in order to exchange expertise and benefit from every new development in order to provide the best medical service, especially at the level of medical innovations. We are currently in the process of preparing for a conference with Johns Hopkins to consolidate this communication and keep abreast of the latest medical innovations in order to upgrade the medical services provided to our patients. What about robotic gynecologic surgery? What are the main operations performed using the robot? Hysterectomy, removal of fibroids, uterine prolapse and other conditions in which robotic surgery has become

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essential, after it has proven its ability to save a lot of complications and time while providing more accurate benefits and less side effects related to gynecological diseases. Surgeries for some types of uterus lining cancer and cervical cancer can be also performed with robots, but ovarian cancer is still done in traditional surgery.

and women will still have the chance to conceive. Hysterectomy procedures, some of which are performed laparoscopically, or with a single incision in the navel (single port surgery) or are robot-assisted if the surgery was crucial in case of a large uterus or in the presence of cancer or many adhesions resulting from past operations.

Gynecological surgery has seen a quantum leap with the emergence of laparoscopic surgery as robotic surgery is considered today an extension of the development that began with the laparoscope; making a large incision is no longer needed and the hospital stay has become shorter with a reduced possibility of bleeding or infection as in traditional surgery. Laparoscopic surgeries have also created a quantum leap in the world of gynecological surgery as we were able to perform some surgeries, however, robots were brought to complement this path and we are now able to carry out even more operations with greater precision, smaller incisions, less scars and quicker recovery. Today, these surgeries can be performed with a possibility of preserving the womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uterus especially that they are often still in their reproductive age. Thus, we perform a robot-assisted surgery in order to protect the uterus from any harm or damage that may be caused by the surgery

So, are all gynecological surgeries performed with a robot in Clemenceau Medical Center? I would like to mention here that we resort to robotic surgeries depending on the patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s condition and the type of surgery; we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to perform any surgery that can be carried out laparoscopically only, because we do not want to misuse the robot or resort to robotic surgeries for all medical conditions. Some surgeries are carried out laparoscopically and through one incision in the navel (single port surgery) or with a robot; but most importantly is to avoid traditional surgeries as much as possible. Today, some of the largest insurance companies in Lebanon have become aware of the importance of robotic surgeries and their importance to the patient, therefore, they are covering its cost. Our goal is to provide this service to the patients in order to benefit from its advantages should the need arise.

ARTICLE FEATURES // Robots in CMC

Robotic surgery has entered the Arab world through Clemenceau Medical Center, Beirut in affiliation with Johns Hopkins International, which was a pioneer in bringing the “Da Vinci” robot, the cutting-edge technology that put CMC at the forefront of the global medical institutions both medically through the availability of experienced medical specialists working on the robot or technologically through the provision of the latest and most advanced technologies, all that in order to provide a wider range of medical services as well as robotic surgeries and avoid resorting to traditional surgeries. Today, the Clemenceau Medical Center is considered the safe haven of every patient requiring a robotic surgery, as it has become the destination of many patients in the region and in the Arab world. Patients no longer need to travel to the United States or the European countries given the services provided by the management to the patients coming for treatment and others needing this type of surgery, which holds many advantages that allow the patient the possibility to leave the hospital on the same day or perhaps the next day in addition to avoiding bigger incisions in the traditional surgeries and the possible complications such as the wound infection or its exposure to viruses and others.

CLEMENCEAU MEDICAL CENTER CMC in Beirut AFFILIATED WITH JOHNS HOPKINS INTERNATIONAL INTRODUCED THE ROBOTIC SURGERY TO THE ARAB WORLD

Da Vinci Robot

An integrated information system that receives commands from the surgeon

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, MD & CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC) in affiliation with Johns Hopkins said that the CMC is the first hospital in Lebanon to launch the robotic surgery. “This new technology puts our hospital at the forefront of the international hospitals, both medically and technologically, and shows that we are always ready to invest in order to ensure that we provide the most important medical discoveries to the patients in Lebanon and the Arab world. This technology is used in gynecological, urologic and general surgeries,” he added. More precise movements The “Da Vinci” robot is an integrated information system that receives commands from the surgeon through a computer and consists of two parts: the “patient-side cart” that has four robotic arms connected to the patient and the “surgeon console” where the surgeon sits and manipulates the robot’s surgical instruments in a 3D HD in-site vision system that provides accurate movements. However, the “Da Vinci” robot can’t replace the surgeon but allows him to perform more accurate surgeries. This system is used in several fields to address a wide range of conditions in general surgery such as obesity, stomach cancer, pancreas cancer, liver cancer, bowel resection and hernia repair. In urology, surgeries that can be performed include prostate, kidney and bladder cancer and other conditions. While in gynaecological surgery, we can perform hysterectomy or remove the uterine fibroids, ovarian diseases, uterine prolapse and uterine cancers. In cardiac surgeries, they are restoring to the robot in mitral valve prolapse and coronary artery disease. Robotic surgeries have clear and concrete benefits; the wounds resulting from a robotic surgery are tiny incisions that don’t exceed 12 mm in size, however, difficult deeply located areas can be easily accessed through these incisions.

ARTICLE FEATURES // Robots in CMC

Pain following minimally invasive surgeries is greatly reduced, while possible complications associated with wounds are almost non-existent. Due to this technique, recovery time is quicker, blood loss is reduced and esthetically, results are impressive as robotic surgery leaves virtually no scarring on the body. This type of surgery can be applied to all general surgeries and has even outdone laparoscopic surgeries for two main reasons:

1. The da Vinci robotic surgery system provides 3D images compared to 2D images in traditional laparoscopic surgery 2. The movement of the surgical equipment in robotic surgeries has heavily outdone the movement of those used in traditional laparoscopic surgeries in terms of precision and flexibility. These two factors help the surgeon see in a very precise way in order to accurately perform a surgery while preserving organs and tissues. Therefore, this technique enables the surgeon to carry out more precise surgeries making it possible for more patients to benefit from these high-quality surgeries.

ARTICLE FEATURES // Modern Cancer Treatments

Highly efficient in the treatment of tumors and prolonging survival Medicine is achieving milestones in fighting cancer through reaching modern treatments that managed to treat many types of malignancies. Besides modern treatments, the available ones such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy have also witnessed further development and became more efficient. The type of treatment a person gets depends on the cancer type and stage - how far the cancer has spread - the age of the patient, and other medical problems and treatments the person has had. Each drug or treatment plan has different side effects.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to predict what side effects will occur, even when patients get the same treatment. Some effects can be bad and others fairly mild. Some people have a tough time with cancer treatment, but there are also many who manage quite well and are even able to work throughout treatment.

ARTICLE FEATURES // Modern Cancer Treatments

Immunotherapy Immunotherapy is treatment that uses certain parts of a person’s immune system to fight diseases such as cancer. This can be done in a couple of ways by stimulating your own immune system to work harder or smarter to attack cancer cells and giving you immune system components, such as man-made immune system proteins. Immunotherapy includes treatments that work in different ways. Some boost the body’s immune system in a very general way. Others help train the immune system to attack cancer cells specifically. Immunotherapy works better for some types of cancer than for others. It’s used by itself for some of these cancers, but for others it seems to work better when used with other types of treatment. Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. The cells, antibodies, and organs of the immune system work to protect and defend the body against foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. Doctors and researchers have found that the immune system might also be able to both determine the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells in the body, and to eliminate the cancer cells. (By itself, the immune system is not always good at destroying cancer cells; if it were, people would not get cancer.) Biological therapies are designed to boost the immune system, either directly or indirectly, by assisting in the following:

ARTICLE FEATURES // Modern Cancer Treatments

• Stop, control, or suppress the processes that allow cancers to grow • Making cancer cells more recognizable by the immune system, and therefore more susceptible to destruction by the immune system • Boosting the killing power of immune system cells • Changing the way cancer cells grow, so that they act more like healthy cells • Stopping the process that changes a normal cell into a cancerous cell • Enhancing the body’s ability to repair or replace normal cells damaged or destroyed by other forms of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation

• Preventing cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body Biological therapies can be used alone to treat cancer or can be combined with other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The main types of immunotherapy now being used to treat cancer include: • Monoclonal antibodies: These are man-made versions of immune system proteins. Antibodies can be very useful in treating cancer because they can be designed to attack a very specific part of a cancer cell.

