Sidra Medical and Research Center appoints new Chief Medical Officer

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.