WCMC-Q launches 'Medicine and U' lecture series

Intended for a general audience, the lectures will translate medical and other scientific issues into easy to understand terms. Each lecture will be led by faculty member at WCMC-Q with group discussions to follow.

Epilepsy

Renowned epilepsy specialist Professor Basim Uthman, MD will lecture on Tuesday March 24th. Epilepsy was one of the first brain disorders to be described and was mentioned in ancient Babylonian writings more than 3,000 years ago. Epilepsy can be difficult to understand because the presence of a seizure does not necessarily mean a person has epilepsy. Dr. Uthman will explain the causes of epilepsy and its treatment options.

Dr. Uthman is a professor of neurology at WCMC-Q. As an advocate for patients whose lives have been touched by epilepsy, Dr. Uthman foresees the creation of a 'Gulf Epilepsy Foundation in Qatar' that will be a resource of knowledge and education for those patients and their families in Qatar and the region.

Organ Transplant

Have conflicting feelings about donating your organs for transplant? Don't let myths stand in your way of saving lives, Dr. Bakr Nour, Professor and Vice Chair of Surgery and Director of the Surgery Clerkship, as well as the Acting Chief of Clinical Affairs at WCMC-Q, will provide a tantalizing discussion on organ transplants on Tuesday April 7, 2009.

Dr. Nour's goal during his tenure in Qatar is the establishment of a regional multi-organ transplantation institute to complement and culminate the cooperation between Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and WCMC-Q.

Menopause

Today, the majority of women will live one third of their lives (25-30 years) after menopause. Discover the facts concerning the 'change of life' and how menopause begins a whole new exciting phase of a woman's life with Dr. Maya Hammoud on Tuesday May 18, 2009.

Dr. Hammoud is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at WCMC-Q, Senior Associate Dean for Education, and a Consultant at HMC. Dr. Hammoud has a lot of experience working with patients of Middle Eastern origin as she had developed and directed the Middle Eastern Women's Health Program at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor prior to relocating to Qatar.

Depression

What is depression? Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders and also one of the least understood. Professor Ziad Kronfol, MD, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at WCMC-Q and Consultant at HMC, will discuss the myths and misconceptions about depression on Tuesday June 20th.

Dr. Marcellina Mian, Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Dean for Clinical Curriculum, and organizer of the series stated, "We hear about new developments in health care every day, and WCMC-Q wants to give members of the community an opportunity to learn about some of these developments in a series of lectures aimed specifically at people who are not in the medical profession."