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors: These drugs basically take the ‘brakes’ off the immune system, which helps it recognize and attack cancer cells. • Cancer vaccines: Vaccines are substances put into the body to start an immune response against certain diseases. We usually think of them as being given to healthy people to help prevent infections. But some vaccines can help prevent or treat cancer. • Other, non-specific immunotherapies: These treatments boost the immune system in a general way, but this can still help the immune system attack cancer cells.

ARTICLE FEATURES // Modern Cancer Treatments

Chemotherapy Chemo is a type of treatment that includes a drug or combination of drugs to treat cancer. The goal of chemo is to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is considered a systemic therapy. This means it may affect your entire body. Chemo drugs target rapidly growing cancer cells, but they can also affect healthy cells that grow rapidly. Surgery and radiation therapy remove, kill, or damage cancer cells in a certain area, but chemo can work throughout the whole body. This means chemo can kill cancer cells that have spread (metastasized) to

parts of the body far away from the original (primary) tumor. You and your cancer oncologist will decide what drug or combination of drugs you will get. Your doctor will choose the doses, how the drugs will be given, and how often and how long youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get treatment. All of these decisions will depend on the type of cancer, where it is, how big it is, and how it affects your normal body functions and overall health. Cancer can be treated with a single chemo drug, but often several drugs are used in a certain order or in certain combinations (called combination

chemotherapy). Different drugs that work in different ways can work together to kill more cancer cells. This can also help lower the chance that the cancer may become resistant to any one chemo drug.

THE GOAL OF CHEMO IS TO STOP OR SLOW THE GROWTH OF CANCER CELLS. CHEMOTHERAPY IS CONSIDERED A SYSTEMIC THERAPY Chemotherapy drugs can be given in a variety of different ways; oral chemo medications, subcutaneous injection of chemo treatments and intra-muscular chemo injections.

ARTICLE FEATURES // Modern Cancer Treatments

Radiotherapy Radiotherapy is a treatment involving the use of high-energy radiation. It’s commonly used to treat cancer. It is also sometimes used to treat benign (non-cancerous) tumors and other conditions, such as thyroid disease and some blood disorders. Radiotherapy can be used, alone or in combination with chemotherapy, to try to cure cancers. For people with incurable cancers, radiotherapy is a very effective way of controlling symptoms. Sometimes chemo is the only treatment you need. More often, chemo is used with surgery or radiation therapy or both because chemo may be used to shrink a tumor before surgery or radiation therapy. Chemo used in this way is called neoadjuvant therapy; it may be used after surgery or radiation therapy to help kill any remaining cancer cells. Chemo used in this way is called adjuvant therapy. It may be used with other treatments if your cancer comes back. Radiotherapy can be given in two different ways – from outside the body (external radiotherapy) or inside the body (internal radiotherapy). External radiotherapy usually involves using a

machine called a linear accelerator, which focuses high-energy radiation beams onto the area requiring treatment. External beam radiotherapy is completely painless. External beam radiotherapy usually involves a series of daily treatments over a number of days or weeks. Internal radiotherapy can involve placing a small piece of radioactive material temporarily inside the body near the cancerous cells (known as brachytherapy), or the use of a radioactive liquid that’s swallowed or injected. The radiation emitted by internal radiotherapy is painless, though the procedure to insert the source can sometimes cause mild discomfort. The type of radiotherapy you have and the length of treatment depends on the size and type of cancer, and where it is in your body. Side effects of radiotherapy may include: • Fatigue • Skin problems • Loss of appetite • Nausea • Vomiting • Headache • Mouth ulcers • Hair loss • Low blood cell counts

Surgery Surgery is the removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue during an operation. A doctor who specializes in treating cancer using surgery is called a surgical oncologist. Surgery is the oldest type of cancer therapy and remains an effective treatment for many types of cancer today. The goals of surgery vary. However, it is used to diagnose cancer, remove all or some of a cancer or tumor, find out where the cancer is located, find out if the cancer has spread or is affecting the functions of other organs in the body, restore the body’s appearance or function and to relieve side effects. With conventional surgery, the surgeon makes large incisions through skin, muscle, and sometimes bone. In some situations, surgeons can use surgical techniques that are less invasive. These less-invasive techniques may speed recovery and reduce pain afterwards. Sometimes, the surgeon cannot remove the entire tumor or removing it might cause too much damage to the body. In these situations, surgery is used to remove as much of the tumor as possible (debulking). Other treatments, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, may also be used to shrink the remaining cancer. These treatments may also be given before surgery to help shrink the tumor so it can be removed. Some surgery is performed to reduce the risk of developing cancer.

14 – 17 NOVEMBER 2016 DÜSSELDORF GERMANY www.medica-tradefair.com

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IFP Emirates LLC P.O.Box 117772 _ Garhoud Area The Arcade Building _ Mezzanine Floor, M02 DUBAI Tel. (00971 4) 2822 543 _ Fax (00971 4) 2824 573 e-mail: info@ifpemirates.com _ Internet: www.ifpemirates.com

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Saint George Hospital University Medical Center Emergency Medical Training Center

he Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was initiated in 2009 as part of Saint George Hospital University Medical Center (SGHUMC). During the same year, and under the provision of the EMT center, a partnership training program for emergency medical training, named the “Lebanese European Academy for Emergency Medicine (LEAEM)”, was established between SGHUMC and Incentive-Med Germany and expanded to another International partnership

with the American Heart Association. LEAEM started in July 2009 as a venue for formal basic and advanced cardiac life support courses. Its founding mission was to “Add a new dimension to the training of physicians, residents, medical students and clinical staff as well as to improve the quality of care in our community by state-of-art simulated training available to all healthcare providers across the nation”. Its founding vision was to “Reduce mortality and improve patient safety

by providing highly professional education to medical specialists and lay paramedics and implementing standardized international guidelines within the Lebanese healthcare system and within the community.” Over the past seven years, the center expanded its range of courses to about 51 and became the main Center of Excellence in Medical Simulation in Lebanon. Courses include: Life Support and Cardiac Resuscitation, fundamentals in Critical Care, Mechanical

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Ventilation, Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics, Emergency Nursing, Emergency Airway Management, Trauma, Ultrasound Training, Aeromedical Emergency, Hazmat & CBRN’e, Disaster Management, Training of Trainers and many others…Courses have been given in Hospital and on-site at different locations all over Lebanon. Since 2009, the center has also incorporated the use of high-quality simulation mannequins for training. Such as Advanced Mega-Code Kelly, Noelle, Anne, Kevin, Ultrasound phantoms and many others, pediatric and adult human patient simulators offer all participants, hands-on learning experience by exposing them to simulated medical scenarios and giving them the opportunity to practice new technologies and advanced procedures without putting real patients at risk. All LEAEM’s courses are conducted by

certified and highly qualified instructors (about 64) who teach in three different languages the most up-to-date protocols or procedures based on the international guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council, American Heart Association, and other wellknown international organizations.

The quality and variety of LEAEM-SGHUMC courses and educational support services have increasingly attracted the participation of health professionals both locally and regionally thus reaching until the end of October 2016 a total number of 12447 participants.

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Successful new technologies

in the fight against Lung Cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment is greater than ever. To explore this deeper, we spoke to Dr. Norbert Dreier, Consultant – Oncology at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi on the back of the 4th International Oncology Conference in the United Arab Emirates. One of the most important steps for physicians in treating this cancer is to identify the specific mutation of the patient’s tumor to be able to accurately determine if they will benefit from a particular treatment. A cunning disease like lung cancer that can shift forms with time requires constant follow up, Said Dr. Dreier: “The survival rate in lung cancer is considerably low in comparison with other cancers where only 10% of patients can survive for 5 years or more. When the cancer is advanced, even with treatment, patients can find it difficult to survive for more than a year. The best way to cure lung cancer is to detect it early.”

Dr. Norbert Dreier CONSULTANT – ONCOLOGY AT BURJEEL HOSPITAL IN ABU DHABI

ung cancer has been the most common cancer in the world for several decades as 1.8 million people develop this disease every year. This is more per year than breast, colorectal and prostate cancer combined. Yet, in spite of the tremendous efforts by researchers and the medical community, awareness on the gravity of the situation still lags. When 3 people die of this cancer every minute, the need to shed light on the

However, diseases like non-small cell lung cancer, it is difficult to resect enough tissue from the biopsy for biomarker testing, due to the health of the patient or the location of the tumor. Thus, a liquid biopsy is a critical procedure for patients with cancer. It provides much needed information on diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of response or resistance to treatment. “Luckily, treatment options to patients are much better than what they used to be in the past. There are genetic tests available that patients can take to eventually obtain personalised treatments that can prolong their life.

