Baby Maryam first born at Sidra Medicine, while six children undergo surgical procedures and three pulmonology patients check in for treatment on 14 January

Qatar Foundation sets major precedent in growth and development in specialist care for children and women

Sidra Medicine, a specialty children’s, young people and women’s healthcare organization and member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), welcomed its first patients to the main hospital building this week.

Sidra Medicine opened its hospital on 14 January with the launch of its inpatient obstetrics services and several children’s services. These include pulmonology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and non-invasive cardiology services, as well as low-risk general surgery, urology, plastic and ear, nose and throat surgical procedures. Sidra Medicine also has elective, low risk C-section deliveries scheduled for the first three weeks of the main hospital opening.

The first baby, a Qatari girl named Maryam, was born on 14 January. She was delivered via an elective C-section. In line with Sidra Medicine’s family-centric approach to care, Maryam’s father attended her birth.

Dr. Justin Konje, Executive Chair of the Women’s Services Clinical Management Group, announced the birth at a press conference to mark the opening of the hospital this week, saying: “It is an incredible and emotional time at Sidra Medicine. We welcomed our first baby who is doing very well, along with her mother. It has been a privilege to be part of their experience. This also marks the beginning of an incredible new journey for us, for Qatar and for the women, young people and children we will serve in the coming years. We will ultimately handle one third of all births in Qatar. By the end of the year, this will equal to approximately 750 to 800 deliveries per month.”

Baby Maryam’s birth was handled by Dr. Justin Konje, Dr. Aisha Yousuf and Maha Al-Ghanem. Dr. Aisha Yousuf is the Director of Reproductive Medicine and was one of the first batch of medical students from Weill-Cornell Medicine in Qatar and studied abroad to further to specialize in her field. Nurse Maha is a Clinical Nurse from the Obstetrics Diagnostic Department and graduated from the University of Calgary in Qatar. Both Dr. Yousuf and Nurse Maha were sponsored by Sidra Medicine under its National Development program.

The first baby boy, named Tamim, born to Sudanese parents, was delivered on 15 January via an elective C-section. Baby Tamim’s birth was handled by Senior Attending Physician, Dr. Joseph Shumway.

Baby Tamim’s father, a Sudanese expat who has lived in Qatar for 15 years, said, “I was overjoyed that I could be in the delivery room with my wife as we welcomed our baby boy. We named him Tamim, out of respect and admiration for H.H the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and everything he has done for Qatar and the people living here.”

The first pediatric surgery patients to be seen at the new Sidra Medicine hospital on 14 January were under the care of Dr. David Sigalet, Chair of Pediatric Surgery along with Dr. Mansour Ali, Vice Chair of Pediatric Surgery and Dr. Mitch Stotland, Division Chief of Craniofacial and Plastics. The six children underwent elective day surgeries. In addition, three patients checked in for two-week long respiratory monitoring and pulmonology treatments under the care of Dr. Ibrahim Janahi, Division Chief of Pulmonology.

“The children’s services at Sidra Medicine are aimed at providing specialist care for children who require unique medical care and treatment. We have assembled a team of Qatari and international experts including physicians, nurses and allied health professionals who are focused on making the experience every child and their family has with us a positive one. We would also like to thank our partner Hamad Medical Corporation who previously handled the majority of children’s specialty care and are now transitioning these services to Sidra Medicine,” said Dr. Abdulla Al Kaabi, the Executive Chair of Children’s Clinical Management Group, and Vice Executive Chief Medical Officer at Sidra Medicine.

Rashid , who was one of the first pulmonology patients to check in at the new hospital, said, “Everything is going well and I am happy with the care provided by the doctor and the team here. Because of my condition, I have been in and out of hospitals for a long time and I am very comfortable with the environment at Sidra Medicine.”

The current schedule of inpatient services will be ramped up through mid-2018 to include more complex pediatric surgeries, specialist pediatric services in neurology and cardiology, among others, as well as deliveries, focusing on high-risk pregnancies. From 4 February, 2018, the Women’s Clinic at Sidra Medicine will begin accepting referrals from Al-Rayyan Health Center and Gharrafat Al Rayyan Health Center, in addition to those through Hamad Medical Corporation and from other Primary Health Care Corporation Centers.

Patients are encouraged to continue seeing their regular physicians unless they have a scheduled appointment at Sidra Medicine. No Emergency Department (ED) is currently open at Sidra Medicine, which will open in mid-2018, and emergency cases should continue to be seen at established ED centers throughout Qatar.