In a December 22, 2009 presentation delivered at the College of Pharmacy Faculty Research Seminar Series, Dr. Maguy El Hajj, Assistant Professor revealed new information pertaining to community pharmacist knowledge and involvement in the breast cancer health promotion activities in Qatar.  While receiving relatively low breast cancer knowledge scores related to breast cancer risks and screening recommendations, over 75% of the 195 community-based pharmacists surveyed expressed a strong interest in receiving continuing education to further their health promotion skills related to this specialized topic.  Respondents were well aware that community pharmacies are the most accessible health care professionals in the community setting, and that pharmacies represent an ideal portal for health care promotion.  However, these pharmacists also identified that there are major barriers to providing much needed public health information including a lack of locally available informational materials (79% of responses), a lack of recognition of the recognized role of pharmacists as sources of this information in this country (61%), and other logistical issues.  

Despite these barriers, pharmacists were optimistic that teir overall role in public health promotion will improve in this country.  Dr. El Hajj states she believes community pharmacists in Qatar are becoming recognized by the public as important sources of health and lifestyle management information and that this recognition is commonplace in other developed countries.  She noted that the current study was yet another confirmation that community pharmacists are under-utilized in Qatar.  In the case of breast cancer, this could mean the difference between early screening and detection versus delayed diagnosis of a potentially fatal disease.

This project was funded by a research grant from the Qatar Foundation through the Undergraduate Research Experience program and a Qatar University Student Grant. Yousra Hamid,  A third-year pharmacy student, was also involved in this project and the results were recently presented at the 44th American Society of Health System Pharmacists Conference in Las Vegas, USA.  Further study details including a streaming media presentation can be found under research presentations.

Qatar University (QU) had a successful showing at the recent Qatar Health 2009 Exhibition and Scientific Program.  QU was well represented at the exhibition by way of a informational display booth that was organized and manned by College of Pharmacy representatives including staff, faculty and students.  We were pleased to also have the opportunity to invite the Department of Health Sciences to join us at the booth, and took advantage of this arrangement to promote interprofessional education to the registrants and lay public. 

 In addition to the exhibition, Drs. Nadir Kheir and Peter Jewesson also functioned as moderators for several pharmacy scientific sessions.  Dr. Nadir also presented a talk on professionalism in pharmacy.  To culminate the event, one of the international speakers, Dr. James Tisdale, Professor and President, American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) was able to join us for a 1/2-day at the college where he had the opportunity to meet with faculty and staff, as well as attend one of our classes to meet with students.  

Our thanks to the Dr. Al Medfaa and the President Al Misnad for providing the funding necessary to permit us to participate in this important inaugural national event.

On December 14, 2009, Qatar University (QU) and the Shafallah Centre for Children with Special Needs/Medical Genetics Centre (SC) collaborated towards the delivery of the first video teleconference health sciences research seminar involving these two partners.  Dr. Mayada Elsabbagh, from the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, University of London presented a talk on "The Why, What, and How of Early Detection in Autism" at the SC.  This was broadcast to one of the new QU College of Pharmacy classrooms that has been video conference-enabled by the ITS department.  The technology permitted participants at both locations had the opportunity to see and interact with each other during the 60-minute session. 

This "first" cross-site health care research seminar involving these two institutions would not have been possible without the collaborative work of the QU ITS and senior administrative team, and Dr. Hatem El Shanti, Director, Shafallah Medical Genetics Centre who coordinated the SC seminar and broadcast to QU.  Drs. Wandikayi Matowe and Bridget Javed will coordinate future research seminars from QU that will be broadcast to interested SC staff.

QU and SC signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2008 and this activity is one aspect of the collaboration between the two institutions. two organizations. 

Another QPhUS first! QPhUS students in partnership with Qatar Diabetes Association, University of Calgary-Qatar nursing students and QU Health Science Nutrition and Biomedical students formed the first multi-disciplinary healthcare event to create awareness and prevention for Diabetes.