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However, these treatment options are for patients with advanced lung cancer where disease management than treatment is in place.” elaborated Dr. Dreier. This paradigm shift from one-size-fits-all treatment to targeted therapies is the core of Personalised Healthcare. The latest innovations from Roche, as the world’s leading biotech company, come at a perfect time as it offers ground-breaking approach in fighting cancer by strengthening the patient’s immune system. Thanks to the new testing methods, physicians and labs can use plasma from the patient, which contains proteins, nucleic acids and cancerous cells from a tumor. The blood draw is a non-invasive procedure for patients and a repeatable testing method that has incredible potential to transform cancer patient testing and management, and is quickly becoming a complement to the common tissue biopsy technique. Dr. Dreier went on to explain: “Now with the development of immunotherapy, we can activate our own immune systems in the fight against cancer cells. This is not the first line of treatment but in the patient does not respond to standard treatment options, we can with immunotherapy

see if the body responds better. It can aid patients greatly with relatively minimal side effects in most cases. The current trend is to shift towards more personalised treatment. This targeted approach requires very advanced diagnostics solutions and these tools will definitely change the dynamics of oncology.” In terms of awareness on the importance of screening for lung cancer, Dr. Dreier believes a lot more can definitely be done to educate the public; particularly for heavy smokers with 15 years or more of heavy smoking at 40 cigarettes or more a day. “When symptoms such as severe coughing or the presence of blood when coughing, the case is inspected through a CT scan or X-Ray at the very least. Given that the best screening tool for lung cancer is a CT scan, it is cumbersome and costly to screen every patient, the identification of a risk group is an important step - similar to what is being done in breast cancer for example. Implementing such programs will definitely be a step forward in raising awareness on this important and deadly disease”, he said.

References - GLOBOCAN 2012: Estimated Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide in 2012. Last accessed September 2016 at http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx. - GLOBOCAN 2012: Estimated Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide in 2012. Last accessed September 2016 at http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx. Calculation: 1590000/(365*24*60)=3. - Cancer Research UK. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/worldwide-cancer. [Last accessed September 2016]

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Teach Your Children Well

‘And you, of the tender years can’t know the fears that your elders grew by. And so please help them with your youth, they seek the truth before they can die.’ CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG

n order to learn something new in the not-too-distant past; there were far fewer options from which to choose than there are today. We could either ask our questions of someone who had already accumulated the knowledge we sought, we could acquire the information first-hand through our own personal experiences, or we could read about the subject in a book. If we were fortunate enough to have an appropriately enlightened person within close range, it was relatively easy to find the answer to a niggling question. Very common was the ‘learn as you go’ method of discovery, which bore a strong resemblance to the ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ gameshow from the ‘60’s. When provided multiple options without a frame of reference, one could just as easily choose a door harbouring a dodgy answer as the one promising a happy-ever-after. But such was life. Due to an intrepid army of salesmen marching from door to door bearing

books, many generations of truth-seekers have proudly displayed collections of the Encyclopaedia Britannica on shelves in their living rooms. This well-respected facsimile of an omniscient oracle was first published in Scotland in the eighteenth century and over the years, has enjoyed numerous reincarnations. In the 1930’s, its 11th edition was acquired by an American company, then shortened and sculpted in order to appeal to the masses. More than a hundred Nobel Prize winners and a trove of American presidents have committed the collective force of their intellects to the pages of these tomes, which became the ‘goto’ resource when writing a report for science or social studies class. Many a student has spent many an evening at the kitchen table, paraphrasing the references to Albert Einstein or the process of photosynthesis in an attempt to sufficiently impress the teacher without raising the red flag

of plagiarism. But as the life-lessons taught by parents, schoolteachers and the Big, Wide World become increasingly outsourced to innumerable faceless pundits on the World Wide Web, our teaching methodologies are correspondingly morphing in a significant way. Parallels can be drawn between on-line learning and eating at a fastfood outlet, as both provide the same instant gratification. Readily accessed, easily digested and undeniably convenient; it is simply amazing that at any time of the day or night, one can roll past the shiny window of the Google take-away; choose an item from its never-ending menu and within seconds feel fully sated. In keeping with the same analogy though, we must be just as vigilant when seeking nourishment for our mind as for our body. It is all too easy to be seduced by the sirens of Facebook and Twitter, who beckon with every audible notification and render one full of empty calories but bereft

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of intellectual insights. This is no different for children. As busy parents of even busier children, it is wonderfully simple to set them up with a smartphone or tablet and keep them amused for hours with electronic games that provide plenty of sensory stimulation without requiring any physical activity at all. Waiting lines and airplane rides have never been so easy. Play-stations have replaced playgrounds and while at one time it would have been almost inconceivable to raise a family without access to a backyard or a school-yard; somehow the sedative effects of computer games have numbed the need for a space to grow. This is not to say that the unfathomable wealth of knowledge contained in a microchip is not to be celebrated for the force of nature

it is. Technology has paved a way for young minds to be exposed to information in a truly awesome manner and to dispute that would be remiss. Yet while the internet can play the role of a teacher, a play-mate or a nanny, it falls far short when imparting the intangible characteristics that we all hope our children will develop. Empathy, compassion, courage and confidence are traits only founded and fostered through personal experience. Nothing can replace the delicious sen

sations of walking on a cool patch of lawn in your bare feet, or the feeling of sand between your toes. That indefinable sense of salty satisfaction felt at the end of a day of physical labour can never be replaced by the same number of hours spent in front of a computer, no matter how rewarding the project. There is no meaningful substitute for traversing the landscape of your life simply by putting one foot in front of the other and learning as you go. To deny your child experiences that can only be attained through actually ‘doing,’ would be dealing her a grave disservice and while today’s parents must acknowledge the computer’s inherent value in the education of their children; as with most rich repasts, it’s one best enjoyed in moderate doses. Rather than vicariously partaking of all the world has to offer through the pixels on a computer screen, it is imperative that children are encouraged to travel the trails of their lives as present and engaged participants and learn to revel in the process. Written with love for Oliver, Everett and Eloise

by Dawn Leslie

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16th Congress of the European Retina, Macula and Vitreous Society (EURETINA) 2016

Interim Real Life Evidence Findings Confirm Effectiveness of EYLEA® in Patients with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Anti-VEGF treatment for wet AMD to replicate outcomes from randomized clinical trials in routine clinical practice

ayer Pharma AG announced new data from the interim analysis of the real life evidence (RLE) study RAINBOW. In this study of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) patients treated in France, EYLEA® (aflibercept solution for injection into the eye) demonstrated consistent outcomes with those seen in its pivotal randomized clinical trials.

At 52 weeks, patients achieved a mean gain of 6.2 letters with a mean 6.3 injections. The results were presented at the 16th Congress of the European Retina, Macula and Vitreous Society (EURETINA, 8-11 September, Copenhagen/Denmark). They show that patients were able to maintain the rapid visual and anatomical improvements seen after the initial loading phase.

“These data are promising for patients with wet AMD and for physicians, who will welcome the representative body of data from the real world setting. The findings illustrate the effectiveness of EYLEA® in routine clinical practice and reassure healthcare providers that they are choosing a treatment option with predictable outcomes,” said Prof. Michel Weber, MD, PhD, Head of

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the Ophthalmic Department, University Hospital of Nantes, France. “Alongside previously reported findings from real life evidence studies in the UK, Germany, Sweden, and Japan, the RAINBOW results suggest that EYLEA® is the first anti-VEGF treatment for wet AMD shown to consistently demonstrate benefits seen in randomized clinical trials in day-to-day clinical practice,” added Dr. Patrick Bussfeld, Head of Medical Therapeutic Area Ophthalmology at Bayer. “Our ongoing real life evidence program includes studies of more than 20,000 patients from 15 countries and we therefore look forward to seeing more data and insights from both our program as well as independent studies.”

