HMC launches Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Programme
Doha
Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Qatar Rehabilitation Institute (QRI) has announced the official launch of a four-year Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Residency Programme, a milestone initiative that marks a major leap forward in advancing Qatar's academic medicine and rehabilitation workforce development.
The programme will commence in the upcoming academic year and is developed in alignment with international standards. This programme positions QRI as a regional leader in training future physiatrists with unparalleled access to cutting-edge technologies, interdisciplinary care, and structured academic mentorship.
Dr Hanadi Al Hamad, deputy chief of Rehabilitation, Long-Term Care, and Geriatrics, and CEO and medical director of Qatar Rehabilitation Institute, expressed her pride: 'This is a prestigious achievement for QRI and for Qatar. Establishing the PM&R Residency Programme reflects our firm commitment to capacity building, clinical excellence, and innovation in rehabilitation. It is a key milestone in our strategy development as well as Qatar's National Health Strategy 2024-2030. Enhanced by the WHO's Rehabilitation 2030 initiative, we are not only shaping careers, we are shaping the future of rehabilitation in Qatar.'
Dr Abdulla Rashid Al Naimi, deputy chief medical officer, Medical Education at HMC, emphasised the broader strategic value: 'The launch of this residency programme exemplifies how HMC is driving Qatar's transformation into a knowledge-based, healthcare-leading nation. It supports our vision of building a sustainable, highly skilled medical workforce and is a platform for empowerment, excellence, and future leadership.'
The PM&R Residency Programme is the first of its kind in Qatar, offering a structured, accredited curriculum that empowers residents to grow into independent, research-driven, and globally competent specialists. Residents will gain hands-on experience in advanced rehabilitation services, including neuromodulation, GAIT analysis, virtual reality therapy, and spasticity management, all within a world-class, multidisciplinary clinical environment.
Dr Fatma Jassim Al-Kuwari, acting chairperson of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the driving force behind the establishment of the programme, commented: 'This programme is a turning point for Qatari medical graduates. It creates a direct and prestigious pathway to specialise in physical medicine and rehabilitation within our own health system. By investing in our future physicians, we are building a self-sufficient and resilient rehabilitation ecosystem that supports national priorities and inspires our youth to pursue excellence in this vital specialty.'
This milestone also reflects Qatar's commitment to fostering innovation, research, and clinical leadership within rehabilitation medicine. By investing in advanced medical education, HMC and QRI are paving the way for long-term improvements in patient care, service delivery, and professional development across the continuum of care.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital achieves landmark surgical success
DOHA: In a major surgical milestone that underscores the continued development of specialized surgical services at HMC, the Orthopedic Surgery Department at Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital has successfully performed Qatar's first highly specialized procedure to correct a rare congenital knee deformity, offering renewed hope to a 28-year-old patient who had suffered from debilitating pain and severe movement restrictions that began in her teenage years. The patient had been diagnosed with Trochlear Dysplasia, a rare condition that had progressively limited her ability to walk and carry out normal activities since the age of 18. The condition caused persistent friction within the kneecap joint, resulting in chronic pain that restricted her ability to pursue educational, professional, and personal goals. The complex surgery lasted several hours, involved reshaping the bone cavity of the kneecap and reconstructing it using an innovative biological membrane infused with stem cells extracted from the patient's own bone marrow. This advanced technique promotes cartilage regeneration and allows for full restoration of joint function. Dr Ibrahim Fawzi, Medical Director of Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital, commented on this achievement: 'This surgical success marks a significant milestone in the development of orthopedic services at HMC. It reflects strategic commitment to delivering cutting-edge medical interventions, supported by world-class expertise, to ensure the highest standards of specialized care for the people of Qatar. This achievement aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030's goal of establishing a healthy society with access to the highest standards of medical care.' 'This type of surgery is among the most complex in the field of joint reconstruction and is performed only in a very limited number of specialized centers worldwide. Its successful completion at our hospital demonstrates our capability to undertake advanced, highly precise procedures particularly benefiting young patients affected by congenital deformities or long-term sports related injuries.' Dr. Sameh Abdalqawi, Head of the Orthopedic Surgery Department and lead surgeon for the case, added. The Orthopedic Surgery Department at Aisha Bint Hamad Al-Attiyah Hospital receives an average of 1,100–1,200 patients per month in its outpatient clinics and is staffed by a team of experienced specialized surgeons. The department is equipped with advanced technologies for fracture management, sports injury treatment, recurrent dislocation correction, and joint reconstruction, as well as partial and total joint replacement, in line with the latest internationally recognized medical protocols.