Students services at the event included Blood Glucose monitoring for Diabetics, BMI testing and Nutritional Counselling. Risk factors were discussed and pamphlets were distributed. Qatar Diabetes Association supervised the students during their activities.

First year Pharmacy student Amina Radoui commented, “it was so rewarding helping other people. I really feel like I’ve made a difference today."

(poster; photos; features in The Gulf Times (front page, article), The Peninsula)

The College  is pleased to announce that Banan Mukhalalati, BSc (Pharm), RPH, MBA has accepted an offer to join the College of Pharmacy as the new Assistant Dean of Faculty and Student Affairs. Ms. Banan received her BSc (Pharm) from King Saud University in 2000, and her MBA degree from Qatar University in 2008.  Her MBA graduation project is entitled "The Implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in the Qatari Health Care Sector."  She is a registered pharmacist, and prior to joining us she was the Medication Safety Manager within the Department of Pharmacy at Al Amal Cancer Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation.  She has also been closely involved with the JCI accreditation process in this institution. In the period from March 2008 till February 2009, Ms. Mukhalalati was seconded to the office of the Assistant Managing Director for Operations to support some administrative initiatives.  Prior to this, she has held many responsibilities with the Women's Hospital Department of Pharmacy including inpatient, outpatient, drug information and clinical pharmacist (neonatal intensive care unit) positions between 2003 - 2005, and pharmacy supervisor between 2006 - 2008.

Ms. Banan joins the college on October 25, 2009.  Welcome onboard, Ms. Mukhalalati!  

On October 13, 2009, Qatar University’s (QU) College of Pharmacy (CPH) students launched a 3-day breast cancer awareness campaign to educate QU students about the disease. The event was organized by the Qatar Pharmacy Undergraduate Society (QPhUS) at the College under the banner “Think Pink,” in which students were encouraged to wear pink in support of the campaign and in solidarity with sufferers of the disease.   (photos)

The highlight of the event was a workshop about breast cancer and self-examination, led by guest speaker Dr. Mahassin Akasha, from the Qatar National Cancer Society. Other event activities included a presentation on Pharmacy College’s breast cancer research projects, a lecture by a physician from Al Amal Hospital, and student artwork in support of cancer sufferers. Students painted pink artwork to support cancer patients at Al Amal Hospital.

QPhUS 3rd year class representative Hajer Ahmed stated, “This is an event organized entirely by QPhUS students who are interested in public health and are using their knowledge of health care to promote awareness and educate the other Qatar University students about this disease. This makes me proud to be a QPhUS executive committee member. “

Commenting on the event, QPhUS President Randa Okka said, “As pharmacy students and as women, we are very concerned about this disease, and we hope that this campaign would encourage our friends and colleagues to be vigilant in seeking updated information and advice to minimize risk of contracting it.”

(poster; articles in The Gulf Times, Al Shorfa, Al Raya newspapers)

The College of Pharmacy held another successful Information Session for pre-pharmacy students. This event took place in the female Food Court on Wednesday, October  7th. Interested pre-pharmacy students asked questions and learned more about a rewarding career in pharmacy. More sessions will be held soon. (photos)

Qatar University's College of Pharmacy (CPH) held its 3rd annual White Coat Inauguration Ceremony on Tuesday, October 6, 2009. The event was also a celebration of the College's achieving accreditation with the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP). The highlight of the event was the taking of the Oath of a Pharmacist by 20 new pharmacy students and their donning of the pharmacist's White Coat. (photos)

CPH Dean Dr. Peter Jewesson welcomed the attendees, who included QU President Prof. Sheikha Abdulla Al-Misnad and other senior QU members; Dr. Aisha Al Ansari, Director, Pharmacy and Drug Control, Supreme Council for Health; Manal Zaidan, Director of Pharmacy, Al Amal Cancer Center; Dr. Ebrahim Mohammadi, Senior Pharmacist, Qatar Petroleum; and representatives from Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Diabetes Association, Boots Middle East, International Medical Corp, Ebn Sina Medical, CPH students and their parents, college faculty and staff, and well-wishers.