About RAINBOW RAINBOW is an ongoing four-year retrospective and prospective observational study assessing the real life outcomes in 593 treatment-naïve wet AMD patients being treated with EYLEA® in 55 centers across France. Patients were to be treated according to the EU Summary of Product Characteristics (EU SmPC) with one injection per month for three consecutive doses, followed by one injection every two months. The patients’ first injections took place between January 2014 and March 2015. The primary endpoint is change in best-corrected visual acuity, BCVA (ETDRS letters) from baseline to 52 weeks. Secondary endpoints are the proportion of patients who gained ≥15 or lost >15 letters, mean change from baseline in central retinal thickness (CRT) at 12 months, and adverse events. In the interim analysis, covering 196

patients, approximately 62.8% were female and the mean age was 78.8 years. At baseline, the mean duration of wet AMD was 21 days with a mean baseline BCVA of 57.7 letters. In this interim analysis of 196 patients, the subgroup of patients who received three initial injections within less than 120 days (n=179) achieved a mean gain in BCVA at 52 weeks from baseline of 7.4 letters (P<0.001) compared to 6.2 letters (P<0.001) mean gain in BCVA for the full population. Patients in the pooled analysis of EYLEA®’s pivotal phase III trials, VIEW 1 and VIEW 2, gained 8.4 letters at 52 weeks. Additionally, the proportion of patients gaining ≥15 letters was 25.0% in RAINBOW versus 30.6% and 31.4% in the VIEW 1 and 2 studies, respectively, while 4.1% had a loss of >15 letters in the RAINBOW study. Mean reduction in CRT from baseline was -108µm (p<0.001) compared to -128.5µm and -149.2µm in the VIEW 1 and 2 studies, respectively. The mean number of injections was 6.3 in the RAINBOW study versus 7.5 in both the VIEW 1 and VIEW 2 studies. Adverse event findings are consistent with the known safety profile of EYLEA®. The most common treatment-related adverse events in the RAINBOW study were eye pain (1.5%), vitreous floaters (1.0%) and transient ischaemic attack (0.5%).

About Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of acquired blindness, if left untreated. Macular degeneration is diagnosed as either

dry (non-exudative) or wet (exudative). In wet AMD, new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid. This leakage causes disruption and dysfunction of the retina creating blind spots in central vision, and it can account for blindness in wet AMD patients. About VEGF and EYLEA® (Aflibercept Solution For Injection Into the Eye) Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a naturally occurring protein in the body. Its normal role in a healthy organism is to trigger formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) supporting the growth of the body’s tissues and organs. It is also associated with the growth of abnormal new blood vessels in the eye, which exhibit abnormal increased permeability that leads to edema. Aflibercept solution for injection is a recombinant fusion protein, consisting of portions of human VEGF receptors 1 and 2 extracellular domains fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1 and formulated as an iso-osmotic solution for intravitreal administration. Aflibercept acts as a soluble decoy receptor that binds VEGF-A and Placental

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Growth Factor (PGF) and thereby can inhibit the binding and activation of their cognate VEGF receptors.

profits from sales of EYLEA®, except for Japan where Regeneron receives a percentage on net sales.

Bayer AG and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are collaborating closely on the global development of EYLEA®.

Bayer: Science For A Better Life

Regeneron has exclusive marketing rights for EYLEA® in the USA. Bayer AG has licensed the exclusive marketing rights outside the USA, where the companies share equally the

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of healthcare and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles

of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2015, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of EUR 46.3 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.3 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015.

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Women’s Healthcare Forum

addresses reproductive health and family planning issues in Arab countries was organized to provide an interactive platform concerning the latest advancements in women’s reproductive health and how these developments can help improve their health.

n conjunction with a growing national and international trend to promote women’s and reproductive health, Bayer Pharmaceuticals has recently organized the ‘Women’s Healthcare Forum’ to highlight the most pertinent issues affecting the health and safety of women as well as the latest developments in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases associated with complications in pregnancy and childbirth. The event was held from October 13 to 14, 2016 and attended by a group of doctors and experts from the UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The forum was held in line with Bayer’s ‘Women’s Health Day’ initiative which is part of the pharmaceutical giant’s corporate social responsibility commitment to raising public awareness on key health issues facing women and children. The event communicated better health practices on family planning, which reflects positively on the welfare and safety of the community as a whole. Dr. Mona Al Kuwari, an obstetrics and

gynaecology specialist, led the assembly and initiated an extensive discussion on a number of reproductive health diseases related to endometriosis, including the guidelines for diagnosis and corresponding treatment. Dr Al Kuwari also discussed challenges in proper diagnosis and the role of ultrasound in determining the disease. The forum addressed the issue of hormonal contraception and reviewed the advantages and disadvantages ofcombined oral contraceptive 24/4 (COCs regimen 24/4) as well. The discussion further touched on the use of levonorgestrel intrauterine injection technology (levonorgestrel intrauterine system- LNG IUS) in clinical practice, as well social and behavioural methods for effectively communicating the technology with various segments of patients. The forum also included a small workshop on ways to apply LNG-IUS. Hany Sabry, Gulf Country Manager at Bayer Pharmaceuticals, noted that Bayer’s ‘Women’s Healthcare Forum’

Sabry emphasized that the forum is in line with Bayer’s effort to provide the society with the best health practices to avoid gynaecological diseases and present the latest information on safe family planning methods. A safe and sound family planning is an important pillar in ensuring that women are given the best ways to protect their health and wellbeing, including a favourable environment that promotes children’s growth and mental health. Sabry added: “Our ‘Women’s Healthcare Forum’ initiative is in line with our endeavours to help ensure long life and good health for all. We at Bayer are keen to always find ways to empower the local healthcare sector by enabling them to access the latest technologies and innovations that promote the health of individuals and the wellbeing of society as a whole. We were pleased to host the ‘Women’s Healthcare Forum’ with distinguished experts and doctors in the field to share the best practices and methods for diagnosing and treating gynecological diseases, especially the migration of the inner lining of the uterus. Adopting advanced family planningmethods is fundamental to reinforcing maternal health and reducing deaths associated with complications due to pregnancy and childbirth.”

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An overview of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery AL AHLI HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE

Incidence and implications: It is estimated that 175,000 anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions were performed in the year 2000 in the US, at a cost of more than two billion dollars. The risk of injuries is higher in young adults involved in high risk sports like football, soccer, basketball and skiing. 50% of patients with ACL tears develop osteoarthritis 10 to 20 years later, while still young.

Injury patterns: Approximately 50 percent of ACL injuries occur in combination with damage to the meniscus, articular cartilage, or other ligaments. Hence x-rays and MRI scans are part of the investigations in these injuries. According to a recent systematic review, utilizing arthroscopy as the gold standard, MRI had a sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 95%, and accuracy of 93% for ACL tear.

Do I need an ACL reconstruction surgery? This is the commonly asked question post diagnosis.

Surgical treatment is indicated if the patient has a sensation of instability in normal activities of daily living, or wants to resume activities that involve cutting and pivoting. The aim is to achieve a stable painless knee with a view to preventing osteoarthritis in future.

Acute management: Whether or not surgical intervention is pursued, the acute management of an ACL tear should focus on reducing haemarthrosis (with rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication), regaining normal range of motion, gaining quadriceps control, and restoring normal gait all of which usually takes on average 2 to 4 weeks from the time of the injury.

Surgical management: Due to the avascular nature of the ACL, it cannot be resutured and hence needs arthroscopic surgical reconstruction using various types of grafts. Randomized controlled

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Adequate pain management, ice packs and cryocuff application, wound care along with early mobilization and physiotherapy are important. Crutches may be used to keep the patient partial weight bearing for a few weeks.

Dr.E.Tolessa

Dr. Sumukh Khandekar

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Head of Orthopaedics - Al Ahli Hospital

Associate Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Al Ahli Hospital

trials have proven that ACL reconstruction offers better stability, quicker return to work and reduction in the incidence of meniscal tears.

prepared and sized. Small (one-centimeter) incisions called portals are made in the front of the knee to insert the arthroscope and instruments and the knee is examined. Thetibial and femoral tunnels are prepared, sized and then the graft is tunneled through the tunnels. The graft is fixed in knee extension with endobuttons, staples or interference screws. The knee is then put through a range of movement and stability is checked. X-rays may be done to check position of screws or endobuttons.

Graft choices: Surgeon preferences, patient demands, previous surgeries and age are important considerations in graft selection. We are using double looped or quadrupled hamstring tendon autografts (semitendinosus and gracilis) for most of our ACL reconstructions.

