Sheikha Moza attends opening ceremony of QU conference on education

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF) and Honorary President of the QU Alumni Association, attended Tuesday the 11th International Conference on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP), All Together Better Health (ATBH) XI, hosted by Qatar University (QU).
Held in the Middle East for the first time, the biennial ATBH XI conference aims to inspire and provide opportunities to share knowledge, compare perspectives, exchange experiences and transform current understandings of the IPECP.
The theme for this year’s conference is 'Cultivating a Collaborative Culture: Sharing Pearls of Wisdom' with the following subthemes related to interprofessional education and collaborative practice: 'Sharing models of best practice', 'Informing national, regional and global policies and standards', 'Advocating for health and wellbeing', 'Embracing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging', and 'Promoting safety in and beyond health services'.
The event was attended by HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan al-Kuwari, Qatari Businessmen Association chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, QU president Dr Omar al-Ansari, Hamad Medical Corporation's deputy chief medical officer and Department of Medical Education director Dr Abdullatif Mohamed al-Khal, World Health Organisation's Health Workforce Department director Jim Campbell, QU Health and Medical Sciences vice-president Dr Asma al-Thani, QU Board of Directors member Dr Hessa Mohamed Sadeq and other senior officials from QU and other institutions.
“For the first time in the Middle East, we meet at Qatar University to solidify the foundation of a future where health and education converge with a lasting impact,” said Dr al-Ansari. “As part of Qatar University’s overarching strategy, our vision is to have a pioneering role in driving the transformation of academic health education in Qatar and the region.”
“This involves creating a comprehensive educational system that aligns our national health priorities and facilitates seamless integration with cutting edge research,” he added.
Dr Champion N Nyoni, chair of Interprofessional Global, University of the Free State (South Africa), said: “This gathering marks a pivotal moment, underscoring the sustained growth, the development of interprofessional education, and collaborative practice on a global scale.”
“Our theme for this conference, 'Cultivating a Collaborative Culture: Sharing Pearls of Wisdom' encapsulates the essence of our interconnected lives,” he said.
Dr Alla El-Awaisi, director of Clinical Operations and Engagement and chairperson of the Conference Steering Committee, said: “This conference is a culmination of years of dedication, collaboration and a resounding testament to our commitment to advancing health professional education.”
“The opening ceremony provides the stage for the launch of two important events that provide a beacon of hope and progress,” he said.
“The first of these is the launch of Winterthur – Doha Declaration developed by Interprofessional. Global, representing more than 100 countries and 11 regional networks, it signifies a collective commitment to advancing interprofessional education and collaborative practice globally,” Dr El-Awaisi added. “The second is the official launch of the Arab Network for Interprofessional Collaboration as part of Interprofessional Global networks.”
“Since the idea of the network was first planted, concrete efforts have helped the emerging entity since 2018 to evolve into an established network uniting academics, health professionals and interprofessional activists from around the world,” he continued. “The launch is particularly significant given the remarkable growth of IPE in the region.”
The opening ceremony concluded with talks by Prof John Gilbert and Dr Barbara Maxwell, who discussed 'Informing national, regional, and global policies and standards for IPECP' and 'Advancing Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice: A Declaration for a Healthier Future', respectively.