QU, healthcare leaders strengthen academic-clinical collaboration

Qatar University (QU) has hosted the fourth annual meeting of the Joint Clinical Academic Steering Committee (JCASC), reinforcing its commitment to advancing healthcare education, research, and workforce development in Qatar.

The meeting serves as a platform for strategic discussions among academia, healthcare providers, and policymakers to align healthcare education with national priorities.

The participation of key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), and Sidra Medicine, underscores a collective effort to enhance clinical training, research, and healthcare service delivery through academic partnerships.

QU president Dr Omar al-Ansari stated: “The QU is committed to bridging academic excellence with clinical practice through strong partnerships like our collaboration with healthcare stakeholders. These collaborations ensure that our graduates are well-prepared to meet the growing demands of Qatar’s healthcare system.”

QU vice-president for health and medical sciences Prof Asmaa al-Thani highlighted the QU Health’s role in transforming health professions education.

“Interdisciplinary collaboration between universities and healthcare institutions is essential to achieving excellence in clinical education,” she said. “Our goal is to ensure that the QU Health remains at the forefront of health professions training and innovation.”

PHCC managing director Dr Mariam AbdulMalik emphasised the integration of primary healthcare into clinical education.

“The inclusion of the PHCC as an educational facility for QU students will provide essential hands-on experience and help develop a workforce that is well-versed in community healthcare needs,” she said.

The meeting’s key discussions included progress on QU Hospital, a landmark project aimed at bridging academic training with real-world clinical practice.

The expansion of the Hamad Dental Academic Centre was also discussed, with a focus on enhancing dental education and training capabilities.

Additionally, the designation of primary healthcare centres as Clinical Education Facilities was highlighted as a step toward integrating community-based training into medical education.

The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening Qatar’s healthcare education ecosystem through greater integration between the QU, HMC, MoPH, PHCC, Sidra Medicine, and other key stakeholders.

Moving forward, the JCASC aims to accelerate the implementation of strategic initiatives that will shape the future of healthcare education and clinical practice in Qatar.