The goals for rehabilitation of ACL reconstruction include reducing knee swelling, maintaining mobility of the kneecap to prevent anterior knee pain problems, regaining full range of motion of the knee, as well as strengthening the quadriceps and hamstring muscles.

Complications: The risk of complications is low and includes infection, nerve or vessel injury, stiffness, clots forming in the legs (DVT), graft failure, bleeding and quadriceps or hamstring weakness.

Al-Ahli hospital experience:

After informed consent and under general or spinal anesthesia, the graft is harvested using a small incision and

Post-operative regimen and physiotherapy protocol at Al Ahli hospital:

We commenced arthroscopic ACL reconstructions in 2010 and to date we have performed over 52 ACL reconstructions without any major complications. In one case, the endobutton was caught in the quadriceps muscle and this needed removal and replacement of the endobutton. We have had an excellent rate of return to work and sport with full range of movements.

Figure 1. MRI scan showing ACL tear

Figure 2. Post-operative x-rays

Figure 3.Knee range of movement post ACL reconstruction

Surgical procedure:

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What is IBS : Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common of all medical disorders whether surveyed in the community, in a primary care practice or at a specialist gastroenterology referral center. Its prevalence has long been appreciated in the west, what is new is the recent accumulation of evidence to indicate that IBS is also highly prevalent in the east.

Presentatios of IBS : IBS has no known cause and no structural manifestations. It is a symptom base disorder in which the patient report chronic intermittent problems with abdominal pain or discomfort associated with alterations in bowel habits. They also describe abnormal stool frequency, defecation straining, urgency, Sense of incomplete evacuation, passage of mucous, and bloating. It is also associated with non-gastrointestinal manifestations like palpitations, chest tightness, sweating, lack

of energy, fatigue, generalized aches and pains, insomnia, and headaches. However, they have always good appetite and no weight loss. Anxiety and depression are very common.

Investigation : There are no specific tests to confirm or refute IBS. However, doctors should always rule out alarm symptoms like rectal bleeding, weight loss, continuous diarrhea, recent onset of constant distension, anemia, fever and family history of CRC, IBD and Celiac disease. Investigation should be aimed to the basic blood test and radiology and endoscopy if indicated.

Treatment Options : Treatment should aim to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms, to strongly reassure the patient and overall improvement in the quality of life. The treating doctor should establish a therapeutic relationship with patient, obtain a

Dr. Siddiq Mohamed Osman Elmalik Consultant Gastroenterologist FRCP, FACG Al Ahli Hospital

detailed food diary since there is strong evidence now that diet elimination is the most appropriate therapeutic approach to IBS. Medical treatment is always symptomatic and the treating doctor should select the most appropriate medication to treat the presenting symptoms. The emergence of probiotics is very disappointing and was found to be only helpful to reduce the abdominal distension. Psychological history and treatment with Antidepressant and Antianxiolytic is of paramount importance and is very helpful, but most of the patients decline to take them.

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Sanofi Pasteur supports BAU first vaccination campaign targeting all students, faculty and staff

anofi Pasteur, worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest influenza vaccine manufacturer, launched in partnership with the Beirut Arab University (BAU) an awareness campaign to educate students, faculty and staff members on the importance of the influenza vaccination to improve the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s immune defense against the virus. The campaign was announced during a press conference held at BAU Beirut campus headed by Dr Amr Galal El-Adawi, President of the BAU and attended by faculty deans, students and members of the press. Influenza is a serious respiratory illness. Each year, 3 million to 5 million

cases of severe illness are reported worldwide. Depending on virus virulence during the influenza season, influenza associated deaths can range from 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide. In Europe, in the absence of vaccination, the annual burden related to influenza was estimated at 22 million cases, 3.5 million flu-associated hospitalizations and 171,000 flu-associated deaths. Currently seasonal influenza vaccination prevents on average between 1.6 million and 2.1 million cases of influenza, 45,300 to 65,600 hospitalizations, and 25,200 to 37,200 deaths every year. The World Health Organization recommends vaccination to help

prevent influenza for everyone six months of age and older. Influenza is a highly contagious disease that often reaches epidemic proportions. Influenza epidemics occur yearly during autumn and winter months in temperate regions. Influenza viruses are very infectious and are easily transmitted from person to person through air droplets projected by coughing and sneezing. The virus can also be spread by shaking hands or touching surfaces contaminated with the virus. The incubation period averages 2 days (range 1-4 days). Infected adult individuals are contagious from the day before

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symptoms appear until 5 days after onset of the illness, and severely immuno-compromised persons can shed the virus for weeks or months. Part of a large community, university students are efficient transmitters of influenza viruses and typically manifest the highest rates of infection and illness. This is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend receiving the vaccine as soon as it is available to help with prevention even before the season begins. “Sanofi Pasteur is at the forefront of influenza vaccine innovation,” said Marwan Sherif, Sanofi Pasteur Lebanon & Jordan Country Manager. “Our legacy for researching and manufacturing influenza vaccines has existed for nearly 70 years, demonstrating our experience and commitment to this important public health need. We are dedicated to continuously improving our influenza vaccine options to ultimately help protect against influenza strains, including drifted strains that may occur in the future”. Mr. Sherif added “Sanofi Pasteur, from its position as one of the leaders in the vaccine industry, is keen on playing an active role as a public health partner to enhance community health. And today with BAU, we are protecting students and staff from a highly contagious disease through awareness and vaccination.” “Under the patronage of the president Professor Dr. Amr El Adawi, the faculty of Medicine at Beirut Arab University is pleased to organize the influenza vaccination campaign that will take place in Beirut campus, where

flu shot would be offered to faculty staff and students. This event is of importance as universities are well known to be crowded and the influenza virus is a highly contagious and easily spread virus which may lead to serious complications and hence protecting against it is essential”, said Professor Dr. Najlaa Mashaal Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. “Seasonal influenza is a highly contagious respiratory illness that is caused by influenza viruses which infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness and may lead to serious complications”, said Dr. Hala Ahmadieh, Senior Lecturer of Internal Medicine at Beirut Arab University. “Complications of influenza may include viral pneumonia, secondary bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections, and worsening of previous health problems such as asthma or heart failure. The first and most important step in preventing the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year which is recommended for anyone 6 months of age and older. Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies would therefore provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine. The

seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season”, she added. Dr. Hala Ahmadieh concluded: “Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses and prevent flu-related hospitalizations and complications by about 50% to 60% among the overall population. CDC recommends the use of injectable influenza vaccines (including inactivated influenza vaccines and recombinant influenza vaccines) during 2016-2017 which should be offered throughout the flu season, starting in September up till end of January. Given the importance of the influenza vaccination in order to reduce the chance of influenza virus spread in crowded areas such as universities, the injectable influenza vaccination will be offered to faculty and students of Beirut Arab University”. The BAU Flu awareness campaign is set to run during the month of October enabling students and faculty members to get influenza vaccines inside their campuses all over Lebanon. Educational booths headed by volunteers from the faculty of medicine will expand the campaign outreach inciting students to take a stand against influenza.

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Bariatric surgery

can prevent obesity-related deaths and illnesses

Dr. Fuad Ahmed CONSULTANT - GENERAL SURGERY, BURJEEL HOSPITAL ABU DHABI

ccording to a study by Imperial College London published in medical journal The Lancet, global obesity levels in men had tripled and in women had doubled from 1975 to 2014. The study showed that in the past 40 years, the number of obese people worldwide had risen from 105 million in 1975 to 641 million in 2014. The study, which tracked trends in body mass index (BMI), forecast that by 2025, around a fifth of adults worldwide will be obese, with more than 6 per cent of men and 9 per cent of women being severely obese. These alarming trends have made addressing weight-related issues a priority of national proportions. Weightloss surgery has, therefore, become an important consideration for people suffering from severe obesity. In fact, research has shown that weight-loss surgery could prevent obesity-related deaths and illnesses. Researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden found that their study, which included more than 49,000 obese patients, showed that those who underwent surgery were more likely to survive the next five years compared to those who did not. Findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that weight-loss surgery appears to increase the lifespan of severely obese adults. Among 2,500 obese adults who underwent surgery, the death rate was about 14 per cent after 10 years compared to almost 24 percent for obese patients who did not have weight-loss surgery,

researchers found. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weight-loss surgery or bariatric surgery is an operation that alters the size of the stomach, making it smaller through the use of a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, gastric sleeve surgery (or sleeve gastrectomy) or gastric bypass. The gastric band is a small, inflatable and adjustable silicon band put around the top part of the stomach to create a small pouch. This limits the amount of food that can be consumed. Doctors can control the opening to the pouch because of the balloon inside the band. During gastric sleeve surgery, a surgeon takes out a large portion of the stomach, leaving behind a section that is closed with staples. This again limits the size of the stomach,â&#x20AC;? said Dr. Fuad Ahmed ,Consultant - General Surgery, Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi. Dr. Ahmed is one of the renowned experts in the field of bariatric surgery in the region and has completed more than 1,200 procedures including complicated and rare cases. Dr. Ahmed said the use of gastric balloon, which is a temporary solution, is also popular. This involves the introduction of a balloon into the patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stomach. The balloon, which is introduced via a tube passed through the mouth, is inflated with a saline solution. Once inflated the size of the stomach becomes smaller and the person is therefore compelled to eat smaller meals.