Qatar Tribune
7 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital restores mobility with rare knee surgery
Tribune News Network Doha In a major surgical milestone that underscores the continued development of specialised surgical services at HMC, the Orthopedic Surgery Department at Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital has successfully performed Qatar's first highly specialised procedure to correct a rare congenital knee deformity, offering renewed hope to a 28-year-old patient who had suffered from debilitating pain and severe movement restrictions that began in her teenage years. The patient had been diagnosed with Trochlear Dysplasia, a rare condition that had progressively limited her ability to walk and carry out normal activities since the age of 18. The condition caused persistent friction in the kneecap joint, resulting in chronic pain that restricted her ability to pursue educational, professional, and personal goals. The complex surgery lasted several hours, involved reshaping the bone cavity of the kneecap and reconstructing it using an innovative biological membrane infused with stem cells extracted from the patient's own bone marrow. This advanced technique promotes cartilage regeneration and allows for full restoration of joint function. Dr Ibrahim Fawzi, Medical Director of Aisha Bint Hamad Al-Attiyah Hospital, commented on this achievement: 'This surgical success marks a significant milestone in the development of orthopedic services at HMC. It reflects strategic commitment to delivering cutting-edge medical interventions, supported by world-class expertise, to ensure the highest standards of specialized care for the people of Qatar. This achievement aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030's goal of establishing a healthy society with access to the highest standards of medical care.' 'This type of surgery is among the most complex in the field of joint reconstruction and is performed only in a very limited number of specialized centers worldwide. Its successful completion at our hospital demonstrates our capability to undertake advanced, highly precise procedures particularly benefiting young patients affected by congenital deformities or long-term sports related injuries,' Dr Sameh Abdalqawi, Head of the Orthopedic Surgery Department and lead surgeon for the case, added. The Orthopedic Surgery Department at Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital receives an average of 1,100–1,200 patients per month in its outpatient clinics and is staffed by a team of experienced specialized surgeons. The department is equipped with advanced technologies for fracture management, sports injury treatment, recurrent dislocation correction, and joint reconstruction, as well as partial and total joint replacement, in line with the latest internationally recognized medical protocols.
Qatar Tribune
05-08-2025
- Qatar Tribune
HMC warns against leaving children inside vehicles during hot weather
Tribune News Network Doha As temperatures in Qatar continue to rise, the Hamad Injury Prevention Programme (HIPP) at Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Hamad Trauma Center, a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Trauma, is raising urgent public awareness about the life-threatening dangers of leaving children or vulnerable individuals inside parked vehicles even for just a few minutes. 'The temperature inside a parked car can climb rapidly, even much higher than the outside temperature,' warned Tsoler Sekayan, coordinator of the Hamad Injury Prevention Programme. 'Even on a moderately warm day, a vehicle's interior can reach dangerous temperatures within minutes. This creates an extreme risk of heatstroke, high fever, dehydration, seizures, or even death, especially for young children.' Sekayan stressed that young children, under the age of five, are particularly at risk because their bodies absorb heat more quickly than adults. 'Sadly, many of these incidents happen when children are unintentionally forgotten, or when they fall asleep and are left behind. It only takes a short time for a tragic situation to unfold,' she said. These risks are not limited to children alone. 'Elderly individuals and those with chronic medical conditions or co-morbidities are just as vulnerable to heat-related illnesses as young children when left inside hot vehicles even for a short period,' said Sekayan. She added that some children are unintentionally left in vehicles because they fall asleep or are forgotten by busy parents, guardians, or drivers, especially when routines change or during stress. Children with special needs may also struggle to recognise or communicate danger, making them more vulnerable in these situations. HIPP shares the following basic recommendations to prevent this from happening: 1. Always account for all children when exiting the car. Before locking your vehicle, double-check that all passengers, especially young children, have exited. Young children may fall asleep or remain quiet, making them easy to overlook. 2. Search your vehicle if a child is missing. If a child goes missing, immediately check inside your vehicle, including the trunk. Children may enter the car unnoticed and become trapped. 3. Use clear and obvious visual reminders to avoid forgetting a child in the car. Place an essential item such as a phone, wallet, or handbag on the back seat near your child. You can also put your child's backpack or lunchbox on the front passenger seat as a visual prompt. 4. Keep cars locked and keys out of reach. Always lock your vehicle, even when parked at home, and store keys and remote entry devices out of reach. This prevents children from entering or starting the car unsupervised. 5. Don't let children play with car keys or inside the vehicle. Keys should never be given to children as toys. Talk to your child about the dangers of playing in or around vehicles and reinforce the importance of staying out unless accompanied by an adult. 6. Use child safety locks and educate children. Activate child safety locks on car doors and windows. Teach your child not to touch control buttons or locks while in the car. In case your child has developed any heat related illness symptoms such sweating, dehydration, confusion, you should take them to cooler area immediately and call 999 for guidance.
