HEC Paris in Qatar and Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q), both partner universities of Qatar Foundation, have successfully hosted the second module of the new executive education programme in healthcare management and policy, which they jointly designed to help drive excellence in healthcare provision in Qatar and across the region by integrating systems-level management expertise with a deep understanding of medical care.
The programme fully leveraged the combined expertise of HEC Paris, ranked No. 1 in executive education worldwide in the Financial Times Rankings 2022, and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, part of the Ivy League Cornell University and one of the most respected and highly rated medical research centres in the Gulf region.
It highlights the value of collaboration between institutions at Education City, aligned with the new Qatar Foundation multiversity strategy.
The five-day module was the final of two in the programme, with the first having taken place in New York.
The programme attracted a mix of clinicians and non-clinicians, healthcare executives and policymakers, and private sector support service companies. Among the participants, several prominent actors of Qatar’s health system were represented, including Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Sidra Medicine, WCM-Q and Qatar University.
“Qatar is committed to excellence in healthcare, from basic research to healthcare delivery, and that is one of the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Dr Pablo Martin de Holan, dean, HEC Paris in Qatar.
“This programme is of particular relevance for healthcare professionals working within the delivery ecosystem across the country as it provides tools and ideas for the successful implementation of the strategic priorities in the healthcare sector.”
Having focused on healthcare policy and the shift towards value-based care in the New York module, the Doha module centred around healthcare management, where participants gained a deeper understanding of the fundamental business models in healthcare, the role of disruptive innovation, and how digital transformation has been changing managerial decision-making and entrepreneurial efforts.
Dr Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM-Q, said: “It is our belief that excellence in healthcare at the point of delivery can only be possible within a supportive framework in which the very highest standards are reached in all associated areas of operation, including medical education, research and, of course, management and policy formation.
This programme provides a wealth of opportunities for participants to interact closely with faculty and peers across these interlinked sectors, enabling them to draw detailed and accurate insights about the strategic imperatives required to allow Qatar to continue to push global standards in healthcare ever higher.”
The programme also featured several sessions from high-profile guest speakers, including Sheikh Dr Mohamed Hamad J T al-Thani, director of the Public Health Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health; Dr Abdulla Ali Asad al-Ansari, chief medical officer of Hamad Medical Corporation; Joseph G Otayek, medical director of the American University of Beirut Medical Centre; and Somesh Chandra, CEO – Employee Benefits of AXA Domestic Markets.
Sheikh Dr al-Thani appraised the programme as preparing high-calibre healthcare professionals to lead Qatar’s future healthcare transformation, which is aligned with the country’s 2030 vision.
Dr al-Ansari said, “I am happy to see that participating physicians from HMC will be able to acquire new management and leadership skills, which will enrich our institution with clinicians who think beyond clinical practice; I’m also glad that the programme assembled participants from Weill Cornell, Qatar University, and HMC, so they exchange their experiences.”
Participants expressed their appreciation on the programme modules and learnings they can take forward for practical implementation.
For participant Dr Odette Chagoury, director of operations at Qatar Metabolic Institute, HMC; assistant professor of Metabolic Research in Medicine at WMC-Q and an HEC EMBA 2021 graduate, the programme high point was the leadership viewpoint it disclosed.
“I would wholeheartedly recommend this programme to all healthcare professionals who wish to explore the challenges that the sector leadership is now facing, which include staff recruitment, retention and the empowerment of employees,” she commented.
Participant Dr Tariq Chukir, assistant professor of Medicine at WCM-Q and endocrinology consultant at HMC , was particularly appreciative of the programme’s experiential learning aspect. “This is an outstanding programme. It has provided me with a global perspective on healthcare policy and management. It has also equipped me with essential skills needed to succeed in leadership positions. Engaging with talented faculty and colleagues from different institutions in Qatar, using innovative technology such as the hologram, and meeting successful executives in leadership positions have contributed significantly to the learning gained during this programme.”