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Shedding light on the other types of bariatric surgery, Dr. Ahmed added, “Gastric bypass surgery (also called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) involves two procedures that are done minimally invasive. The surgeon first staples the stomach, creating a small section. This limits the amount of food that can be consumed as the size of the stomach decreases considerably. The surgeon then cuts the small intestine and directly connects it to the pouch causing food to bypass the stomach and upper part of the intestine. This also restricts the amount of calories absorbed by the body. “Mini gastric bypass surgery is a simplified form of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. During this procedure, the surgeon will divide the stomach with a laparoscopic stapler.

Most of the stomach is no longer attached to the esophagus and will no longer receive food. Resulting in a much smaller stomach and shaped like a small tube.Between 2 to 7 feet of intestines are bypassed. The surgeon will then attach the remainder of the intestines to the new stomach to allow food to flow into the new-stomach and then bypasses the intestines where it resumes the normal digestive process,” he said. Dr. Ahmed said that bariatric surgery is good option for people suffering from health problems such as type 2-diabetes or sleep apnea, which are often connected to obesity. “Bariatric surgery is not an alternative to maintain a healthy lifestyle to lose weight. However, it makes it easier for a

person to consume fewer calories and complement the efforts. Maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise can improve the effects of the surgery and keep a person’s weight under control. Studies show that bariatric surgery can also prevent obesity-related mortality.” Dr. Ahmed believes that, like any surgery, bariatric surgery has its complications but the important thing is to consult a trained physician who can guide you well after looking at your health history and lifestyle. “Patients should always do their research, understand the risks and benefits, and make an informed decision. Bariatric surgery can be a great choice if you are a good candidate. It can save your life.”

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Upon the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum: Free registration in the 9th Dubai International Conference for Medical Sciences The conference which is organized by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences from December 14 until 16 at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Dubai, discusses Gastroenterology with a focus on Liver, Pancreatic and Colon diseases.

HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

pon the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance, Chairman of Dubai Health Authority, and the Patron of Hamdan Medical Award, the online registration in the 9th Dubai International Conference for Medical Sciences is currently going on free of charge, through the website of the conference http:// hmaward.org.ae/term9/#/home.

Abdullah bin Souqat, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hamdan Medical Award, said that the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum regarding the free registration in the conference assures the tireless and generous support of His Highness for science and scientists, as he believes in their value, alongside with the scientific research, as basis for a better future for nations. “The directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan supports the award’s efforts towards achieving the objectives of such an important conference, by facilitating the participation of the largest possible segments of specialist doctors and scientists from inside and outside the country, who will receive accredited CME hours from the UAE official institutions”, he said. On the other hand, the Scientific Committee of the 9th Dubai International Conference for Medical Sciences, headed by Hassib Narchi, Professor of Pediatrics and Consultant Pediatrician Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, specified the end of the current month of October as the deadline for the submission of abstracts to be presented in the

conference as posters. Currently, the online posters submission process is going on. Submitted abstracts should be related to a theme from Gastroenterology, Liver, Pancreatic or Colon diseases. The submitted papers will be evaluated by the scientific committee members in order to select one in each topic to receive the best poster award. The Dubai International Conference for Medical Sciences is biennially organized by Hamdan Medical Award, in conjunction with the award ceremony to honor the winners of the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences in each term. The conference is a unique opportunity to meet with the pioneer scientists and researchers, especially since it is held with the participation of constellation of distinguished scientists from all over the world, including the winners of the Grand Hamdan International Award and the Hamdan International award for Medical Research Excellence. The members of the scientific Committee of the 9th edition of the Dubai International Conference for Medical Sciences includes Prof. Thomas Adrian from College of Medicine & Health Sciences, UAE University, Prof. Salah Gariballa from College of Medicine & Health Sciences, UAE University, Dr. Adnan Abuhammour, a member of the Board of Dubai Health Care City Authority, and Dr. Azzam Kayasseh, Specialist Hepato, Gastroenterologist and Digestive Endoscopist.

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Sidra Collaboration Saves Two Young Lives

Clinical Expertise at Sidra and HMC Position Qatar as One of the Few Countries to Provide Complex Urological Surgeries Worldwide

Joao Luiz Pippi Salle

idra Medical and Research Center (Sidra) has announced the successful completion of two highly complex urological surgeries by Dr. Joao Luiz Pippi Salle – considered one of the few experts in the world specialized in bladder exstrophy surgery. The life-altering surgeries were conducted on a 19-month-old from Central Asia and a 17-month-old from Ghana. Both patients and their families were flown to Qatar thanks to the combined efforts of Qatar Foundation (QF), the Association for Bladder Exstrophy Community (A-BE-C), Sidra, and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). Commenting on the children’s progress, Dr. Salle said: “We are pleased to report that the first phase of the children’s surgeries has been successful and that they are now out of intensive

care. The children and their families have been very brave given the stress and endurance in the lead up to the surgeries and post recovery process. One of the patients also required orthopedic reconstruction of the pelvic bones. The children are still under observation and will be in the recovery unit for the next several weeks; this is where we will monitor their bladder function and ensure that they are healing. Their care however will be ongoing and could potentially involve more surgeries and procedures in the future.” Bladder exstrophy is a rare urological disease that affects 1 in 50,000 babies. Depending on the type of exstrophy, patients can be born with complex urological structures including a malformation of the bladder and improperly formed pelvic bones. Repair of the exstrophied bladder

requires surgical reconstruction which can be highly complex. A child with exstrophy may undergo multiple surgical procedures, associated lengthy hospitalisations and many repeated outpatient visits and treatments. The complex surgeries were conducted at Hamad Hospital by a medical team comprising Sidra and HMC pediatric surgeons and anesthesiologists. Both children’s surgeries took close to eight hours. The urological team headed by Dr. Salle included HMC doctors Abdelrrhaman El Khadi, Sami Cherigui and Tariq Abbas. For the child requiring pelvic bone surgery, this was performed by Sidra’s division chief of pediatric orthopedics, Dr. Jason Howard. The second child’s surgery involved a general pediatric surgical team led by HMC’s Dr. Mansour Ali.

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Sidra Chief Executive Officer, Peter Morris said, “We are immensely proud of the team at Sidra and the humanitarian role we have been able to play in changing the lives of these two wonderful and brave children. Our joint medical collaboration with HMC is also testament to the network of care that continues to advance in Qatar with the help of Qatar Foundation. HMC has been integral in providing access to their own teams and exceptional facilities including operating and intensive care units for the patients. The children are being well looked after by both teams and we hope for their quick recoveries so they can go on to lead fulfilled lives with their families.” According to the A-BE-C, a treatable condition like bladder exstrophy can potentially become critical, particularly for children who do not have access to proper medical care.