"Today we celebrate our recent accreditation by the CCAPP. The College is the only one outside of Canada to gain this achievement, of which Qatar can be proud. CPH students are receiving first-class education on home soil. Tonight's inauguration is the first since being accredited, and only the beginning for us," Dr. Jewesson said.

Commenting on the inauguration, Dr. Al-Ansari said: "I am delighted to attend this event. These are bright and talented female students who have passed the College's rigorous testing requirements to be admitted into this first-class accredited program. As a fellow pharmacist and head of drug control in Qatar, I am proud to see a program like this available in my country. These students are the future of pharmacy in Qatar, and we are looking forward to the first graduates in 2011."

In its congratulatory message, the CCAPP team said: "Qatar University's College of Pharmacy program has met our stringent standards, and we are proud to award it the first and only accredited pharmacy program outside of Canada. It is the first of its kind in the world to achieve this standing. Mabrouk (congratulations) Qatar!"

Manal Zaidan commented: "We at Al-Amal Hospital congratulate the College of Pharmacy for achieving accreditation in such a short space of time. We eagerly await hiring these graduates for high-profile positions in cancer patient pharmaceutical care and research, because we know they will be well-trained, competent and ready to make a difference from the moment they graduate."

First-year student Ghadeer Daghash said: "This day is really important for me. My parents are proud to witness me begin my education at the College of Pharmacy, because it is an accredited program and because becoming a pharmacist is a great career choice. I am thankful that the State of Qatar has enabled me to study pharmacy in this country instead of going abroad, and I look forward to making a difference in the lives of my future patients." (articles in Al Arab, Al Raya, and The Gulf Times)

QU College of Pharmacy recently participated in the 55^th World Congress of the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF).  The event was held in Bali, Indonesia on August 3-13, 2009.

Second-year pharmacy student and Vice President-External of the Qatar Pharmacy Undergraduate Society (QPhUS) Sara Ahmed and Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice Dr. Bridget Javed attended the conference. The QPhUS participated as a full member of the IPSF, a status which they were accorded in Spring 2008.

(poster; photos; press release; Qatar Tribune article)

Dr. Kerry Wilbur was in Ramsinniemi, Finland in June 2009 to attend the International Conference on Life Long Learning in Pharmacy (LLLP) 8th International Conference.  She gave an oral presentation on Quality Use of Prescriptions (QUP-OTC):  Patient Perceptions of Over-the-Counter Medication and Pharmacist Interventions to Enhance Safety in Qatar (citation). This study was sponsored by Qatar Foundation via a UREP 5th cycle grant. Dr. Wilbur also presented a poster entitled  Qatar Pharmacists Continuing Professional Development Needs Assessment Survey (poster). The LLLP conference focuses on issues of importance and relevance to advancing pharmacy practice through continuous professional development. 

We are pleased to announce that Mr. Glen Henderson has accepted a formal offer to join the College of Pharmacy as our new Pharmacy Informatics Coordinator.

Mr. Henderson was born in New York, USA and obtained his BSc (Education) from The King's College in New York, NY (1988).  He has also received an Applications Programming Certificate from Chubb Institute for Computer Technology (Jersey City, NY) and Mac OS X certifications from Apple Inc.  He has held a number of information technology support, training and consultant posts over the past 15 years including appointments with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Time Warner, Prestonwood, Arnell Group and others.  He was a "Mac Genius" with Apple Computer in 2004 and was an IT support technician with Weill-Cornell Medical College - Qatar between 2005-2008.  In addition to his extensive computer skills and knowledge, Mr. Henderson also has experience as an instructor in math, critical reading, study skills, and advanced reading and writing at the Sylvan Learning Centre in Qatar.  To complement these critical skills, he also has entertainment in his blood, is an excellent communicator and a positive spirit.

Mr. Henderson will assume a broad portfolio in his new capacity as our Informatics Coordinator.  His complementary knowledge and skills will be a significant asset to our faculty, staff and students.

