The Sidra Medical and Research Center in Qatar is re-imagining healthcare for women and children regionally and globally

Doha, Qatar (10 July 2012)

Edward Ogata MD, MBA, has been appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Sidra Medical and Research Center, a groundbreaking medical, research and education institution that focuses on the health and wellbeing of women and children in Doha, Qatar. The key clinical role will commence on September 15, 2012. As the most senior physician at Sidra, Dr. Ogata will provide leadership to the medical staff and lead Sidra to deliver the highest standard of medical care. He will be responsible for implementing strong clinical governance systems, continual quality improvement and ensuring that the quality, safety, efficacy, and efficiency of the clinical services are delivered to the highest level. Dr. Ogata will also ensure that a strong relationship is maintained between Sidra and its faculty members at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, a branch of the prestigious Ivy League university in New York.

"I am honored to be part of this unique project and act as the Chief Medical Officer at Sidra, which I expect will be hugely challenging," said Dr. Ogata. He continued, "It is an extremely exciting prospect to be part of the launch of what will be a world-class hospital facility, and to work to deliver on the Sidra promise to advance and lead with expert medical care for women and children not only in Qatar, but across the whole region."

Dr. Ogata will be moving to Sidra from the Ann and Robert Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago where he is Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Ogata also holds the position of Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Crown Family Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago. Dr. Ogata has been practicing medicine for over 30 years, specializes in neonatology and his special interests include neonatal hypoglycemia, infants of diabetic mothers, diabetes mellitus and carbohydrate metabolism.

Sidra Medical and Research Center will set new standards in patient care for women and children in Qatar and offer unique and unprecedented opportunities for world-leading health professionals to be pioneers in the discovery and advancement of patient care. The new facility will be all-digital, incorporating the most advanced information technology applications in all clinical, research and business functions.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Edward Ogata onboard as Chief Medical Officer of Sidra," commented Dr. Mohammad Fathy Saoud, Vice Chair of Sidra Board of Governors and Chair of Executive Committee. He added, "Dr. Ogata's experience and expertise in top academic medical centers in the US make him perfectly suited to this critical senior leadership role, ensuring that the highest standards in the care of our patients and the advancement of medical research are at the core of Sidra's unique model, which integrates quality maternal and child health services with medical education and research."

At present, Sidra is working with its partners to finalize exactly when the Medical and Research Center will be fully operational. Patient and staff safety is the highest priority and a rigorous facility and operational commissioning process will be undertaken to ensure that the Center operates at the highest standards. 

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About Sidra Medical and Research Center
Sidra Medical and Research Center is a groundbreaking hospital, research and education institution, based in Doha, Qatar, that will focus on the health and wellbeing of women and children regionally and globally. Sidra will be a fully digital facility, incorporating the most advanced information technology applications in clinical, research and business functions. Sidra will initially have around 400 beds with infrastructure to enable expansion to 550 beds in a subsequent phase.

Sidra will have a unique working structure with inter-professional collaboration at the heart, providing the best holistic care for patients and an unparalleled learning environment for its medical professionals. Sidra will combine the best in design, technology, operations and practices from medical centers around the world - to offer its employees an environment that is at once familiar and extraordinary.

Sidra is part of a dynamic research and education environment in Qatar that includes leading international institutions, such as: Sidra's academic partner Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, and Qatar Science and Technology Park. Through strong partnerships with leading institutions around the world, Sidra is creating an intellectual ecosystem to help advance scientific discovery through investment in medical research.

Sidra represents the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser who serves as its Chairperson. The high-tech facility will not only provide world-class patient care but will also help build Qatar's scientific expertise and resources. Sidra will be funded by a US$7.9 billion endowment from Qatar Foundation, the largest endowment of its kind in the world.
 
For further information, please contact:
Doha, Qatar (CDT +8 hours)
Khalid Al Mohannadi
Email: kalmohannadi@sidra.org
Tel: +974 4404 2333

Rakiya Farah
Email: rfarah@sidra.org
Tel: +974 4404 2366
Chicago
Kaitlyn Mueller
Email: kaitlyn.mueller@ketchum.com
Tel: 1 312 228 6833

Press Release 2012