We are immensely grateful to Qatar Foundation, Sidra and HMC for changing the lives of the two young patients. They have been given renewed hope for a better life – something which both families didn’t think was possible,” said Ms. Block. “I would also like to personally thank Ms. Mchail C. Chebab from HMC who helped the families with their paper work and continues to provide ongoing support to them during their stay. After seeing the world-class team and facilities in Qatar, I am optimistic it will set a precedence for Sidra to become a global referral center for specialized pediatric urological treatment. The amount of time, cost and stress it will save for families who live in close proximity to Qatar including countries in Africa, Asia and Europe will be immense,” continued Ms. Block. After the children recover from the first stage of their surgeries, they will

return to their home countries where they will be monitored by local doctors in collaboration with the A-BE-C. They will return to Qatar for additional procedures related to enabling urinary continence and receiving psycho-social support. “We hope that surgeons like Dr. Salle, and the broader team at Sidra, will inspire future healthcare and allied health professionals as well as researchers and scientists to consider advancing their education, skills and expertise in specialized medical fields. Medical education plays a key role at Sidra. We are taking active steps to train and develop the next generation of Qatari medical and research students and residents. We are committed to playing our role in shaping their careers and to help create a network of global medical innovators and thought leaders coming out of Qatar,” concluded Mr. Morris.

Many of these children can spend years in agonizing pain and shunned by family and society. Pamela Block, Executive Director of A-BE-C and a mother of a child who had bladder exstrophy, arranged for the children and families to come to Qatar and provided support and hope to the families during the surgeries at Hamad Hospital. “The A-BE-C is dedicated to offering the parents of children with bladder exstrophy access to information, resources and ultimately surgery for their children.

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QU College of Medicine

celebrates 1st Annual White Coat Ceremony

6 first-year General Medicine students, among which are 17 Qatari nationals, took the College of Medicine Students’ Oath and donned the symbolic white coat in the 1st Annual White Coat Ceremony of Qatar University College of Medicine (QUCMED) which was held on October 22 at Al Areen Hall, Marriott Marquise Hotel. The event aims to celebrate the first-year General Medicine students who successfully completed their transition year and entered the Medicine program. It is designed to acknowledge their commitment to the profession and reassert values of compassion, professionalism, and dedication to patient care as they enter the profession. The ceremony drew over 150 attendees including Former Qatar Minister of Public Health and Cardiologist Dr Hajar Ahmed Hajar al-Binali, QU VP for Medical Education and CMED Dean Dr Egon Toft, CMED Interim Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Deputy Chief of Staff for Graduate Medical Education at Hamad Medical Corporation

(HMC) Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) Acting CEO and Accreditation Department Manager Dr Samar Aboulsoud, as well as CMED students and their families, faculty, and staff. Dr Egon Toft welcomed the audience and congratulated the students and their families, saying: “The White Coat Ceremony is a milestone at which the medical community welcomes students as future doctors. But the journey that led them to this day did not start when they were accepted into the medical school a year ago. It started when they were children, and continued for years throughout which their families prepared, educated, nurtured, and supported them to fulfill their ambitions to get into the medical school.” Addressing the students, he said: “Students, after a demanding first transitional year, you have earned the place in the medical community. In five more years, your place in that community will be elevated.

But the medical journey is long and marked by one milestone after another: acceptance into the College, followed by acceptance into the General Medicine program which we celebrate today, followed by graduation, then becoming licensed practitioners, then residents, then specialists… Sometimes it looks like it almost never ends. That’s the beauty of a medical career; one challenge after another; one achievement after another. Imagine a journey where you reach the peak in your twenties. Then what?!… I am proud of every one of you for choosing this exciting vocation and for making it through the transitional year. I am also very proud of CMED dedicated team of professionals and faculty members who have supported you passionately and committed on this journey. And I am grateful to you parents for your support.” Dr Hajar Ahmed Hajar Al Binali gave a short speech as encouragement for medical students, congratulating them on their choice of medicine as a profession of the future.

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He enumerated the virtues of the medical profession and its humanitarian role in relieving the pain of patients, maintaining their health and helping them to enjoy life. He touched on the history of medicine and how it evolved from the days of the Arab Abbasid period when the doctor was familiar with most of his time sciences and knowledge such as philosophy, astronomy, pharmacology, poetry and music. Medicine then split into specialty surgical and mystical then fork specialization and complexity in the sub-specialties in this day and age, he said. He then presented to the students his personal advice he gained from his experience when he was a student at the medical school of the University of Colorado in USA.

Dr Hajar Ahmed Hajar al-Binali

Dr Egon Toft

creates physicians with utmost efficiency by providing a crucial guidance and training.” Student Reem Mubarak said: “Wearing the white coat is a privilege, but it also comes with responsibilities and expectations. By putting it on today, we pledge to carry these responsibilities and to represent the white coat, the medical profession

and our medical college.” Student Mohammad Abdullah Balideh said: “Today marks the beginning of my medical journey, and the feeling of a strong sense of responsibility and contribution to patients’ recovery, happiness and satisfaction. I have waited for this important moment to happen since a long time.”

Then ended his speech saying: “Now, having reached an advanced age, if I went back to boyhood and returned to your age, and had to choose between different professions, I will choose this honorable profession, the medical profession again.” Student Shahrier Rafiq told the audience of his pride to be part of CMED, adding: “In this era of innovation, CMED offers a brand-new curriculum that

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WCM-Q

researcher has new MS test in his sights

esearchers at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) and the Neurosciences Institute at HMC have won a prestigious international funding award for their highly innovative proposal to use eye examinations to aid in early diagnosis, analysis of disease progression and benefits of treatment in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. WCM-Q Professor of Medicine Dr. Rayaz Malik was presented with the award for Multiple Sclerosis Innovation (GMSI) by the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). It was one of only four research grants awarded from a total of 260 applications from 45 countries and the first ever to be awarded to the MENA region. MS is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system in which nerve impulses within the brain, and between the brain and other parts of the body, are disrupted. Symptoms include difficulty walking, vision problems, fatigue,

pain and cognitive changes. MS is difficult to monitor as each patient is affected in different ways and experience different rates of disease progression. Additionally, the most widely used monitoring technique, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans of the brain, cannot accurately identify nerve damage, which is the underlying pathology associated with progressive neurological deficits. Dr. Malik and his team of other WCM-Q researchers and neurologists from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Dr. Saadat Kamran, Senior Consultant Neurologist, and Dr. Ashfaq Shuaib, Professor of Medicine and Neurology and Director of the Neuroscience Institute, believe their technique could provide a more accurate and easier method for monitoring MS, giving doctors a valuable tool to both diagnose the disease earlier and treat it more effectively. Dr. Malik said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;MS is an extremely distressing disease, which

is very difficult to monitor and has limited treatment options. Indeed, a major issue is the lack of approval of new promising drugs as many clinical trials have failed due to an inability to show a benefit. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new monitoring tool that is both reliable and more accurate that could be applied both in the clinic and in clinical trials. Our research indicates that nerve damage in the cornea

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is a reliable indicator of nerve damage in the brain that characterizes MS. “The great advantage of this method is that the eye is an extremely accessible part of the body that is relatively easy to examine, while the brain is very inaccessible and difficult to examine.” The cornea, the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil and the anterior chamber, has the densest concentration of nerve fibers anywhere in the body. Dr. Malik and colleagues have pioneered the technique of ‘Corneal Confocal Microscopy’ (CCM) over the last 15 years to enable close examination and imaging of the cornea’s nerve fibers to identify nerve damage in a variety of conditions including diabetic neuropathy, hereditary neuropathies and in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Contrary to dogma that MS is a demyelinating disease which primarily affects the brain, the team of researchers at WCM-Q (including Dr. Ioannis Petropoulos) and HMC pursued the idea that CCM could detect nerve damage in patients with MS. To their surprise they found marked nerve fiber loss even in patients with mild deficits. Importantly, the new test is non-invasive and utilizes existing ophthalmic equipment that many hospitals

already have. The research team will now use the grant to conduct a comprehensive 24-month study to determine whether Corneal Confocal Microscopy can be a viable method for determining nerve damage in patients with MS. The official title of the project is ‘Corneal Confocal Microscopy: A Rapid Non invasive Surrogate Endpoint for Axonal Loss and Repair in Multiple Sclerosis’. The research has local significance as Qatar appears to have a higher than expected prevalence of MS. Dr. Malik said: “We are extremely grateful to GMSI and very pleased to receive this grant, especially as it is the first time that such an award has been made in the MENA region. We believe our research is truly translational and is an example of the benefits of close collaborations between WCM-Q and HMC to directly benefit doctors and, most importantly, our patients. CCM will not only help in diagnosing and assessing progression, but will also expedite the approval of new treatments for this debilitating condition”. “I am very grateful for the support I have received via the Biomedical Research Program of WCM-Q, which is funded by Qatar Foundation, as it

provided the foundations for applying and securing this international grant.” Dr. Khaled Machaca, Associate Dean for Research at WCM-Q, said: “We are extremely gratified that this wonderful research has gained global recognition, not only for Dr. Malik and WCM-Q but also for our partners at Hamad Medical Corporation and for Qatar as a whole. “It is particularly pleasing that the research has such great potential for translation from the laboratory to the bedside where it could be of immense benefit to patients both in the Gulf and all over the world, as well as helping researchers to develop novel therapies more effectively. Indeed, this funding validates Qatar Foundation’s vision to support research infrastructure leading to such translational projects that will ultimately benefit the patient population in Qatar.” Dr. Ashfaq Shuaib of HMC said: “We at HMC are extremely pleased to be involved in this important research with our colleagues at WCM-Q, and this award gives us all a great opportunity to continue to work together to develop a very effective new tool for diagnosing and assessing progression of MS.”