Welcome onboard, Mr. Henderson! 

We are pleased to announce that the College of Pharmacy was the recipient of three Qatar Foundation Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) grant awards in the 6th cycle sponsored by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). This complements eight UREP awards received in the last two granting cycles.

Dr. Ola Ghoneim was the principal investigator for two projects, entitled The Burden of Autism in Qatar (BAQ): Compliance and Quality of Life in Families with Autistic Children and Unprecedented Therapeutic Avenue for Repetitive Behaviours in Autism: Selection Serotonin Inhibitors (SSRI's) with Dual Pharmacophoric Profiles. Dr. Kerry Wilbur was the principal investigator for her project entitled Quality Use of Prescriptions (QUP-OTC MD): Pharmacists Interventions to Enhance Safety in Primary Care: Physician Perceptions. This project was the highest scored grant of 38 received by Qatar University.

UREP grants support faculty research activities and provide students with the opportunity to gain research skills under close mentorship. The College of Pharmacy strives to be the leading pharmacy school in the region and these funded projects represent one component of our overall research plan that aims to advance health care outcomes for the benefit of Qatar and beyond.

Well done, Drs. Ghoneim and Wilbur. We are all proud of your accomplishments.

Dr. Ola Ghoneim, Assistant Professor, was the recipient of a Qatar National Research Fund award under the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) for her proposal entitled Novel potential target for repetitive behaviors in autistic patients: Design and synthesis of therapeutically efficient selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with dual pharmacological profile.  This is the second cycle of the  NPRP awards program and Dr. Ghoneim's was one of 93 successful proposals.  Qatar University received the highest number of grants (31/91) amongst awarded institutions. 

Congratulations Dr. Ghoneim!

We are pleased to announce that Tammy King has joined the college as our Senior Specialist, Business, Marketing and Communications. This is a new position that has been created to reflect the growing needs of our new college.  Ms. King will be our primary liaison with our internal and external partners in matters related to the planning and coordination of initiatives related to business, marketing and communications for this college.  She will also liaise closely with the Qatar University External Relations. Ms. King holds a Baccalaureate degree in Commerce and has skills in trend analysis, advertising, promotion, branding, product development, public relations and related areas.  She also has 13 years experience in marketing, advertising, strategic brand management, business & program development, PR and event planning.  Prior to joining us, she was head of marketing for an Emirati Conglomerate with responsibilities for a team of nineteen.  Prior to this, she was involved with Canadian Tire business development & program management at the Toronto Canada corporate head office.  Ms. King's expertise will be a welcome addition to our growing college and will certainly help us meet towards our vision of being the top pharmacy school in the Middle East.

Welcome onboard, Ms. King!

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Bridget Javed has accepted a formal offer to join our college as an Assistant Professor and the Coordinator of the SPEP Program.  Dr. Javed received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2002 at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy (an accredited program) and was licensed as a pharmacist in Texas in 2002.  She completed a Post-PharmD Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Parkland Health and Hospital System (Texas) in 2003 and a Primary Care Specialty Residency at the same institution in 2004. 

Dr. Javed has been practicing at the deHaro Saldivar Health Centre for four years (2004-2008) as a Primary Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist and also the Site Coordinator for their Diabetes Program.  During this time, Dr. Javed held an adjunct appointment with the University of Texas and University of Houston as a Clinical Instructor.  In this capacity, she has been responsible for the training of pharmacy students and resident in the ambulatory care setting.  Dr. Javed's research interests focus on the optimization of pharmacotherapy in the institutional and ambulatory settings.  She has completed several projects and delivered numerous posters and invited presentations on topics ranging from the analysis of sliding scale insulin use to dyslipidemia in the geriatric patient to treatment strategies for postmenopausal women.

Dr. Javed will coordinate the experiential component of the BSc (Pharm) curriculum in addition to some teaching and coordination contributions to other courses.  She carries a professorial portfolio of academic, research and service responsibilities akin to other members.

Welcome onboard, Dr. Javed!