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Doha International Academy for Organ Donation Launched in Qatar

he Doha International Forum for Organ Donation organized by the Qatar Organ Donation Center at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) concluded with the launch of the world’s first international academy on the important issue of organ donation. The Doha International Academy for Organ Donation will become a hub for resources and training materials necessary to assist other countries to establish their own programs. The upcoming facility is launched under the umbrella of HMC and will utilize the expertise of distinguished international faculty to promote education and research in organ donation in Qatar and internationally.

world-leading in terms of the clinical and ethical standards it applies, but also one that is appropriate to the healthcare needs of our growing country and our diverse population.”

The launch saw a distinguished group of six international leaders in organ donation and transplantation pledge their support for the Academy and further support HMC’s goal to achieve self-sufficiency in organ donation. The panel included renowned scientists and researchers from the United States (US), Australia, United Kingdom (UK) and Europe who met with senior leadership at HMC and discussed operational strategies and policies that will underpin the work of the Doha International Academy for Organ Donation.

Dr. Abdulla Al Ansari HMC’s Deputy Chief, Medical, Academic and Research Affairs for Surgical Services said it was a very exciting time for Qatar’s program. “We are certain that the Academy will support Qatar to achieve self-sufficiency in organ donation to meet the needs of the patients locally,” he said. “At the same time will have a wider impact on the region by being a hub for collaborative research, education and training in the field of organ donation.”

HE Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, the Minister of Public Health said Qatar’s organ donation program, with a unified national waiting list, had become a model for other countries to emulate. “With fairness and equity at its heart, our program has been recognized internationally and is something we can be proud of,” said Her Excellency. “Qatar’s national strategy for organ transplantation is not only

Dr. Yousuf Al Maslamani Medical Director of Hamad General Hospital and Director of the Organ Transplant Center said the Academy will bolster Qatar’s current organ donation and transplantation programs and support plans for its expansion. “The Academy, with its group of eminent advisors, will also empower our mission to become a center of excellence for organ donation bot regionally and internationally,” Dr. Al Maslamani said.

Members of the advisory panel praised Qatar’s unique and innovative approach to organ donation and transplantation. Dr. Dominique Martin, Senior Lecturer in Health Ethics at Deakin University in Australia said that Qatar had demonstrated that a small country can deliver on its vision for a safe and fair organ donation program. “The program of organ donation and transplantation is inclusive of all people living in Qatar, regardless of their nationality, race, gender,

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income status, social background. It is this spirit of equity and inclusion that is the idea behind the Academy,” Dr. Martin said. Professor Gabriel Danovitch from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) said that Qatar’s commitment to a fair system of organ donation as reflected in the Doha Model is an example to the region and to the world and is a justifiable source of national pride. “In this country, you can be a donor as well as a recipient. That is a principle for this model that I think is very important for the region. We are here to support that principle and the leadership of the country as they continue with their

commitment to this principle.” According to Dr. Mirela Busic, an expert on organ donation from Croatia and a member of the panel, the Academy will play a pivotal role in promoting the Doha Model in the region and internationally. “The purpose of our visit is also to learn how this model can be applied to other countries and regions to increase the rate of deceased organ donation,” she said. Director of the Qatar Organ Donation Centre (Hiba), Dr. Riadh Fadhil said “Since its launch in 2011 the “Doha Model” of Organ Donation has achieved remarkable success in changing the attitudes of Qatar’s multicultural society and we have also seen an increase in donors.”

Breast Cancer Patient Praises Service Received at HMC Exceptional Care and Compassion shown by HMC’s Breast Cancer Team, says Breast Cancer Patient

n honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mrs. Manal Ihsane El Badaoui, a 37-year-old mother of two, has agreed to share her story about her experience as a breast cancer patient at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). Mrs. Manal was diagnosed with breast cancer one year ago. With no family history of breast cancer, Mrs. Manal’s cancer was initially detected when she noticed a lump in her right breast. She went for an ultrasound and was then referred for a mammogram which was followed by further screenings and a biopsy. The biopsy detected breast cancer and Mrs. Manal was diagnosed with stage 3, grade 2 Infiltrative Ductal Carcinoma in her right breast. Unfortunately, this type is one of 15 percent of breast cancers which do not show up on a mammogram and are frequently at an advanced stage when diagnosed. Speaking about her experience with HMC, she said, “My experience with HMC has been great. The referral system is very organized, and the Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialists and the rest of the staff are all experienced, competent and very friendly. The modern facilities are very impressive and the doctors and nurses see me quickly at each appointment. All these attributes make me feel very comfortable and at ease during

my treatment.” Mrs. Manal also highlighted the importance of having the support of her family and friends, explaining how she could not have got through the tough moments in her fight against breast cancer without the prayers, wishes and support of all the people around her. In her message to raise awareness of breast cancer, Ms. Manal said: “If there is anything that I could say to other women going through a similar experience I would tell them to know that they have the strength within them to get through each challenge. Breast cancer is something that happens to you and does not need to define you. The sooner you detect breast cancer, the greater your chances of survival are. It is, therefore, important to get the message out to everyone and help save lives. “ She continued: “I believe in being proactive, adopting a healthy lifestyle, following a proper diet, going for yearly mammograms and carrying out regular self-examinations. Ultimately, even if you cannot prevent breast cancer, you can minimize the chance of it developing and also lessen its impact on your life.” Breast cancer can affect people’s lives in different ways, depending on the stage it is at, the type of treatment being received and where this is taking place yet it is not a death sentence. Something positive can be found in everything and women should bear in mind Manal’s experience when trying to find it. Staying upbeat can be crucial to overcoming any health issue and it is important for women to channel all their energy towards staying positive and focusing on what is coming next.

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Hamad Medical Corporation

highlights the need for people to be aware of the warning signs and risk factors for stroke of stroke is high. Professor Ashfaq Shuaib, Director of HMC’s Neurosciences Institute, stressed the importance of knowing the signs of stroke: “Fast and specialized medical intervention is the key to successful treatment for stroke patients. Time is brain, meaning the faster treatment can be given following a stroke, the better the chances of recovery. To ensure we are able to treat stroke patients quickly, it is vital that the public know the signs and symptoms of stroke so they can identify the issue and immediately call 999 for help.” In 2015, HMC ran a high-profile national campaign to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke and the correct action to take if you suspect a stroke. The awareness campaign used the internationally-established F.A.S.T. message to highlight the major signs of stroke and reinforce the need to act quickly. F - Face drooping: Has your face suddenly drooped on one side or do you have difficulty smiling? A - Arm weakness: Are you unable to raise both arms? S - Speech problems: Do you have difficulty speaking or being understood by other people? T - Time is ticking: Call 999 immediately

s part of Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) activities to mark this year’s World Stroke Day on 29 October, the healthcare provider’s stroke experts are reinforcing the importance of knowing the major warning signs and risk factors for stroke. Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and the number one cause of chronic disability in the world. Due to the high prevalence in Qatar’s population of many risk factors for stroke – including diabetes, smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension and inactivity – the incidence

In addition to reinforcing the signs and symptoms, HMC’s stroke team is advising the public to be aware of the risk factors for stroke. “Certain medical conditions and lifestyle habits can raise your risk of having a stroke,” explained Dr. Naveed Akhtar, head doctor in Hamad General Hospital’s Stroke Ward. “The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to have a stroke. You can treat or control some risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking, but you cannot control other risk factors, including age, gender and a family history of stroke. But it is still important to be aware of them,” explained Dr. Akhtar.

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